St. Bonaventure

Fred Handler served as the Bonnies head coach from 1959-82 and is the second-longest tenured coach in the over 100-year history of the program. He could be considered as the father of modern-day Bonnies baseball as he was instrumental in the growth of the program from a club sport to varsity status and ultimately a member of the Atlantic 10. In addition to his baseball coaching duties, Handler also served as an assistant coach for the Bonnies men's basketball team through some of its best seasons 1960-70.

He was also a member of St. Bonaventure's department of physical education, teaching at the university from 1959-97, serving as chairman for 12 years. Bona's baseball field was renamed Fred Handler Park at McGraw-Jennings Field in his honor during the 2006-07 academic year.

Handler was inducted into the St. Bonaventure Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.

Handler passed away in 2025. Read his obituary online here.