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One-on-one with former Arizona Wildcats Coach Andy Lopez

Posted at 4:57 PM, Jun 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-17 23:06:03-04

If anyone knows about this year’s Arizona Baseball team, and the College World Series, it’s former Wildcat Coach Andy Lopez.

Lopez, who also won the College World Series with Pepperdine, won the 2012 CWS with Arizona, and recruited nearly all of this year’s players. He retired at the end of last season after thirty-three seasons as a head coach.

One day before the Wildcats play Miami in day one of this year’s CWS, the three-time National Coach of the year sat down with sports director Jason Barr.

"This group was recruited off a national championship,” said Lopez. So, I’m not completely shocked. They’re obviously hot, and that’s a tribute to Jay Johnson and the current coaching staff.”

Lopez says his retirement came at the right time.

"The best personnel decision I made was last year when I had to get out and let someone else get in there. I’m really happy with my decision, mentoring kids two days a week and watching the current players make it to Omaha.”