Sports360AZ
Andy Lopez, a 33-year coaching veteran and one of the winningest coaches in college baseball, has announced his retirement as head coach at The University of Arizona. Lopez, who guided the Wildcats to a pair of College World Series appearances and the 2012 national championship, spent the past 14 years at Arizona after previous coaching stints at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Pepperdine and Florida.
“For the past 14 years, I have been extremely honored to be a part of the Arizona baseball program,” Lopez said. “This is a special place with many special people, and I thank everyone at The University of Arizona for the opportunity to finish my career here.”
“There have been a lot of really good moments in my career,” Lopez explained. “I have been lucky to experience an unbelievable amount of success at the places I have coached. But now I am excited for what is ahead for me and my family. And I’m excited for the future of Arizona baseball. This is a great program and it will always be.”
“I never dreamed this big when I was 12 years old,” Lopez added. “I have loved playing and coaching this game, and it has taken to me all over the world. I have been fortunate to develop life-long relationships that I cherish each and every day, and now I can dedicate more time to the people that mean the most to me.”
Under the direction of Lopez, Arizona restored its championship tradition on the diamond. In 14 seasons at the helm, Lopez led the Wildcats to their first College World Series appearances since 1986, their first regional titles since 1986, their first-ever super regional titles and their first 40-win seasons since 1989. In 2012, Lopez’s club hosted the NCAA Tucson Regional and NCAA Super Regional at Hi Corbett Field, the program’s first time hosting postseason games since 1992.
