March 2, 1998
Bowie, MD....The Bowie State University campus is in a state of mourning following the sudden death, March 1, of popular head baseball coach Larry Freer, just three days before the beginning of the season."We were all stunned and shocked to learn of his death," said BSU Athletic Director Larry Wilson. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, and he will be dearly missed.
A Manhattan, NY native, the 48-year-old Freer was a part-time coach at Bowie State. He was a sergeant and section supervisor in the Criminal Investigations Division, Vice and Narcotics Section, Howard County Police Department where had worked since 1977. In 1986 he earned his B.S. degree in criminal justice from the University of Maryland-College Park, and was working towards his master's degree in guidance and counseling from Johns Hopkins University.
Feer joined the Bowie State staff in October, 1996 and guided the baseball Bulldogs to their second-consecutive Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association title in 1997. Under Freer's tutelage, the Bulldogs posted their best record in 14 years, ending the season with a 26-14 mark. He was named the CIAA Baseball Coach of the Year for 1997.
Before coming to Bowie State, Freer spent two years as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. He was head man at St. Mary's College in southern Maryland from 1991-94. In 1992, he guided the Seahawks to a 19-11 mark, their best record in school history.
The Bowie State baseball team had been slated to open their season Wednesday, March 4, at home against Shenandoah University of Winchester, VA, but the game has been posponed indefinitely. It is expected that the Bulldogs will start their season Friday, March 6, against Caldwell College of New Jersey. Assistant coaches Dave Raeder, Chris Smith and Bob Kovalchik will handle coaching responsibilities until an interim head coach is named to succeed Freer.
Coach Freer is survived by his wife, Pat, son, Mike and daughter, Megan.
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