News

Famed baseball coach Andy Lopez came to Fairbanks this week, joining son Mike who is a coach for the Alaska Goldpanners.   While in town, Andy expressed his joy at being with his two sons David (left) and Mike (right), tweeting that he was "having a great time" in the Golden Heart City.  

Andy is known throughout the baseball world for his great accomplishments, many of which are listed below.

Now retired, Andy still has contact with the game through appearances and the Lopez Baseball Camps.  He is also in constant contact with his many friends throughout the baseball world, including Steve Garvey, Trevor Hoffman, and 1990 Goldpanners outfielder and current Pepperdine head coach Steve Rodriguez.  

During the collegiate season, Andy's son Mike coaches at Howard College.  The two were together at the University of Arizona on their 2012 national championship winning club.  To follow Mike Lopez on Twitter, click HERE.

More information on the career of Andy Lopez can be found below.

Andy Lopez retires with 1,174 wins, two national titles

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Andy Lopez is retiring after a 14-year stint as Arizona's baseball coach that included a pair of College World Series appearances and the 2012 national title.

The 61-year-old Lopez had quadruple bypass surgery in 2013, but he didn't miss a game while winning 487 times in the desert. He won 1,174 games during a 33-year career that included stops at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Pepperdine and Florida.

Arizona's Andy Lopez is retiring after 33 seasons as a college baseball coach, the last 14 with the Wildcats. 

"I never dreamed this big when I was 12 years old,'' Lopez said in a statement. "I have loved playing and coaching this game, and it has taken to me all over the world. I have been fortunate to develop lifelong relationships that I cherish each and every day, and now I can dedicate more time to the people that mean the most to me.''

A three-time national coach of the year, Lopez led Arizona to the College World Series for the first time in 18 years in 2004. Eight years later, he led the Wildcats to their fourth national championship as a program. Lopez also won a national title at Pepperdine in 1992.

He coached 39 All-Americans and had 131 players who went on to sign professional contracts, including seven who were first-round picks in the Major League Baseball draft.

Arizona finished 30-24 overall and 12-18 in the Pac-12 this season after going 22-33 a year ago.

"Andy Lopez is one of the great coaches college athletics has ever seen, more importantly he is a better man,'' Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne said. "We've been so fortunate to have Andy as the leader of our baseball program for the last 14 years. While we'll certainly miss his presence on a day-to-day basis, Andy will forever be engrained in the history of Arizona baseball and remembered for his ability to lead and mentor young men.''