Serrano Announces Plan to Retire as CSUN Baseball Coach After 2022 Season

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.--- CSUN head baseball coach Dave Serrano announced Tuesday his intention to retire at the conclusion of the 2022 baseball season.

"During my collegiate career, I've had the privilege of working with three Hall of Fame baseball coaches in Mark Marquess (Stanford), Mike Gillespie (UC Irvine) and Dave Serrano (CSUN)," said CSUN Director of Athletics Michael Izzi. "All three are perfect examples of the impact a coach can have on student-athletes. We wish Dave all the best in retirement and are excited about the opportunity to close out his career with a successful season."

Serrano, who enters his third season with the Matadors in February, has led CSUN to a 31-24 record over his two years at the helm of the baseball program. Along with guiding the Matadors to a winning record in Big West play a year ago, Serrano has also helped CSUN navigate its way through the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the Matadors to play a conference-only schedule in 2021 and compete in 15 games in 2020.

"I would like to thank the CSUN Athletic department's administration, led by Mike Izzi, for trusting me three years ago in the leadership role of this baseball program," said Serrano. "When I accepted this job, my plan was to continue to build the foundation of success for this baseball program. Even though I won't be part of this process after this season, I'm thankful for the administration allowing me to help and be part of the progression as this baseball program moves forward."

Serrano coached the Matadors to a 7-0 start in his first season with the program in 2020 and eventually, a 10-5 record before COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the rest of the season. The pandemic limited the program from meeting in person for nearly a year until the team began practices weeks before the start of the 2021 campaign.

Despite the challenges, Serrano would coach the Matadors to a 21-19 record last spring. The Matadors finished the season playing perhaps their best baseball over the last six weeks, winning 15 of their final 21 games.

Under Serrano, four Matadors earned All-Big West honors including Kai Moody who was named to the first team after winning the conference batting title. A second-team all-conference selection, Denzel Clarke was also drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland Athletics, becoming the highest-drafted Matador since 2006.

Serrano has coached at the collegiate ranks since 1988 as the 2022 season represents his 33rd overall year on the bench. He began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach for Cerritos College before moving to the Division I ranks as an assistant coach at Tennessee for two seasons and Cal State Fullerton for eight seasons. In 2004, Serrano won a national championship with Cal State Fullerton and would be named Baseball America National Assistant Coach of the Year.

Serrano took over head coaching duties with UC Irvine and would lead the Anteaters to their first-ever trip to the College World Series in 2007. He again earned national recognition by being named Baseball America National Coach of the Year after the team's historic run.

Serrano returned to Cal State Fullerton in 2008 and led the program to three Big West championships as well as a trip to the College World Series in 2009.

Serrano would also spend six seasons as the head coach at Tennessee from 2011-17 before spending one season as a pitching coach at West Virginia in 2018.

Serrano is 1-of-13 head coaches to lead two different schools to the College World Series while he has advanced to Omaha as a head coach or assistant coach seven times over his coaching career. He has earned 16 total NCAA Regional berths and eight Super Regional appearances.

"After taking some time to think this decision over, I felt that this was the right time to retire from being a Division I head coach," added Serrano. "Throughout my 33 seasons, I have never had a bad day stepping onto the baseball field and being around my coaches and players. As much as they have impacted my life, my hope is that I have impacted theirs. I am thankful for each and every one of them. I feel very lucky for what I've been able to experience throughout my entire career. I know I will always be connected to baseball in some capacity, whether it be a phone call with a former colleague or watching my boys play the game, but I'm excited about my next adventure and to slow down and spend time with my family."

Serrano enters the 2022 season 23 wins shy of 500 career victories. Serrano has accumulated a 477-326-1 overall head coaching record with a .593 winning percentage.

#UniteTheValley

Serrano Announces Plan to Retire as CSUN Baseball Coach After 2022 Season

Players Mentioned

Denzel Clarke

Kai Moody

Related Videos