Sam Peraza enters his second season on the Panther coaching staff, serving as the squad’s pitching coach. Peraza brings 10 years of pitching coaching experience to FIU, along with producing a total of four conference Pitchers of the Year and nine All-Americans as a pitching coach.
Peraza’s first season as FIU’s pitching coach was a record-setting season for the Panther pitching staff. FIU posted a Conference USA single season record for most shutouts (14) and lowest team ERA (2.29). The Panthers set three school records in 2014 as well, posting the lowest team ERA, fewest walks (175) and fewest triples allowed (3). Mike Franco, who went on to be drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays, set the Conference USA and FIU single season record for lowest ERA (1.09), earning him First Team All-Conference honors and All-American status. Freshman Chris Mourelle set the school record for fewest walks allowed (11) and was named the league’s Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American. In total, Peraza’s pitching staff cracked the top five in 11 different school record statistical categories and individuals cracked the top 10 in eight different statistical categories.
The Panthers pitching staff was dominant from a national perspective as well. Their team ERA ranked fifth nationally, while the record-setting 14 shutouts ranked third nationally. Franco’s 1.09 ERA was second in the nation and his 0.96 WHIP ranked 27th in the nation. Mourelle was 28th in the country with a 1.26 WHIP. Peraza’s work in his first season with FIU earned him a finalist spot for the inaugural C-USA Assistant Coach of the Year award.
“I couldn’t be more pleased than having Sam Peraza on our coaching staff,” said FIU head coach Turtle Thomas. “I feel like he is the best pitching coach FIU has had during my tenure as head coach here. He brings extensive knowledge on teaching a pitching staff how to pitch effectively, improving each pitcher’s ‘out pitch’, and teaching the little intricacies of the game such as pick-off moves, fielding the position, etc. We think we have hit a grand slam with Sam Peraza.”
Peraza spent the 2013 season leading the pitchers at Cal State Northridge, where the Matador pitching staff had one of its best seasons in program history. Peraza’s pitching staff produced the best team earned run average in the program’s last 21 years. Additionally, the Matadors had the lowest walk-to-strikeout ratio since 2002 and also led the conference in batters struck out looking with 117. Cal State Northridge’s team had the program’s most overall wins and conference (Big West) wins since 2002.
Prior to joining the Matadors, Peraza spent the summer of 2012 as the pitching coach for the Santa Barbara Foresters, a summer-collegiate team. During his stint with the Foresters, Santa Barbara defeated the Seattle Studs to capture the 2012 National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series title. Peraza’s pitching staff produced an ERA of 2.41 with 570 strikeouts and only 173 walks. Peraza played a key role in coordinating the pitchers’ strength and conditioning programs throughout the summer and worked extensively with collegiate coaches to provide the best plan for their pitchers over the summer.
Peraza’s previous five seasons came with Cal State L.A. University, where he served as the Head Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. Peraza’s stint with the Golden Eagle baseball program began in October 2007. Peraza handled the Golden Eagle pitching staff, assisted with all game planning, scouting, film, administration and travel. In total, Cal State L.A. produced two conference Pitcher of the Year winners during Peraza’s time with program.
In the middle of his tenure with Cal State L.A., Peraza served as the head coach of the So Cal Fire, a summer collegiate baseball team, in the summer of 2008. Peraza’s team, which consisted of 20 Division I athletes and seven players that were selected in the top 20 rounds of MLB Draft, earned an impressive sixth place finish (out of 64 teams) in the NBC World Series.
Prior to his time at Cal State L.A., Peraza was the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Eastern Oklahoma State College for the 2007 season. During his time with the Mountaineers, Peraza handled all aspects of recruiting and scholarships awarded. He additionally oversaw the pitching staff, which produced the 2007 conference Pitcher of the Year. Peraza was also in charge of the strength and conditioning programs for the Mountaineer baseball team.
Peraza spent the summer of 2007 as the Co-Head Coach for the Peninsula Oilers Alaskan Summer League Team. He was the third base coach and oversaw team travel, stats and lodging for the team.
Peraza’s collegiate pitching career began at El Camino Community College from 1998-2000, where he sits in the record books for the program’s most saves. He then attended San Francisco State University in 2001, where he was a Second Team All-Conference Selection. As the Saturday starter, he led the team in wins, ERA, strikeouts and complete games. Peraza then transferred over to San Diego State University in 2002, pitching out of the bullpen for head coach Jim Dietz and Mountain West champion Aztecs.
