Baseball - Coaches
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Head Coach
Adam Gawason
Email: agawason@salemcc.edu
Phone: (856) 351-2693
The 2009 season marks Coach Gawason’s second season as the head coach at Salem Community College and his tenth overall at the collegiate level. “I feel confident that we will continue to make strides as a program, both on and off the field. My goal is to provide a complete experience that culminates with our sophomores earning the opportunity to play at the next level.”
Gawason assumed the helm in ‘Oak Country’ on July 16, 2007, following two seasons as an assistant coach under Ronnie Palmer. “Even though I officially took over in mid-July I was able to draw on my previous experience at Salem to help make the transition as smooth as possible. I was extremely pleased with how the players responded to my appointment.”
The 2008 season was another for the records books capped by twenty-one postseason honors, the most in program history. Four different players received a total of twelve post-season honors for their on-field achievements. Kevin O’Brien (OF), Caigan O’Callahan (INF), Jason Kelmer (DH/P) and John Merulla (OF) all received 1st Team All-Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) honors. Kelmer (DH/P) also received 1st Team All-Region XIX recognition, while O’Brien, O’Callahan and Merulla were named to the 2nd team. Kelmer (DH/P) rounded out the awards by being named to the Rawlings All Region Team.
Salem CC baseball players also earned recognition for their efforts in the classroom. Kevin O’Brien, Kevin Madara and Joel Bacon were named to both the GSAC and Region XIX academic teams, while Mike Ciccaglione and Dave Totin were named to the GSAC squad.
After placing a total of five sophomore hurlers at four-year institutions in two seasons as the pitching coach, Gawason’s first campaign at the helm saw the trend of Oaks moving on to four-year institutions continue in a big way. A total of twelve players from the 2008 season will be continuing their playing careers at the next level. “I expect a full-time two-year commitment from all of our players. When that is done the least I can do is make sure every sophomore has the opportunity to compete as a student-athlete for two more years. I believe that we accomplish that goal with an extraordinary rate of success. In my three years at SCC we have had a total of twenty-six players make the commitment to continue their playing careers. I am more proud of that number then any other.”
The Oaks finished the 2008 season with the second-most wins in program history (24), captured a second consecutive Region XIX Division II Final Four berth and hurled a no-hitter on March 30th versus Holyoke Community College. The no-hitter also resulted in Jason Kelmer being named the Ringor NJCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Week (Games March 24th – 30th).
Coach Gawason is a native of Woodbury, NJ and a 1995 graduate of Woodbury Junior-Senior High School. At Woodbury Gawason played for South Jersey Hall of Fame Inductee Rick Santarone. Adam’s career was highlighted by two Carpenter Cup selections, including a spot on the 1995 champion Olympic-Colonial squad. Gawason still holds several single season and career pitching marks for the Thundering Herd. Following his days there, Adam began his collegiate career at Montclair State (NJ) University. After two seasons Coach Gawason transferred to The State University of New Jersey, Campus at Newark. There he contributed to the Scarlet Raider staff for two seasons, working both as a starter and out of the bullpen. Adam’s career closed with the earning of the Coach’s Award following the 1999 season.
Following the end of his playing career Adam accepted a job as bullpen/bench coach at his alma mater for the 2000 season. After one season serving in that capacity, Coach Gawason was promoted to pitching coach for the 2001 season. A season highlighted by the Scarlet Raiders climbing to as high as #9 in the Division III national rankings after a 17-0 start, in addition to a victory over defending national champion Montclair State.
In 2002 Adam accepted the opportunity to join the staff at Division I Western Illinois University. There he served as pitching coach for the Leathernecks, as well as a graduate assistant coach for the women’s basketball program. During his only season in Macomb Coach Gawason guided the Leatherneck staff to road wins over the University of Missouri and Big 12 tournament semi-finalist Kansas State.
Coach Gawason then spent two and a half years directing the pitching staff at West Hills (CA) College. Under his tutelage the Falcons produced an all-conference selection on the hill each season, as well as topping the Central Valley Conference in complete games in both 2003 and 2004. In addition all six Falcon sophomore hurlers under Gawason earned scholarship offers. Half of those offers came from Division I schools, including San Jose (CA) State, Fresno (CA) State and the University of Pittsburgh.
The following spring Adam oversaw the pitching staff at Illinois Central College. The 2005 season saw the Cougars set a school record for wins (33), collect a CCCI conference single season record for wins (22) and compile a 31-5 record versus NJCAA DII opponents. In addition, ICC hurlers inked a pair of Division I (Eastern Illinois University and Western Illinois University) and a Division II scholarship (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville), with a total of four sophomores continuing their playing careers at the four-year level.
In addition to his baseball duties, Adam was also named Acting Director of Athletics on July 16, 2007. The acting portion of the title was removed in November of 2007, with Gawason assuming the day-to-day responsibilities associated with overseeing all seven intercollegiate athletic programs.
Adam earned his B.A. in English from Rutgers-Newark University in the spring of 2000 and his M.S. in Physical Education from Western Illinois University in May of 2004.
Adam and his wife Beth both reside in Carneys Point with their Beagle pup Dugan.
Assistant Baseball Coach
Jarod Zelaska
E-mail: jzelaska@salemcc.edu
Phone: 856.351.2695
On January 3, 2008 Salem Community College was pleased to announce the addition of Jarod Zelaska as Assistant Baseball Coach. Adam Gawason, Director of Athletics and Head Baseball Coach at SCC, felt the choice was an easy one. “Jarod was selected from a pool of excellent applicants. The thing that stood out most was Jarod’s desire and work ethic. It was evident in both his resume and his interviews with me. I feel that Jarod fits in well with our vision for the baseball program here at SCC. Jarod will immediately assume complete control of our offense, with additional duties coaching the catchers and coordinating our recruiting.”
Coach Zelaska joins the Oaks after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater George Washington High School (WV) in the West Virginia Summer Baseball League. Jarod oversaw the catchers, and assisted with the hitters. He also spent the summer of 2007 working for the West Virginia Power, the Milwaukee Brewer’s Class A affiliate, serving as a member of the ESPN Radio Broadcast Team.
Prior to working at George Washington High School Coach Zelaska coached for two summers in the Mountaineer League in Charleston, West Virginia. Jarod spent the 2005 season working with the Red Sox, after spending the previous summer with the Pirates. At both stops he oversaw the catchers, in addition to his responsibilities assisting with the hitters.
Jarod is a native of Charleston, West Virginia and a graduate of George Washington High School. He then attended both West Virginia State University and Marshall University. Coach Zelaska received his bachelor’s degree from Marshall University in Public Communications, with a minor in Broadcast Journalism.
Coach Zelaska is excited to assume his duties with the Oaks and looks forward to the task at hand. “I am excited for the opportunity given to me by Coach Gawason and I hope to help the program excel for years to come.”
In addition to his baseball duties Coach Zelaska works as a Learning Coach at the Center for Student Success here at Salem Community College. He also assists the athletic department as Event Staff at all home athletic contests.
Jarod is single and resides in Deepwater, New Jersey.