FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The torch has officially been passed in the Nova Southeastern University baseball program, as Director of Athletics
Michael Mominey announced on Friday, December 13 that
Laz Gutierrez will succeed
Greg Brown as the fourth NSU baseball head coach in the Sharks' storied program history.
"I am very excited to announce that Laz will be the new leader of the Sharks baseball program," Mominey announced. "His pedigree in the game speaks for itself, and as a lifelong South Florida baseball man, he is the perfect person to continue the tradition that we have built here at NSU. I firmly believe that champions beget champions, great people lead great people and that having experiences beyond the X's and O's are all of the characteristics of great head coaches. Hiring
Laz Gutierrez hits every one of those marks and more. I welcome Laz, Jeanette and their children to the Shark family, and can't wait to start working with him to get ready for the season."
A widely-respected member of the professional baseball community, Gutierrez comes to the Sharks after 13 years with the Boston Red Sox. For the past six seasons, Gutierrez has served the Big League club in Boston as the Mental Skills Coordinator, designing and applying leadership and mental skills routines that have helped lead the Red Sox to two World Series Championships (2013, 2018) during his tenure.
"I would like to thank President George Hanbury and Director of Athletics
Michael Mominey for this exceptional opportunity to be a part of the NSU family," Gutierrez stated. "I am truly excited and grateful to continue to build on the tradition established by Coach Mominey and Coach Brown. It is exciting to get to work with the tremendous student-athletes and coaching staff that are a part of the 2019-20 NSU baseball program. My wife, Jeanette, my children Matthew and Sophia, and I look forward to being a part of the remarkable family that makes this university such a vital part of our community."
"Additionally, I would like to thank the Boston Red Sox organization for allowing me to grow both professionally and personally," Gutierrez added. "These 13 seasons have provided my family and I with eternal memories and experiences."
A local South Florida product out of Brito Miami Private School and the University of Miami, Gutierrez earned his first position with the Red Sox as the Player Development Programs Coordinator in 2013. However, his work in the franchise began in 2006 as a South Florida-based amateur scout – which quickly increased to a role as Pitching Coach for the team's Short Season A affiliate Lowell Spinners in 2007.
Boston brought him aboard following his second season as Manager for the North Adams Steeplecats, where he led his New England Collegiate Baseball League squad to the playoffs in his first season while notching a franchise-high 25 wins throughout the 2006 campaign. Prior to his time with North Adams, Gutierrez served as Pitching Coach for Barry in Miami Shores, with his 2006 staff finishing the year ranked fourth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings and fifth in total strikeouts.
Gutierrez began his coaching career by spending three seasons as Head Coach at Gables High School, steering a program away from five consecutive losing seasons to a pair of winning campaigns, while also guiding the development of 12 players to achieve their goals of playing collegiate baseball – including three that went on to play professionally.
Earning his Doctorate degree from Grand Canyon University and his Master's from National University in Performance Psychology, Gutierrez received his undergraduate degree from Miami in History and International Studies in 2000 as a three-year letterman for the Hurricanes under legendary coach Jim Morris. A former left-handed pitcher, he was drafted three times – the final time coming in the 13th round of the 1998 MLB Draft (Detroit Tigers). He played three seasons within the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres organizations from 1998-2001.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT LAZ GUTIERREZ
Alex Cora
Manager, Boston Red Sox (2018-Present)
"The Nova Southeastern University baseball program is in good hands. What Laz brings to the table, very few people have. His values, his love for the game and his vision of life are things that I respect and things that will assist him to reach his short and long term goals."
Jim Morris
Head Coach, Miami Baseball (1994-2018)
"Laz was a disciplined student and great team player. He does everything with his heart. His passion and knowledge of the game will complement Nova Southeastern's baseball program. I am very excited for Laz and Nova Southeastern. It's a great fit."
Dave Dombrowski
President of Baseball Operations, Boston Red Sox (2015-2019)
"I've known Laz for several years and worked with him the past four. He's an outstanding baseball person, even more so an outstanding person, a family man who is very intelligent and a great communicator. I believe he'll do an outstanding job for the NSU program."
