LSU Gold
Position
Assistant To The Athletic Director
Class
Redshirt
Hometown
Millerton, N.Y.

Dan Canevari, who enters his 12th season as a member of the LSU baseball staff, has played an integral role in guiding the Tigers to five national championships in the past 11 seasons. That role has become even more significant in 2002, as Canevari will serve both as LSU’s pitching coach and third-base coach.

Canevari, 43, was named pitching coach in June, 1997, after serving four seasons as the Tigers’ administrative assistant. He worked for three years as an LSU graduate assistant coach prior to becoming a full-time staff member in August, 1993. His appointment continued a long-time association with legendary coach Skip Bertman, which began in 1977 when Canevari was a pitcher at the University of Miami (Fla.) and Bertman served as the Hurricanes’ pitching coach.

The Canevari-Bertman combination helped to produce six NCAA championships, including five at LSU (1991, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’00) and one at Miami (1982).

During his previous 11 seasons at LSU, Canevari has earned a reputation as a vibrant, innovative coach and administrator with the talent to excel in all facets of a Division I program.

Canevari’s 1998 staff posted the best ERA in the Southeastern Conference (4.39), and his 2000 staff helped lead LSU to the national championship with a stingy 3.44 ERA in the Tigers’ nine NCAA Tournament games. Relief pitcher Trey Hodges was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2000 College World Series.

Canevari in 2001 tutored left-hander Lane Mestepey, who earned National Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year accolades.

Canevari has helped to produce some of the greatest pitchers in LSU history, including six major leaguers — Chad Ogea, Paul Byrd, Rick Greene, Mike Sirotka, Randy Keisler and Kurt Ainsworth.

In addition to his duties as pitching coach, Canevari edits and produces the Tigers’ scouting videos, and he recruits players around the country. During his LSU tenure, he has supervised several aspects of the program, including facility management, equipment purchases, recruiting trip organization and community relations. He served as director of the Skip Bertman Baseball Camp — one of the nation’s most highly respected camps — from 1995-2001.

Canevari, a native of Millerton, N.Y., came to LSU in 1991 after serving as the head coach at Coral Gables (Fla.) High School for three seasons.

Canevari earned his bachelor’s degree in 1980 and his master’s degree in 1983 from the University of Miami. He pitched for the Hurricanes from 1977-79 under the tutelage of Bertman, who was Miami’s pitching coach from 1976-83.

Canevari worked as a graduate assistant coach at Miami from 1981-83 before becoming an assistant coach and teacher in 1984 at Southwest Miami High School. He was promoted to head coach at Southwest Miami in 1985, and his team set a school record for wins with a 25-7 mark.

Canevari spent the 1986 and 1987 seasons at Southwest Miami before assuming the head coaching job at Coral Gables High in 1988. He coached former LSU all-American pitcher Rick Greene at Coral Gables and his 1990 team posted a 21-7 record, establishing a school mark for single-season victories.

Canevari is married to the former Cortney Bilotti. He has three daughters, Tiffany (17), Barrett (11) and Avery (5), and one son, Nicholas (1).

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