Weather
Current Conditions
In Washington, DC
L/RAIN
Temp: 44
Wind: 14 NNW
 |
|
| ||||||||||||||
Jim Mason is in his third year as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator with George Washington University.
Last season was Mason's second with the Colonials, and once again he produced stellar results. Under his supervision, the GW pitching staff ranked first in the Atlantic 10 Conference in batting average against (.259), first in strikeouts (454), and third in team ERA (4.19). Two of the pitchers, Derrick Lutz (19th round, Cincinnati Reds) and Dan Pfau (27th round, Washington Nationals), were both selected in 2006 MLB Draft, and and two others, Josh Wilkie (Washington Nationals) and Justin Prinstein (Belgium), signed free-agent contracts.
In 2005, Mason helped guide the Colonials' pitching staff to the most strikeouts (454) and saves in the conference (17), and to the second best ERA (4.01) and opposition batting average (.271). After the season, 11 players who were coached by Mason signed to play pro ball, none of whom were drafted out of high school.
Under both Mason's and head coach Steve Mrowka's direction in 2005, four Colonials recorded seven or more wins, including Derrik Lutz who went 8-1 and led the Atlantic 10 Conference in winning percentage (.889), earning all-league honors. Two pitchers posted five or more saves and the staff went a combined 35-0 when leading after six innings.
Prior to GW, Mason served as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Rhode Island from 1999 to 2004. While at URI, Mason helped guide the Rams to their five highest win totals in program history, including 2004 when they set a school record with 35.
Mason recruited and coached three All-Americans at URI, including 2004's Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year. Mason also was responsible for a nationally ranked recruiting class, had a pitching staff ERA finish in the Top 30 nationally, and was part of two A-10 East Division Championships. Three of his players at URI, including two pitchers, were drafted in the top-ten rounds.
In the last seven years, Mason has coached 21 players (15 of whom were pitchers) who have gone on to play pro ball. None of the 21 was drafted out of high school.
Prior to URI, Mason was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at St. Mary's College (MD) from 1995-99. During that time, the Seahawks pitching staff became one of the best in Division III.
The SMC program had experienced just one winning season in its 28 years of existence before Mason arrived and helped lead the school to a regular season Capital Athletic Conference Championship, two second-place conference finishes, and a 26-7 overall record in his final season -- 11th best of 393 Division III schools in the country.
He was the pitching coach at Gallaudet University in 1993 and 1994.
The Maplewood, NJ, native has authored numerous articles for baseball publications such as Scholastic Coach, From the Dugout, Coaching Digest and Championship Performance. On two occasions, he has been a featured speaker at the National High School Coaches Association national clinic.
During the summer, Mason serves as athletic director at Camp Greylock in Becket, MA, where he oversees the sports program for children ages 6-16.
Mason, 39, earned a B.A. in political science at the University of Pennsylvania in 1989. He is single and resides in Bethesda, MD.
