The inaugural intercollegiate baseball season for York County is approaching fast; set to begin the Fall of 2021. Preparation for the new program includes developing schedules, promoting the offering, and most importantly, forming rosters. As for the York County Baseball team, they are already starting off with a homerun with their induction of the new head coach, Enrique “Kiké” Calero. With years of playing, recruiting, and coaching experience, Coach Calero is ready to strike out the competition this fall.
Calero is from Isabela, Puerto Rico, where his growing baseball story began. He was both an infield and outfield player for the Puerto Rico All-Prospect team before his collegiate career began. He played for the Rend Lake College baseball team and went on to play for the Houston Astros Baseball Club as a Professional player. He also played professionally for the Puerto Rico Professional League before returning back to St. Louis to play for the OB Clark’s Baseball team.
He has an extensive career in coaching at his alma mater, the University of Missouri St. Louis. He also has experience as an assistant coach at both Melville High School and Lindenwood University. He was a baseball recruiter for Benedictine University before taking up a major position at the Mavericks Baseball Program / FCBL Mavericks as the head coach, collegiate consultant, recruiter, and assistant coach. His next position was for the Tampa Bay Rays as an associate scout. Calero was also the national recruiter and head coach for the Seacoast United Baseball Program before his initial introduction to the Yankee Small College Conference at Great Bay Community College as the head baseball coach. These years of broad and determined experience all led him to York County- where he plans on running the bases of a successful start to the baseball program. Calero believes that being a coach allows:
“The opportunity to be able to help kids make a sport work for their future. Baseball is a great path to help with your future career in life.”
Calero was intrigued by York County Community College for a number of reasons, including his appreciation for the vision of President Michael Fisher. He aims to be a part of the future growth, similar to his experience at Great Bay Community College where he also started the baseball program. When asked about what he looks forward to most at his time at YCCC, Calero described how he was looking to:
“Creating a really competitive sports program that allows the community to understand the community college concept.”
He received his Associate’s of Arts degree from Rend Lake College in Illinois and his Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Spanish from the University of Missouri St. Louis. With his years of experience as a coach, his greatest advice to aspiring coaches for any sport is to:
“Really learn the game before you try to teach it.”
Head Coach Calero, who can be reached at baseball@yccc.edu for any baseball inquiries, is beyond excited to start and truly grow the program at York County.
York County’s new athletic website will be released in the coming months. In the meantime, to learn more about York County or to get started, email admissions@yccc.edu or call 207.216.4409 today to speak to a member of our team. Go Hawks!