MORGANTOWN — Former Tennessee head coach Dave Serrano is joining the WVU baseball staff as pitching coach, head coach Randy Mazey said July 3.
He replaces Derek Matlock, who left in June to become head coach at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Serrano joins a Mountaineers program that is coming off its first NCAA regional berth in 21 years.
“There is a lot of momentum and excitement around this program, and I look forward to being a part of it and helping to continue to build on that,” Serrano said.
Serrano, who has taken two different teams to the College World Series, announced his resignation as Tennessee’s head coach in May but finished out his sixth season with the Volunteers.
“I am extremely excited that Dave is joining our coaching staff,” Mazey said. “He is considered one of the best pitching coaches in all of college baseball, and his track record of developing pitchers at a very high level certainly proves that, having coached 19 pitchers that have pitched in the major leagues.”
A 13-year head coaching veteran, Serrano is one of just 12 coaches all-time to lead two different teams to the College World Series.
He led UC Irvine from 2005-’07, Cal State Fullerton from 2008-’11 and Tennessee from 2012-’17. Serrano owns a career record of 446-302-1.
Serrano has helped guide his teams to seven College World Series appearances, including the 2004 national title at Cal State Fullerton as an assistant coach.
As a head coach, he led UC Irvine to the World Series in 2007 and Cal State Fullerton to Omaha in 2009.
Serrano’s recruiting classes at Tennessee were ranked in the top 20 in each of his six seasons there.
Serrano’s coaching career began at Cerritos College, from 1988-’94. He compiled a 221-88-1 record in seven seasons, including one year as the head coach, in 1991, when he was named the South Coast Conference Coach of the Year.
His teams won five conference titles and a state title in his time at Cerritos College.
Serrano played two seasons at Cerritos College. In 1985, he went 12-1 and earned Junior College All-America accolades while leading the Falcons to a state title.
He played at Cal State Fullerton in 1986, where he earned a 3-4 record with one save in 15 appearances.
Serrano earned his bachelor’s degree from Trinity College and University in 2003. He has three sons: Kyle, Zach and Parker.