Posted: Jul 10, 2023
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - New Albertus Magnus College head baseball coach, Ian Ratchford, was featured in the Waterbury Republican-American as he discussed the fortuitous meeting that brought him back to the game he loves.
BY MARK JAFFEE REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
When Ian Ratchford graduated from Post University in Waterbury in 2015 with a degree in legal studies, he thought he would eventually apply to law school. Faced with several injuries which curtailed his college baseball career, first at UConn Avery Point and later with the Eagles, Ratchford believed that his baseball days were behind him.
"Baseball was not in my future plans," said Ratchford.
That all changed with a chance meeting at a Danbury batting cage with Zack Dandrea, who told Ratchford of a potential assistant coach opening at Western Connecticut State University.
"I half jokingly asked him to talk with (WestConn head coach) Johnny Susi," noted Ratchford. "He did and Coach Susi called me and interviewed me and I got the job. I figured I'd give it a year and then go to law school."
But as time went on, Ratchford realized his true calling and decided that "I would try coaching for a living."
Looking back on that decision, he said "I'm glad I did."
After three seasons at Western (2016-18), he moved onto two seasons as an assistant at the University of Bridgeport (2018-19) before getting his first head coaching stint at UConn-Avery Point, a prominent junior college program, for the past four years.
Ratchford, now 31, was named the head baseball coach at Division III Albertus Magnus College in New Haven on June 2. He'll also be the director of athletic facilities.
While at UConn Avery Point, where his teams posted a .613 winning percentage, three postseason appearances and two Subdistrict titles. This year, the Pointers finished with a 27-11 record.
Ratchford also helped elevate the Pointers' efforts in the classroom, as his team registered a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in each semester. The team was recognized with the NJCAA Team Academic Award in 2020. In the summer of 2021, Ratchford guided the Danbury Westeners to the New England Collegiate Baseball League championship.
Moving onto Albertus and the Great Northeast Athletic Conference is a natural step for him.
"I feel I'm ready, absolutely, and excited for the opportunity," said Ratchford. "I've been lucky enough to have been around some great people [--] my dad (Shaun Ratchford, head coach at Danbury High and an FCIAC Hall of Fame recipient), Roger Bidwell (former head coach and athletic director at Avery Point), Johnny Susi (coach at Western) and Joe Tonelli (coach at Bridgeport) and I've been able to pick up things along the way."
Ratchford has met with projected 2024 returning players virtually and in-person.
"I'm looking forward to creating a culture and a special place," said Ratchford. "Albertus is a small campus in a great college town and has a lot to offer."
Ratchford also feels he has a lot to offer his future players, too.
Helping to realize his passion was playing summer ball for the Terryville Black Sox of the Tri-State League after his college days were over.
"I still had the competitiveness and needed something to fully invest in," said Ratchford. "It was at a different level and I was craving that competition and around the players and building relationships. That's what I loved the most at WestConn. I wanted to give back to the game, which taught me about life."
