Henry Manning, a four-year starter and former captain of the
Pace University baseball team, begins his eighth season as the head
baseball coach of the Setter program. He took over the head
coaching duties in May 2000, one season after returning to his alma
mater as the assistant coach.
In 2007, Coach Manning guided the Setters back to the postseason,
as they secured the #4 seed in the Northeast-10 Conference
Tournament for the first time since 2001, following their 30-26
record and 18-12 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Manning led the
Setters to back-to-back 30 wins seasons for the first time in
school history and marks only the third time Pace has posted 30+
wins in a season. It was also the first time in a decade that a
Pace team posted three consecutive 20+ wins in a season. After
defeating fifth seeded Bentley College in the conference tournament
first round, the Setters advanced to the final four along with #1
Franklin Pierce, #2 UMass Lowell and #3 Bryant in a double
elimination format. The Setters lost Franklin Pierce before
eliminating NCAA-bound UMass Lowell. Pace lost to eventual NE-10
Champs Franklin Pierce.
Manning had his seventh player drafted into Major League Baseball
as First Team All-Conference Matt Arburr was selected by the St.
Louis Cardinals in the 17th round of the 2007 MLB Draft. Arburr
joins David Qualben (2006 Houston Astros, 7th round), Bryan
Hallberg (2006 Houston Astros, 12th round), Earl Oakes (2006
Oakland Athletics, 24th round), Matt Reilly (2006 Los Angeles
Angels of Anaheim, 27th round), Pat Stanley, (2004 Colorado
Rockies, 16th Round and Mike Bohlander (2002 Chicago White Sox,
27th Round) as former Setters under Coach Manning who joined the
professional ranks.
Prior to coming back to Pace, Manning enjoyed a nine-year
professional career in baseball as both a player and coach.
As a player, Manning was a catcher in the Chicago White Sox
organization from 1991-1995, reaching the AAA level in 1994.
He spent half of the 1995 season playing for the Winnipeg Goldeyes
in the independent Northern League where he earned All-Star honors.
He finished his playing career in 1996 after a brief stint with the
Boston Red Sox organization.
In 1997, Manning's first coaching job was managing the Johnstown
Steal in the Frontier League. There, he guided the team to the best
overall record and lost in the championship series. He then
spent two years as the Assistant General Manager/Coach of the New
Jersey Jackals, where he helped build a team that won the Northern
League title in the Jackals' inaugural
season.
As a Setter, Manning ranks among the all-time leaders in hits,
doubles, home runs, RBI and runs scored. As a freshman he led
the team with a .373 average, and had his best year in 1988 when he
hit .385 with 7 home runs. He played two years in the highly
regarded Cape Cod Summer League for the Brewster White Caps ('88)
and Chatham A's ('89).
Manning holds a BA degree in Mathematics. He and his wife
Kristen reside in New Jersey with their daughter Julia and son
Matthew.
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