Felipe Suarez joined the Nova Southeastern baseball coaching staff as a pitching coach during the summer of 2011.
“Felipe brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to our pitching staff that will provide a foundation for the future of this program,” said head coach
Greg Brown. “As a NSU alumnus, Felipe knows what it takes to compete at this level and will continue to grow the tradition that is Shark Baseball. He has my full confidence and I am excited for our program's future.”
Suarez played for NSU from 1996 to 1998 and has the background to fill this role as he has coaching experience at various levels of the game.
“I am extremely honored to return to the institution and the baseball program that gave me an opportunity and an amazing experience several years ago,” said Suarez. “I look forward to becoming part of a great coaching staff as well as representing our university on the baseball field."
Suarez still ranks among the top pitchers in program history at NSU. In 1997, he became the program’s last Florida Sun Conference Player of the Year when he won a career-high 11 games while striking out 114 batters. The Knights, NSU’s former mascot, would depend on Suarez even more in 1998 as Suarez matched what was a school record 10 complete games pitched. He would also finish his career with a then-record 126 strikeouts in his senior campaign.
Suarez returns to NSU after years of coaching pitchers at the collegiate level in South Florida. In 2008, he began his previous post as an assistant coach for Broward College. In 2007, Suarez held a high profile position as the pitching coach for Florida International. Suarez helped lead the Panthers to their third straight season with 12 wins in the Sun Belt Conference.
Suarez has climbed the ranks as a pitching coach in South Florida over the last 13 years and has gained a great reputation. When discussing standout coaches in South Florida in a recent interview, former baseball coach and NSU Hall of Famer Sonny Hansley stated, “You can’t find a better pitching guy than him in this area. When our kids say they want a pitching guy, we refer the kids to Felipe.”
Before arriving at FIU, Suarez was a pitching coach with USA Baseball, first serving as a trials coach for the Youth National Team. In the fall of 2006, Suarez served as the pitching coach for the USA Under-16 National Team. Team USA won the U16 2007 World Championship in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, defeating Brazil, 8-2, in the title game. The team went 6-0, allowing only eight earned runs in the six games with Suarez calling the pitches.
From 2003-2007, Suarez mentored pitchers at Broward College. He helped lead the team to the 2006 State Championship and a trip to the NJCAA World Series.
In addition to his time at BC, Suarez was the pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels Rookie League affiliate in Mesa, Ariz., and Instructional League pitching coach in 2005. He began his coaching career as an assistant at American Heritage HS in 2002 before moving on to the college and pro ranks.
A native of Sunrise, Fla. and a Piper HS graduate, Suarez was signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Angels following his collegiate pitching career at NSU. He rose fast through the Angels’ system and was promoted to the organization’s AAA affiliate, Edmonton, in his second full year. Suarez appeared in 91 minor league games and last played in 2001 with the AA affiliate Arkansas Travelers, who won the Texas League Championship.
Suarez has also worked as a social studies teacher and volunteer coach for the Special Olympics. He currently resides with his wife in Plantation, Fla.
