History of Coach G

“He taught life skills than transcended sport.”

Coach Giarratano was a successful and decorated baseball coach at the University of San Francisco in the Western Athletic Conference. Under his tenure the baseball program produced the only three championship wins in USF baseball history. He was tenured for over 20 years with a stellar record of wins, successful student athletes, and financial contributions stemming from his relationships. For more baseball stats visit here or the USF website. 

Coach Garatano’s core values and recipe for success has withstood the test of time. He has witnessed and weathered change at the university, division, and NCAA level. Regardless of the change, in players, society, time, leadership, and policy, he has produced success. So the reporting of his “firing” leaves one with several unanswered questions.

Why is USF unwilling to support a coach whose name is synonymous with success?

Why is his name and reputation being tarnished by a “class action lawsuit” that alleges “sexual misconduct” and “longstanding abuse”, while no witnesses have ever been spoken to by the powers that be.

Are there other things influencing this action and these decisions?

How does a blunder of this magnitude happen?

Many players, over time, state Coach G not only taught the game of baseball, he taught life skills that transcended sport. And it seems the best coaches always do. Coach G has left a legacy at USF; one that will be sorely missed as demonstrated qualitatively by the Give Gap and the win/loss column for USF Don’s Baseball, as well as quantitatively by players and families. Something heard over again and again from current players are statements like this:

“I’ve learned the most important lessons about life from Coach G. When I met him at 17 he really helped me develop a process that I could use outside of baseball and I am eternally grateful.”

Not John Doe 1

“…Coach G has a passion not just towards baseball but his attitude towards to people. I always appreciated how he took me in when others would view me as damaged goods because of how many schools I had been to prior. He always made me feel like one of “his kids”. He cares about the entirety of the individuals on his team…it’s not just about wins and losses, it’s about the quality of people within the program and he cares about all of us.”

Not John Doe 2

I mean look at his resume. Ask any of us who would vouch for him. He spent 23 years at the school and is loyal. I had him as a coach for 4.5 years and…he is very knowledgeable, has a thick skin, and wants and knows how to win.

Not John Doe 3

…he has a wealth of knowledge. He knows how to run a baseball team and make connections with his players. He is resilient, teaches you gratitude. He also knows how rare it is for someone to get drafted so the way he delivers his messages aren’t just about being a great baseball player. He teaches us how to think like a successful adult because that’s what he wants all of his players to be someday. It’s just about being a great baseball player, it’s about being a great person someday.

Not John Doe 4

He could steady a team, he steadied me plenty of times. He understood how to reach me and I appreciated how he would take me to the side – that’s how he taught me to talk to myself.

Not John Doe 5

He is one of the best guys I know. He was very good at separating being a coach and being a person. A passionate leader who would do whatever it takes to win. He could also separate after yelling at you on the field and see you on the street and treat you like one of his own. He has it in his heart to produce good men.

Not John Doe 6

I remember my first year taking ground balls and Coach G wanting me to perform a specific set of footwork that I continually fought him doing. He told me that he knows “fuck you” in every language and he knows that my body language is telling him “fuck you”. He was tough on me but that’s what I needed at the time to make me realize what I needed to improve on to become a good player. I remember after having that conflict with him, he would spend day after day with me an hour before or an hour after practice (whenever I wanted to) hitting me ground balls and working with me to become better.

Not John Doe 7

I also think the way that he treated the super fans of the program was representative of who he was as a person. He would give Brian Davis (B-dog) interviews before and after every game and treat him just like he was a regular member of the media. I know that he’d let him come hang out in his office every Tuesday and give him a long form interview  Q & A about the weekend series that was coming up. I also know that he would always give Bdog $2 for his bus fare to go back home too because he knew that that amount of money probably mattered to Brian. Or how he treated John was amazing too. Coach G took him out for his birthday every year I was in the program. I know that for sure. He always made sure to take extra time and talk to him and make him feel accepted by him and by the program. The way he treated those guys was testament to his character and how amazing of a person he is.

Not John Doe 8