Long Recruiting Process For Koppel Ends At Fordham

Deron Koppel RHP / OF / Avon Old Farms, CT / 2024

NORWALK, Ct. - Setbacks had Deron Koppel wondering just when a college commitment might come.

“I had my injury late last spring so I knew I’d be late,” Koppel admitted about the timing of a decision. “But not this late.”

Three months before college 2024-25 school year begins, Koppel finally found a home at Fordham.

“The first time I was there at Fordham was a team camp two years ago,” reflected the Avon Old Farms post grad from Norwalk. “I really enjoyed it. I loved everything about it. It’s close and I didn’t want to go too far. Academically it’s a great fit. Being in New York City it’s right for me being a finance major.”

While there is certainty now, that wasn’t always the case.

“My first offer came from Sacred Heart the summer of 2022,” Koppel related. “But a few weeks after the offer the staff was gone and the new coach brought in his own recruits so I decided to do post grad.

“In the fall of 2022 I did a camp at Fordham and did well, but the velo wasn’t there that day. They mentioned to me they’d come out in the summer but I got hurt my senior year at Norwalk. It was a 10-month healing process, so it wasn’t good. I had a lot of interest from Ivy Leagues and Fordham but they wanted to see how rehab went. The best case scenario was the fall, but when I first threw in August I felt some pain so I was shut down the remainder of the year.”

Avon Old Farms coach Rob Dowling “kept Fordham apprised of how the rehab was going,” according to Koppel. “They were wanting to make sure I came back the same pitcher I was before.”

The first test on the mound for the 6-0 180-pound right-hander came mid-March in Florida. A “solid season” in high school followed, with 15 innings of work allowing two runs and five hits.

“Coach (Elliot) Glynn came out the second to last outings for a couple of batters and I got the okay they wanted me,” Koppel said in reference to the Fordham recruiting coordinator and pitching coach. “They were always tops for me. It all worked out even though it was late.”

The desire to play baseball came early for Koppel.

“At two or three I remember on a walk with my parents I was picking up rocks and throwing them,” the recently turned 19-year-old reflected. “I always knew baseball was what I wanted to do. I wanted to play pro ball and college is a stepping stone.”

Interest was there before the injury, a bone bruise to the elbow joint.

“I’d gone to a PBR event the previous summer and went to a PBR with Baseball U in February or March and several New England schools were there, maybe Fordham,” Koppel explained. “I definitely had interest heading into my senior year at Norwalk but it fell off the table when I was hurt. But the contacts were still there.”

Now healthy, Koppel is excited about what he can bring to the Atlantic 10 Conference program located less than an hour from home.

“I’ve always felt I had a good mental toughness on the mound,” Koppel noted. “I’m able to limit damage and in college I hope to continue that, finding a way to get it done. I’m also a team guy who wants team success.”

Koppel - who pointed to his parents, teammates, coach Dowling at Old Farms and coach Pat Vigilio at Baseball U Connecticut as playing important roles in his baseball journey - is thrilled to know where his future lies.

“There’s a lot of weight off the shoulders,” Koppel admitted. “I don’t know that I’ve ever had a bigger sigh of relief. I had two full recruiting periods, with Norwalk junior and senior year and then post grad at Avon. Obviously I had other interest, but Fordham was always the spot I knew I’d be happy.

“After five years of high school I’m looking forward to college,” Koppel concluded. “I have friends on the Fordham team already. Sure, it’s going to be a huge jump with baseball and I’ll have to adjust to it, but I’m excited for the change of scenery. It will force me to compete harder than ever and I’m excited to see how I respond to the new environment.”