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James Pernick Jr.

James Pernick Jr’s positive energy and hard work is starting to have an impact on the Hilbert College baseball program. Now in his fourth season managing the Hawks, Pernick has reworked the roster and is loading up his squad for a long, competitive 2014 spring season. He bulked-up his bull pen and padded his roster with 15 new players with the expectations of a inexperienced but youthful group getting better as their season progresses.

Pernick's 2013 squad regrouped after the gradutation of three major contributors from the 2012 team.  Senior Chris Hoak and junior Joe Pernick earned a spot on the AMCC 3rd team All-Conference, with Hoak slotted at short stop and Pernick in the outfield.  Coach Pernick began the process of developing 15 Hawk rookies, his first season with such a large group of newcomers to his program.  They had an uphill climb with so many new players expected to contribute immediately.  The Hawks finished with a 3-31 but had the passion to get better.

The 2012 Hawks set several new records in Pernick's first full year as the program's head coach.  The Hawks doubled their win record in both league and overall standings. Hot bats, a strong pitching staff and some great coaching helped Hilbert improve to 6-10 in the AMCC and 10-20 overall. As a statement of their worth to the program/league, four players were named to the AMCC All-Conference team: Nick Sherman (Pitcher of the Year, 1st Team), Chris Hoak (1st Team), Matt Militello (2nd Team) and Jim Pernick (3rd Team).

Pernick joined the Hawks coaching staff during the 2010-11 academic year and in late March 2011, he was promoted to the manager's position. He guided the team to an 5-27 over-all record (under his watch as head coach, the squad finished 4-18).

Ater a lifetime of baseball, Pernick was recognized for his efforts inside the lines on the diamond as well as along the baselines and in the dugout with his 2013 induction into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame.  In what spare time he has, Pernick is a private professional baseball instructor currently offering individual and team lessons, and private baseball instruction at the Sports Performance Park. 

Pernick has been involved in coaching baseball for the last 21 years with manager duties ranging from little league, to travel teams, to AAABA to MUNY AAA leagues. His skill teaching and game managing produced winning teams all along the way. His Ken-HY AAABA team made it to the national title game in Johnstown, PA in 2009 while his MUNY AAA team (Island Dugout) stunned the league in 2010 by advancing to the NABF championship game competing against the eventual victors Jetbox. He recently served as compliance coordinator for the MUNY AAA league.

Pernick played high school ball at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute (Buffalo, NY) where he served as team caption and earned All-Catholic honors his senior year as a pitcher and a catcher. Following his Marauder days, Pernick was a Division I three-year starter (catcher/3rd basemen) at Niagara University where he served as team captain his senior year. After college, he played MUNY AAA (Ken-HY), suburban baseball (Gataway Saloon and H&H X-ray), AAABA (Lamm Post) and Legion ball (Braunscheidel Post) until 1996.

For the last 21 years, Pernick has worked in the transportation industry. He currently serves as a distribution manager at Caplus.