Danny Price steps down from the Sharks Helm
Danny Price, head coach at Miami Dade College Baseball will not be returning to the Shark’s Dugout. Athletic Director Anthony Fiorenza revealed in a letter late Wednesday afternoon.
Coach Price, is rerouting his career after nine seasons as a head coach. He is the winningest coach in program history at Florida international University, boasting an overall record of 1086-597 in his 28 years at the helm with the Golden Panthers. At the Sharks Helm Price has recorded 298-160, crowned Southern Conference champions four years 2013,2014,2017,2019 and runner up in 2018. In 2000 he was named employee of the year and alumni of the year at Florida International University.
He started his coaching career as a baseball and football coach at Miami Central Senior High Schoolin 1974. Eventually, opportunity knocked on his door when his old FIU coach asked him to come on as a volunteer assistant coach in 1978.
After a year and a half of being a volunteer coach at FIU, Price was promoted to the head coaching position. The program produced numerous players who would go on to play pro baseball including World Series champion Mike Lowell. Price led FIU to eight NCAA Division I regionals, six of them coming in his last 11 years as head coach.
The baseball team under the leadership of Athletic Director Nancy Olson, chose the baseball team because of the fundraising skills of Danny Price. The decision to first move baseball from Div II to Div I in 1983. The remaining varsity teams followed in 1989.
His life outside of baseball involves a good amount of fishing and reading. He is the kind of person who is invested in his personal relationships with his family and his players. Price is known for offering sage advice to players or anyone willing to listen.
“He pushes us because he expects a lot,” said Jason Grana, a pitcher on that year’s MDC Sharks team.
When Price talks, his players listen. His résumé speaks for itself.
“I have enjoyed it here. I don’t know how to do anything else,” Price said. “If you ever want to receive anything, give something; it’s amazing.” Stated in an article By Miami Dade College-The Reporter
He is one of the few collegiate baseball coaches to record a thousand coaching victories. He was named Trans America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1991, 1995 and 1998 while at FIU. He played an integral role in FIU going from a Division II school to a Division I school.
At MDC, the winning has continued. The Sharks have been crowned Southern Conference Champions four times, finished as the 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association National Runners- Up and the 2010 Florida College System Athletic Association State Runner-Up.
“I have enjoy it here. I don’t know how to do anything else,” Price said. “If you ever want to receive anything, give something; it’s amazing.”
Price was introduced to baseball in little league. He played college ball at Indian River State College before moving onto Florida International University where he was an outfielder. At FIU, Price collected the program’s first hit while serving as team captain.
Price, the son of a sharecropper born in North Carolina, attended FIU and played on its baseball team as a student in 1973–74. He made the first hit for FIU, which had opened its doors a year before. He graduated in 1974, and returned as a hitting instructor in 1976.
Former FIU baseball players coached by Price include Major League Baseball star Mike Lowell, and over one hundred other students signed to play professional baseball with major and minor league teams.
Danny Price will be rerouting his career and working with some foundations here in Florida and in the Dominican Republic. “Leaders Unlimited” a Non for Profit organization that reaches out to sport teams from High schools, colleges and Universities with the opportunity to speak leadership development and life skills with all its athletes. The Mission Statement of the organization is to “Develop leaders mind, body, & Soul. Some players eventually made it to Major League Baseball: Victor Caratini, Brian Goodwin, Derek Law, Jharel Cotton. Along with high schools, there is the University of Miami & Miami Dade College.
The other foundation Coach Price would be working with is “Dream Big” a foundation based in Dominican Republic whose sole intent is to enhance the lives of the aspiring ball players through education and athletics. The Mission Statement for the organization is to “change the lives of the kids here for a better future, and to become better people in society”. ‘Dream big’ works with underprivileged children with low-income households and teach them English and baseball. Coach Price is the advisor for ‘Dream Big’ and oversees any decision made moving forward for the organization. The many schools involved with ‘Dream Big’ play a vital role in promoting the kids in Dominican Republic. Here is a list of some of the schools participating: (Wabash College, Western Oklahoma College, East Central College, Southeastern CC, Mid-American university, Iowa Central College, & Finally the parent college of the Foundation Miami Dade College.
Athletic Director Anthony Fiorenza stated: “ I am deeply grateful for Danny and the legacy he will leave, and his deep love and commitment to Miami Dade College Sharks Baseball. I have spoken with many of our alumni from the team, and hearing their stories of how Coach Price has changed their lives. Players from the past continue to credit Danny with their success both on and off the field".