Like many young boys, Chase Rowe wanted to be a baseball player when he grew up.

At age 32, he may not be a baseball player, but he does have a career in baseball.

Mr. Rowe is head baseball coach at La Roche College, and with nearly a decade in that position, he has led the team to three season titles, three Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference titles and a winning percentage of .591 in the past eight seasons.

For his work, Mr. Rowe has received the 2015 Chuck Tanner Collegiate Coach of the Year award from the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh. The award is named for the late Pirates manager whose team won the 1979 World Series. 

“We have the fifth- or sixth-winningest program in the state of Pennsylvania since 2012,” Mr. Rowe said of his La Roche team. “I’m really proud of that.”

In addition to Chuck Tanner award, Mr. Rowe has been named the American Baseball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year, the Division III Mideast Region Coach of the Year and the AMCC Coach of the Year four times in five seasons.

When he was named head baseball coach at La Roche in 2006 at age 23, Mr. Rowe became one of the youngest head coaches in the country.

The Chuck Tanner award recognizes a coach who is dedicated to sport, excellence and integrity. Sam Reich of the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh said Mr. Rowe is the perfect coach to be recognized.

“We look for an individual who has built an outstanding baseball program at his school and has had a successful season for that year. Chase has no only built a very strong program, he is someone that this region should be very proud of,” Mr. Reich said.

The award means a lot to Mr. Rowe, who is a native of Western Pennsylvania, where Mr. Tanner is well-known.

“It is an honor to have my name mentioned in the same sentence as Coach Tanner,” Mr. Rowe said.

He had the opportunity to meet Mr. Tanner and knows his son.

“I had breakfast with him before he passed away, and I just had the ultimate respect for him,” Mr. Rowe said of Mr. Tanner.

Mr. Rowe grew up in Saxonburg and graduated from Knoch High School in 2001. He played baseball in high school and attended Slippery Rock University, where he continued to play. But when numerous arm injuries ended his dream of playing professional baseball, he found another niche in the sport — coaching.

“I started as an assistant coach at La Roche before I even finished my degree at Slippery Rock. When the opportunity came up, I took it. I wanted to get into coaching as soon as possible,” he said. He finished his bachelor’s degree through online courses at the United States Sports Academy while coaching at La Roche.

Coaching is a good fit for Mr. Rowe.

“I love seeing the individuals improve day to day, year to year. That is the best part,” he said.

Of course, winning is also pretty good. Each time his team won the three season titles was memorable, he said.

“To see these guys come together and then be able to celebrate together, those memories are ingrained in my head,” Mr. Rowe said.

His love of coaching also prompted him to start his own business, Pittsburgh Spikes Baseball Club. Through his company, Mr. Rowe coaches young players in Western Pennsylvania to perfect their games and assist them in the college selection process.

The coach credits his staff and, of course, his players for his success. 

“I have great coaches and great players to help put me in this place. I love La Roche College and really like the people there,” he said.

Despite the team’s success, he said his work at the college isn’t done.

“We have come a long way in 10 years,” he said. “I really love the college, but I want to win a national championship with my coaches and players.”

Kathleen Ganster, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.

First Published: November 25, 2015, 5:00 a.m.