Pitt Baseball Hires Chris Collazo as Assistant Coach
8/11/2023 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt baseball program added another piece to their puzzle as Chris Collazo was named as an assistant coach. Collazo will work primarily with the infielders and hitters, will be in command of Pitt's defensive alignments and will serve as the first base coach. Chris has been in collegiate baseball for the last 12 years, spending this past season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Delaware.
"I'm excited to be a part of this program and am excited to help continue the tradition and success of Pitt baseball," said Collazo. "I'm extremely thankful to Coach Bell for the opportunity and I cannot wait to start working with our outstanding student-athletes."
In his first season at Delaware Collazo helped the Blue Hens clinch a berth in the conference tournament for the first time since 2018. Three of his position players would go on to earn all-conference honors, as the left side of his infield (shortstop JJ Freeman and third baseman Joey Loynd) would be named to the conference's first team. Loynd would also earn ABCA/Rawlings East All-Region Second Team Honors.
Prior to his year with Delaware, he spent the previous seven seasons at his alma mater, Monmouth. Collazo coached 15 players to all-conference (MAAC) selections during his tenure from 2016-2022. He began as an assistant coach in 2016 and was then promoted to assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2017, Collazo would remain in that role for the remainder of his time at Monmouth. He helped the Hawks win over 20 games in six out of his seven season while on the staff. During the 2020 season, where they only played 14 games, was the only season when they were unable to achieve that feat.
Five of Collazo's players earned All-MAAC honors during the 2022 season. During the 2021 season, Collazo mentored three position players who earned All-MAAC honors, this included a pair of first team selections. Freshman Dixon Black earned a Freshman All-American selection, a MAAC Rookie of the Year honor, and was named First Team All-MAAC. Alex Barker joined his teammate as a First Team All-MAAC selection and led the team in home runs with eight. Jalen Jenkins earned Second Team All-MAAC honors as he led Monmouth in hitting with his .359 batting average. The Hawks averaged 5.8 runs per game on the year and scored over 10 runs eight times throughout the 2021 season.
Under the tutelage of Collazo, a pair of Hawks earned 2019 Second Team All-MAAC selections in Zach Schild and Clay Koniencki. Monmouth's 2018 squad saw successes at the plate as another pair of teammates earned all-conference honors. Shaine Hughes earned his second career First Team All-MAAC selection as transfer Kyle Norman earned Second Team All-MAAC honors. Monmouth's 30-win season included a 13-1 stretch at the end of the year to clinch the MAAC regular season title.
In Collazo's first season back with his alma mater in 2016, he led the MAAC's second best offense as Monmouth's team batting average (.277) was just two points below the conference lead. Three of his players, Dan Shea, Grant Lamberton, and Shaine Hughes earned First Team All-MAAC honors, with Lamberton and Hughes being the only unanimous selections in the conference. Shea and Lamberton were also named to the 2016 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I East All-Region Second Team.
He spent the 2015 season with Villanova where he worked with the hitters and defense, and helped two of his players earn All-Big East honors. The Wildcats saw a 28-point jump in batting average from the previous year during his only season with the program.
Prior to his stint at Villanova, Collazo spent three years at Wagner as an assistant coach who worked closely with the hitters and infielders. Collazo's offense improved from his first year to his second, as the team showed jumps in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and extra base hits. While at Wagner, Collazo coached Ian Miller who was an all-conference player and Seattle Mariners draft pick.
Collazo spent his first collegiate season as an assistant coach at Felician College in 2011. He helped them to a 24-win season and aided three hitters to all-conference selections. He would spend the fall at Seton Hall before he began at Wagner the following year.
A 2009 graduate of Monmouth, Collazo finished his career tied for the program record in hits with 247. While that record has since been broken, his 247 hits are still good for second all-time in Monmouth baseball history. He was a first team all-conference selection in 2008 and 2009, a First Team All-NJCBA selection in 2009 and earned NJCBA All-Rookie honors as a freshman in 2006. Collazo was a part of two conference championship teams while at Monmouth in 2007 and 2009 and was the conference tournament MVP for his play during the NEC conference tournament in 2009.
"Chris will bring a dynamic coaching and recruiting piece to our program and staff, allowing us to continue to connect through the northeast," Coach Bell said. "Chris brings an enormous amount of energy and recruiting ties that have had positive impacts on his previous programs. We are extremely excited to welcome Chris and his fiancée Niki to the Panther Baseball family."