By Tyler Diedrich
Editor-in-Chief
Brian Stavisky might be the most interesting St. Bonaventure athletics
figure few outside the department know.
Ten years ago, he was a baseball hero at Notre Dame. After three
successful seasons in South Bend, Stavisky played professionally for
parts of nine seasons. He once spent Spring Training practicing
alongside legends like Mike Piazza and Frank Thomas, and he played
against current stars like Prince Fielder and Stephen Strasburg in the
minors.
Today, as director of athletic compliance, he ensures all Bonnies
athletic teams adhere to all NCAA rules regarding eligibility,
recruiting, season/practice scheduling and financial aid.
Stavisky said he enjoys working with all the Brown and White teams,
although he was conflicted March 25 when the women’s basketball team
met eventual national runner-up Notre Dame in the NCAA Sweet 16 in
Raleigh, N.C.
“I was rooting for the Bonnies, of course,” he said. “I wanted our
girls to win –maybe I wanted them to play better than they did – but
at the same time, they had a great year. They won the games they
should have, they exceeded expectations and they were within the last
16 in the whole country. If it had to end for them, I was glad it was
against Notre Dame and then I could go back to rooting for Notre Dame
the rest of the time.”
Stavisky, 31, was born in Olean and grew up in nearby Port Allegany,
Pa., before returning in July 2010 to take his current job. He starred
in football, baseball, basketball and golf, in high school graduating
at the top of his class with a 3.99 grade-point average.
He earned a baseball scholarship to Notre Dame – his dream school –
in 1999 and immediately made an impact in the Fighting Irish lineup,
hitting 14 home runs and earning freshman All-America honors in 2000.
Stavisky made the All-Big East second team all three years in South
Bend and earned third-team Academic All-America honors his sophomore
and junior years.
Stavisky’s heroics carried Notre Dame through a historic run in 2002.
The left fielder doubled in the game-winning run in the bottom of the
10th inning against Rutgers in the Big East championship game, sending
the Irish to the NCAA Tournament.
Notre Dame upset Florida State to win the Tallahassee Super Regional,
earning the Irish’s first College World Series berth since 1957.
Stavisky’s walk-off two-run homer lifted Notre Dame past Rice in a
College World Series elimination game before the Irish fell to
Stanford in the second round.
Stavisky signed with the Oakland Athletics, who drafted him in the
sixth round of the 2002 draft, following his junior year. He joined
players like Nick Swisher and Joe Blanton as part of Oakland’s
“Moneyball” draft class, detailed in Michael Lewis’ 2003 book that
spawned the 2011 film starring Brad Pitt.
Stavisky spent his first six professional seasons in the A’s
organization, peaking with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats in 2006
and 2007. He played one season in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
system before spending his final two in the Philadelphia Phillies
organization. He played on four championship teams, hitting a career
.301 and 83 home runs while spending time at all three outfield
positions, first base and designated hitter.
Stavisky – who worked as a substitute teacher in the offseason during
his playing career to supplement his income – said playing in the
minors isn’t as glamorous as it sounds, but he has no regrets despite
not reaching the majors.
“There are a lot of people that don’t get the opportunity that I had
… so I’m real happy with what I’ve been able to do,” he said. “There
were a lot of long bus rides through the night, a lot of long trips, a
lot of three-four-week stretches when we played without an off day.
There’s a lot that goes in to it, but the potential payoff to get to
the majors … is worth it for the guys that get there.”
Stavisky said his desire to make the big leagues kept him hanging
around, but he eventually realized it was time to move on.
“I’m seeing guys going up to the majors that I got hits off of or hit
well against. I really felt that if I just had the right break or I
just got the right opportunity, I could really do well,” he said.
“Getting toward 30 and being a first baseman in the Phillies
organization behind Ryan Howard … I could have kept playing just to
keep playing, but it got to the point where I wanted to get to the
majors or move on and really start a different career. Ultimately, I
was content with making that decision.”
Fortunately, he had a Notre Dame degree to fall back on. Stavisky
returned to South Bend the two fall semesters following his rookie
season, completing his business management degree in 2003.
Although it’s not part of his job description, Stavisky said he’s
willing to share his advice on playing professionally and balancing
academics and athletics. He said he’s already talked to men’s
basketball star Andrew Nicholson, expected to be selected in the NBA
Draft this summer, and likes the big man’s professional prospects.
“He’s got a real good head on his shoulders,” Stavisky said. “Look at
what he’s done as a student as well as an athlete here. He’s always
taken it all in stride, he’s never had a big head, he’s been great for
the community and for the university … his priorities have always been
straight. It’s just going to be more fun for me to watch him go from
college into pro basketball.”
Stavisky said he plans to pursue a master’s degree is sports
administration, adding he’d like to work at a larger school,
particularly his alma mater, one day. In the meantime, he said he’s
proud of all his experiences and is grateful for his current position.
“(Notre Dame) would probably be where I’d like to end up eventually,
(but) the main thing is just to be able to go in knowing I’m doing
something to help the student-athletes (and) coaches,” he said. “Here,
it’s been great because I’ve been close to home, the teams are all
doing well, everyone’s improving (and) the coaches are doing well.
There’s definitely some challenges here, but I’ve enjoyed it.”
diedrits@bonaventure.edu
