Gerard “Rod” Stephan has for more than four decades given his time to teach, support and develop young people to become successful athletes and, more importantly, solid citizens through the game of baseball. His love for the game and impact across the years will be honored on November 20, 2025 when he is presented the Jim McElroy Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award by the Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Alliance.
Founded in 1961, the GNYSAA is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to serve the children of New York City and the greater metropolitan area through baseball while promoting an attitude of professionalism and fair play.
The award will be presented during the association’s 20th Annual Service to Youth Baseball Gala at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach.
Named head coach of the SUNY Old Westbury men’s baseball team for the 2011 season after four years as an assistant coach, Stephan will open the 2026 season tied as the winningest coach in the program history. Stephan has guided Old Westbury to Skyline Conference Championship play in 11 of his 15 seasons and led the team to the University’s fourth bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball National Championship Tournament in 2015, its first since 2001.
Twice named Skyline Conference Coach of the Year, Stephan’s achievements include coaching players to status as All-Americans (3 times), ABCA/Rawlings All-New York Region honorees (25), D3Baseball.com All-New York Region designees (19), ECAC Metro Region All-Stars (2), Skyline Conference Player of the Year (2), Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year (2), and Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year (1), All Skyline First team (37) and All Skyline Conference Second team (18). As head coach, he has also seen four of his players earn the prestigious SUNY Chancellor Scholar-Athletes Award.
But his work in baseball and with his players extends beyond the game. For 15 consecutive years, his players have volunteered their time at the Special Olympics Long Island Fall Classic, a yearly tradition Stephan is proud to have his program participate in. For its volunteer efforts, the baseball program has been recognized in the NCAA Division III Special Olympics Spotlight and the NCAA “30 Days of Giving.”
His impact in baseball predates his tenure at Old Westbury.
His passion for the game started early, as shown by his participation in the Hollis-Bellaire-Queens Village-Bellerose Athletic Association little league, where he was part of a state championship winning team. He played collegiately at Queens College and was selected to the All-Conference team four times, twice as a pitcher and twice as an infielder. In 1981, he was selected to both the New York State and New Jersey All Star Team.
Stephan served as the Queens College pitching coach in 1982 and 1983. In 1998, he was named player/coach of the United States Nike World Masters team. In 2000, 2002, 2007 and 2014, Stephan was a player/coach for four World Championship teams in the Men’s Senior Baseball League.
In 1998, Stephan was inducted into the Long Island Hall of Fame and, in 2001, he was inducted into the MSBL World Series Hall of Fame. Stephan played 24 seasons in the Stan Musial and 27 seasons in the MSBL.
In 2005, Coach Stephan retired after twenty years from the New York City Department of Corrections, where he served as a corrections officer.