For Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) Baseball Coach Victor Solis, America’s pastime isn’t just a game – it’s a way of life. Growing up in Arizona’s West Valley, Solis has loved baseball for as long as he can remember. When an injury sidelined him from playing, he took the natural next step – coaching.
“If I wasn’t coaching,” Solis shared, “I’d be umpiring.” That’s how deep his love for the game runs.
Now entering his 18th season as PVCC’s head baseball coach, Solis has built a legacy rooted not only in wins and championships, but in character, integrity, and hard work. Since returning to PVCC in 2008 after coaching across the country, he’s found both success and satisfaction close to home. “I’m happy here, I like it,” Solis said. “Our roots are here in the Phoenix area.”
Under his leadership, the PVCC baseball program has reached impressive heights:
· 2010 Region 1 Division II Champions
· 2010 NJCAA Division II World Series qualifier
· and 2015 ACCAC Champions.
Solis himself is a two-time ACCAC Baseball Coach of the Year, a District Baseball Coach of the Year, and has coached two NJCAA Division II All-Americans and five NJCAA Division II Rawlings Gold Glove winners.
But for Solis, success is measured by more than stats and titles. “Our goal isn’t just to develop great baseball players,” he said. “It’s to develop great young men.”
That philosophy stems from four key pillars that he instills in every player who wears a Puma uniform:
- Work ethic – play hard.
- Compete – win or lose, truly compete.
- Don’t feel sorry for yourself – not as a team, not individually.
- Become better people – better people become better players.
“Nothing is deserved, you’ve got to earn it,” he said. “I want our guys to work hard – win or lose – we want to develop the strongest work ethic that each individual is capable of. Some come in with it; some need a lot more work ethic to show them what they are capable of. The mental strength they learn here, how to overcome failures and remain calm in tough situations, that all pertains to life as well as baseball.”
That mix of discipline and fairness defines his coaching style. “Our focus is to treat our players fairly,” he explained. “We can be bluntly honest – you’re good, not good, doing well, not well – but with open communication there are no mind games.”
“One of our key focuses is being a good teammate,” Solis explained. “They are competing against each other for starting positions. You have to support each other when they do something well and be ready to produce when it becomes your turn.”
His players say that approach makes all the difference.
Matthew Stewart, who has played for Solis for three years, credits his coach with shaping not only his baseball career but his maturity and outlook on life.
“Coach Solis has taught me a lot on and off the field,” Stewart said. “On the field, he’s taught me how to slow the game down during pressure situations. He makes practices challenging, which makes the game easier because we’re getting mentally tougher. Off the field, he’s helped me become a more mature person and step outside my comfort zone.”
Stewart, who got hurt his freshman year, said he even gained a lot of knowledge and experience by being in the dugout, observing how the game is played and how to handle different situations. “He’s always been helpful in trying to get me to a four-year school,” Stewart added.
Dylan Droelle agreed, saying, “Coach Solis has meant a lot to my baseball career. He pushes me to give my best everyday no matter the type of practice; he has shown that teamwork, respect, and hard work matters more than any scoreboard. Off the field he has pushed for good grades and a degree to help better ourselves when baseball isn't there anymore. Coach Solis has meant the world to me, coming from someone who didn't have very many opportunities in high school to allowing me to show what I truly have on the field.”
For Solis, he remains focused on helping his players become resilient, disciplined, and grounded. He’s shaping men who understand that the game, like life, rewards those who show up, work hard, and play with heart.
For more information on PVCC’s athletic program, visit the website.