Tony Asaro is in his third season in 2022 as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator after spending two years as an assistant at Cal State University Northridge.
In just two years, Asaro made a major impact on the Matadors' recruiting and catching core. He helped the Matadors record their most Big West Conference wins since 2013 with 13. Asaro worked closely with Matador catcher Trevor Casanova, a Johnny Bench Award Semifinalist. Casanova went on to be drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Matador catcher committed just three errors and threw out 42 percent of would be base stealers on the year. Casanova committed just two passed balls in 56 starts.
Asaro also spearheaded a group of Matadors as part of CSUN's F.A.L. (Fantasy Academic League) Program which helped lead the Matadors to posting a 3.05 GPA for the fall 2017 semester, setting a new program record.
In 2017, Asaro served as the Utes' volunteer assistant coach and worked with the outfielders along with the team's offense. With Asaro in the dugout, Utah produced All-Pac-12 First Team outfielders DaShawn Keirsey and Dallas Carroll. In last year's MLB First-Year Player Draft, Carroll was selected in the 10th round by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Prior to Utah, Asaro completed two stints as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at El Camino College. Along with running the offense and overseeing the catchers, Asaro implemented defensive strategies. In his first stint with the Warriors from 2010-12, El Camino won the South Coast Conference Championship in 2010 and advanced to the state finals. El Camino players also earned consecutive SCC Player of the Year awards from 2010-11 in addition to a Regional Player of the Year nod. Asaro, who returned to the team in 2016, also served as a part-time instructor in the physical education department while with the Warriors.
Asaro began his collegiate coaching career at Tennessee as a volunteer assistant coach from 2013-14 and the director of operations and camp coordinator in 2015. While with the Volunteers, the team advanced to the Southeastern Conference Tournament for the first time in seven years in 2014. Tennessee would return back to the tournament the following season. The team produced two first round draft picks in Christin Stewart and eventual No. 2 overall pick Nick Senzel. The Volunteers also produced recruiting classes ranked in the Top 25 in each year from 2013-15.
Asaro played college baseball at Pepperdine in 2006 before transferring to UC Irvine from 2007-09. The Anteaters advanced to the College World Series for the time in program history in 2007 and reached the Super Regionals a year later. Asaro helped UC Irvine win the 2009 Big West Conference title. In 2008, Asaro was selected in the 47th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Asaro earned a degree in sociology from UC Irvine in 2009. A year later, Asaro received his master's degree in sports science with an emphasis in coaching.
