Rebyanski

Anthony Rebyanski was named manager of the Butler BlueSox for the 2011 Prospect League baseball season.

Rebyanski, 27, is in his fifth season as an assistant coach at Indiana (Pa.) University. He was promoted to the role of associate head coach in 2009.

Rebyanski was to be introduced at noon today by the BlueSox ownership group. He served as pitching coach for the Thomasville (N.C.) HiToms of the Coastal Plains League — another collegiate prospect circuit — this summer.

"This is my first head coaching position and I'm excited about it," said Rebyanski. "I like the ownership group in Butler. Six or seven heads are better than one."

Jason Wuerfel, the manager for the franchise's first two seasons, was offered the chance return, but he couldn't commit to the job early enough.

Wuerfel was 52-56 in two years at Butler.

"Jason's departure is by mutual consent," said BlueSox minority owner Leo Trich. "He wants to pursue a coaching career in professional baseball and the new owners didn't want to wait until November or December to receive a commitment from him."

An Indiana High graduate, Rebyanski pitched for IUP from 2002-05. He is fourth on the Crimson Hawks' career strikeout list with 163 and is third with 30 starts.

He was IUP's Male Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2005, posting a 3.14 grade point average, and graduated in 2006 with a degree in communications media.

Rebyanski pitched in the Frontier League for three seasons and helped Windy City (Ill.) win consecutive league titles. He was named to the Frontier League North All-Star team in 2007.

"I was able to commit fully to coaching when my playing career ended in 2008," Rebyanski said.

Rebyanski coaches the Crimson Hawk pitchers and helped three of them become All-PSAC West performers when the team won that division last spring.

"Among the coaching candidates we considered, all of us felt Anthony was the best fit," said William "Wink" Robinson, one of the BlueSox owners.

"We wanted a good baseball person, for sure, but also wanted a head coach who would make certain that the quality of players we select will represent the Butler community well, both on the field and off."

Because of Rebyanski's pitching background, Slippery Rock High head coach and Seneca Valley graduate Glenn Sharrar won't be retained as BlueSox pitching coach.

"I'm going to handle the pitching end of things, and with Matt Clement as one of the owners, we've got that side of the game pretty well covered," Rebyanski said. "I'm looking for an assistant with more of a hitting background."

Rebyanski expects to name his assistant coach within the next week.

The BlueSox already have signed players from Division I schools Coastal Carolina, Eastern Illinois and Albany (N.Y.) for next season.

Rebyanski said he hopes to have his 26-man roster in place by late October.