At the 11th EBCA Convention in Prague this past weekend Belgian coach Steve Janssen got named EBCA Coach of the Year. The head coach of the Dutch National Team won the European Championship in September, the first for the Netherlands since 2007. He is currently with the U21 National Team of the KNBSB at the inaugural Baseball World Cup at this age category in Taichung. He sent a video message to the participants of the EBCA Convention in Prague, accepting the award.
It is the second time after 2009 that Janssen received the EBCA Coach of the Year Award. In that year he was still working at the club level, leading DOOR Neptunus of the Dutch Hoofdklasse. He first became pitching coach of the Dutch National Team and then after the 2013 World Baseball Classic head coach. Other nominees were Chris Byrnes (Zurich Barracudas), Marian Krasny (South Moravia Little League), Rolando Merino (Templiers Senart) and David Winkler (Czech U21 National Team).
Previous Winners:
- 2008: Christophe Dassy
- 2009: Steven Janssen
- 2010: Greg Frady
- 2011: Brian Farley
- 2012: Mauro Mazzotti
- 2013: Evert-Jan’t Hoen
- 2014: Steve Janssen