 |
|
 | Position:
Assistant Coach
|
| Experience:
3rd Year
|
| Alma Mater:
University of Miami, 2001
|
|
|
|
|
Catchers, Hitting
Fresh off his second national title as a Hurricane, former catcher Greg Lovelady rejoined the program as an assistant coach in 2002. Lovelady was the starting catcher in both of the Head Coach Jim Morris' championship runs in 1999 and 2001.
Now in his third season with Miami, Lovelady works primarily with the Hurricanes' catchers. He also assists assistant coach Gino DiMare with hitting instruction, as well as game preparation and film study.
"Greg is a guy who played here two years ago," Head Coach Jim Morris said. "He works with our catchers and works with our hitters. He was always a guy who had a lot of enthusiasm as a player and does the same thing as a coach."
Lovelady has helped current UM receiver Erick San Pedro develop into one of the best catchers in the country. San Pedro set a school position record in 2003 with 12 pickoffs, while throwing out 15 base runners. San Pedro not only proved to be a great defensvie catcher, but a force at the plate as well, hitting .317 with 43 RBI.
Lovelady (or just `Love' to most around Coral Gables) was a 2001 free agent signing by the Florida Marlins organization and played for the Class A Utica Blue Sox following graduation. He attended Miami from 1998 to 2001 on academic scholarships from both the University and its business school, earning his bachelor's degree in finance in 2001.
Lovelady became an immediate hit with the fans at Mark Light Field when he took over for injured catcher Russ Jacobson in the middle of the 1999 season. The team was 21-6 at the time and proceeded to go 29-7 and claim the Hurricanes third National Championship and first since the 1985 season. Love tied for the team lead with a 14-game hitting streak, while batting a career-best .318.
His story was well documented as he went from the UM bullpen in 1998 all the way to start in the College World Series. In that 36-game span in 1999, Miami won five of six games with annual rival Florida State, including two of three in Tallahassee, plus taking two of three on the road against Clemson and Long Beach State. UM would sweep the final nine games of the postseason, concluding with a 6-5 thriller over the Seminoles in the CWS final.
Lovelady was tabbed a co-captain as a senior and proceeded to lead the team to its second National Championship in three seasons. Still adored by many of the fans, Lovelady was chosen the Arnold Novins Memorial Award recipient at the close of the 2001 regular season, an honor bestowed to the "Most Popular Player" as voted on by the fans.
