CINCINNATI – Xavier head baseball coach Billy O’Conner announced the addition of John DiLaura to his staff on Tuesday. DiLaura will fill the role of assistant coach and comes to XU from the University of Michigan, where he was most recently a volunteer assistant. He will work with Xavier’s hitters and infielders.
“I’m very excited to be able to add John to our staff this year. He is a hard-working, enthusiastic coach with a real passion for what he does,” said O’Conner. “He has left a lasting mark at each one of his stops, and I know he will make an impact on the lives and the development of the players within our program.”
An alum of Michigan baseball, John DiLaura returned to the Wolverines staff as a program assistant in September of 2017. In January of 2018, DiLaura made the transition to become the Wolverines’ volunteer coach. DiLaura works primarily with Michigan’s catchers and assists with the hitters.
Prior to returning to Michigan, DiLaura spent two years with the Chipola College baseball program, where he worked with the outfielders and pitchers and assisted with the hitters. DiLaura also assisted with the daily organization and management of the program, and helped lead the Indians’ recruiting efforts during his two-year tenure. In his final season with Chipola (2017), the Indians captured the NJCAA World Series title and compiled an overall record of 51-9. Following the 2017 season, the Indians had 10 players selected in the MLB Draft, which ranked second in the country. In 2016, DiLaura helped lead the Indians to a Region VIII runner-up finish and a 43-16 record as well as a Panhandle Conference title.
DiLaura spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, where he was responsible for working with the infielders and outfielders as well as assisting with the recruiting efforts for the Warriors and helping with the day-to-day operations of the program. DiLaura helped coach the Warriors to GLIAC Tournament berths in 2015 and 2014, and the program’s 34 regular-season victories in 2014 set a program record. The Warriors also finished the 2014 season with the most wins in a season in program history (36), the second-best winning percentage in program history, and its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five years.
A three-year baseball letter-winner at the University of Michigan, DiLaura graduated in the spring of 2013 with a General Studies degree with an emphasis in business and history. He completed his Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from Wayne State University in the summer of 2016.
