University of West Florida

DANIEL VARGAS-VILA
Baseball (2009-10)
Jacksonville, Fla.

Some people are born winners and Daniel Vargas-Vila is a born winner.
 
The Most Outstanding Player from the 2011 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship had one of the most remarkable careers in UWF history. He racked up 24 career wins in just two seasons to rank third in school history, while also ranking among the program's all-time leaders in earned run average (ninth - 2.78), innings pitched (fifth - 200.2) and strikeouts (eighth - 152). 
 
But it was his 2011 season that has gone down as one of the best in collegiate history. posting a 1.86 ERA with a UWF- and GSC-record 16 wins. The right-hander picked up victories in his final 13 appearances, including the national championship game. Vargas-Vila pitched five complete games, including two shutouts, while striking out 88 and walking just 27 in 120.2 innings on the year.
 

"Without a doubt, my most memorable moment was my senior year when our team won the National Championship in Cary, North Carolina. The way the athletic department and University supported our team in our chase for a national title was unbelievable and I am truly blessed to be and Argo.°
 
Vargas-Vila went 24-4 as an Argo and is one of just five players in program history to lead the team in wins each year he was on campus.
 
"Being a student-athlete helped me after college because it taught me how to persevere through adversity and never shy away from a challenge. Much of my work ethic and discipline can be attributed to the things I learned as student-athlete from our outstanding coaches and teammates."
 
He hasn't forgotten his roots and continues to give back to the game that gave him so much. He helps coach a U14 travel team – the Bill Bond Raptors.
 
Vargas-Vila is a Business Operations Analyst in the Real Estate Lending department at Navy Federal Credit Union. He is engaged to Erin Whibbs and they have three dogs.