University of Tennessee Athletics
What They Are Saying About Coach Serrano
June 15, 2011 | Baseball
June 15, 2011
TODD HELTON, Former Vol and current Colorado Rockies First Baseman
"Coach Serrano was the pitching coach when I was at Tennessee and it was obvious even then that he was going to be a very successful head coach down the road. He has certainly proven that, taking both UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton to the College World Series. He is extremely knowledgeable about the game of baseball and Vol fans should be very excited that we were able to steal him away. I look forward to him getting the Tennessee program back on the winning track."
GEORGE HORTON - Oregon Head Coach
"Of anybody, I am probably the most prepared to evaluate Dave, as I have known him as a player, an assistant coach and competitively as an opposing head coach. I think the world of him, not only as a baseball coach, but as a businessman and a people person. From the chair I sit in, Tennessee's search has been a very successful venture and will be putting a coach in a position to make a significant impact for the sport of baseball at that university. The SEC is already a great league and the addition of Dave only makes it even more competitive. He is simply one of the brightest young minds in college baseball."
BILL KINNEBERG - Utah Head Coach and former head coach of the USA Collegiate National Team
"I have known Dave for a long time, both as a player and a coach. I've watched his progression over the years and am very thrilled for him to get an opportunity to coach at a school like Tennessee. I'm sure that Dave is going to get the program back on track, make it a consistent NCAA qualifier and get it back to the World Series."
BILL SCHMIDT - Vice President of Scouting, Colorado Rockies
"I go back a long ways with Dave. I knew him as a player at Cerritos Junior College and have followed his coaching career all along. I believe that the University of Tennessee is getting an outstanding coach and person. Dave will represent the university very well and is just a high character guy. On the field, he is a tremendous teacher and coach. I expect the program to grow under his guidance and, in time, compete for SEC and national championships."
ERIC CAMPBELL, General Manager USA Baseball
"Dave embraced the USA uniform when he was the pitching coach on our 2010 Collegiate National Team and he did a great job with our pitching staff in a very tough world championship in Japan. We were a great team that summer under the direction of Bill Kinneberg, but he turned the pitching staff over to Dave, and that was the strength of our team. It would be great to have Dave back in the uniform and I believe he has a chance to manage the collegiate team in the future. Obviously, he has been in the Tennessee family before and I think they are getting one of the top coaches in all of baseball."
JIM SCHLOSSNAGLE, TCU Head Coach
"Coach Serrano is, without question, one of the best coaches in all of baseball today, at any level. He has a unique ability to not just put together great teams but to build a successful and sustainable program that will be known as one of excellence both on and off the field. He is a great friend and has an amazing wife and family. The Vols have hit a grand slam with this hire and I look for Tennessee to be in Omaha in the very near future."
