Someone better get Seton Hall Prep coach Mike Sheppard, Jr. a hobby soon or he’s going to get to 1,000 wins in a hurry.

The launching pad to that number was erected on Monday when Sheppard, Jr. and his talented charges defeated Millburn, 14-2, providing the 40-year high school baseball coach with career victory No. 900.

The Pirates’ seventh win of 2025 drew Sheppard, Jr. to within 34 wins of Toms River South’s Kenny Frank, who retired two years ago atop the New Jersey Baseball Coaches All-Time Victories List.

Sheppard, Jr., now 900-240-7 (.789), joins Frank as the only two Garden State baseball coaches in the 900 club. The great Frank concluded his career in 2024 at 934-356-3. Sheppard, Jr., a very young 67, is as sure a thing to overtake Frank as the state’s winningest coach as are Shep’s practices sessions at The Prep lasting three hours.

In case you were wondering, Mike Sheppard, Jr. isn’t going anywhere soon that is away from a baseball diamond, so you can just settle in and wait for the next milestone, this one with four digits and a comma.

Sheppard, Jr. had just concluded one of those thorough, well-thought-out, no-detail left to chance practice sessions on Tuesday when DiamondNation.com reached him by cell phone.

“I hope to work at Seton Hall Prep for quite some time,” he said. “I don’t have a hobby.” Well, Shep’ did try golf once but that didn’t work out too well, so, we’ll leave that story alone for now.

While Shep’ does not have a hobby that could occupy him in, say, God forbid, retirement, what he does have is a passion for molding teenage boys into men as they learn an awful lot about baseball and win a lot of games along the way

“I look at it as a longevity thing,” said Sheppard, Jr., when asked what win No. 900 meant to him. “I’ve been fortunate to keep myself healthy enough to do what I love to do and that’s coach baseball and teach at Seton Hall Prep.”

Mike Sheppard, Jr. addresses his Seton Hall Prep players in Millburn on Monday after picking up career win No. 900.

Sheppard, Jr. is the chairman of Seton Hall Prep’s physical education department and still teaches classes. “It’s what I love to do,” he said.

The Pirates’ 7-2 start to the season and their quick strike at No. 900, makes a late 2027 season coronation of Sheppard, Jr. as New Jersey’s all-time winningest coach a strong possibility. If you bet against that probability, you will be betting against a program that has recorded a .789 winning percentage over 39 years.

That quest, though, isn’t something that takes up time in Sheppard, Jr.’s day.

“It’s something I’d be grateful for if it happened,” he said, “because there are so many classy individuals and great baseball people on that list. But I feel more fortunate to be healthy enough to do what I enjoy on a daily basis. I really don’t think about the numbers much.”

It’s a plain truth that Sheppard, Jr. much rather center his time on grinding through a detail oriented practice session or planning to exploit an opponent’s weaknesses to his team’s benefit. Numbers will be numbers. The days, weeks and years on the diamond are what matters most. And his responsibility to his players, of course, is what drives Shep’ most of all.

Those players have delivered a string of championships for Sheppard, Jr. and the proud Seton Hall Prep baseball program.

His Pirates have won seven NJSIAA Non-Public A state championships and a stunning six Star-Ledger (now NJ.com) Top 20 Trophies awarded annually to the No. 1 baseball team in New Jersey. Add to that bounty 10 North Jersey Non-Public A sectional titles, 18 Greater Newark Tournament trophies, and 23 conference championships split between the Iron Hills and Super Essex Conferences.

Seton Hall Prep’s most recent sectional and state championships came in 2016 in the rugged and most unforgiving group in the state, Non-Public A.

Frank Gately, right, has been the Seton Hall Prep pitching coach and head coach Mike Sheppard, Jr.’s top assistant the past 35 years. Here he warms up Angel Salcedo prior to Sheppard, Jr.’s 900th career victory.

“Championships are always the goal,” said Sheppard, Jr., “and you know Parochial A is the toughest division in the state. So it’s important to take it one game at a time. Tournament time comes quickly.”

The Seton Hall Prep baseball dynasty has been built from within.

Seven of Sheppard’s eight coaches played for him. All eight are Seton Hall prep grads, starting with lead assistant and 1986 grad Frank Gately, who has been at Shep’s side for 35 years. Dan Fornaro and Matthew Nesto round out the varsity staff. John Bravette and Dave Kahney steer the junior varsity squad and guiding the freshmen are brothers Rob and Ryan Clark and Shep’s son, Michael III.

Sheppard, Jr. has sent players to 45 different Division 1 programs and 18 of his former players have gone on to play professional ball, including major league pitchers Rick Porcello, Joe Martinez and Nick Christiani.

“I’ve been fortunate to have highly competent and loyal coaches,” says Sheppard, Jr. “Having eight guys on staff who are all graduates of the program to come back and coach is special. Frank Gately has been with me over 30 years and Jeff Goldberg, a childhood friend, has always been with us to help in any way he can.” Goldberg joined Sheppard, Jr. in 1987, his first season at Seton Hall Prep, and recalls that very first game being at Randolph.

Mike Sheppard, Jr. goes through final game preparations with longtime staff member Jeff Goldberg, right, who has been working with Sheppard, Jr. since his very first game with Seton Hall Prep in 1987.

One rhythmic string that ran through Monday’s milestone day for Sheppard, Jr., and went otherwise unnoticed by those outside the Sheppard family, was the fact that it was Mike Sheppard, Sr.’s 90th birthday. Or it would have been, but the longtime Seton Hall University baseball coach died in April of 2019 shortly before his 83rd birthday.

Sheppard, Jr. is the first to admit the hard charging intensity that was his calling card for so long has been tempered by age.

“I think I’ve mellowed out somewhat,” He said. “Over time you soften up a little bit. Some things I thought were important are not important anymore. You learn a lesson dealing with people and working with young people. Your hope is you are having a positive impact on them. I’m still big on enthusiasm and working hard. Those things haven’t changed.”

Part of that mellowing, surely, is becoming a grandfather to three boys, two from daughter Avery and another from son Michael.

Sheppard, Jr. doesn’t mention what is likely his strongest quality, one evident in every great coach. That is his preparation. Goldberg, who probably knows Shep’ as well as any of his coaches, has insisted for years that no one, and no team, is better prepared for a game than Shep’ and Seton Hall Prep baseball. “Mike leaves nothing, I mean nothing, to chance,” Goldberg has said many times. 

Asked to describe his ideal Seton Hall Prep player, Sheppard, Jr. said, “He’s a guy who is coachable, wants to compete and is a tough player, a good and loyal teammate. But that player is a gentleman on and off the field, giving his best effort at both.”

Sheppard, Jr. has never tolerated anything less than the best effort and proper behavior from his players.

“You should have somewhat of a philosophy,” he said. “It’s not just wins and losses. The two things I tell our players after our (pre-game) prayer on the field is hustle and class. I try to instill in our players that while we may be outscored in a game, we won’t lose when it comes to hustle and class. Making your best effort comes with being a man.”

The Sheppard family legacy is a deep and rich one and it continues to thrive.

It began with Mike, Sr. and his 998 career wins at Seton Hall University over 31 seasons, where his youngest son, Rob Sheppard, has followed in his dad’s footsteps with 520 wins over 20 seasons. Middle brother John surpassed 500 career wins himself last season at Morristown-Beard and first cousin Tim Byron, the longtime Old Tappan coach, sits just two wins away from career victory No. 600.

And that’s not all. Nephew Ty Blankmeyer, the son of legendary St. John’s University coach Ed Blankmeyer (829 career wins), is an assistant coach at Vanderbilt. Blankmeyer also played at Seton Hall Prep. Blankmeyer has a dad with 829 wins, a grandfather (Mike, Sr.) with 999 wins and an uncle (Mike, Jr.) with 900 wins. Any chance young Blanky and young Mike Sheppard, III know a little bit about baseball?

“It started with my dad and two brothers and I have aunts and uncles who are coaches as well,” said Sheppard, Jr. “Growing up I paid attention and watched as they dealt with people and their players.”

Shep’ was being groomed as a coach in the family baseball factory whether he knew it or not.

“I used to love it when my dad’s former players came to me and told stories about how my dad helped them. I came to realize, as a teacher and coach, you can have a profound effect on young people and their lives. It’s great to be there to help them when they need it most.”

The funny thing about being in education and coaching is that there are new kids in the building and on the diamond each year. They are walking, talking sponges, taking in every bit of valuable information from their teachers and coaches, growing, maturing and working to become valuable members of their community. It’s easy to understand why an educator or a coach wouldn’t want to let go of witnessing that growth and development day-in and day-out.

“I feel energetic and in good shape,” says Sheppard, Jr. “I hope to work and coach at Seton Hall Prep for quite some time. I don’t have a hobby.”

There it is, again.

And there are some witnesses who can verify how terribly that golf experience went for Shep’. Meanwhile, say a prayer for Laurie Sheppard, Mike’s wife, as she searches for something outside of a baseball diamond that grabs her husband’s attention.

“I remember running into (longtime Rutgers coach) Freddy Hill a year or two after he retired,” said Sheppard, Jr. “He was in the stands, watching a game. I went over out of respect to say hello. I said, “How’s retirement?” He said, ‘I hate it. It’s not for me.’ He asked, ‘What is your hobby?’ I said, “My hobby is baseball.”

A Walk Through NJ Baseball Coaching History

Four more coaches are set to reach major milestones this season.

Sam Tropiano (797-285-1) of Bishop Eustace sits just three wins shy of the 800-win mark. Sam will join the retired Marty Kenney (832-349) of Christian Brothers Academy in a finite group of two in the 800 club. Mike Sheppard, Jr.’s first cousin, Tim Byron (598-386-4) of Old Tappan, is just two wins away from joining the 12-man 600 club. And the affable Jim Maher (493-210-1) of Lawrence and Bill Avaro (488-240-1) of Kingsway are sure to chase down career victory No. 500 this season and become the 26th and 27th members of the 500 club.

NJ Baseball Coaches All-Time Victories List

(List is updated through games on Tuesday, April 14, 2026).

 x-denotes coach is active.

900 wins

• Ken Frank, Toms River South – 934-356-3
• x-Mike Sheppard, Jr. West Orange/Seton Hall Prep – 900-240-7

800 wins

• Marty Kenney, Christian Brothers Academy – 832-349

700 wins

• x-Sam Tropiano, Bishop Eustace/St. Augustine – 797-285-1
• Tony Ferrainolo, Memorial (WNY) – 754-208
• Harry Shatel, Morristown – 752-326

600 wins

• Rich Bender, Delran – 672-349
• Lee Ware, Woodstown – 671-414
• Bob Brewster, Westfield – 655-342-3
• Ray Korn, Elizabeth – 651-308-1
• Gordon LeMatty, Union – 641-272-4
• x-Kurt Hommen, Ridgewood/Tenafly – 646-292-1
• x-Rich Horan, Audubon – 634-253-3
• Norm Hewitt, Bridgewater West/ Bridgewater/Hillsborough – 631-326
• Frank Salvano, St. Joseph (Mont.) – 630-184-1
• Mike Zadroga, Dickinson/North Bergen/Hudson Catholic/County Prep – 611-254
• x-Dennis Barth, Gloucester Catholic – 612-127-1
• Russ Spicer, Haddonfield/Moorestown/Paulsboro/Cinnaminson – 603-287

500 wins

• Joe Kasberger, St. Benedict’s Prep – 593-137-3
• x-Tim Byron, Glen Ridge/Montclair/Old Tappan – 598-386-4
• Joe Urbanovich, St. Peter’s Prep – 580-272
• Andy Greener, Ewing – 561-244-5
• John Ponchak, Ramsey – 555-342
• Bob Carcich, Emerson – 539-233
• Joe Cervino, Paramus – 538-284-2
• x-Dennis McCaffery, Cranford/St. Joseph (Met.) – 529-167
• Butch Servideo, Lyndhurst – 524-265-1
• Tom Gambino, Immaculata – 522-133-1
• Jack Fletcher, Columbia – 522-227
• Ralph Cobb, Old Tappan/Rutherford – 522-321
• Bill Frank, Toms River East – 520-279-2
• Mike Hogan, St. Mary(J.C.)/St. Anthony/Marist/Ferris – 519-427
• Champ Atlee, Lawrenceville – 519
• x-Rob Christ, Eastern/Gateway 520-217
• x-Gary Sarno, Camden Catholic/CH West/Hammonton/PaulVI/ Triton/Bordentown – 515-332-2
• John Brunelli, Cliffside Park – 511-239
• Ralph Pacifico, Montclair Kimberley – 510-325-1
• Lou Calderone, Glen Ridge – 507-199
• x-Chris Roof, Millburn/Gov. Livingston – 511-185-1
• x-John Sheppard, Morristown-Beard – 506-299-2
• x-Brian Giallella, Notre Dame/Steinert – 506-160
• Dave Martin, Cherry Hill East – 502-286

On the verge of 500 wins

• x-Jim Maher, Florence/Hamilton West/Nottingham/Lawrence – 498-212-1
• x-Bill Alvaro, Jr., Williamstown/Washington Twp./Kingsway – 488-240-1