Coach Ernie Rosseau’s 735 Wins Most In BCC History
By Thomas Carrigan // April 11, 2013
SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME
COACH ERNIE ROSSEAU – 2013 INDUCTEE
• Record 735 Career Victories
• 29-Year Coaching Career At BCC
• Coached In White Sox Organization
SATELLITE HIGH SCHOOL GRAD
If you know baseball on the Space Coast, chances are you’ve heard of Ernie Rosseau.
“The Red Rooster” graduated from Satellite High School in 1969. After playing baseball at Brevard Community College, he would then play in the professional ranks in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
After his professional career ended, Rosseau went into coaching where he would then become the head coach of the Brevard Community College (BCC) Titans in 1980.
After “5,000 practices later,” Rosseau would leave as the greatest coach in BCC baseball history. Rosseau, who will be inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in May, was initially overwhelmed when he heard of his induction.
“I took one look at the list and thought ‘this is unbelievable’,” Rosseau said. “I was very impressed. To be going into the Hall of Fame with such a prestigious list is a very big honor for me. It’s also pretty cool to be going in with another BCC guy in (San Francisco Giants manager) Bruce Bochy.”
AMONG TOP WINS TOTAL IN JUNIOR COLLEGE HISTORY
Rosseau retired after 29 years at the Titans’ helm in 2012. His 735 wins are the most in school history and one of the top wins total in Florida junior college baseball history. Rosseau led the Titans to the state championships in 1986 and 1989.
The 1986 squad proved to be the most successful in school history as they finished second in the National Junior College Baseball World Series. They finished runner-up to San Jacinto College, the nation’s winningest junior college baseball team in history. According to Rosseau, his 1984 team, which finished fifth in the state, had the greatest collection of talent he’s ever coached.
“We went 39-5 that season and shattered every offensive record we had,” Rosseau said. “It was the most dominating team that I ever coached. We had guys healthy and playing well but just came up short in the end.”
His most inspirational squad was in 2002. That was the year when the program learned it was going to be disbanded due to budget cuts. “That 2002 team was on a mission,” Rosseau said. “When those players learned the program was going to be cut after 40 years, they absolutely banded together. We had major talent on that ballclub.”
“A lot of people in the community and our school rallied around that club. I feel like it forever changed the landscape of BCC baseball. It was a legitimate, loaded ball club with four guys hitting over 10 homeruns. At the time, it was unheard of to have the program being cut. To see the kind of support we got that season really captivated the junior college baseball landscape.”
Rosseau also coached in the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs organization, and spent a two-year stint in the 1990s with the Cubs organization as its roving minor league hitting coordinator.
Coach Ernie Rosseau coached in the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs organization, and spent a two-year stint in the 1990s with the Cubs organization as its roving minor league hitting coordinator.
Titans practices proved to be legendary under Rosseau. He pointed out that it wasn’t uncommon to have a six-hour practice, hammering the basics into his players. Rosseau also was quick to point out how lucky he was to have such great assistant coaches by his side.
“I was very lucky and fortunate to have really great assistant coaches,” Rosseau said.
“A lot of our baseball team’s success goes back to the Coach Plecks, Tysons, Colemans and Rahals,” who were with me over the years. They knew how to coach these guys if I was having a bad day.”
‘IT WAS A GOOD RUN’
Timothy Poydenis, now a lawyer in Santa Monica, California played for the Titans 2004-2006 before transferring and starring for Villanova University’s baseball team. He calls Rosseau the best coach he’s ever had.
“Coach Rosseau taught me more about the game of baseball than I thought possible,” Poydenis said. “More importantly, however, Coach also instilled certain values and traits that have helped shape the person I am today.”
Since retiring last year, Rosseau has stayed busy. He still teaches full-time at BCC and follows the college and pro game every day. While he doesn’t miss the coaching aspect as much, it was the daily interaction he misses dearly.
“I still keep in contact with a lot of my former players, which is very important to me. As I look back now, it was a good run. This is a first for me, being inducted into a Hall of Fame. You’ll always remember your first. Now I’m just along for the ride.”
THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 10 with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. – and dinner and ceremony at 7 p.m.
FOR INFORMATION & TICKETS to the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction dinner call 321-615-8111 or e-mail MaverickMultimedia@gmail.com
