University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Remembering Coach Tom Petroff
8/23/2022 4:37:00 PM | Baseball
Northern Colorado Athletics Hall of Fame baseball coach Tom Petroff passed away on Monday.
Petroff spent his life with the game he loved, baseball. He came to Northern Colorado after being the head coach at Rider from 1961-70, taking them to the program's only trip to the College World Series in 1967.
Arriving in Greeley in 1970 he was the head skipper for the Bears until 1985. Over his time, he guided the Bears to six conference championships, three NCAA Division II regional appearances and three NCAA Division I regional appearances including the 1974 College World Series. Petroff and the Bears upset No. 1 ranked Arizona on their way to Omaha.
He was named the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Coach of the Year in 1971. Petroff also received the Lefty Gomez Award in 1974, given each year to an individual who has contributed significantly to the game of baseball locally, nationally and internationally.
His impact at UNC went beyond the baseball field, as he developed an educational physical sensory program entitled "See and Feel" for the hearing impaired. He continued the program throughout his career including becoming the co-director of the Deaf Baseball Development Program.
After going 367-198-1 at UNC he went on to be an assistant coach at the University of Iowa and Director of Field Operations for the Detroit Tigers.
A well-known clinician, Petroff conducted skills clinics in 40 states and six foreign countries. He was the head coach for the Netherlands in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, and was invited to Holland several times to help develop the skills of the Dutch National Senior Baseball team. He also coached the U.S. Olympic team in 1984 and aided the national team as Director of Instruction for the 2000 Olympics.
Along the way, Petroff served as a professional scout for the National Basketball Association's Philadelphia 76ers. A 67-year member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, he served as president in 1984 and on the board of directors from 1984 until his death.Â
Petroff is a member of numerous Hall of Fames including the UNC Athletics Hall of Fame, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and ABCA Hall of Fame among others.
He is survived by his wife Barbara and daughter Ruth Ann.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to the Tom Petroff Baseball Fund (scholarship) through the University of Northern Colorado Foundation. A celebration of Petroff's life will take place in Greeley, Colorado and will be live streamed to a location in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The celebration will also be made available to remote attendees. Updated time, date and details will be posted at TomPetroff.com.Â
Others of Coach Petroff's Legacy
"Coach Petroff's impact went far beyond the baseball diamond. His mentorship in the lives of his players created far-reaching success and prosperity."
- Mike Anderson (UNC Baseball Head Coach & Player 1983-86)
Â
"When I played for Coach Petroff he was so intimidating, but afterward I realized all the information and his coaching had to deal with baseball but yet had to do with life too. When I reflect there are two men that shaped my life, my dad and Coach Petroff. I was honored that he wanted me to play for him. I never thought I would be able to play at UNC, but he asked me to come out. He gave me a starter set of keys to life. Because of that my work ethic for life never changed."
- Gene Mondragon (Baseball player, 1978-82)
Petroff spent his life with the game he loved, baseball. He came to Northern Colorado after being the head coach at Rider from 1961-70, taking them to the program's only trip to the College World Series in 1967.
Arriving in Greeley in 1970 he was the head skipper for the Bears until 1985. Over his time, he guided the Bears to six conference championships, three NCAA Division II regional appearances and three NCAA Division I regional appearances including the 1974 College World Series. Petroff and the Bears upset No. 1 ranked Arizona on their way to Omaha.
He was named the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Coach of the Year in 1971. Petroff also received the Lefty Gomez Award in 1974, given each year to an individual who has contributed significantly to the game of baseball locally, nationally and internationally.
His impact at UNC went beyond the baseball field, as he developed an educational physical sensory program entitled "See and Feel" for the hearing impaired. He continued the program throughout his career including becoming the co-director of the Deaf Baseball Development Program.
After going 367-198-1 at UNC he went on to be an assistant coach at the University of Iowa and Director of Field Operations for the Detroit Tigers.
A well-known clinician, Petroff conducted skills clinics in 40 states and six foreign countries. He was the head coach for the Netherlands in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, and was invited to Holland several times to help develop the skills of the Dutch National Senior Baseball team. He also coached the U.S. Olympic team in 1984 and aided the national team as Director of Instruction for the 2000 Olympics.
Along the way, Petroff served as a professional scout for the National Basketball Association's Philadelphia 76ers. A 67-year member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, he served as president in 1984 and on the board of directors from 1984 until his death.Â
Petroff is a member of numerous Hall of Fames including the UNC Athletics Hall of Fame, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and ABCA Hall of Fame among others.
He is survived by his wife Barbara and daughter Ruth Ann.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to the Tom Petroff Baseball Fund (scholarship) through the University of Northern Colorado Foundation. A celebration of Petroff's life will take place in Greeley, Colorado and will be live streamed to a location in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The celebration will also be made available to remote attendees. Updated time, date and details will be posted at TomPetroff.com.Â
Others of Coach Petroff's Legacy
"Coach Petroff's impact went far beyond the baseball diamond. His mentorship in the lives of his players created far-reaching success and prosperity."
- Mike Anderson (UNC Baseball Head Coach & Player 1983-86)
Â
"When I played for Coach Petroff he was so intimidating, but afterward I realized all the information and his coaching had to deal with baseball but yet had to do with life too. When I reflect there are two men that shaped my life, my dad and Coach Petroff. I was honored that he wanted me to play for him. I never thought I would be able to play at UNC, but he asked me to come out. He gave me a starter set of keys to life. Because of that my work ethic for life never changed."
- Gene Mondragon (Baseball player, 1978-82)
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