SELINSGROVE, Pa.– Susquehanna University head baseball coach Matt Karchner has resigned after two seasons with the Crusaders, director of athletics Pam Samuelson has announced. Denny Bowers has been promoted to head coach after serving as the team's third-base coach for the past four seasons.

Karchner took over as head coach in January 2004 after pitching in the major leagues from 1995 to 2000. He compiled a 16-52-1 record in two seasons with the Crusaders, as the squad went 8-26 overall and 3-18 in the Commonwealth Conference in both years with one tie in 2005.

“We are extremely grateful for what he has done to start rebuilding the program,” said Samuelson. “His knowledge and experience were invaluable resources for our student-athletes. Given coach Bowers' tenure in our program as a player and coach, we are confident that he will be able to continue the process.”

Bowers, a native of Westminster, Md., is a 2001 graduate of Susquehanna and was a four-year starter for the Crusaders from 1997 through 2000 as a pitcher and outfielder.

He was named All-Commonwealth Conference in 1998 after hitting .435 with three home runs and 25 runs batted in, and ranks fourth in program history with a .373 batting average in 94 games. Bowers also went 8-6 with 74 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings.

A standout defensive lineman on the football team as well, Bowers was a two-time All-South selection by Don Hansen's Football Gazette and was a two-time first-team MAC Commonwealth League selection and the 1999 MAC Defensive Lineman of the Year. In 2000, Bowers was an assistant coach while finishing his bachelor's degree in mathematics.

He resides in Selinsgrove with his wife, Amy.