June 28, 2007

UCI's Serrano named college baseball coach of the year

UC Irvine head baseball coach Dave Serrano has been named Baseball America's 2007 Coach of the Year, it was announced Wednesday by the UCI media relations director.

Serrano led the Anteaters to a school record 47-17-1 mark and a program best No. 4 final national ranking.

Serrano captained the Anteaters to the program's first Division I College World Series appearance, going 2-2 in Omaha.

During its post season run, UC Irvine defeated perennial powers Texas, Wichita State, Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State before falling to Oregon State.

The former Cal State Fullerton assistant coach is 114-66-1 overall at UCI, recording his 100th career victory against Pacific on May 12, 2007.

Under Serrano this year, the Anteaters won an unprecedented 13 regular-season weekend series and toppled Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton to win back-to-back weekend series to open Big West action for the first time since the program was reinstated in 2002. He also mentored sophomore ace Scott Gorgen to two All-American third-team honors as well as helping the Anteater pitching staff to a record-setting 494 strikeouts.