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Pitchers
Since his role as a situational reliever for the Hurricanes’ 1985 national championship team, Lazaro (Lazer) Collazo has risen in the ranks as one of the most respected and knowledgeable pitching coaches in the country.
“University of Miami baseball has been built around pitching for many years,” said Head Coach Jim Morris. “Lazer brings a philosophy of sound mechanics and a focus on the mental side of pitching to our staff. He has proven over the years that pitching equals wins and thus our program is built on this philosophy.”
Miami’s starting pitching has long been the cornerstone for the program’s success. The 2001 rotation featured MLB draft picks Brian Walker (NY Mets), Tom Farmer (Detroit Tigers) and Team USA member Kiki Bengochea.
Through the guidance of Collazo, Walker became one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers and baseball and was drafted in the fourth round. Farmer ended his senior season at UM by being named to the All-Tournament teams at the Regional and College World Series. Bengochea was extended an invitation for the second straight summer to the USA Baseball team.
Equally as impressive has been the development of Miami’s bullpen over the past two decades. Former Hurricane Danny Graves leads Collazo’s group of relievers, who is making a name for himself in the Major Leaguez. Jay Tessmer, who currently pitches at the Milwaukee Brewers’ AAA team was a national-leader at Miami following Graves tenure. Then came Robbie Morrison, a first-team All-American, who was a second-round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals after registering 34 saves over his three seasons at Miami.
In 1999, Michael Neu handled the closer’s role, notching 16 saves on the season. He was rewarded with numerous All-American mentions, plus a spot on the College World Series All-Tournament team.
The 2001 club was highlighted by the relief duties of Luke DeBold and George Huguet. DeBold, Miami’s main set-up pitcher, compiled an amazing 67-7 strikeout to walk ratio in 2001 and was named a 2002 Preseason All-American by the NCBWA. Huguet was a Freshman All-American in 2001 while recording 14 saves, tying Morrison’s freshman record. He also enters the 2002 campaign as an All-American by the NCWBA
Collazo has always had an eye for pitching talent and the skill and knowledge to bring it out in an individual.
In the summer of 1993, Collazo was named the pitching coach for the United States of America’s senior national team. Under his tutelage, the USA team posted a 30-16 record and 3.04 ERA against the world’s elite teams en route to winning a Silver Medal at the Intercontinental Cup Tournament in Spain and a Bronze Medal at the World University Games in Buffalo.
Between his stints at Miami, Collazo spent a year leading the pitching staff at Florida State in 1992.
Collazo’s resume is impressive. He coached under Ron Fraser as an assistant during the 1990 and 1991 seasons and as a graduate assistant/volunteer assistant for five years prior to that. Collazo’s quick grasp of the college game and understanding of the pressures on student-athletes made Collazo a natural promotion for Fraser in 1990. At age 26, Collazo was the youngest assistant Fraser ever hired.
The University of Miami graduate and South Florida native started his UM career as a support player on the Hurricanes’ 1985 national championship team, pitching 9.2 innings over eight games with an ERA of 2.79.
After completing his eligibility, he continued to pursue his degree in psychology and add his expertise to Fraser as a graduate assistant. During the 1990-91 seasons, Collazo expanded his horizons to recruiting, while continuing to tutor the Hurricane pitching staff.
From 1987-89, Collazo coached the Miami Lazers in the National Baseball Congress World Series, in Wichita, KS. In 1987, as the youngest coach to ever win an NBC tournament, the Lazers cruised to a 32-3 record and 16th-place finish out of 41 teams. That job doubled as his first head coaching opportunity.
In 1991, Collazo made national headlines as Jim Palmer’s private instructor during the former Baltimore Orioles’ Hall of Famer’s comeback attempt.
Collazo, who is married to the former Linda Lopez, recently had a new-born daughter, Riley. Collazo has three sons and two daughters: Michael (10), Mitchell (9) and Matthew (7), Taylor (4) and Riley (2).
Personal
Full Name: Lazaro Daniel Collazo
Wife: the former Linda Lopez
Pronounced: LAH-zah-row, Coe-YAH-zoe
Born: March 2, 1964 in Miami, FL
Education: B.S. Psychology, University of Miami, 1988 Miami-Dade CC - North, 1983
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