TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Former Arizona Wildcats baseball coach Andy Lopez will be inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
"This is kind of a special one. It's the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. So, I've had a few other inductions to other Hall of Fames. This is one where I kind of looked at when my career ended, and I wondered if I 'll ever get into that thing. And I really didn't think I would. I'm very humbled," Andy Lopez said.
Lopez, who led the Wildcats to the 2012 national title, won nearly 500 games while coaching the team for 14 seasons.
He won National Coach of the Year honors in 1992, 1996 and 2012. He also won a national title at Pepperdine in 1992. Lopez also coached at Florida. He retired in 2015.
Lopez is one of only two Division I baseball coaches ever to win the College World Series with two programs.
National Champion Head Coach Andy Lopez to be Inducted Into National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony will be Feb. 2 and 3 in Omaha, Nebraska.
"To the city of Tucson, Jim Livengood, Rocky LaRose, just thankful for the opportunity to be part of this program. Great baseball program. Phenomenal heritage. I'm just really, really excited to represent Arizona Baseball in Omaha and be a part of the Hall of Fame," Lopez said.
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Phil Villarreal is the senior real-time editor for KGUN 9. He is also a digital producer and host of "Phil on Film" seen weekly on Good Morning Tucson, Phil moved to KGUN after 17 years with the Arizona Daily Star. He is married and has four children. Share your story ideas and important issues with Phil by emailing phil.villarreal@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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Breanna Isbell is a reporter for KGUN 9. She joined the KGUN 9 team in July of 2022 after receiving her bachelor’s degree in sports journalism from Arizona State University in May. Share your story ideas with Breanna by emailing breanna.isbell@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, or Twitter.
