Norberto Lopez joined UCF baseball in June 2023 as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Prior to UCF, Lopez began working with the Miami baseball program prior to the 2016 season, working with the Canes' hitters and catchers, and adding responsibilities as recruiting coordinator after the 2018 campaign. Miami made NCAA Championship appearances in five of his seasons in Coral Gables, including each of the last three years after an ACC regular-season crown and CWS appearance in 2016. The Canes played host to NCAA regionals in both 2022 and 2023.
The 2019 season marked the first with Lopez as Miami's hitting coach and the Canes responded with an ACC-best 85 home runs. First baseman Alex Toral smashed a conference-leading 24 home runs that ranked third in the nation.
Among his star pupils is catcher Adrian Del Castillo, selected in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2016, junior catcher Zack Collins became the first Hurricane in program history to win the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top collegiate catcher and was selected No. 10 overall by the Chicago White Sox in the 2016 MLB draft.
From Hialeah, Florida, Lopez played collegiately at Broward College (Davie Florida) and Nova Southeastern (Fort Lauderdale, Florida). Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 1999, he spent three years in the organization. He served on the Texas-Pan American coaching staff from 2009-15 and was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2015 season. Lopez was an assistant coach for Florida Atlantic where he helped the Owls compile a .341 batting average with 93 home runs in 2007 - and a .321 batting average with 99 home runs in 2008.
Lopez spent two years at Broward Community College from 2004-06 when he led the team to a third-place finish at the 2006 National Junior College Athletic Association World Series. Serving as the hitting and catching coach, Lopez saw his team hit .301 and set the home run record at the state tournament.
Lopez graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1999. In 2006, he earned a master's in exceptional student education from Nova Southeastern.