Bishop Diego is looking for a new varsity baseball coach after the resignation of Nick Katzenstein.
Katzenstein notified the school before the 2020 season that he would be stepping down at the conclusion of the season for personal reasons. Bishop announced the move on Thursday.
“Bishop has been a wonderful place to coach over the last three years, and I would like to thank the players, their families and administration for making this experience so memorable,” said Katzenstein in a statement. “I’d also like to thank all of my coaches for their continuous support to the youth of our community and the Bishop Diego baseball program.”
With a talented senior class, Katzenstein had high hopes that this year’s team could make a deep run in the CIF playoffs. Unfortunately, the Cardinals’ season was canceled after nine games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a shame that his final season was cut short,” said Aaron Skinner, Bishop’s associate athletic director. “Although we are sad that Coach Katzenstein has stepped down, we are also excited about where he leaves the program. He built a strong culture, and whomever is hired as his successor will have a great foundation to build upon.”
Katzenstein went 36-17-1 in his three years at Bishop. He led the team to a Frontier League championship and a CIF-SS quarterfinals appearance in his first season in 2018. He was named the league’s coach of the year.
The Cardinals went 13-6-1 (3-5-1 in league) last season but did not receive a playoff berth.
“Coach Katzenstein left an incredible mark on not only our baseball program but our entire community,” said Skinner. “He is a strong leader who demanded a lot out of his players, and his success during his tenure speaks for itself.”
Skinner said the school has begun its search for a new coach.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.