GREENSBORO, N.C. — After earning an NJCAA Coaches Legacy Award in June, Allegany College’s Steve Bazarnic continues to receive national recognitions.
The ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) announced on Wednesday that Bazarnic will be inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
“Coach isn’t respected, he is revered,” ACM athletic director Tommie Reams said. “He is what many of us who play for him aspire to be. He wasn’t a coach. He was a leader of men. He made everyone who has had the privilege of being an Allegany College of Maryland Trojan a better person for having played for him.”
Since 1966, the ABCA’s highest honor has been bestowed upon 350 coaches across college, high school and youth baseball.
ABCA’s guidelines for eligibility are as follows: “For consideration, a coach must have served as a head baseball coach and been an ABCA member for a minimum of 15 years, made professional and personal contributions to the ABCA, have significantly contributed to the advancement of baseball at the local, national or international level, and should be representative of high moral character and ethical standards, excellence and leadership.”
The ABCA has over 15,000 members across all 50 states and 41 countries representing every level from NCAA Division I to youth and travel baseball.
Bazarnic led the ACM baseball program from 1971 to 2019, and, across 48 seasons, finished with a record of 1,469-617.
He retired with the most wins in the history of NJCAA baseball, and, as of 2024, remains fourth all-time.
Bazarnic led the Trojans for 48 of the program’s 61 seasons of existence, reaching nine NJCAA World Series and coaching 13 All-Americans.
Jon Kemmer (2011), Brett Brown (2001), Angel Rafe Boria (1999), Scott Seabol (1995), Tony Meyers (1994) and Dennis Sweeney (1989) were all first-team All-Americans under Bazarnic.
Over 50 players went on to play professional baseball with John Kruk, Stan Belinda, Steve Kline, Seabol, Joe Beimel and Scott Patterson reaching the major leagues.
“I as a coach/AD don’t go anywhere that someone doesn’t ask about coach Bazarnic,” Reams said. “Everyone knows him, everyone loves him. His work as an educator and coach aren’t that of a good career. His accolades and his demeanor are the common logic.”
The other inductees of the Class of 2026 include Pat Casey (Oregon State), John McCormack (Florida Atlantic), Sam Piraro (San Jose State), Steve Ruzich (South Suburban College of Illinois) and Terry Gobert (Jasper High School of Indiana).
The Class of 2026 will be formally honored during the ABCA Hall of Fame banquet on Jan. 9, 2026, as part of the 82nd annual ABCA Convention in Columbus, Ohio.