Former major league pitcher and Long Island native John Habyan is in his fourth season on the Pride Baseball coaching staff as pitching coach in 2018-19. Habyan, who was named to the position on July 6, 2015, came to Hofstra after 17 seasons as head varsity baseball coach at St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip, New York.
During his tenure with Hofstra, the Pride have established new team records in ERA (3.59, 2018) and strikeouts (412, 2017). Junior John Rooney and senior Teddy Cillis were each selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, while Chris Weiss signed a professional contract in the Frontier League.
Habyan, a third round selection by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1982 MLB Draft, played 11 major league seasons for the Orioles, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Kansas City Royals and Colorado Rockies between 1985 and 1996. A relief pitcher who appeared in 348 games, Habyan won 26 contests, struck out 372 batters and compiled a 3.85 ERA.
Following his retirement from professional baseball, Habyan returned to his alma mater, St. John the Baptist High School, to serve as assistant varsity baseball coach. In 1998 he took over the reins of the Cougar program and continued St. John’s tradition of success. A five-time Nassau Suffolk Catholic High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year, Habyan led the Cougars to league titles in 2002, 2008, 2013 and 2014. This past season he coached St. John’s to an 18-6 record and a second place finish in the league standings. He also served as a physical education teacher at St. John’s from 2008 through 2012.
While at St. John’s, Habyan founded the Youth and Advanced Camp Summer Programs, which also includes the Long Island Cougar Travel Baseball Team. He also has served as a private pitching instructor and has been a featured speaker and instructor for Ripken Baseball.
Habyan, who holds a degree in history from SUNY Empire State College, was inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and the St. John the Baptist Hall of Fame in 2010. He earned the Baltimore Orioles Organizational Player of the Year Award in 1985 and the Baseball Writers Association of New York Media Award in 1993.
Habyan and his wife, Bonnie, reside in Nesconset, New York, with their daughter, Holly (21).
