Saint Peter's University Men's Baseball

TJ Ward was hired as the head baseball coach at Saint Peter's University ahead of the 2025-26 season. Ward, a native of Jersey City, joins the Peacocks after four successful seasons on staff at his alma mater, the University of Hartford, where he helped guide one of the most productive offenses in program history. During his tenure at Hartford, Ward was instrumental in developing a potent offensive unit that broke several program records. In 2025, the Hawks earned the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. Under Ward’s leadership, Hartford hit .326 as a team with 40 home runs, 312 runs scored, and 288 RBIs—doubling its home run total from the previous year while posting a .484 slugging percentage and .889 OPS. The Hawks produced five ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region honorees and eight All-CNE selections. Since he joined the Hartford staff in 2021, Ward guided the Hawks to record-setting offensive seasons, including a program-best .405 on-base percentage and .326 Team Batting Average in 2025 along with a single-season record 61 home runs in 2022. He also mentored several standout players, including 2022 shortstop Tremayne Cobb, who became a 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Finalist at Troy University. A 2018 Hartford graduate, Ward was a two-time America East All-Conference selection and team captain for the Hawks. He helped lead Hartford to the most successful season in school history in 2018, capturing both the America East Regular-Season and Tournament Championships en route to the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. Off the field, he was a four-time America East Academic Honor Roll member and two-time All-Academic Team honoree, earning his degree in mathematics and secondary education. After Hartford, Ward enjoyed a 4 year professional career. He spent 2 seasons playing for the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers in the USPBL where he won a championship in 2018 and was named an All-Star in 2019. He spent the next 2 seasons playing for the New Jersey Jackals in the Frontier League.  Before returning to Hartford, Ward also gained valuable coaching experience with Power 5 Baseball, Camilleri Baseball, and Ramapo College of New Jersey (2019–21), where he specialized in hitting and infield development. Now at Saint Peter’s, Ward brings his proven track record of player development, offensive innovation, and leadership as he looks to elevate the Peacocks’ program within the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).

Duran joins Saint Peter’s after serving as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Raritan Valley Community College, where he guided the program to its first playoff appearance in 25 years. Under his leadership, the team improved from three wins to 16 in just two seasons while collectively hitting .300 through 38 games. He previously coached at Felician University, Rutgers - Newark, and County College of Morris, helping lead Felician to the 2023 CACC Championship and an NCAA Regional appearance. Duran also brings developmental experience through roles with CGI Baseball, Zoned Sports Academy, and In The Zone Baseball & Softball Academy. A native of Elizabeth, N.J., Duran is a graduate of Montclair State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sports communication with a minor in coaching.

Fishberg arrives at Saint Peter’s following a seven-year professional pitching career in the independent minor leagues and collegiate coaching stops at Iona University and St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC). At STAC, he worked closely with the pitching staff, led strength and conditioning and contributed to practice and game planning. His experience also includes player development work as a pitching instructor with Power Arm Performance and Peralta Baseball, where he trained high school and college athletes throughout the Northeast. Born and raised in New Jersey, Fishberg traveled to play collegiately at Iona, where he earned a degree in business management.

DeClusin stays with the Peacocks after completing his playing career and academic studies at Saint Peter’s, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management and is pursuing an MBA in risk management. During his time as a student-athlete, DeClusin demonstrated leadership and commitment to the program both on the field and in the classroom. He also gained valuable coaching and operational experience with Vigilante Baseball Club in California and as a Tournament Site Manager for Five Tool Baseball, overseeing player development, event logistics and staff coordination. A native of Jersey City, DeClusin brings a player’s perspective and deep understanding of Saint Peter’s baseball culture to the coaching staff.