Victor Solis
Assistant Coach

Victor Solis is in his fourth season as an Arizona assistant coach, serving primarily as Arizona's infield coach and defensive coordinator.

Hired Aug. 26, 1996, Solis made an immediate impact, helping improve the Cats' defense, particularly on the infield. Arizona allowed its fewest number of unearned runs in eight years in 1997. The Cats improved their fielding percentage four points over 1996 to .961, their highest average since 1992.

The Wildcat defense only got better in Solis' second season. Arizona allowed just 54 unearned runs, the second-fewest by a UA team since 1978, and improved their fielding percentage to .962, its best mark in nine years.

Last season, the Cats made an even more dramatic improvement defensively as their fielding percentage jumped seven points to .969, ranking them sixth in the nation.

Solis, who also serves as the Cats' third-base coach, works extensively with UA's recruiting as well.

"I really rely on Victory to take care of the defense," head coach Jerry Stitt said. "He's the difference between where we were before, and where we are now. What we've done is eliminate the throwing errors and developed the ability to be in the right place at the right time, both in the infield and the outfield.

"I feel very fortunate to have gotten him. He's everything he was advertised to be and more. He was exactly what we were looking for-a young, enthusiastic infield coach with a great background. "He's a quality coach and a quality person."

The Douglas, Ariz., native served as the infield coach at Glendale (Ariz.) Community College for three seasons, from 1992-93 and in 1996. He has also coached at Oklahoma City University (1994-95) and at Brophy College Prep in Phoenix (1991).

He also has summer coaching experience, having coached the Marshall Mallards of the North Central League in 1994 and the Harrisonburg Turks of the Shenandoah Valley League in 1995. Last summer, Solis coached with Major League Baseball International in Argentina, Brazil and Peru.

Solis was an infielder at both Grand Canyon University and Glendale Community College.

Solis graduated from Grand Canyon in Phoenix in 1991 with a business administration degree. He earned his M.B.A./marketing degree from Oklahoma City in 1995.

Solis was born on Feb. 26, 1968, in Douglas, Ariz. He married the former Alice Granillo of Gila Bend on Dec. 5 in Tucson.