Ralph "Butch" Pepe is in his sixth season as assistant coach with the Seahawks. A recently-retired Lieutenant Firefighter in New York City (FDNY) and Marine, Pepe has more than a decade of softball coaching experience under his belt.

Pepe's arrival to the coaching staff brought an immediate resurgence to the program. The Seahawks have posted a 136-110-2 (.553) since he joined the staff and registered their first winning season in 14 years in 2004.

Overseeing the Wagner hitters, he has helped increase the team batting average in each of his four seasons, topping out at .297 in 2006. In addition he has been instrumental in directing the Seahawks offense to numerous team and individual program records for runs scored, home runs, and RBI.

A face on the national recruiting scene, Pepe has assisted Coach Payne in the signing of talented Student-Athletes from across the county. During his stay at Wagner he has helped bring players from coast-to-coast to Staten Island covering the summer league traveling team and High School scene.

From 1989-94, the Staten Island native coached the South Shore Little League Softball Squad to four league championships. From 1994-2002, He coached several different traveling, fast-pitched softball programs including the Staten Island Phoenix 16 and under, the Phoenix 18 and under, the New York Panthers 18 and under, and the Staten Island Saints 23 and under teams.

He led the squads to several tournament championships including a first-place finish at the 1995 Long Island Fire & Ice Tournament (Phoenix 16u), 1st place at the Connecticut Patriots Tournament (Phoenix 18u) and were title holders at the East Coast Championships (Panthers 18u).