Little League® International has announced the transition of Stu Hartenstein from Central Region Director to Director of Umpire Development and Operations, effective as of February 24, 2024.
“We are proud to provide Stu this new opportunity, as we continue to find ways to enhance our umpire development, education, and operations across all levels of our organization,” said Nick Caringi, Little League Senior Director of Operations and Education. “We look forward to bringing Stu’s own personal experience as an umpire together with the expertise and leadership we continue to receive from Gerry Davis and our umpire advisory committee over the past few years to provide the best possible experience and opportunities for our umpires now and in the future.”
Serving as the Central Region Director since December 2021, Mr. Hartenstein has provided support and resources to the leagues and districts throughout the Central Region and has served as the tournament director for the Little League Softball Central Region Tournament as well as the Little League Baseball Midwest and Great Lakes Region Tournaments over the past two years. In this new role, Mr. Hartenstein will be responsible for overseeing the administration and development of Little League’s umpire program, including the development of grassroots efforts for recruiting and developing umpires at all levels, education efforts around umpire academies and clinics, enhancement of current umpire resources, as well as assisting with the interpretation and clarifications around Little League’s Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Operating Policies.
“I am honored to accept this new role as Director of Umpire Development and Operations and look forward to taking on this new adventure as we look to enhance our efforts and the resources we provide to our umpires,” said Mr. Hartenstein. “While I am going to miss being able to provide direct support to all the amazing volunteers throughout the Central Region, I am looking forward to being able to extend my support to help grow and support the development of all those embracing the opportunity to officiate Little League games at all levels of play around the world.”
A graduate of Hardscrabble Little League (Clayton, Ohio), Mr. Hartenstein has been involved with the Little League program since playing Tee Ball as a five-year-old and has continued to help educate and inspire volunteers and players throughout his community as a volunteer since that time. As a Little League volunteer, Mr. Hartenstein has served as an Umpire-in-Chief at both the local and district level for more than eight years and has previously been a member of both the Central Region Umpire Advisory Committee and the Little League International Umpire Advisory Committee for more than six years. In addition to serving as the Central Region Tournament Umpire Coordinator for seven years, Mr. Hartenstein has also served as an umpire for the 2007 Little League Baseball® Central Region Tournament, 2008 Senior League Baseball Central Region Tournament, and the inaugural Intermediate (50/70) Baseball World Series in 2013.
In addition to his service as a Little League volunteer, Mr. Hartenstein has eight years of experience as a High School social studies teacher, and he has previously served as both a history instructor and the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Denison University in Ohio. Mr. Hartenstein is a graduate of Wittenberg University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Education in 2009.
Mr. Hartenstein’s new role serves as a continued commitment to the growth and development of Little League’s umpires who volunteer their time and talents across the program, in addition to the support provided by MLB Veteran Umpire Gerry Davis as Little League International’s Senior Umpire Consultant. As part of these efforts, Little League International will continue to develop the resources, support, and opportunities available to its umpires, including those available both at LittleLeague.org/Umpires and through the Little League Umpire Registry.