New Jersey City University Men's Baseball

Jeremiah ‘Jerry’ Smith, Jr. has brought a personable, positive, energetic and strategic approach to collegiate baseball since being selected as the 11th head baseball coach in New Jersey City University history prior to the 2012 season. Since taking over the reins, the Gothic Knights have produced very competitive teams, award-winning players and generated a number of major upsets. Smith has surrounded himself with a dynamic combination of veteran and young and hungry assistant coaches and has extended NJCU’s recruiting base to include a large Central Jersey contingent to compliment the program’s traditionally fertile North Jersey reach.   In his first four years, the Knights won 60 games and been in nearly every outing. Pitching and offense has flourished under his watch. In 2013, Wendell Rodriguez became the program’s all-time winningest pitcher (15). In 2014, Delio Coutinho, a year removed from Tommy John surgery, surged into national prominence and onto potential draft boards when he struck out 78 batters (26th most in the country) while ranking sixth in Division III in strikeouts per nine innings (11.83). Coutinho became the first NJCU pitcher on record to have three efforts of 10+ strikeouts in a game in the same season.   Meanwhile, the 2015 club won 17 games and posted remarkable team and individual offensive numbers. The team scored 25 and 22 runs in games during the season. On April 29, 2015 in a 22-10 rout of CUNYAC champion Staten Island, NJCU amassed one of the greatest hitting performances in Division III history, annihilating the single-game school record for hits with 30—four more than the previous program record of 26, set in 1991 and matched in 2004. NJCU had 13 extra-base hits in the game including 11 doubles. Both are also single-game school records and the 11 doubles are one shy of the NCAA game mark. NJCU and Staten Island also broke the NCAA Division III single-game record for doubles by both teams with 16 (11 NJCU, 5 CSI). The previous record was 15, set in 1999 and matched in 2005.   That game was the epitome of the season as a whole. NJCU ranked No. 2 in the nation in stolen bases per game (3.03), 10th in stolen bases (112), 13th in walks (193), 18th in on-base percentage (.415) and 25th in scoring (7.8 runs per game).   Senior utility player Michael Martucci became NJCU’s all-time career hits leader with 199 and junior catcher Andrew Niech annihilated the previous career standard for doubles in just three seasons with 40 and counting. Meanwhile, senior first/third baseman Alex Weinstein enjoyed one of the finest individual seasons in school history, crushing generation-old records for doubles (22) and RBIs (50). Weinstein was a two-time NJAC Player of the Week and one of three players to claim D3baseball.com National Team of the Week distinction.   Smith’s staff has helped produce three All-Region selections, six All-New Jersey Athletic Conference picks and 13 New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association (NJCBA) All-Staters (two First-Teamers). The Knights have claimed 20 weekly NJAC awards and four Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Player of the Week winners. The strong recruiting has been demonstrated by 14 players earning NJCBA All-Rookie Team accolades in the first four seasons of his stint in Jersey City.   The 2014 club had 20 of its 38 games decided by three runs or less, including 16 that resulted in a two-run or fewer margin and eight one-run games. Among the more notable results was a pair of 1-run road losses to then No. 6/7 ranked Kean University, including game two, which reached the 12th inning at a 0-0 deadlock.   The 2013 club won 17 games—only the ninth time in the first 66 years the club has won at least 17 contests before the 2015 season saw the feat repeated. Meanwhile, NJCU became the first Gothic Knight athletic program to ever knock off a team ranked No. 1 in Division III in any sport when it upended #1 Kean on April 13, 2013. For good measure, Smith’s club downed No. 19/21 Ramapo College later that season, 3-1. In all, 14 games were decided by two or less runs with seven by a single run.   The 2012 club played competitive ball from the first pitch. Of 39 games, 21 had the outcome decided by three or less runs with 19 by two or fewer and an eye-popping 10 one-run affairs. Pre-NJCU Smith, made the jump to the college level after seven successful seasons at JFK Memorial High School in Iselin, NJ, where he posted a 120-70 record (.632) from 2005-11, culminating in capturing the 2009 New Jersey Group III state championship and the North II, Group II state sectional crown. The 2009 Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) and 2008 Home News Tribune Coach of the Year, he guided the Mustangs to GMC division titles in 2008 and 2009.   Prior to taking the helm of the JFK program, he coached alongside his father, Jeremiah Smith, Sr. for four seasons from 2001-04 as JFK captured a pair of GMC division titles (2001, 2002). His father, now the athletic director at state powerhouse St. Joseph’s (Metuchen) High School, coached the program for 15 years and the father-son tandem combined for 366 wins in 22 years. Smith also served as the head varsity girls’ basketball coach at the school for four seasons (2007-11).   He has also enjoyed notable success coaching summer baseball. In six years as head coach of the JFK American Legion squad from 2000-05 he recorded a 124-52-3 record (.701 percentage). In 2001, he guided the club to a #2 ranking in the state while finishing third in the national regional tournament. He was named New Jersey’s American Legion Coach of the Year in 2001 for his efforts.   Smith is the former head coach of the Toms River Hurricanes of the ABCCL College Summer League, posting an 11-1 mark in his only season before coming to NJCU. He also had a stint as assistant coach at Union County College in 2000.   CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Head Baseball Coach, New Jersey City University, 2011-present Head Baseball Coach, JFK Memorial High School (Iselin, NJ); 120-70 record Guided JFK to 2009 New Jersey Group III state championship and North II, Group II state sectional crown 2009 Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Coach of the Year 2008 Home News Tribune Coach of the Year Led JFK to two GMC division titles (2008, 2009) Head Girls' Basketball Coach, JFK Memorial, 2007-11 Assistant Baseball Coach, JFK Memorial, 2001-04; team won two GMC division titles (2001, 2002) Head Baseball Coach, JFK American Legion, 2000-05; 124-52-3 (.701) record New Jersey American Legion Coach of the Year, 2001; guided club to a #2 state ranking and third place in national regional tournament Head Baseball Coach, Toms River Hurricanes, ABCCL College Summer League Assistant Baseball Coach, Union County College, 2000 Played collegiate at Kean University, 1997-99 1997 Honorable Mention All-NJAC and runner-up for NJAC Rookie of the Year; played in 1998 NCAA Tournament Two-time All-GMC Conference as a high school baseball player (1995, 1996). Played in 1994 state sectional finals and New Jersey All-Star game. As a collegian, Smith played three seasons at Kean University from 1997-99 for former coach Jim Casalino and current head coach Neil Ioviero, playing right field, third base and first base. In 1997, he earned Honorable Mention All-New Jersey Athletic Conference honors as an outfielder and was a runner-up for the league’s Rookie of the Year. That season he batted .356 with 53 hits in 149 at bats in 39 games (39 starts), while scoring 28 runs and driving in 23 RBIs. He added 19 extra base hits (16 doubles, one triple, two homeruns) and 77 total bases with 15 walks, finishing with a .425 on-base percentage, .517 slugging percentage and .971 fielding percentage as Kean went 21-18. In 1998 as Kean began rising to prominence, he played in 22 games (15 starts) as the Cougars reached the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 1988 and only the second time in its history to that point in Ioviero’s first season at the Union, NJ school. Smith batted .268, adding 15 RBIs and a .433 on-base percentage as Kean posted a 25-9 record. After his junior season in 1999, Smith completed his active playing career to pursue coaching. Overall, Kean chalked up a 65-44 record in his three seasons with the program.   The 1996 graduate of JFK Memorial, he played four seasons of baseball and basketball for the Mustangs. As a three-year varsity player for his father, Smith was a two-time All-GMC Conference selection (1995, 1996) and established a single-season school record with 15 doubles. He helped JFK win league titles in 1994 and 1996 while guiding the club to the 1994 state sectional finals. He also played in the New Jersey All-Star game and in the 1995 GMC Final Four.   A December 2000 graduate of Kean with a bachelor of arts in Mathematics Education, he currently possesses a BA+18. Smith has works as a mathematics teacher for the Woodbridge Township Board of Education and has also contributed as a SAT prep teacher. He notes his favorite part about coaching is teaching life skills.   Born July 29, 1978, Smith resides in Manalapan, N.J. with his wife, Michelle, and their two children — son J.J. and daughter Parker Charlotte.   GET TO KNOW COACH SMITH Hobbies: College football Favorite part about coaching: “Teaching life skills” Hero: His father Favorite sports team: New York Yankees Favorite song: -- Favorite music artist: Tim McGraw Favorite movie: ‘Remember the Titans’ Favorite food: Pizza Personal attributes and other facts: Native American…All family members have names of J.S., which is why his son his named J.J…Loves numbers (math, baseball stats)…Approaches life with a sense of humor

Last Updated: November 1, 2015 Action Photo Gallery  Raj Subramanian enters his fifth season as assistant baseball coach at New Jersey City University, working with the program’s catchers.   Prior to joining the staff of NJCU head coach Jerry Smith in 2012, Subramanian spent three seasons (2008-11) as the assistant baseball coach at East Brunswick (NJ) High School.   He has also gained experience as a catching coach working for Major League Baseball International as an envoy coach for the past five years (2009-present). He is responsible for helping to develop catchers in Asia for Major League Baseball in China, Philippines, Cambodia, and India. Most notably, Subramanian worked at the MLB Development Center in China and in August 2011 at the MLB International China Academy in Wuxi, China—a joint venture of Major League Baseball International and the China Baseball Association (CBA).   Subramanian has also worked as a baseball instructor at CK’s Baseball Training Facility in Morganville, NJ.   A 2006 graduate of York College of Pennsylvania with a degree in sports management,Subramanian was a four-year player for the Spartans and Coach Paul Saikia—the school’s current athletic director. He helped lead York to the 2006 Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) regular season co-championship. The Spartans had a four-year record of 104-64-2 (.618) during his career and a winning record each season.   Subramanian registered a career .982 fielding percentage and threw out 35 percent of runners stealing. He was a .250 career hitter.   In 2004 when York reached the NCAA Tournament, he batted .444 during the championship as the team finished the season with a 28-18 ledger. He enjoyed his best offensive season, batting .316 (34-108) with 17 runs, 17 RBIs and a .348 on-base percentage in 33 games (25 starts). Subramanian tallied a .974 season fielding rate with four errors in 155 chances, throwing out 11 of 27 runners.   As a senior in 2006, the Spartans went 25-16-1. He played in 34 games (15 starts) and fielded at a .975 rate with just three errors in 121 chances. Defensively, he threw out six of 12 runners stealing. As a junior in 2005, the team went 27-14-1 and Subramanian owned a .993 fielding percentage with just one error in 152 chances in 33 games (22 starts). He threw out seven of 18 base runners. As a freshman in 2003, York went 24-16. He batted .300 (3-10) in limited action over nine games, with a 1.000 fielding percentage in five chances, and he threw out the only base runner who attempted to steal.   A 2002 graduate of Woodbridge (NJ) High School, he played four seasons (two varsity) for the Barrons under Coach Jim Lammers. As a sophomore he was the back-up catcher for the 2000 Middlesex County tournament champions. As a junior he claimed First-Team All-Red Division honors at catcher and played in the Blue-Grey Classic in Williamsburg, VA.   Outside of coaching, he is in his first year as an elementary physical education teacher in Parsippany, NJ. Subramanian, 29, continues to reside in Woodbridge, NJ.    CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Assistant Baseball Coach, New Jersey City University, 2012-present Envoy Coach, Major Baseball International, 2009-present Assistant Baseball Coach, East Brunswick High School, 2008-11 Baseball Instructor, CK’s Baseball Training Facility, 2011 Played collegiate baseball (catcher) at York College (Pa.), 2003-06; batted .444 in 2004 NCAA Tournament 2001 First-Team All-Red Division at catcher, Woodbridge (NJ) High School; played in Blue-Grey Classic   GET TO KNOW COACH SUBRAMANIAN Hobbies: Golf Favorite part about coaching: "The positive effect you can have"

- Head Coach, South Plainfield American Legion, 2009-2010 - Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach, Spotswood (NJ) HS, 2011 - Assistant Baseball Coach, New Jersey City University, 2011-2019 - Associate Head Baseball Coach, New Jersey City University, 2019-present