Head Baseball Coach Manny Mantrana is leaving his post at St. Thomas University (FL) to accept the same position at the University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA).  The baseball team will suffer from the loss of Mantrana, the winningest coach in school history, but the strong foundation built over his 12 years with the school will remain.  St. Thomas Athletic Director Laura Courtley-Todd reacted to the news by saying “Coach Mantrana is a leader on campus.  He is known by all students, not just athletes.  He is a man of great integrity and will be missed.  UTPA is gaining an incredible coach and an amazing human being.”   

    In addition to his head coaching duties at STU, Mantrana served as hitting and pitching coach for eight years and leaves with a lifetime winning percentage of .681 (434-193-1), highlighted by a school record 54-win 1997 season.  His teams appeared in three College World Series, most recently in 2007, and nine overall postseason berths.  Over 40 players coached by Mantrana have been awarded all-conference or all-region status, and twenty of those players have gone on to sign professional contracts.   

    Not only did Mantrana exhibit success on the field, but his student-athletes performed in the classroom as well, evidenced by the fact that every player who attended school for four years under his guidance successfully earned a degree.  Mantrana also coached ten All-American athletes, including five All-American scholar athletes.   

    The three-time Florida Sun Conference and Southeast Region coach-of-the-year reflected by saying “I had twelve great years here (at St. Thomas) and incredible support from both the university and the athletic department.  This was a difficult decision, but sometimes God gives you opportunities in life that you have to take. I would like to thank all of the players and assistant coaches who made the last 12 years at STU a success and in particular Athletic Director Laura Courtley-Todd, Vice-President Dr. Beatriz Robinson and STU President Monsignor Casale for their trust and support throughout the years. God bless STU.”   

    Before turning to coaching, Mantrana was an accomplished player himself at Miami-Dade College, Middle Georgia Community College and LSU; and was drafted in the tenth round by the Atlanta Braves organization in 1981. He then went on to play in the Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets farm systems. After his playing career ended, Mantrana returned to his alma mater, Miami Jackson High School, and served as head for four years before taking an assistant coaching job with Miami-Dade Community College in 1995. At Miami-Dade, Mantrana coached hitters and infielders and served as recruiting coordinator, and after a year of service joined STU as head coach. 

    Mantrana joins a storied lineage of former St. Thomas baseball coaches who have gone on to successful careers in the sport.  Al Avila, who coached the Bobcats from 1988-1992, went on to work with the Marlins for nine years, serving as Vice President, assistant General Manager and eventually interim GM.  After joining the Pirates as special assistant to GM Dave Littlefield, Avila joined the Tigers, and now is in his sixth season as the organization's Vice President and Assistant GM.  The man who Avila replaced, Paul Mainieri (STU head coach from 1983-1988), has also achieved success in his post-St. Thomas career while serving as head coach at Air Force, Notre Dame, and currently LSU.  Last season, Mainieri was named both rivals.com and collegebaseballinsider.com's national coach-of-the-year after leading his team to the College World Series. 

    St. Thomas is now currently accepting resumes for the Head Baseball Coach position from individuals with proven college experience.