Prado accepts USF's job

[Cubanbull]

Prado Accepts USF Job

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By ADAM ADKINS and BRETT McMURPHY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 15, 2006

TAMPA - Former University of Tampa baseball coach Lelo Prado has accepted the coaching job at the University of South Florida, The Tampa Tribune has learned.

Prado, who met Wednesday in Atlanta with USF athletic director Doug Woolard and senior associate athletic director Barbara Sparks-McGlinchy, replaces Eddie Cardieri.

Prado is Louisville's all-time winningest coach, going 320-302-1 in the past 11 years, and guided the program to its only NCAA Tournament appearance in 2002. Prior to taking over the Cardinals' program, Prado spent seven seasons at the University of Tampa, guiding the Spartans to a 278-124-1 record and back-to-back Division II national championships in 1992-93.

Prado, a 1981 Tampa Catholic graduate, also coached the USA National Team in 2002.

"I had a great conversation with Doug and Barbara, and we'll see what happens," Prado said Wednesday.

Prado had one year remaining on his contract that pays him $92,500 annually. Cardieri made $64,000 last season.

During Prado's tenure at Louisville, the Cardinals' baseball program raised $15 million, which helped fund a new $8 million stadium that opened in 2005.

He becomes the fifth baseball coach in USF history.

[Guest Sprtsfn627]

Welcome Lelo Prado!  Here is to a new winning tradition in USF baseball!

[Guest AstroBull]

Welcome Coach Prado

[puc86]

Hooray for mediocrity!

[Rabbi Bull]

welcome prado, hope you can do better here then you did at louisville

[72bull]

Prado's Coaching Honors

1989-

Sunshine State Conf. Coach of the Year

1990-

South Region Coach of the Year

1990-

Sunshine State Conf. Coach of the Year

1992-

South Region Coach of the Year

1992-

ABCA National Coach of the Year (DII)

1993-

ABCA National Coach of the Year (DII)

1993-

South Region Coach of the Year

1995-

Sunshine State Conf. Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

1995-

USA Baseball Selection Committee

1996-

USA Baseball Olympic Team Selection Committee Member

1997-

USA Baseball Selection Committee

1998-

USA Baseball Selection Committee

2000-

Assistant Coach on USA Baseball National Team

2002-

Conference USA Coach of the Year

2002-

Head Coach USA Baseball National Team

[puc86]

:oI am shocked the Yankees did not come calling.

[bull2saintleo]

welcome back coach prado, lets bring a CWS championship to Tampa.

[tampajo]

Hey, listen, it's better to ask for 5 new cards than to just hold the same 4 shirty ones and pray to draw for an inside straight. Bull-y to Lelo, let's support him - and i was a Rupp fan - and hope baseball rallies so that next year, Wooly Bully has the stones to jettison Mac after another single digit year.

GO BULLS!

[Joe]

YOu guys kill me,

This guy did an excellent job at a terrible Louisville program. He got a beautiful new stadium built and has had some successful years. He will do very well for USF.