New Orleans Athletics Hall of Fame
Maestri, a native of Highland Park, Ill., served UNO as both a baseball coach (1972-85) and athletic director (1979-2000). Maestri came out of retirement in the summer of 2013 to resume his post for the Privateers.
Under his guidance, UNO baseball went 518-247-1 (.677). The Privateers never had a losing season during his tenure and qualified nine times for NCAA tournaments. His 1974 team finished second in the nation at the Division Two College World Series and became the first Louisiana school to reach the Division One College World Series in 1984, finishing fifth. He was the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 1979. The award is now named after him. As Athletic Director, Maestri hired the likes of Benny Dees, Tim Floyd, Joey Favaloro, Tic Price, Randy Bush, and Tom Schwaner. In 2002, Privateer Park was officially renamed Ron Maestri Field.
Maestri now is entering his second season in his second stint as head coach of the Privateers.
