Chris Collazo was named head coach of the TCNJ baseball team on August 4, 2025.
One of Monmouth’s all-time greats, Collazo makes his head coaching debut after more than a decade of success as an assistant in the Division I ranks.
"I’m excited to welcome Chris Collazo and his family to TCNJ,” TCNJ Director of Athletics Liz Shatkus said at Collazo's hiring. “He brings a strong focus on player development, innovative offensive strategy, and building a winning culture. With a relentless drive for success and a proven track record of winning wherever he has been, Chris is a fierce competitor and outstanding recruiter. I’m confident he will keep our baseball program thriving on the national stage."
Collazo returns to the Garden State after two seasons as an ACC assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, where he helped the Panthers achieve the highest RPI ranking in program history this past spring. Thanks in part to Collazo’s imprint in offensive development and game-planning, as well as infield defense and in-game defensive alignments, Pitt secured seven wins over nationally ranked teams and finished with a winning record for the first time in three years. One of Collazo’s mentees with the Panthers was Luke Cantwell, who was picked by the San Diego Padres in this summer’s MLB Draft and turned in a pair of prolific offensive campaigns under Collazo’s tutelage.
Collazo spent the 2023 campaign as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Delaware, playing an integral role in the program’s first 30-win season and a return to the CAA Tournament after a five-year absence. The Blue Hens finished fifth in Division I’s 7th-best conference, per RPI, and led the CAA in runs, hits, triples, RBIs, and walks while averaging nearly eight runs per game and producing three all-conference position players.
Collazo’s lengthiest coaching stint came at his alma mater, where he served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2015 to 2022. He designed Monmouth’s daily training and game programs, including year-long hitting routines and offensive strategy, while contributing to the organization and planning of annual fundraising events such as golf outings, Hit-A-Thons, and First Pitch Dinners. While with the Hawks, Collazo recruited and coached 17 All-MAAC position players, including 2022 MLB Draft picks Trey Dombrowski (4th round to the Astros) and Rob Hensey (9th round to the Reds), as well as three MAAC Pitchers of the Year, two MAAC Rookies of the Year, and a pair of Freshman All-Americans.
Monmouth achieved multiple 30-win seasons during Collazo’s tenure and was crowned regular-season champion of the MAAC in 2018, and the 2022 team broke the university’s home run record in the BBCOR Bat era alongside significant increases in a number of offensive categories.
Before his time as a coach at Monmouth, Collazo made stops at Division II Felician (2010-11) as well as Wagner (2012-14) and Villanova (2014-15), where he coached a pair of first team All-Big East standouts and created the offensive strategy that resulted in the Wildcats increasing their marks in nearly every offensive category while lowering their strikeout rate.
Collazo was a first-rate player at Monmouth, where he finished his career in 2009 with the most hits in program history (247). A two-time All-NEC selection who ranks as the team’s all-time leader in fielding percentage (.988) as a second baseman, Collazo led the Hawks to two NCAA Tournament appearances (2007, 2009) as well as an NEC Tournament title in 2009 and conference regular-season crown in 2008.
COACHING RECORD
| Year |
Overall Record |
Win % |
NJAC Record |
Win % |
Postseason |
| 2026 |
16-23 |
.410 |
6-12 |
.333 |
|
| Total |
16-23 |
.410 |
6-12 |
.333 |
|
