DiMare Resigns as Assistant Head Baseball Coach
June 20, 2008
Coral Gables, Fla. – –
Coral Gables, Fla. – University of Miami head baseball coach Jim Morris has confirmed that assistant head coach Gino DiMare resigned Friday. DiMare just completed his 12th year on the Hurricane coaching staff where he served as the assistant head baseball coach, recruiting coordinator and coached the hitters and outfielders.
“Gino has been a very important part of our Hurricane baseball program going back to his playing days,” Morris said. “He’s played a big part in our winning national titles during my time and our advancing to the College World Series. I can’t thank him enough for his tireless work on the recruiting trail in keeping Miami as one of the top programs. I was very saddened to hear that he wanted to step down. Family is important to Gino, and he wanted to spend more time with them. He will always be a Hurricane.”
Miami has had some of the best offensive teams under DiMare’s direction. UM’s offense has ranked among the top 10 in school history in seven of DiMare’s nine seasons as the club’s hitting instructor. His 2008 squad hit .320 and finished with the second-most home runs (106) in school history. The 711 hits were 10th all-time while the 2008 squad also ranked ninth in doubles (135), eighth in RBI (517), eighth in total bases (1,202) and fourth in slugging percentage (.541). It also featured first round selections Yonder Alonso, the seventh overall pick in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, and Jemile Weeks, the 12th overall pick to the Oakland A’s. Alonso’s 24 homers fell just one shy of tying the school record. Three other Hurricane hitters went in the first four rounds of the 2008 MLB draft as Dennis Raben (second round to Seattle Mariners), Blake Tekotte (third round to the San Diego Padres) and Mark Sobolewski (fourth round to the Toronto Blue Jays) were selected.
The 2005 team hit .321, the seventh-best team batting average in school history and the 2004 squad finished the season with a .330 batting average, which ranks fourth in school history. UM’s .310 average in 2006 was only bested by five teams that were not under the guidance of DiMare, dating back 62 years. The 1999 Hurricanes posted the third-best batting average in school history with a .333 mark, while the 2000 team finished with a .323 batting average that ranks sixth all time. Miami batted .315 in 2003, .314 in 2002 (eighth) and .308 in 2001 (tied for 10th).
DiMare’s accomplishments on the recruiting scene over the last eight seasons are as impressive as the Hurricanes’ annual postseason results. His 2001 class was rated among the top five nationally and his 2003 class was ranked among the top 15 nationally. DiMare’s 2007 class was ranked second by Collegiate Baseball and fifth by Baseball America. His 2008 class earned a No. 20 ranking by Collegiate Baseball.
His classes featured the 2005 ACC Player of the Year and ACC Pitcher of the Year, Ryan Braun (California) and Cesar Carrillo (Illinois). Braun and Carrillo were also Miami’s two first-round draft picks in 2005. Chris Hernandez was named the 2008 ACC Freshman of the Year while a total of eight Hurricanes were named to All-ACC teams in 2008. DiMare has also kept Florida’s top talent home, including 2006 first-round pick Chris Perez (Holmes Beach) and second-round pick, Jon Jay (Miami). He was instrumental in helping Miami to 12 NCAA postseason appearances, two national titles, eight College World Series appearances, 11 NCAA Regional championships and nine Super Regionals.
“I have really enjoyed my 12 years on the Miami coaching staff,” DiMare said. “It’s been a tremendous opportunity being able to coach at my alma mater. I have a wonderful wife as well as young daughters, and I wanted to spend more time with them. College baseball is a great sport, but we as coaches have to make some sacrifices when it comes to traveling and being away from our loved ones. I felt like this was the right time to be more accessible to my family. Miami has a great baseball tradition. I have been honored to work with some of the best college baseball players in the country. I wish nothing but the best for the program and can’t wait to follow its success in the future.”
DiMare has long been associated with the Miami baseball program. First, he was a fan as a kid growing up in the neighborhood. Then, DiMare was a player for the Hurricanes following a stellar career at Miami Westminster Christian. He was a standout outfielder from 1989-92 at UM. He currently ranks among UM’s leaders in career games played (243), career stolen bases (93) and in total sacrifices (36). In 1991, DiMare led the Hurricanes with a .353 batting average. Following his career in Coral Gables, DiMare was signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox. He played the 1992-93 seasons with the Red Sox’ minor league teams in Winter Haven and Ft. Lauderdale. Upon returning to Miami, DiMare spent the 1996 season as an assistant coach at Westminster, the 1996 High School National Champions.
DiMare returned to UM in 1997 and was a volunteer coach for three seasons, in charge of outfielders and base running. DiMare married the former Denise Gonzalez on Dec. 13, 2003. The couple has two daughters, Nicolette and Gianna.
