"The sports program provides a sense of atmosphere and belonging,
and gives Metro an identity other than that of a commuter college."
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In his 11 years at Metro State, Head Baseball Coach Vince Porreco
has witnessed big changes in the college's athletics program. Attendance
at games is higher than ever before. And when he makes recruiting
visits to promising student-athletes and their families, his audience
already knows about the college.
This wasn't always the case. "When I started recruiting, people
didn't know what Metro State was," Porreco recalls. "Now
people recognize Metro, they know about our educational programs
and they know about our sports teams."
The coach believes that athletics have played an important role
in Metro State's growing prominence. "The sports program provides
a sense of atmosphere and belonging, and gives Metro an identity
other than that of a commuter college," he said.
In addition to his coaching duties, Porreco is the Athletic Department's
equipment manager. With 10 sports to support, it's a demanding job,
but he's quick to acknowledge the support of assistant coaches and
athletic department staff. And he treats his baseball team like
a family. "As head baseball coach, my job is not only to help
kids get an education and to graduate, but also to help prepare
them for life," he said. "Being able to put out a very
competitive team is important, but more important is the character
the individuals develop as a result of being on the team. It's more
than wins and losses."
Last season, Porreco guided the Roadrunners to its first-ever Rocky
Mountain Athletic Conference championship. Under his direction,
the Roadrunners have made it to the RMAC tournament in three of
the past five years. This season, the Roadrunners have amassed a
24-22 record with four games left in the regular season. "I
don't feel like we've played up to our potential, but we still hope
to make the RMAC tournament."
A native of Arvada, Porreco played baseball and attended college
in Arizona and Wyoming, earning a bachelor's degree in business
administration from the University of Wyoming in 1987. He and his
wife, Marti, have two children and live in Westminster. With coaching
and his other duties at Metro State, it's always a challenge to
find time for family, Porreco acknowledges. "It's always tough
to juggle things. It's a struggle, but I wouldn't want it any other
way."
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