June 17, 2005
USF head coach Nino Giarratano guided USF to the most successful season in program history in 2005 and was rewarded with a long term contract extension, Executive Director of Athletics Bill Hogan announced today.
"Nino and his staff are very deserving," Hogan said. "Their hard work and dedication to USF resulted in a phenomenal season. Importantly, the type of people in his program, have brought great pride to the university on and off the field. It is vital that we build a quality facility to ensure the long term success of the Dons."
Giarratano guided San Francisco baseball to the brink of the program's first NCAA Regional berth and for his efforts became just the second Dons coach to earn WCC Coach of the Year accolades and the first since USF legend Dante Benedetti won the award in 1971. The three-time National Junior College Coach of the Year (Collegiate Baseball) guided San Francisco to a remarkable turnaround, winning 11 more games than the previous year and six more league victories after being picked sixth in the preseason WCC coaches poll. The record setting season was made more impressive since the Dons did so without the benefit of a single returning all-league player. Under his direction, the Dons ranked in the top-10 among NCAA Division I leaders in team ERA (2.86) and fielding percentage (.976).
"I'm excited about the future of USF Baseball and I welcome the opportunity to build a tradition of winning here," Giarratano said. "I'm happy for the players and the alumni at the University of San Francisco and I'm happy for the opportunity to coach here. Now that we're going into a long term situation, I definitely want to continue to pursue building a quality stadium and playing facility the university, the players and alumni can take pride in having."
Although San Francisco turned in the best season in program history in 2005, Giarratano hopes to take the Dons to a level never achieved in more than a century of baseball on the Hilltop.
"Our goals are to compete for a West Coast Conference championship and to advance the University of San Francisco to its first ever NCAA Regional," Giarratano said.
Following the 2005 season, a program record eight players were named to the All-WCC Team. During his tenure on the Hilltop, 14 players have earned All-WCC First Team honors and 15 have been selected in the Major League Draft, including five top-10 round picks. On field success does not come at the expense of academics and the Dons posted a remarkable 3.02 Team GPA during the 2004 Fall Semester. Two student-athletes earned WCC All-Academic honors, marking the third straight season two or more have represented USF on the list.
"I want to continue to build on the academic success we have accomplished. It is important we take pride in our discipline on the field and in the classroom," Giarratano said.
Prior to coming to USF, Giarratano spent two seasons serving as an assistant coach at Arizona State under head coach Pat Murphy. Giarratano served as hitting instructor, offensive coordinator and third base coach for the Sun Devils. During his final season in Tempe, Giarratano helped ASU reach the 1998 College World Series Championship game, and constructed a staggering offense. Giarratano also served as recruiting coordinator for Arizona State and the 1996 class was ranked third in the country by Baseball America, while the 1997 class was rated second.
Giarratano has also had a wealth of success as a head coach in the junior college ranks, earning Collegiate Baseball's National Junior College Coach of the Year on three occasions while at Trinidad State Junior College from 1989-94. He led the Trojans to five College World Series appearances in six seasons as Trinidad State posted a 233-86 (.730) mark during his tenure. In between his posts at Trinidad State JC and Arizona State, Giarratano spent two seasons (1995-96) as the head coach at Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Arizona. He posted a 77-36 (.681) record at Yavapai in just two seasons and sent 25 players into the professional ranks in just two seasons. Giarratano's overall record as a junior college head coach was a sparkling 310-122 (.718).