By Eric Grovesstaff Writer
The terrorist attacks of September 11th rekindled a tired old clichŽ ’round these parts: “Proud to be an American.” But for University of Louisville baseball Coach Lelo Prado, the phrase always meant something. The Cuban-born Prado’s parents immigrated to America when he was but three months old to pursue a better life for Lelo and his siblings. Last month, Coach Prado was chosen to fulfill perhaps the highest honor possible for a collegiate coach.
USA Baseball chose Prado to manage the United States National Team in this summer’s World Baseball Championships in Italy.
According to Prado, coaching the National Team has always been a goal of his. “It’s a great honor to be representing the United States in the World Championships,” he said. “It was one of my dreams when I became a head coach, and now it’s here.” The tournament will be played in August, and Prado will select a squad of 22 from the best freshman and sophomore baseball players in the nation. But just representing his country isn’t the only goal. “Hopefully when we get back,” Prado said “we’ll have gold medals around our necks.”
And this isn’t only a great situation for Prado. Several of Prado’s players-both present and past-believe this is a terrific opportunity for the coach and for the baseball program at U of L. Cardinal shortstop Adam Haley said he and his teammates are delighted for their coach. “It makes our team proud,” the junior said. “He works hard, pushes us and it’s a great honor.
It’s great to say you play for a coach who coached for the USA National team. He’s done a great job to make the other guys and me better players.”
Not only are his current players elated for Coach Prado, one former player in particular is proud of his former skipper. St. Louis Cardinal first baseman (and Prado’s brother-in-law) Tino Martinez, who starred under Prado at the University of Tampa, was recently in town for U of L’s leadoff banquet.
“He’s obviously a great coach,” Martinez said of Prado. “He’s got a passion for winning, and that’s one of the things that drives him.” Martinez believes that being selected as the National coach is quite an honor for Prado, and will only help him as strives to strengthen U of L’s baseball program. “I think it’s huge,” said Martinez. “It’s a big honor and it’s a big challenge for [Prado]. He deserves it, and he can do the job. I definitely think it will help the U of L program in the recruiting process and really expand this program.”
Former high school teammate and current New York Yankees bullpen coach Rich Monteleone was also in town for the banquet and heaped similar praises on Prado. “Lelo does a great job,” he said. “I think this is just another step to make [U of L] a top program.” According to Monteleone, Prado was a pretty good backstop in his day at Tampa Catholic High, too. “If [Prado] was my catcher in professional baseball,” Monteleone quipped. “I think I’d still be pitching.”
Still, with all of the praise he’s received, and given all the pageantry of an event this scale, it doesn’t change Coach Prado’s humble approach regarding his new responsibility. “[My parents] came to this country to give me the opportunity to do things like this,” Prado said. “This has been a lifelong coaching goal of mine, and there is no greater honor than representing the United States.”
