J.D. Arteaga Tabbed as Hurricanes' Pitching Coach
March 4, 2003
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (hurricanesports.com) –
University of Miami head baseball coach Jim Morris announced on Tuesday that former Hurricane pitcher J.D. Arteaga will return to Miami as the pitching coach effective today.
“J.D. (Arteaga) is the perfect person to come in at this point and time,” Morris said. “It is a crucial time in our season and it is a tough time right in the middle of our season for this change to be made. J.D. is a guy that knows our system, played in our system, knows our players and he is going to command instant respect from our players. He has all of the things you could possibly want in the person you are bringing in.”
Arteaga played for the Hurricanes from 1994-1997, helping UM reach the College World Series four straight seasons. He left Miami as the program’s all-time wins leader with 43 and the all-time starts leader with 72. Arteaga ranks second for innings pitched in a career with 458.1. He is also fifth on the all-time strikeouts chart with 343 career Ks.
“It is an honor to be a part of the best program in the country,” Arteaga said. “I felt that when I played, and the same now that I’m a coach.”
Arteaga fills the void left by Lazaro ‘Lazer’ Collazo, who resigned his post on Thursday, Feb. 27. He joins Morris’ staff, which also includes former Hurricanes players Gino DiMare (7th season) and Greg Lovelady (2nd season).
“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” Arteaga said. “I’m jumping right in with a trip to Tennessee the first weekend, but it’s a challenge, and challenges are what I’ve always looked forward to.”
A 26th round draft choice by the New York Mets, Arteaga spent the last five seasons in the Mets and Houston Astros’ organizations. He had signed on with the Texas Rangers’ organization this spring, prior to accepting his post with the Hurricanes. He spent last season with the Astros’ Triple A franchise New Orleans Zephyrs, compiling a 9-10 record with a 4.29 ERA in 15 starts and 42 appearances.
“It was a very tough decision to give up a dream (of playing in the major leagues) for a dream job,” Arteaga said. “I weighed out both options and the opportunity for me here was just too good.”
The left-hander came to the Hurricanes out of Westminster Christian in Miami. He won a career best 12 (12-1) games as a junior in 1996 and came back to go 11-4 as a senior. Arteaga threw three complete games at UM and struck out career-high 11 batters on two different occasions (FSU, 4/16/95 and George Washington, 2/16/96). He posted an 11-3 record as a sophomore in 1995 and a 9-1 mark as a freshman.
