Saint Thomas University Men's Baseball

Yanez of Goleman High School to its baseball coaching staff. Coach Yanez recently retired as a teacher and coach from the Miami-Dade County public school system with 31 years of service. He coached in Dade County for the past 30 years with 17 of those years as a head coach. During his tenure he reached the 300 victory milestone. Included in his years of coaching are 4 final 4 appearances with 2 state titles, 8 district and 5 regional and 2 Greater Miami Athletic Conference Championships. In 1985 he assisted the HML Trojans in their state and National titles. He was selected coach of the year 5 times for the Florida Athletics Coaches Association All-Star Classic, and in 2008 was the Miami Herald Dade County Class 6A Coach of the Year.

Barnick is in his first year as a full-time Assistant Coach at St. Thomas University.  Coach Barnick has spent the last season years as a part-time coach with the Bobcats.    Coach Barnick was an Assistant Coach at his alma mater, Hollywood Hills High School, from 1991-1995 for both baseball and football.   Coach Barnick was an infielder for Broward College where he was named an Academic All-American his freshman season.  Coach Barnick then attended Rollins College where he was named to the All-Region Team as a shortstop, graduating with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Political Science.    In 2011, Coach Barnick attended the prestigious Major League Baseball Scouting School in Phoenix, Arizona as a representative of the Boston Red Sox.   Coach Barnick is married to Dr. Sandra Barnick and they have one son, Caden Barnick.      

Carillo is set to begin his third season with the Bobcats Baseball program. Prior to arriving at St. Thomas University, Coach Carrillo was the Head Baseball Coach at Florida National University. He was the inaugural Head Coach in 2017 and spent four seasons at the helm of the program. In the first season of the program, he led the team to a USCAA World Series appearance, finishing in 5th place. The program was ranked as high as #6 in the nation in USCAA by the coaches’ poll. Carrillo would also produce two professional signees, several first team All-American, and All-Academic players. Before Florida National University, Coach Carrillo was the assistant baseball coach, recruiting coordinator, as well as the head JV baseball coach at Webber International University with great success. Carrillo has been around baseball his entire life. He was a collegiate player at Webber International University where he immediately started coaching right after his graduation. Carrillo possesses a Masters in Sport Business Management from Webber International University.

Rene Arauz enters his second season as a full-time assistant coach for the Bobcats Baseball program. Hometown - Hialeah, Fla. Alma Mater - St. Thomas University; BBA '20 and MS '22 Arauz started his career at St. Thomas as a player in the fall of 2016 coming in as a true-freshmen pitcher. After playing two seasons, Arauz unfortunately sustained an elbow injury and spent the 2019 and shortened 2020 season to try and work his way back. In the 2021 season, Arauz hung up the cleats to join the coaching staff as a graduate assistant and graduated with his masters in 2022. The 2023 season marked the first as a full-time assistant coach for the baseball program leading the pitching staff.

Personal Hometown: Miami, Fla. Education: Bachelor's Degree in Education and Minor in Communications in May, 1993 from Rollins College. Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership in May, 2012 from St. Thomas University. Family: Perez resides in Kendall with his wife, Mitzie and two daughters, Mia and Jenna. Coaching Experience Kean University - Assistant Coach (1996-1999) St. Thomas University - Head Assistant Coach (2000-2001) South Dade - Head Coach (2002-2005) Gulliver Prep - Head Coach (2006-2008) USA Collegiate National Team - Assistant Coach (2018) St. Thomas University - Head Coach (2009- present) Coaching Accolades 3x ABCA Regional Coach of the Year (2015, 2018, 2019) Florida Diamond Club Coach of the Year (2019) Sun Conference Coach of the Year (2018) Biography During his high school coaching career, Perez accumulated a record of 80-54. He led his teams to two Regional Final appearances and in 2007, participated in the 3A Final Four State Tournament with the Gulliver Prep Raiders. Perez has been around baseball his entire life. As a player he was fortunate to be involved in both collegiate and professional baseball. Perez graduated from Rollins College in 1993 where he was a four-year letter winner. At Rollins, he participated in two regional tournaments, played on the only team in school history to be ranked #1 in the country, and was part of the squad that beat both the University of Miami and University of Florida in the same season. After college, Perez began his professional playing career by signing as a free agent with the St. Paul Saints of the Northern League. From there, he played another couple of seasons with two other professional organizations. Perez began his coaching career in 1996 as an assistant at Kean University (a nationally ranked Division III school in New Jersey). His main responsibilities included developing the catchers and hitters. In 1998, the program participated in their first regional appearance in 25 years. In 1999, Perez was hired as an Assistant Coach by Manny Mantrana at St. Thomas University. In the year 2000, St. Thomas compiled a 51-16 record, won the Florida Sun Conference Championship and participated in the NAIA College World Series. When Jorge Perez was hired in the Fall of 2008 as STU’s baseball coach, he expressed a clear vision for the future of the Bobcat Baseball Program. The goal was to assemble an excellent coaching staff, recruit quality student-athletes, and prepare the team to perform at their highest level. The baseball program prepares each season with its sights set on winning The Sun Conference Title and competing in the postseason at the NAIA College World Series. Through hard work and determination, the STU baseball program has qualified for the NAIA Opening Round of the World Series in the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 seasons. In 2015 and 2019, Perez led the Bobcats to an even higher level as STU finished runner up at the NAIA World Series for the first time in school history.  In 2012 the baseball program had a breakout season. The team won 45 games and had a .763 winning percentage. That ranks as the fourth highest winning percentage in school history. The program also finished ranked 15th in the nation and won The Sun Conference Tournament for the first time in school history. Under the guidance of Perez, the Bobcats defeated host Georgia Gwinnett in the 2015 NAIA Opening Round to qualify for the NAIA World Series for the fifth time in school history.  At the NAIA World Series, the Bobcats staved off elimination four times in the ten-team double elimination tournament to earn a spot in the NAIA World Series Championship Game for the first time.  The Bobcats fell to host Lewis-Clark State 10-7 in the championship and finished the year ranked No. 2 in the nation in the final NAIA Coaches Poll.  Five Bobcats were named to the All-World Series team and outfielder Jerry Downs, the highest selected NAIA position player in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft, was drafted in the 15th round by the Boston Red Sox. The 2016 season featured STU's second consecutive appearance in the NAIA Opening Round, as St. Thomas traveled to play in the Kingsport (TN.) Bracket. St. Thomas defeated Middle Georgia State and eliminated Rio Grande, before advancing to the winner-take-all game against host, Tennessee Wesleyan University. The Bobcats dropped the contest and fell one game short of back-to-back trips to the NAIA World Series. In 2017, St. Thomas University made an appearance in The Sun Conference Tournament for the ninth consecutive season. Along with making the conference postseason, the Bobcats were selected for the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round for the third consecutive season, the sixth time in program history. Perez earned his 300th career win as the head coach at St. Thomas when the team traveled to USCB for a three-game weekend series. The Bobcats lost the first game of the series but swept the double-header, which eclipsed Perez to his 301st win. Overall, his record at STU after the 2017 season closed out at 313-213 (.595 winning percentage). The 2018 season was record-breaking for Perez and the Bobcats. STU established a new program-record for wins (56) and featured a dynamic offense which lead the NAIA in: doubles (197), at-bats (2266), hits (817), runs (652), runs-batted-in (586) and batting average (0.361). The St. Thomas team featured four NAIA All-Americans: Nelson Mompierre (Perfect Game NAIA MVP), Elih Marrero, Orlando Rodriguez and Jackie Urbaez. 2019 featured more success from Perez and the Bobcats, resulting in the seventh NAIA World Series-trip in program history. During the regular season, St. Thomas swept the No. 1 Southeastern University Fire at home, following a 14-2 run-rule victory in game two of the Sun Conference series, Perez earned his 400th career win and became the second coach in STU history to reach the milestone. St. Thomas hosted the NAIA Opening Round, for the first time since 2007, going undefeated and advancing to the NAIA World Series for the seventh time in program history. STU defeated reigning World Series Champion, Southeastern in game one, University of Science and Arts (OK.), eliminated Georgia Gwinnett and USAO, only losing twice to Tennessee Wesleyan and advancing to the NAIA World Series for the second time in program history. Four members of the 2019 baseball team signed professional contracts: Jackie Urbaez (drafted by MIL in the 29th round), Ian Exposito (UDFA, Milwaukee Brewers), Orlando Rodriguez (UDFA, Cincinnati Reds), and Sergio Lopez (Independent).  Before the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Perez guided the Bobcats to a 19-5-1 record. STU returned to the field in 2021 looking to once again compete on the national stage. Perez became the winningest coach in St. Thomas University Baseball history on Saturday, March 20, following a 5-3 victory over Florida National University. Perez earned his 452nd career win and passed STU Hall of Famer and former Head Coach, Manny Mantrana. St. Thomas advanced to the NAIA Opening Round for the sixth consecutive season, going 1-2 in the Montgomery Bracket. Six Bobcats earned All-Conference recognition in 2021, as Daniel Mondejar and Ernesto Pino were named to the First-Team, while Jack Khawly, Emanuel Montesino, Josue Rangel, and Alejandro Rivero earned Second-Team honors.  YEAR-BY-YEAR    Year Overall Win Pct. Conference Win Pct. Post-Season 2009 24-33 .421 13-11 .542 2010 34-31 .523 14-13 .518 Sun Conference tournament appearance 2011 25-32 .439 10-9 .526 NAIA Opening Round Appearence  2012 45-14 .763 20-8 .714 Hardeeville Opening Round runner-up, Sun Conference tournament champion 2013 32-21 .604 17-10 .630 Sun Conference tournament appearance 2014 32-21 .604 18-9 .667 Sun Conference tournament runner-up 2015 48-18 .727 19-8 .704 NAIA World Series Runner-ups, Lawrenceville Opening Round Champion, Sun Conference tournament runner-up 2016 38-22 .633 16-8 .667 Kingsport Opening Round appearance, Sun Conference tournament appearance 2017 35-19 .648 16-8 .667 Montgomery Opening Round appearance, Sun Conference tournament appearance 2018 56-9 .862 22-2 .917 Program record for wins in a single season, NAIA World Series berth, Hattiesburg Opening Round Champions, Sun Conference tournament runner-up 2019 49-15 .766 19-5 .792 NAIA World Series Runner-ups, Miami Gardens Opening Round Champions, Sun Conference tournament appearance 2020 19-5-1 .780 5-0-1 .917 Season canceled due to COVID-19 2021 34-21 .618 17-7 .708  Went 1-2 in NAIA Opening Round. Defeated Our Lade of the Lake 14-7 2022 41-19 .683 14-10 .583 Sun Conference Runner ups. 3-2 in NAIA Opening Round 2023 27-24 .529 12-9 .571 Sun Conference Tournament appearance 2024 22-30 .423 12-12 .500 Sun Conference Tournament appearance 2025   27-25            .519             11-13 .458 Sun Conference Tournament appearance Overall 588-359-1 .621 255-142-1 .642