Commissioners congratulate University of Tampa Spartans and Coach Joe Urso for winning 2024 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship
University of Tampa's baseball team and its coach were the stars during the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners' Aug. 7 meeting as they were honored for winning the 2024 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship. The Spartans were recognized with a commendation for earning a ninth national title in baseball, equaling the most in Division II history. Head Coach Joe Urso was additionally honored for his prestigious career with the team, including his selection as the unanimous 2024 National Coach of the Year for NCAA Division II Baseball.
The Spartans finished the season with 52 wins, the fourth-most in program history, and only eight losses. The 2024 national title ties UT with Florida Southern for most in Division II history, nine, and is the Spartans' sixth in the 2000s, far more than any other program in the 21st century.
Since becoming the Spartans' head coach in 2001, Urso has led his team to six national championships in his 24 seasons, more than any other coach during his tenure. UT's all-time winningest baseball coach, he has coached dozens of First Team All-Americans, National Gold Glove winners, and Academic All-Americans, to name a few honors he helped his players achieve.
After accepting both commendations, Urso thanked the Board and said that it was a special year for both him and his team.
"[I was] born and raised here in Hillsborough County, so to bring a national championship right back to our county means a lot to me … and all of our players," he said.
Interested in all the details about the latest BOCC meeting? Here is a full recap.
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