Ray Romero is entering his 12th season on the Nova Southeastern University Baseball coaching staff. He was promoted to the position of Associate Head Baseball Coach following the 2003 season. Coach Romero brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Sharks with an expertise in the fundamentals, mechanics and thought process of pitching.
Since he came to NSU, Romero has helped lead the Sharks program to eight winning seasons, including six in the past six years. The most recent winning season was last years 35-21 overall mark while also posting a 12-9 record in league action. Since joining the NCAA six years ago, the Sharks have averaged over 30 wins per season.
The 2009 season posed to be the best since joining Division II as the Sharks tallied a 37-19 overall record. The program posted winning seasons in both 2007 and 2008 as well, posting a 36-19, 10-14 in the Sunshine State Conference before going 31-21 overall in 2008 while charting a 14-8 league record. This was their third time in school history that NSU posted a winning record in both overall and SSC play.
In 2006, the NSU baseball team posted a 33-19 NCAA mark, including a third-place finish in the Sunshine State Conference with a 14-10 record in league play. The two teams that finished ahead of NSU in the standings were 2006 NCAA DII National Champions University of Tampa and defending NCAA DII National Champions Florida Southern College.
The Sharks had a pitcher chosen for three consecutive years from 2004-06 major league baseball drafts as left-handed pitcher Antony Bello signed with the Houston Astros after being selected in the 21st round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Right-handed pitcher Derek Antelo signed after being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round of the 2005 Draft and right-handed pitcher Giuseppe Norrito signed after being picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 48th round of MLB's 2004 First-Year Player Draft.
Quality pitching has been a constant under the direction of Coach Romero, as Bello (2006), Antelo (2005) and Kyle Ruwe (2003) each were named All-American's by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Ray came from Chaminade-Madonna along with Mike Mominey in 2000. He coached there from 1993-2000 helping in the team's impressive successes including their 88-26 record from 1996-2000 and a number two state ranking in 1998. Overall, the team won three district championships and was regional runner-up.
Prior to his successes at Chaminade, Romero coached at the Miramar Optimist Club from 1981-90, where his teams collected two Broward County and two state championships. Ray has been an active member in the South Florida baseball community running hundreds of free baseball clinics for high school players where he concentrated on the fundamentals of pitching, hitting, fielding, and catching.
Romero resides in West Palm Beach with his wife, Cynthia.
