Camp Staff

All instruction will be led by the University of Tampa Spartans Baseball Coach Sam Militello, and he will be assisted by a qualified staff including the UT coaching staff, former professional baseball players, and current UT players.

Staff Bios
 

►Sam Militello

   Assistant Baseball Coach; Pitching Coach; Camp Director

Former Spartan All-American Sam Militello is in his eighth season as assistant coach at The University of Tampa. As Joe Urso’s top assistant, Militello is in charge of the pitching staff. Militello capped a brilliant three-year career with the Spartans by capturing the NCAA II National Player-of-the-Year award in 1990 when he posted a 15-2 record, 1.75 ERA and 182 strikeouts as he led Tampa to a third place finish in the NCAA II National Championship Series.

During his seven year tenure as Urso's top assistant and pitching coach, Militello has coached a total of 15 All-Americans, including eight first-team All-Americans. His 2006 National Championship team tied a program record for first-team All-Americans with three, all of whom were selected in the First-Year Amateur Draft, and are currently playing in the minor leagues. Militello has done well with the pitching staff during his time at Tampa, coaching seven All-American pitchers, including four first-team All-Americans. In total, Militello has coached 19 players that were later drafted, including current Detroit Tiger catcher Mike Rabelo.

Militello owns UT single-season school records for victories (15), strikeouts (182) and innings pitched (143.2) and the school career record for strikeouts (340).

He was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Award, given to the top collegiate player in the country. At the time, he was only the second NCAA II player to be nominated for the Golden Spikes Award. Militello was a three-time All-American, all-South Region and all-Sunshine State Conference selection and was twice the South Region Pitcher of the Year. In 1990, he was selected to the NCAA II National Championship Series all-tourney team. He was named to the Sunshine State Conference Silver Anniversary team and the SSC and UT Athletic Hall of Fame.

A sixth-round draft pick of the New York Yankees, Militello broke into the "Show" in style with a 6-0 shutout of the Boston Red Sox in July 1992, going seven innings and striking out five while surrendering just one hit and three walks. He surged to a 3-0 record and finished his inaugural season at 4-4. He pitched in the Yankees system from 1990-94, signed with the Florida Marlins (1994-95) and again with the Yankees ('96) until retiring to a coaching job with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1997-98). Prior to joining the Spartans, he spent the previous two seasons as a pitching coach in the Cleveland Indians organization with Burlington and Columbus, Ga.
 

►Joe Urso

   Head Baseball Coach

Former Spartan All-American Joe Urso is now in his eighth season as head baseball coach of The University of Tampa, compiling a 265-88 record. In his first six seasons as Spartan head coach, Urso has led Tampa to its eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th conference titles and he led Tampa to its ninth, 10th and 11th regional championships with a National Championship last season and a second place finish in the 2003 National Championship Series. Tampa won a school record 54 games in 2006 and has posted five 40 plus-win seasons under Urso.

Urso returned to Tampa following a three-year stint as coach and manager in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization. Most recently, Urso was manager of the Angels' minor league affiliate in Butte, Mont. Prior to that, he was manager of the Angels' Instructional League team and assistant coach with the Lake Elsinore (Calif.) Storm and Boise (Idaho) Hawks since 1997.

The 1992 UT business management graduate was the 49th-round draft pick by the Angels and played four years in their system.

As a Spartan, Urso ranks as one of The University's most popular players. Urso was a four-year starter at second base and was twice named second-team All-American, first-team all-South and first-team all-Sunshine State Conference in 1991 and '92. He was a career .332 hitter, who held the NCAA career record for runs (258). He owned the school mark for runs in a season (76) and still holds school records in walks for a season (54) and career (176). He ranks fourth on the all-time school list for games played (223), is second in career doubles (63) and sixth in stolen bases (70).

Among his achievements as a senior, Urso hit .377 and was a perfect 11 for 11 in stolen base attempts in 15 games against Div. I competition, including Florida, Clemson, Michigan, Alabama and Miami.

Among the top players to lead UT to the NCAA II National Championship Series in 1990, he was voted MVP of the Spartans' national championship in '92. In 1997, Urso was named to the NCAA II NCS all-time team as the best second baseman. In two tournaments, he played in eight games, hitting .469 with one homerun and 10 RBI. He was named to the Sunshine State Conference Silver Anniversary team.

A Tampa native, Urso was a member of Plant High School's 1988 state champions where he was a two-time first team all-area, all-county and all-conference honoree and second-team all-state.

Within the Angels organization, Urso's number was retired in Lake Elsinore in 1997; he was team MVP and league all-star for the California League champions in '96; recognized by an award in his name which is presented to the Lake Elsinore fans' favorite player since '95; received three fans' favorite player awards (1994-96) and was the Palm Springs Angels fans' favorite player award winner in 1993. His community outreach efforts earned him the moniker "Mayor" of Lake Elsinore by the Angels' staff.

He is married to Julie and they have two sons, JD and Preston.

►Scott McNulty

   Assistant Baseball Coach

Scott McNulty is in his 12th year with the Spartans. McNulty was also an assistant on the 1998 national championship team. Scott began with the junior varsity team in 1997, moving up to varsity in the last two months of the season. After coaching youth baseball for nine years, Coach McNulty now helps coordinate all aspects of the teams practices, including batting practice and physical conditioning.

►Frank Maldonado

   Assistant Baseball Coach

Frank Maldonado is in his third season as an assistant and brings nine years of collegiate coaching experience to Tampa. Maldonado spent four seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Cal Lutheran, after coaching four seasons at Barstow Community College as an assistant coach. Maldonado specializes in infield, hitting, fielding and base running and has also assisted in recruiting, academic advising and community service efforts.

►Mark Johnson

   Assistant Baseball Coach; JV Head Coach

Mark Johnson is in his sixth season as the junior varsity head coach after spending time as the Spartans’ pitching coach. Mark graduated from Tampa in the spring of 2000 with a degree in Sports Management. Mark also played for four years at Tampa and worked in the Sports Information Office. Before Tampa, Mark was a four-year letterman at Seminole High School where he played outfield and pitched.