CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two of the area’s most successful junior college coaches were recognized with NJCAA Coaches Legacy Awards at a luncheon on Tuesday.
Allegany College’s Steve Bazarnic and Garrett College’s Dennis Gibson were among the nearly 200 coaches in 28 sports from across the country recognized as some of the winningest coaches in junior college sports.
This was the first year the NJCAA issued the awards.
“There is no question in my mind that JuCo coaching can be one of the hardest coaching jobs,” Gibson said.
Coaches had to meet a minimum number of either wins or national championships depending on the sport.
Baseball mandated at least 1,000 wins while basketball’s mark was 700.
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.
“Simply put Steve Bazarnic is ACM Baseball,” ACM Athletic Director Tommie Reams said, who also played for Bazarnic. “The beauty of Coach Baz though, isn’t the wins and the World Series appearances.
“It was about the lives he changed. Coach has always had the ability to connect and communicate with his student-athletes. His ability to be completely and utterly present in the moment gave him the ability to make the people he spoke with the center of the universe.”
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.
“Coach didn’t simply coach baseball,” Reams said. “He taught us all aspects of life. He has played a direct role in the development of countless young men who came through his program. He helped them grow up and find out what it means to be dedicated, honest, loyal, and tough. He was as intense as any human being I have ever met, and at the same time, the kindest human being anyone who knows him has ever met.”
Over 50 players went on to play professional baseball with John Kruk, Stan Belinda, Steve Kline, Scott Sebol, Joe Beimel and Scott Patterson reaching the major leagues.
Kemmer was among the countless who played in affiliated baseball, spending seven seasons with the Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers systems.
Bazarnic was inducted into the Maryland Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame (1991), the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame (1996) and the Region 20 Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame (2000).
The Steve Bazarnic Coach of the Year Award is awarded annually to the Region 20 Coach of the Year while MDJUCO’s best hitter receives the Steve Bazarnic Award.
Despite all of Bazarnic’s success, he never lost sight of what was most important.
“To meet the man, to speak with him. You are at the center of the universe,” Reams said. “You wouldn’t know if he ever coached an inning. His intentions were always pure. He was there to help you, to guide you and teach you. His objective was to make sure you reached your potential. He was in it for you. How can you not love baseball? And how can you not love Steve Bazarnic.”
Gibson led the Garrett men’s basketball program from 1985-2001 and finished with a 714-397 record across 37 seasons.
He sits 27th for most wins in NJCAA men’s basketball.
“This coaching recognition is a push by the NJCAA to honor success in coaching history, and this was the best NJCAA event I have ever attended or been part of,” Gibson said. “Thanks to President Chris Parker and staff for a first-class experience.”
Gibson also expressed gratitude to former Garrett Athletic Director Shawn Noel, now at North Idaho Community College, who submitted the nomination, his wife Kerry and Mike and Vianne Bell who drove seven hours to attend the ceremony.
Under Gibson, the Lakers reached the national tournament four times (1994, 2014, 2015, 2021) and finished fourth in 2021.
Gibson coached 14 All-Americans with two first-team selections in Malik Whitaker (2021) and DeAndre Davis (2015).
Whitaker went on to play Division II basketball at West Virginia State and Fort Lewis College.
He made his professional debut this season for SV Felbach Flashers of the German Pro-B League and averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
Davis played at Division I Alcorn State and spent his eighth season overseas this winter for SZTE-Szedeák of the NBIA in Hungary, averaging 8.2 points with 5.5 boards and two assists.
“In my mind, this is more a recognition of those who supported me and my teams and players throughout the years, and through all the struggles at a school the size of Garett Community College in the 80s and 90s and up to my retirement,” Gibson said.