May 23, 2006
Release courtesy of Matt Turk, Simpson College sports information director

INDIANOLA , IOWA . . . Simpson College announced that John Sirianni will be stepping down as head baseball coach to concentrate on his duties as the Storm athletic director. Simpson has named Ben Blake to replace Sirianni as head baseball coach.

Blake served as the associate head coach at Simpson in 2006 after serving as an assistant coach for the Storm from 2004-2005. Blake has also served as the Simpson hitting coach since 2004.

Blake began his baseball career at Oral Roberts University before transferring to Simpson in time for the 1992 season. During the 1992 campaign, he was named first team All-Region and second team All-Conference. Blake played in the Cleveland Indians organization from 1993-94.

A 1999 graduate of Simpson, he played football for the Storm in 1998. Blake's father, Joe, Sr., has served as the Simpson pitching coach since 1984. His brother Casey, is a member of the Cleveland Indians.

Sirianni became the 38th NCAA Division III baseball coach to win at least 500 games when Simpson swept a doubleheader from Buena Vista Apr. 15, 2006. In 22 years as coach at Simpson, Sirianni compiled a 510-307-2 (a .625 winning percentage). Sirianni's win total is 36th best in Division III history.

During his 22-years tenure, Sirianni won at least 30 games four times and at least 20 games 15 times. Sirianni led the Storm to six NCAA Tournaments (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999, and 2004), four conference titles (1987, 1991, 1994, 2006), and two Iowa Conference Tournament championships (1994, 2004).

Simpson became the first Iowa team to advance to the NCAA Division III National Tournament in 1991. Sirianni was named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year for the seventh time in 2006 (1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2006). Sirianni was named NCAA Region Coach of the Year on two occasions (1987, 1991).

As the Simpson athletic director, Sirianni has led Simpson to the top of the Iowa Conference. In the past 22 years, Simpson has won two NCAA Division III National Championships (the 1997 and 1999 softball titles). 13-of-18 varsity sports at Simpson have combined for 52 Iowa Conference titles during Sirianni's tenure. The Storm have earned numerous regional and national tournament berths and 15 top-four NCAA Division III team finishes.

Sirianni has been instrumental in making major improvements in the Iowa Conference baseball structure. Such improvements include the initiation of fall practices and new IIAC regular season and conference tournament schedules.

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