FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University Athletics has announced the hiring of Eric Cruz as the next Head Coach of the Sharks Baseball program, ushering in a new chapter for NSU Baseball.
"I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to return to Nova Southeastern University as the Head Baseball Coach," said Head Coach Eric Cruz. "I want to thank Dr. Moon, Ryan Romero, and everyone involved in this process for believing in me and entrusting me with the leadership of this outstanding program. Nova Southeastern has always been a special place to me, and I'm excited to build on the championship tradition of Shark Baseball, invest in the development of our student-athletes, and help them succeed both on the field and in the classroom. I can't wait to get to work with our players, reconnect with our alumni, and make the entire Shark community proud."
Cruz returns to Nova Southeastern after previously serving as the program's Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator from 2012-16, helping guide the Sharks through one of the most successful stretches in school history. Most recently, he served as an Area Scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks, evaluating talent throughout South Florida and Puerto Rico while building one of the strongest scouting and recruiting networks in baseball.
"I am proud to announce Eric Cruz as the next Head Coach of Nova Southeastern Baseball," said Interim Director of Athletics Ryan Romero. "Eric understands what it takes to win at Nova Southeastern because he was an integral part of one of the greatest periods in our baseball history."
Romero continued:
"I had the opportunity to work alongside Eric during his previous time at NSU, and I saw firsthand the impact he made on our program. He quickly established himself as one of the top recruiters in South Florida and, in my opinion, one of the best on-field coaches I've ever been around. His passion for the game is contagious, his energy is infectious, and our student-athletes loved playing for him.
Eric helped recruit and develop the talent that led to a Sunshine State Conference championship, multiple NCAA South Regional appearances, a South Region championship, and ultimately the 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship. The reputation he built at Nova Southeastern earned him the opportunity to spend nearly a decade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he expanded his expertise in talent evaluation and player development at the highest level.
We were looking for a leader who understands our culture, values the development of our student-athletes, and builds winning programs. Eric is that leader, and I couldn't be more excited to welcome him back to the Shark Family."
During his previous tenure at NSU, Cruz played an integral role in the Sharks' rise to national prominence. As Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach, he helped lead the program to the 2015 Sunshine State Conference Championship, NCAA South Region Tournament appearances in 2012, 2015, and 2016, the 2016 NCAA South Region Championship, and ultimately the 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship.
In addition to coordinating all recruiting operations, Cruz worked closely with the Sharks' infielders and baserunners while serving as the team's first base coach. He established strong recruiting relationships throughout Florida and beyond, helping attract and develop student-athletes who played key roles in the program's championship success.
Following his time at NSU, Cruz spent nearly a decade with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization as an Area Scout. Since 2016, he has been responsible for scouting amateur and professional talent throughout South Florida and Puerto Rico. His responsibilities included evaluating players for the Major League Baseball Draft, conducting professional scouting assignments, attending premier national showcase events, and building relationships across the amateur, collegiate, professional, and international baseball communities.
Prior to joining Nova Southeastern in 2012, Cruz spent nearly a decade at Flanagan High School as a College Advisor and Assistant Baseball Coach. He also brings national team experience to the Sharks, having served as an Assistant Coach for USA Baseball's 15U National Team in 2013, where he helped identify and develop some of the nation's top amateur talent.
With more than 20 years of experience in coaching, recruiting, player development, academic advising, and professional scouting, Cruz returns to Nova Southeastern ready to lead the next generation of Sharks Baseball.
