NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame
As a 25-year old in 1982, Roger Bidwell began his 34-year journey as the head coach of the UConn Avery Point baseball program. During his tenure from 1982 through the 2015 season, Bidwell saw tremendous success as the Ledyard, Connecticut, native posted a 1,007-378-7 record.
Some of Bidwell’s accomplishments include 13 NJCAA Region 21 Division II championships and six appearances in the NJCAA DII Baseball World Series which included a runner-up finish in 2010 when the Pointers finished the year 41-10. His coaching during that championship was recognized with coach of the tournament honors. In his first six seasons from 1982-87, Bidwell won the Connecticut Small College Conference Championship and quickly established himself as one of the best coaches in the region.
In the Constitution State, Bidwell earned a handful of awards. In 2004 and again in 2011, he was named the Connecticut American Legion College Coach of the Year. Bidwell was also recognized time by the Connecticut Sports Writers Alliance in 2011 as he was given the Gold Key Award at the 70th annual Gold Key Dinner. Then finally in 2012, the Pointers skipper was named to the Niantic American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame.
Under Coach Bidwell’s guidance, more than 150 players went on to four-year schools with 34 of them going on to play professionally.
When he retired as the head coach of the baseball team in 2015, Bidwell was the sitting chair for NJCAA Region 21’s Baseball and Standard and Ethics committees. He held each position since 1994 and 2000, respectively. Currently, Bidwell remains with UConn-Avery Point as their athletic director. He’s married to his wife Nancy and has two sons, Casey and Shane.