THE SIDELINES : Fraser to Head Olympic Baseball

Veteran University of Miami baseball Coach Ron Fraser, the nation’s winningest active Division I coach, will lead the U.S. baseball team for the 1992 Olympics, it was announced today.

Richard Case, executive director of the U.S. Baseball Federation, joined Fraser for today’s announcement. The Barcelona Olympics will be the first time baseball is a medal sport.

“I wanted this position more than anything else,” Fraser said. “If Dick told me to do it on my own, I would have taken whatever coaches he gave me. It’s an honor to give something back to your country.”

Fraser was able to choose his pitching coach and a former assistant for his staff, but said he had not insisted upon being allowed to choose his coaches.

Brad Kelley, his assistant, and former assistant Jerry Weinstein, who became head coach at Sacramento City College, will assist him, along with Dave Snow, head coach at Long Beach State.