Tom Penders

Thomas V. Penders

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
• School University of Connecticut
• High School Stratford High School

• Born May 23, 1945 in Stratford, CT USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Tom Penders was briefly a minor leaguer and coached college basketball for over 35 years.

Tom played in the 1965 College World Series alongside brother Jim Penders. He also played in the NCAA Tournament in 1965 and 1967 for UConn's basketball squad. The Cleveland Indians took him in the 8th round of the January 1968 amateur draft.

Penders split 1968 between the Rock Hill Indians (.302/.411/.346 in 65 G) and the Waterbury Indians (.191/.315/.234 in 31 G). Had he qualified, he would have ranked third in the Western Carolinas League in average. Penders alternated between the outfield, third base and second base at both stops.

Penders then left baseball to become a basketball coach. Tom coached at Bullard-Havens Technical High School and Bridgeport Central High School from 1969-1971, going 59-10. He then was head basketball coach at Tufts University, Columbia University, Fordham University, the University of Rhode Island, University of Texas, George Washington University and University of Houston. He led Rhode Island to the Sweet 16 in 1988 and Texas to the Sweet 16 in 1997. He was 629-422 entering 2009-2010 and was the 34th coach in NCAA history to win 600 games.

Tom is the son of Jim Penders I and the brother of Jim Penders II; both won four high school baseball titles in Connecticut. His nephews Rob Penders and Jim Penders III both have coached college baseball, while Aaron Quinn, another relation, played in the minors (as did Rob Penders).

Sources

• Houston bio
• 1969 Baseball Guide