SLIPPERY ROCK — Two friends, different career choices.

But they could have been one and the same.

Slippery Rock University baseball coach Jeff Messer and Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach Dave Jauss broke into collegiate coaching together at Westfield (Mass.) State College in 1983. Jauss was the team's head coach, Messer the assistant.

“That was my first head coaching job and Jeff's first assistant position,” Jauss said. “We sort of broke each other in.

“We had to learn together. We laid a foundation there. That sort of thing stays with you.”

After a couple of seasons, Messer went on to SRU, where he just completed his 30th year as head coach. Jauss moved on to Atlantic Christian College (now known as Barton) in Wilson, N.C., in 1985.

Messer's first-ever victory at The Rock came against Atlantic Christian during a spring trip.

“Dave is a competitive guy and he didn't like losing to me that first year at all,” Messer said. “He's still not happy about it.”

Jauss said that “it took me three years to beat the first coach I worked for. Jeff called when he got the SRU job and asked if we could get our teams together and play.

“I never thought they would beat us. We were loaded that year ... Three of our guys went on to play professionally.”

Jauss soon joined them in the pro ranks. He accepted a position as manager of the Montreal Expos' Gulf Coast League franchise in 1988.

He's done a lot of moving since — while Messer has stayed put.

In his 30 seasons at The Rock, Messer has accumulated 924 wins, ranking seventh among active Division II baseball coaches and second all-time among Pennsylvania collegiate coaches. He trails only Temple's John Wilson, who has 1,034 wins.

In the meantime, Jauss has switched jobs 13 times in pro ball.

“I had opportunities to move up to Division I baseball and pursue the game at a higher level,” Messer said. “The whole family thing took precedent for me. We wanted a stable place to raise our kids and we found that in Slippery Rock.

“You do a lot of moving around once you enter professional baseball. Dave and his wife accepted that and he's had an outstanding pro career.”

But not an easy life by any means.

“People see you wearing a major league uniform and figure it's a glamorous life,” Jauss said. “It is great, for sure, but it took 15 years to get here. I put in time in the Appalachian League, New York-Penn, Florida State League, Texas League ... all over the place.

“My wife and I had three small boys and I'm suddenly spending a winter in Venezuela for baseball. I was always going somewhere.”

To this day, Jauss believes Messer could have succeeded as a major league coach had he opted for that choice.

“Any accomplished college coach could do this, especially a guy with Jeff's personality and demeanor,” Jauss said. “He would have found success. Then again, he's had a blessed career at Slippery Rock and it's still going strong.”

As is their friendship.

“We just hit it off from the start,” Messer said. “Dave and I have always stayed in touch. As second vice president of the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association), I had to line up 30 speakers for the convention this coming January in Nashville.

“I called Dave and asked him to speak. He accepted immediately.”

Messer is among numerous friends Jauss has in baseball.

“I still stay in touch with 250 to 300 ex-players and coaches I've worked with over the years,” Jauss said. “That's a big part of this game, one of the most enjoyable parts. You meet quality people.”

As the Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals battle for the division title and a possible playoff matchup, Messer has a rooting interest on both sides: Jauss with the Pirates, former SRU slugger Matt Adams with the Cardinals.

“I'm glad to see Matt back in the lineup and he is one of our own,” Messer admitted. “But I'm a Pirate fan. I hope Matt does great. But I hope the Pirates win.”