LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Coach Bill Holowaty upon the occasion of
his induction into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
outstanding individuals who distinguish themselves through their excep-
tional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor
Coach Bill Holowaty upon the occasion of his induction into the Greater
Utica Sports Hall of Fame; this auspicious occasion will be celebrated
at the Hall's Class of 2013 Induction Ceremony, to be held on Sunday,
June 9, 2013, at the Radisson Hotel-Utica Centre in Utica, New York; and
WHEREAS, For over four decades, the name Bill Holowaty has been synon-
ymous with Eastern Connecticut State University championship baseball;
he is the winningest coach in the history of New England intercollegiate
athletics, and he has produced 39 post-season teams in 44 seasons, 14 of
which have advanced to national tournament play; and
WHEREAS, Upon his retirement, Coach Bill Holowaty was one of only
three coaches in college history to have led one program to as many as
four national championships; amassing a staggering total of 1,382 victo-
ries in 1,903 games for a winning percentage of 72.8 (1,382-515-6),
Coach Holowaty recorded over 90 percent (92.1%) of the program's 64-year
total of 1,500 victories and has coached nearly 90 percent (89.2) of the
2,134 games in program history; and
WHEREAS, On the all-time Division III coaching list, Coach Bill Holo-
waty is third in victories and 13th in winning percentage; among college
coaches who have ever coached at a four-year institution, he ranks 11th
in total wins; and
WHEREAS, Coach Bill Holowaty was named National Coach-of-the-Year four
times and regional Coach-of-the-Year an astounding 14 times; in addition
to winning four national championships, his Eastern Connecticut teams
have posted at least 30 wins 28 times in the last 40 seasons under the
head coach and brought a streak of 11 straight 30-win seasons into 2012,
when they fell one win shy of extending that streak; and
WHEREAS, Originally hoping to be a basketball player, a young Bill
Holowaty decided to attend the University of Connecticut to play basket-
ball, after being the first New Yorker ever recruited by the legendary
Dean Smith, where he excelled on the court; he has the distinct honor of
being a member of UCONN's best freshmen basketball squad in its history;
and
WHEREAS, After graduate school, Mohawk, NewYork, native Bill Holowaty
inherited a program which had averaged just 4.3 wins over the previous
six years, and proceeded to win 11 of 16 games in his first season; he
went on to produce the first of 23 straight post-season tournament
appearances and five years into his tenure, he directed Eastern Connec-
ticut to a second-place finish in the NAIA national tournament; and
WHEREAS, A retired professor of Health and Physical Education at East-
ern Connecticut, Bill Holowaty earned a B.S. degree in Physical Educa-
tion and an M.S. degree in Education from the University of Connecticut;
and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Jan and their chil-
dren, Jennifer, Jason and Jared, all of whom feel privileged to be a
part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such outstanding accomplishments are brought to our attention,

they should be recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire
State; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to honor Coach Bill Holowaty
for his extraordinary accomplishments which are a tribute to his skill,
dedication and commitment; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations with
praise and pride to honor Coach Bill Holowaty upon the occasion of his
induction into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Coach Bill Holowaty.