ForumsNew Tennessee Volunteer skipper to make managerial debut for Team USA
DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball announced Tuesday the naming of Dave Serrano as manager of the 2012 Collegiate National Team. The new Tennessee Volunteer head coach will be making his managerial debut for Team USA.
Serrano was named the 24th head coach of the University Tennessee baseball program on June 15, on the heels of his fourth season at the helm of Cal State Fullerton. The former Titans skipper earned Big West Coach of the Year honors in 2011 for the second season in a row and led Fullerton to its 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
“We could not be more pleased with Dave Serrano accepting our invitation to serve as manager of the 2012 Collegiate National Team,” said Eric Campbell, general manager of USA Baseball National Teams. “The energy and passion he brought to the Collegiate program in 2010 was key to the success of that club, and we’re confident those qualities will carry over to the 2012 team as well.”
Serrano’s first experience in the red, white and blue came as pitching coach of the 2010 Collegiate team. He helped guide a staff headlined by several 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft first round picks, including Gerrit Cole (No. 1 overall, Pittsburgh Pirates), Sonny Gray (No. 18 overall, Oakland Athletics), Matt Barnes (No. 19 overall, Boston Red Sox), Tyler Anderson (No. 20 overall, Colorado Rockies), and Sean Gilmartin (No. 28 overall, Atlanta Braves). The 2010 club finished 16-3 overall, and Serrano’s staff compiled a 1.22 ERA for the summer.
“It is a tremendous honor to be given the opportunity to lead the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team,” said Serrano. “My experience on Bill Kinneberg’s staff in 2010 was nothing but first class, and I am both excited and humbled to have the chance to put on the USA Baseball uniform once again. I look forward to putting together a talented staff and representing this great country next year.”
Over 17 seasons at the Division I level, dating back to the start of his coaching career at Cerritos College in 1998 and including stints at Tennessee, UC Irvine and Fullerton, Serrano has secured 16 postseason bids and has tutored 161 draft picks. Seven of the picks were first-round selections and 23 ultimately reached the Major League level. Serrano has coached 19 players that have starred for USA Baseball National Teams, including Todd Helton and Christian Colon, and he is one of just 11 head coaches ever to lead two teams to the College World Series in Omaha (UC Irvine, 2007; Cal State Fullerton, 2009).
The 2012 Collegiate National Team schedule and the remainder of the coaching staff are currently being finalized. An announcement will be made prior to the end of the year and details will be available on www.USABaseball.com. In 2011, the Collegiate team finished with an 11-2-1 record, and its season was highlighted by a 3-1-1 series win over Japan in the two counties’ bi-annual collegiate all-star friendship series.
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the National Governing Body of amateur baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic Team and World Cup Team (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 16U and 14U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit www.USABaseball.com and www.GoldenSpikesAward.com.
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