Michael Cocco '86, a man synonymous with Seton Hall University baseball who personified the program's motto "Never Lose Your Hustle", passed away on Sunday.
shupirates.com
Seton Hall Baseball Mourns The Passing Of Michael Cocco '86
South Orange, N.J. — Michael Cocco '86, a man synonymous with Seton Hall University baseball who personified the program's motto "Never Lose Your Hustle", passed away on Sunday.
Cocco worked his way up from being a four-year student manager under legendary head coach Mike Sheppard, Sr. to serving Sheppard, Sr. as a graduate assistant and assistant coach. He was a part of two Seton Hall teams that made NCAA Regionals and he was on staff for the Seton Hall squad that won the 1987 BIG EAST championship. Cocco also notably managed Seton Hall's "B" team and he assisted then associate head coach and Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Famer Ed Blankmeyer with the pitching staff.
In total, Cocco spent 13 consecutive years on the South Orange campus; four as a high school student at Seton Hall Prep, four as a student manager at the University's baseball program, two as a graduate assistant and three as a full-time assistant. Cocco turned himself into one Sheppard, Sr's most trusted staff members. In his biography as a senior at Seton Hall in 1986, Sheppard, Sr. said this about Cocco:
"Started out to be one of the better managers during my time at Seton Hall…I truly love Mike Cocco for everything he has done for me."
The Memorial Visitation will take place on Friday, April 26th from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park. The memorial funeral mass will be held at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Florham Park on Saturday, April 27th at 10:00 am, followed by the inurnment at Holy Rood Cemetery in Morristown.