Jan. 20, 2013

Former Miami head coach Ron Fraser passes away

Ron Fraser, longtime Miami head coach who won a pair of national championships with the Hurricanes, passed away on Jan. 20 at the age of 79 after battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Fraser led Miami for 30 years (1973-92), posting a record of 1,271-438-9 and winning the College World Series in 1982 and 1985. He took the Hurricanes to Omaha 12 times and never had a losing season in his 30 years at Miami. More than 100 of Fraser’s pupils played professional baseball. Fraser was named National Coach of the Year four times and managed the 1992 Olympic team.

Along with his coaching duties, Fraser also marketed Miami baseball with innovative promotions.

A native of New Jersey, Fraser attended Florida State and is a member of the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame. He was inducted not for his accomplishments for the Seminoles, but for his success as a head coach at Miami. Fraser’s No. 1 was officially retired on April 24, 1993, at Mark Light Field. He is a member of 10 Halls of Fame and was in the inaugural class of the College Baseball Foundation Hall of Fane in 2006.

Miami announced the creation of the Ron Fraser Wizard Fund to honor the coach with a bronze statue to be placed at Alex Rodriguez Park.

(photos courtesy of HurricaneSports.com)