CORAL GABLES, Fla. — University of Miami head baseball coach J.D. Arteaga announced Thursday the hiring of Nick Soto as the program’s new strength and conditioning coach.

“Nick is one of the most well-respected strength coaches in our game today,” Arteaga said. “He has helped shape many of the stars at the MLB level, including a couple of former Hurricanes. To me, Nick is more than just a difference maker as a strength and conditioning coach. He is a gamechanger in terms of fostering team culture, instilling discipline and developing our players to be the best athletes they can be.”

A highly-touted personal trainer, Soto comes to The U after spending the past 15 years as the director of performance at Elite U and GorillaBaseball.

The Miami native has worked with some of the premier players in MLB, including Manny Machado, Jean Segura, Yuli Gurriel, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Zach Neto and MJ Melendez, as well as UM alums Yonder Alonso and Romy Gonzalez.

Soto is widely-regarded as an elite speed specialist, mentoring athletes across nine sports, including track and field, football, boxing and basketball.

A staple in South Florida, he has produced some of the fastest female sprinters in the state’s history at the interscholastic level.

Most recently, Soto tutored Olympic gold medalist Aaliyah Butler, who was a part of the United States’ 4×400 relay in Paris this summer.

On the gridiron, he has coached NFL standouts Antrel Rolle, Denzel Perryman, Alvin Kamara, Gus Edwards and Harrison Bryant, among others, managing various NFL Combine prep camps over the years.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and a dream come true,” Soto said. “Growing up a diehard Canes fan, I’ve always known that at some point I wanted to make my mark at The U in some form or fashion. I am beyond grateful for J.D. for this opportunity and his belief in what our strength and conditioning program can do to help build the next wave of Hurricanes greats. Miami Hurricanes baseball is built on a legacy of excellence. I’m looking forward to being a part of this amazing staff and reigniting the fire, passion and potency of baseball in Miami.”

Under his guidance, Elite U and GorillaBaseball have become world leaders in developing velocity with the coach’s renowned strength and performance training plan.

A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NCSA), Soto was a 1996 Olympic hopeful in Tae Kwon Do, before suffering multiple career-ending injuries.

Soto spent one year at Tusculum before finishing his bachelor’s degree at FIU in 2008. He later earned his master’s degree in kinesiology with a focus on sports performance training from A.T. Still University in 2012.

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