Former junior college head coach Rodney Lopez will be in his second season as Director of Baseball Player Personnel with the Youngstown State baseball program in 2025-26.
Lopez, who serves as YSU’s recruiting coordinator, previously served as the head coach at Waubonsee Community College in Illinois from 2020-24. The Chicago native took over the Chiefs' program in the fall of 2019 after serving as an assistant coach for two seasons under former head coach Brad Unger. Lopez became just the fourth Waubonsee head coach in the program's storied history, following in the footsteps of Hall of Fame coaches Bill Prince and Dave Randall, and Chiefs' alumnus Unger.
As the Chiefs' assistant in 2018 and 2019, Lopez worked with the infielders and served as first base coach, helping guide Waubonsee to a combined 58 wins during those two seasons and a runner-up finish at the 2019 Region IV Division III Tournament. After having his first season as head coach cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he guided Waubonsee to 30 victories, the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference title and a Region 4 runner-up finish in 2023. The Chiefs eclipsed the 20-win plateau in three different seasons during Lopez’s five-year tenure as head coach.
Lopez also brings a wealth of experience at the youth and prep level to YSU’s dugout. He began his coaching career as a volunteer with the Hegewisch Little League on the south side of Chicago. He held roles as a Coach, Manager, Vice-President and President while helping the league win several tournament championships as well as a trip to the state tournament. Lopez went on to start the Hegewisch Heat travel baseball program, which featured multiple teams with over fifty players in the program. More than a dozen Heat players went on to play at the collegiate level.
Lopez also coached at the high school level, serving as an assistant coach and junior varsity head coach at St. Francis de Sales of the Chicago Catholic League. Off the field, he took on a larger role as the school’s Alumni Director and ultimately Advancement Director. Lopez helped with the Pioneers’ fundraising, student procurement and assisting students in the college placement process. He later took over as the junior varsity head coach at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep. Lopez helped the Eagles excel in the competitive Jackie Robinson South Conference of the Chicago Public League and develop into a contender for the conference title and regional championship.
Lopez served as a full-time member of the Chicago Fire Department for over 20 years, retiring from those duties in 2019. He has served the people of Chicago along with the communities of Roseland, Hegewisch and South Chicago. Lopez has earned state certification as an EMT-B, Hazardous Materials Technician and FAA clearance official.
Lopez and his wife Heidi have three sons – Colton, Mason and Merek. Colton and Mason were both collegiate pitchers at NCAA Division III affiliate Beloit College in Wisconsin.
