Billy Alvino Added to Baseball Coaching Staff
6/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH -- Head coach Joe Jordano today announced the addition of former Manhattanville College assistant coach Billy Alvino to the University of Pittsburgh baseball staff in the same role.
"I am very pleased to announce the addition of Billy Alvino to our staff," said Jordano. "Billy has the right amount of success at the collegiate level, both playing and coaching, combined with professional experience. In addition, I was very impressed that he completed his master's degree following his playing career. That is an indicator of the tremendous amount of dedication, commitment, and character that he brings to our staff."
A 2009 alumnus of High Point University, Alvino was coached by current Pitt assistant coach Bryan Peters during his senior season with the Panthers. Under Peters' guidance he batted .400, collected 47 RBIs, and reached base at a .466 clip to earn a semifinalist nod for the Johnny Bench Award, given to the top catcher in Division I.
Alvino spent the past three seasons with the Valiants as an assistant coach under Jeff Caulfield -- the winningest head baseball coach in Manhattanville history. His duties centered on recruiting, practice and game preparation, fundraising, academic monitoring, and other day-to-day responsibilities.
During that time, the Valiants went 61-63 (.492) and appeared in the Freedom Conference playoffs each year -- including a finals berth in 2014. In 2013-15 combined, 17 of Alvino's student-athletes merited all-conference honors while 20 earned academic recognition on the Middle Atlantic Conferences' Spring Academic Honor Roll.
Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Alvino played professionally for five seasons from 2009-2013. The 6'0" righty moved within the Detroit Tigers' farm system from 2009-11 and ascended as high as Class-AA Erie. He transitioned into independent league play beginning in 2011.
At High Point, Alvino captained the squad as a senior. Apart from the aforementioned Bench Award recognition, that season he also earned the distinction of being the most difficult player to strike out in Division I (four strikeouts in 210 at-bats). He hit .316 over his career and finished with the program's third-most all-time totals in hits and RBIs.
Alvino's new position was previously held by Shane Liska, whose tenure with the Panthers left all players and staff who worked with him greatly impressed with his dedication and appreciative of his service.
"I'd like to acknowledge and thank Coach Liska for his two years of outstanding coaching with us," said Jordano. "We wish him tremendous success in his career."
Alvino earned his bachelor's degree in history from High Point and recently completed master's coursework in sports business management at Manhattanville College. He is a native of Holtsville, N.Y.
Career Timeline
2013-15: Assistant Coach | Manhattanville College
2013: Professional | Rockland (Ind)
2012: Professional | Rockland/Newark (Ind)
2011: Professional | Erie (AA)/Newark (Ind)
2010: Professional | West Michigan (A)/Lakeland (A+)
2009: Professional | GCL Tigers (Rookie)/Lakeland (A+)
2005-09: Student-Athlete | High Point University