Washington's Streelman Announces Retirement After 2012 Season

Washington College head baseball coach Al Streelman '69 has announced he will retire at the conclusion of the 2012 season.  Streelman, who is in his 15th year as the team's head coach, has been a part of the team's coaching staff since 1979. 

"Coach Streelman has been a fixture in the Shoremen dugout for decades. His time as a player, an assistant coach under Ed Athey, and as head coach the past 15 years have been a great run," states Washington College Athletic Director Dr. Bryan Matthews '75. 

Streelman will be leaving the program in terrific shape going forward. In 2010, the team earned a spot in the four-team Centennial Conference Tournament, marking the Shoremen's first postseason appearance in 26 years, and the previous two recruiting classes have been among the largest and most talented in the team's history.  The Shoremen have won a total of 50 games over the past three seasons, marking their winningest three-year stretch in nine years. 

"The program is experiencing a resurgence, and is poised to become one of the elite teams in the Centennial Conference. This is is due to Al's commitment to recruiting excellent talent, developing a strong staff, and mentoring the student-athletes to achieve their best," adds Matthews. "We thank Al for all that he has done for Washington College baseball."

As a member of the varsity baseball team while a student at Washington College, Streelman played for legendary head coach and athletic director Ed Athey '47 and saw time at every position other than catcher.  Ten years after his graduation, Streelman became Athey's lead assistant coach, specializing in pitchers and infielders. 

When Athey retired from coaching following the 1997 season, Streelman was promoted to head coach. Streelman's overall record as head coach of the Shoremen stands at 191-254-2. His 191 wins are third-most all-time in the program's history, which dates back to 1871.