PISCATAWAY, NJ - The Rutgers Athletics community mourns the passing of Matthew J. “Matt” Bolger, Jr., who was a coach on the Scarlet Knights’ staff for over 30 years, including 22 seasons as baseball coach. Bolger died on Monday, June 7, at his home in Lavallette, N.J.

Bolger served as head coach of the Scarlet Knight baseball team from 1961-83, compiling a 288-245-7 record in that time. Bolger guided his first Rutgers squad to 15-4-1 mark, and enjoyed eight winning seasons in his first 10 years as coach. Bolger took Rutgers to three NCAA Tournament appearances in a five-year span from 1966-70.

“Matt Bolger touched the lives of many student-athletes in a very positive way during his time on the Rutgers staff,” said Rutgers Director of Athletics Bob Mulcahy. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Bolger, who was named to the Rutgers Olympic Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, was twice honored as “Coach of the Year” by the New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association. Several of Bolger’s players were major league draft picks, including Jeff Torborg, a first-round selection who went on to a successful career as a player and manager.

Bolger was President of the American Association of College Baseball Coaches, and was named to the AACBC Hall of Fame, as well as the Newark Hall of Fame and the St. Benedict’s Prep Hall of Fame.

Bolger also served on Rutgers football coaching staffs from 1956-65 before concentrating on baseball. He served four years under John Stiegman (1956-59), and six years under John Bateman (1960-65), coaching both ends and the offensive line.

Born in Newark, he graduated from St. Benedict Prep School, and then Cornell in 1948. A Marine Corps veteran, Bolger coached football at Brown and Providence before coming to Rutgers.