Rich Fetchiet to Retire as Big Ten Coordinator of Baseball Officials

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced today that long-time Coordinator of Baseball Officials Rich Fetchiet will be retiring from his post. Fetchiet joined the Big Ten in 1995, handling umpire assignments for 31 years.

A member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and the College Baseball Hall of Fame, Fetchiet recently received the Gold Whistle Award from the National Association of Sports Officials. He has coordinated baseball officials for 11 different collegiate conferences.

As an active umpire, Fetchiet worked two Men's College World Series (including behind the plate for the 1999 championship game) as part of a 45-year career at the NCAA Division I level. He also officiated at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Former Big Ten umpire Mark Uyl will step into the role of Coordinator of Baseball Officials, having assisted with officiating at the Big Ten Baseball Tournament in recent years. A veteran of 20-plus Big Ten seasons on the field, Uyl worked two Men's College World Series and currently provides training and support to the Collegiate Baseball Umpires Alliance, which consists of 1,400 umpires.