Manguso steps down as baseball coach at Milford

In nine years running the Milford baseball program, Steve Manguso created a lot of memories for himself and those around him.

But his impact may have been felt nowhere more than the dirt-filled area in front of the home dugout at Fino Field, where Manguso paced endlessly every game, first inning to last, April to June.

That ground may finally get a chance to grow some grass. Manguso has stepped down as the Milford baseball coach, citing burnout from the dual responsibilities of leading back-to-back seasons in boys basketball and baseball.

Manguso will remain the hoops coach, starting his 29th season on the bench next month, but handling both had become a grind from which he needed a rest.

"I love baseball and I thoroughly enjoyed it," Manguso said, "but it?s been nine years back-to-back and it?s two high-profile jobs and two jobs that involve cutting (players). I just think I need a little bit of a break."

In nine seasons since replacing the late Charlie Stand, Manguso, a 1971 Milford High grad, went 142-58 and won five Mid-Wach A titles.

He ends his run with three straight league titles, including a 17-3 regular season last spring.

"As far as teams go, I don?t want to mention one," Manguso said. "I like all my teams. I thought they played with passion, I thought they played the right way. I know the coaching staff did and I know the kids did. I?m proud of the five league championships in nine years. That?s a good baseball league; I think it?s one of the best in the state."

The pacing in front of the dugout ? and on the basketball sidelines in the winter, as well ? is just part of the intensity that?s defined Manguso?s coaching career, which began just before Milford?s string of 35 straight state baseball tournament appearances started.

"He?s very intense on the sidelines and that?s how we coach," said assistant coach Paul Pellegrini, who?s been with Manguso since he took over in 2004. "Our practices aren?t the typical throw the ball around, take some BP and go home. We take them hard and Goose instilled that in the kids. He?s the best at it. I?ve been playing since I was 4 years old and with Goose, you learned something.

"He always thought about the game and thought about it from different angles."

Milford athletic director Rich Piergustavo played for Manguso when Manguso was the junior varsity coach in the early 1980s.

"I remember being a freshman thinking I was pretty good and I was playing one of my first games," Piergustavo said. "I had a play at first base and thinking I was safe, and I still think I was safe, I said something to the umpire. Coach Manguso sat me down for the rest of the game. It was pretty clear that wasn?t the way he wanted his players to perform."

Manguso spent much of this offseason debating his future, not deciding to hang up the pinstriped baseball uniform until about a month ago.

The 59-year-old doesn?t rule out an eventual return to the dugout, but it would not be at Milford. Manguso doesn?t want to lurk over the shoulder of his successor.

Who that is will likely be determined in the next week or two. Pellegrini, the shortstop on the 1990 undefeated state title team, will be interviewing in the next few days, as will JV coach Jamie Grillo and freshman coach Steve DeVitto, and possibly candidates outside the program.

Piergustavo, the former Milford Legion manager, will not make himself a candidate. He hopes to make the hire quickly.

"Sooner rather than later," Piergustavo said. "But I think we?ll have a chance to make a prudent decision. I know it?s still November, but I think any responsible coach wants to lay his own track as soon as possible ? maybe work with some booster issues, fundraising, have a hand in the schedule, push kids in the right directions for offseason stuff. It?s more than a spring position, so we?d like to get this done."

Dan Cagen can be reached at 508-626-3848 or dcagen@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanCagen.

Source: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/local_sports/x35738655/Goose-steps-down-at-Milford

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