Jim Bretz

Bretz played college baseball at Charlotte under head coach Gary Robinson from 1984–1987. During this stretch, the 49ers had two 30-win seasons and made two Sun Belt Tournaments. Bretz's teammates at Charlotte included future Major League umpire Fieldin Culbreth.{{cite web|title=2014 Charlotte Baseball Media Guide |url=http://www.charlotte49ers.com/fls/23200/Base/14Guide/14BSBMG.pdf |website=Charlotte49ers.com |publisher=Charlotte Athletic Media Relations |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601010102/http://www.charlotte49ers.com/fls/23200/Base/14Guide/14BSBMG.pdf |archivedate=June 1, 2014 }}{{cite web |title=Charlotte Baseball Year-by-Year Results |url=http://www.charlotte49ers.com/fls/23200/pdf/baseball/Year-by-Year%20Results.pdf |website=Charlotte49ers.com |publisher=Charlotte Athletic Media Relations |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601020753/http://www.charlotte49ers.com/fls/23200/pdf/baseball/Year-by-Year%20Results.pdf |archivedate=June 1, 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Jim Bretz |url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=jim-bretz&Page=Scout |website=TheBaseballCube.com |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091844/http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=jim-bretz&Page=Scout |archivedate=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Bretz began his coaching career as an assistant at UNC Asheville from 1988–1990.{{cite news|last1=Wehrle |first1=Bruce |title=Bess, Whiteside Are Playing Well |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19900425&id=Av0eAAAAIBAJ&pg=2502,6931212 |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |work=The Dispatch |date=April 25, 1990 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511052118/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19900425&id=Av0eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZlIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2502,6931212 |archivedate=May 11, 2017 |location=Lexington, North Carolina |page=8 |quote=... Bretz, who is the infield coach at UNCA, where he's assisted head coach Steve Pope for the past three years. |url-status=dead }} He was promoted to head coach for the 1991 season and held the position from 1991–1994.{{cite web|title=2013 UNC Asheville Baseball Media Guide |url=http://issuu.com/uncabulldogs/docs/2013avlbaseballguide/66 |publisher=UNC Asheville Athletic Communications |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315030057/https://issuu.com/uncabulldogs/docs/2013avlbaseballguide/66 |archivedate=March 15, 2016 |page=66 |url-status=dead }}

Under Bretz, Asheville finished 5th in the Big South Conference in 1991 and 1992, appearing in the Big South Tournament in both seasons. Its deepest tournament run came in 1991, when the team went 19-29. It started the tournament 3-0, with wins over #3 Winthrop, #2 Augusta, and #4 Davidson. In the championship round, however, it lost two games to top-seeded Coastal Carolina and finished as the tournament runner-up. In Bretz's final two seasons, 1993 and 1994, the Bulldogs did not qualify for the conference tournament. His overall record at Asheville was 73-114.

The Bulldogs had a player named to the All-Big South Team in each of Bretz's seasons, and three players signed professional contracts during his tenure. Pitcher Marc Rosenbalm, who was named to the Big South's all-conference and all-tournament teams in 1991, signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Mariners following the season. Jamon Deal and Eugene Faircloth were both selected in the 1992 MLB Draft and played in the minor leagues.{{cite web |title=MLB Amateur Draft Picks Who Came from "Asheville" |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=came_from&came_from=Asheville& |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140621145930/http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=came_from&came_from=Asheville& |archivedate=June 21, 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=UNCA Pitcher Signs |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19910524&id=3j5PAAAAIBAJ&pg=3768,5627074 |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |work=The Times-News |agency=Associated Press |date=May 24, 1991 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511051627/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19910524&id=3j5PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=USQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3768,5627074 |archivedate=May 11, 2017 |location=Hendersonville, North Carolina |page=18 |quote=North Carolina-Asheville pitcher Marc Rosenbalm has signed a free-agent contract with the Seattle Mariners ... . |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last1=Finnigan |first1=Bob |last2=Rockne |first2=Dick |title=Mariner Log |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920611/1496594/mariner-log |access-date=June 21, 2014 |work=Seattle Times |date=June 11, 1992 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215559/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19920611&slug=1496594 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Bretz's coaching staffs at Asheville included Sammy Stewart, an ex-Major League pitcher attempting a comeback from cocaine addiction. Stewart served as a volunteer assistant coach in 1991. Bretz said of Stewart in a press interview: "I'd heard all about his drug and alcohol problems, but the guy just made a mistake. You could see in his face that he wanted to make a commitment. He's been a real inspiration to my kids."{{cite news|last1=Olson |first1=Stan |title=Biggest Save: On Recovery Road, Sammy Stewart Finds His Victory over Drugs Beats Anything He Ever Did in World Series |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/05/29/biggest-save-on-recovery-road-sammy-stewart-finds-his-victory-over-drugs-beats-anything-he-ever-did-in-world-series/ |access-date=June 21, 2014 |work=Baltimore Sun |date=May 29, 1991 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064001/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-05-29/sports/1991149208_1_sammy-stewart-colin-stewart-asheville |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Prior to the start of the 1995 season, Bretz was hired as the head coach of Hartford, a position he held from 1995–1997. Hartford athletic director Pat Meiser-McKnett said of the hire, "[Bretz] is a seasoned Division I coach who we believe understands the broad picture of college athletics. Jim also brings to the program a high level of energy and integrity."{{cite news|title=Bretz to Coach Hartford Baseball |url=https://www.courant.com/1994/08/24/bretz-to-coach-hartford-baseball/ |access-date=June 21, 2014 |work=Courant.com |publisher=Hartford Courant |date=August 24, 1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610230226/http://articles.courant.com/1994-08-24/sports/9408240437_1_big-east-seton-hall-assistant-women-s-soccer-coach |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=2009 Hartford Baseball Media Guide |url=http://www.hartfordhawks.com/custompages/mediaguides/2008-09/mg_baseball-2009.pdf |website=HartfordHawks.com |publisher=Hartford Athletics Communications |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030633/http://www.hartfordhawks.com/custompages/mediaguides/2008-09/mg_baseball-2009.pdf |archivedate=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

In 1995, Bretz's first season, the Hawks went 14-25 (10-12 NAC). Prior to the season, many players that had played for or been recruited by previous head coach Moe Morhardt quit the program. The team played the season with a 16-man roster. Bretz said of the season: "I got rid of some problems and some players cut themselves. We wanted to find out who was going to be the backbone of the team. ... We were planning for the future: 'This is how we'll play, conduct ourselves on the road and handle tough situations. We didn't have a chance to win. We had a five-man pitching staff. You have to give credit to the guys who stuck it out."{{cite news|last1=Anderson |first1=Woody |title=Notebook |url=https://www.courant.com/1996/03/13/notebook-778/ |access-date=June 21, 2014 |work=Courant.com |publisher=Hartford Courant |date=March 13, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045946/http://articles.courant.com/1996-03-13/sports/9603130376_1_central-connecticut-la-verne-university-warriors |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|title=Vermont Sweeps Hartford |url=https://www.courant.com/1995/03/27/vermont-sweeps-hartford-uconn-loses-to-georgetown/ |access-date=June 21, 2014 |work=Courant.com |publisher=Hartford Courant |date=March 27, 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001532/http://articles.courant.com/1995-03-27/sports/9503270261_1_walks-hits-and-two-rbi-uconn |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Hartford's best season under Bretz was 1996, when the team went 18-30-1 (10-14 NAC) and reached the NAC Tournament, where the Hawks finished third. After losing their opener to top-seeded Delaware, Hartford defeated #5 Northeastern and #2 Maine before being eliminated by Drexel. Following the 1997 season, in which Hartford missed the conference tournament, Bretz resigned for personal reasons. His overall record in three seasons at Hartford was 48-78-1.{{cite news|title=Baseball Coach at U of H Resigns |url=https://www.courant.com/1997/10/18/baseball-coach-at-u-of-h-resigns/ |access-date=June 21, 2014 |work=Courant.com |publisher=Hartford Courant |date=June 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610204815/http://articles.courant.com/1997-10-18/sports/9710180269_1_resigns-interim-head-coach-cross-country |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |url-status=live }}

At Hartford, Bretz coached future Major Leaguer Earl Snyder, who played for the program from 1995–1998. Snyder played for the Cleveland Indians in 2002 and the Boston Red Sox in 2004. At Hartford, he set career records for home runs and RBI and was named to multiple all-conference and all-region teams.{{cite news|last1=Anderson |first1=Woody |title=With Snyder, There Are Powerful Similarities |url=https://www.courant.com/1997/03/05/with-snyder-there-are-powerful-similarities/ |access-date=June 21, 2014 |work=Courant.com |publisher=Hartford Courant |date=March 5, 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222937/http://articles.courant.com/1997-03-05/sports/9703050397_1_cape-cod-league-jeff-bagwell-hit |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Bretz was a proponent of changing college baseball's bat rules while at Hartford. In 1996, the Richmond Times-Dispatch quoted him on the minus-5's then in use: "Across the board, something needs to be done. Somebody is going to get killed [because of metallic bats]. It's going to happen. I guess we'll keep buying those bats until it does."{{cite web|title=The NCAA News |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/NCAANewsArchive/1996/19960923/comment.html |website=NCAA.org |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210004/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/NCAANewsArchive/1996/19960923/comment.html |archivedate=March 4, 2016 |date=September 23, 1996 |url-status=dead }} In 1999, the NCAA adopted BESR standards to reduce the exit speed of baseballs off the bat. The NCAA made further reductions in bats' liveliness in the years following these new standards.{{cite web|last1=Russell |first1=Daniel A. |title=Non-Wood Bats: Performance Trends in College Baseball |url=http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/bats/NCAA-stats.html |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704034236/http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/bats/NCAA-stats.html |archivedate=July 4, 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last1=Borzi |first1=Pat |title=Making Metal Bats Play Like Wood |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/sports/baseball/metal-bats-that-play-like-wood-alter-college-baseball.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |work=NYTimes.com |date=June 18, 2011 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140809171456/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/sports/baseball/metal-bats-that-play-like-wood-alter-college-baseball.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1& |archivedate=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Bretz began working as a scout in the 2000s. He was the Northeast Supervisor for the Cleveland Indians from 2000–2001, and for the San Diego Padres from 2001-2015. He has held the same position for the Detroit Tigers since 2015.{{cite news |last1=Goldberg |first1=Keith |title=Scouts Master a Tough Job |url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010422/NEWS/304229978 |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |work=RecordOnline.com |publisher=The Times Herald-Record |date=April 22, 2001 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040533/https://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010422/NEWS/304229978 |archivedate=November 10, 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Transactions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/08/sports/transactions-090638.html |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |work=NYTimes.com |date=November 8, 2001 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527160116/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/08/sports/transactions-090638.html |archivedate=May 27, 2015 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Wilton Local Sports |url=http://www.thehour.com/news/norwalk/wilton-local-sports/article_075f340d-a555-5ff7-ad32-41bcd4ccd1fa.html |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |work=TheHour.com |date=September 20, 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110080308/http://www.thehour.com/news/norwalk/wilton-local-sports/article_075f340d-a555-5ff7-ad32-41bcd4ccd1fa.html |archivedate=November 10, 2018 |url-status=dead }} His signees include Will Venable, Andy Parrino, Brad Brach, Travis Jankowski, Luke Carlin, Nick Greenwood, Brett Kennedy, Brendan White, and Jason Foley.{{cite news|last1=Eddy |first1=Matt |title=San Diego Padres: Top 10 Prospects Scouting Reports |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2009/267515.html |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |work=BaseballAmerica.com |date=January 30, 2009 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140621145944/http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2009/267515.html |archivedate=June 21, 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|last1=Eddy |first1=Matt |title=2011 Big League Debuts and Their Signing Scouts |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2011-big-league-debuts-and-their-signing-scouts/ |website=BaseballAmerica.com |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140621145852/http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2011-big-league-debuts-and-their-signing-scouts/ |archivedate=June 21, 2014 |date=September 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last1=Brock |first1=Corey |title=Brach Beat Long Odds to Reach Padres Bullpen: Rookie Righthander Was Selected in 42nd Round of 2008 Draft |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110915&content_id=24734178&vkey=news_sd&c_id=sd |website=MLB.com |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |date=September 15, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023170451/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110915&content_id=24734178&vkey=news_sd&c_id=sd |archivedate=October 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Padres Make Three Selections in Compensation Round of 2012 Draft |url=http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20120604&content_id=32777732&vkey=pr_sd&c_id=sd |publisher=San Diego Padres |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062854/http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20120604&content_id=32777732&vkey=pr_sd&c_id=sd |archivedate=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Below is a table of Bretz's yearly records as a collegiate head baseball coach.{{cite web|title=2013 Big South Baseball Record Book |url=http://big-south.s3.amazonaws.com/medias/files/8745/original.pdf?1373150620 |publisher=Big South Conference |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202638/http://big-south.s3.amazonaws.com/medias/files/8745/original.pdf?1373150620 |archivedate=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=2014 America East Baseball Record Book |url=http://www.americaeast.com/fls/14000/records/base.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=14000 |publisher=America East Conference |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616161032/http://www.americaeast.com/fls/14000/records/base.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=14000 |archivedate=June 16, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

{{CBB yearly record start | type = coach }}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = UNC Asheville Bulldogs

| conference= Big South Conference

| startyear = 1991

| endyear = 1994

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1991

| name = UNC Asheville

| overall = 19–29

| conference = 7–8

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason = Big South Tournament

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1992

| name = UNC Asheville

| overall = 20–28

| conference = 8–10

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason = Big South Tournament

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1993

| name = UNC Asheville

| overall = 19–27

| conference = 6–14

| confstanding = 9th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1994

| name = UNC Asheville

| overall = 15–30

| conference = 8–19

| confstanding = 10th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record subtotal

| name = UNC Asheville

| overall = 73–114

| confrecord = 29–51

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Hartford Hawks

| conference= North Atlantic Conference / America East Conference{{efn|The America East Conference was known as the North Atlantic Conference through the end of the 1996 season.}}

| startyear = 1995

| endyear = 1997

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1995

| name = Hartford

| overall = 14–25

| conference = 10–12

| confstanding = 7th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1996

| name = Hartford

| overall = 18–30–1

| conference = 10–14

| confstanding = 6th

| postseason = NAC Tournament

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1997

| name = Hartford

| overall = 16–23

| conference = 7–16

| confstanding = T–7th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record subtotal

| name = Hartford

| overall = 48–78–1

| confrecord = 27–42

}}

{{CBB yearly record end

| overall = 121–192–1

| legend = no

}}

Bretz's father, James, worked as a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates, among several other areas of professional baseball.{{cite news|last1=Gallagher |first1=Ronnie |title=Bretz Full of Baseball Stories, Winners |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19800709&id=_pcbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6774,971787 |accessdate=June 21, 2014 |work=North Davidson Dispatch |date=July 9, 1980 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511052254/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19800709&id=_pcbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x1EEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6774,971787 |archivedate=May 11, 2017 |location=North Davidson, North Carolina |url-status=dead }}

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{{UNC Asheville Bulldogs baseball coach navbox}}

{{Hartford Hawks baseball coach navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bretz, Jim}}

Category:Living people

Category:1964 births

Category:People from Lexington, North Carolina

Category:Sportspeople from Davidson County, North Carolina

Category:Charlotte 49ers baseball players

Category:UNC Asheville Bulldogs baseball coaches

Category:Hartford Hawks baseball coaches

Category:Cleveland Indians scouts

Category:San Diego Padres scouts