College pitcher / qualifications for a closer?

I think you will find that most if not all college pitchers were starters in HS.
At sons school you begin in relief, close and then start. Coming out of the pen gives them an opportunity to get their feet wet. Most freshman don't feel comfortable with it. Son's pitching coach believes that you have to get used to it all the first year. Our #1 closer had never started a game as a freshman, but fell into the position as closer and feels very comfortable in that role. A hard throwing lefty, he usually cannot go anymore than 2 innings. Usually, the more pitches you have in your arsenal determines if you start or close, regardless of your velocity.
Our closers are very hard throwers (90-96), mostly the guys who also rely heavily on CB's and sliders and can shut the door quickly. They prepare differently than the true starters.

Hello ladies. In my experience coaches will take a chance on a few pitchers to see who will be the best fit for closing. It may take a player with a certain attitude, calm demeanor, one who could have a bomb go off next to him and he wouldn't flinch. Thats the ideal view from a coach. Even if the coach does or doesn't have one of these players, he will want a player who can throw hard, throw strikes and get hitters out quickly. He may be a pitcher who has 1 or 2 quality pitches, may not have 5 or 6 inning stamina, or may be that hitters are recognizing his pitches the second time thru. The tell all will be games when one of these young men goes out there and puts away the other team quickly, the coach is sure to stick with him as long as thats happening.

It depends a lot on who they have back in the starting rotation. It is very rare that they will put a freshman in the starting rotation if they have juniors and seniors who are starters.
My son rarely closed before college. In the summer league they used him in relief but quickly made him a starter while still having some closing duties. He found starting took a little time getting used to again after short innings in college. Starters have to be able to pace them selves while closer have to let it all out for 1-2 innings.
I watched aguy start a college game here in Ontario last night. He was a grad from a 4 year NCAA D1 progam in the south and was a closer. I questioned why they were starting him. The coach said because of his 90 mph FB. A big mistake. He got rocked after the 1st couple innings. Walks, hit batters and hits. He is a true closer and they lost their 1st game out of 5 to date.
Another guy who is a senior at an NCAA D1 school with an outstanding record as a closer played on my son's summer team. A lot of the college players left for college so they thought they would start him. 92mph FB. He also got rocked. I have known him since he was 14YO and he is a closer. I strongly believe it is much easier for a starter to close than a closer to start. Just a different mentallity.