July 2, 2013

2013 Coaching Changes

Maestri Returns to New Orleans

Former head coach Ron Maestri has returned to lead the program at New Orleans as it begins membership in the Southland Conference.

Maestri was head coach of the Privateers from 1972-85, posting a record of 518-247-1. The win total and winning percentage of .677 are tops in program history. UNO never had a losing season under Maestri and reached the NCAA Tournament nine times.

The Privateers finished second in the 1974 NCAA Division II College World Series. Ten years later, New Orleans became the first team from the state of Louisiana to reach the NCAA Division I College World Series in Omaha.

Several of Maestri’s players became head coaches, including Paul Mainieri of LSU, Tim Jamieson of Missouri and former Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade.

As well as being a coach with the Privateers, Maestri was Director of Athletics at UNO from 1979-2000.

Over the past eight years, Maestri has served as the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs.

Maestri is a 1963 graduate of Bradley and coach both baseball and football at his alma mater.

New Orleans will open the 2014 season on Feb. 14 at Alex Box Stadium against Mainieri’s LSU Tigers. The first home game for the Privateers will occur one day later at the renovated field named after Maestri. The World Series teams of 1974 and 1984 will be honored prior to the game.