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Former High School, College, and Professional Coach
A Jersey Shore native, Pappas graduated from Ocean Township High School in 2004, where he helped lead his team to Monmouth County Tournament Championships in 2002 and 2003. During his senior season, he earned First Team All-Shore honors and was named NJ Associated Press First Team All-State as a utility player.
Pappas went on to play his collegiate career at Seton Hall University in the Big East Conference from 2005 through 2008. In his senior season, he set a single-season program record for defensive assists and was recognized with NJCBA All-State First Team honors in 2008.
Following his collegiate career, Pappas played two seasons of professional baseball from 2008–2009 with the Sussex Skyhawks of the Can-Am League under 1986 National League Manager of the Year Hal Lanier. During his rookie season, the Skyhawks captured the 2008 Can-Am League Championship. He also spent time with the Quebec Capitales in 2010.
While continuing his playing career, Pappas began building his coaching résumé as an assistant coach at Union College in Schenectady, New York from 2009 to 2010. Shortly thereafter, he returned to his alma mater and served on the Seton Hall University coaching staff from 2011 through 2022. During his tenure, he was elevated to Recruiting Coordinator from 2018 to 2022. Over that stretch, Seton Hall won the 2011 Big East Championship, qualified for 10 consecutive Big East Tournaments, and reached the conference championship game in 2018.
Pappas also made his mark in summer collegiate baseball, managing the Monmouth Monarchs of the ABCCL to their first league championship in 2011. His experience extends internationally as well, serving as an assistant coach for the Greek Senior National Team in 2018. The team earned a silver medal and qualified for the European B Pool Championship.
On the travel baseball circuit, Pappas has coached with Complete Performance Baseball Academy and the Long Island Body Armor Titans, helping develop numerous high-level amateur players.
Most recently, Pappas served as the hitting coach for the Sussex County Miners of the Frontier League during the 2023 season under manager Chris Widger, the 2021 Minor League Baseball Manager of the Year. The Miners qualified for the Frontier League Playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Division.
“Mark’s experience as a professional player, Division I coach, and recruiter makes him an incredible addition to Champions Way Academy,” said CWA GM, Pat Pinkman. “After working with him for 5 years at Seton Hall I know firsthand, his knowledge of player development and the recruiting landscape will be invaluable for our athletes.”
Pappas currently resides in Rockaway, New Jersey and will work with Champions Way Academy athletes on player development, hitting instruction, and advanced baseball training.
CHAMPIONS WAY SPORTS ACADEMY WELCOMES PAT PINKMAN AS NEW GENERAL MANAGER AND LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Veteran Instructor and Coach to Spearhead the Academy’s Strategic Vision
Pat Pinkman, General Manager and Lead Instructor of Champions Way Sports Academy
The Sussex County Miners and Skylands Stadium are proud to write the next chapter in Champions Way Sports Academy’s illustrious history with the appointment of Pat Pinkman as general manager and lead instructor.
Pinkman, one of the region’s most respected instructors and coaches, brings more than 20 years of experience coaching, mentoring, and guiding athletes to the collegiate and professional levels. His track record includes helping more than 250 players advance to college baseball and mentoring 15 athletes who went on to sign MLB contracts, with six reaching the major leagues.
This new iteration of the Academy will be built on a development-first philosophy—ensuring athletes master fundamentals and advanced techniques with a strong foundation in values and expectations. A full roster of highly experienced instructors—including current Miners players and coaches—will provide hands-on training at every level.
To match its vision, Champions Way Sports Academy will roll out major upgrades to its facilities, highlighted by the installation of the state-of-the-art HitTrax Simulator and Data Capture technology for advanced skill analysis and training.
“The Academy will be more than just a training facility,” said Vincent Sangemino, general manager of the Sussex County Miners, “It’ll be a place where young athletes grow as players and as people. With Pat leading the way, we’re confident this will be a program the community can take real pride in—one that reflects the Miners’ mission of putting community first.”
“I’m honored to join the Miners family and relish the opportunity to take the Academy to the next level,” added Pinkman. “We’re building something special that combines elite instruction for all ages with character development, so every athlete leaves better prepared for the game and life.”
With this transition, Champions Way Sports Academy will continue to expand its role as a cornerstone of top-tier baseball and softball development and the foremost option for indoor sports training in North Jersey.