Giarratano to be Inducted into Two Hall of Fames
10/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SAN FRANCISCO — University of San Francisco head baseball coach Nino Giarratano will become a Hall of Fame coach two times in November.
Giarratano will travel back to his hometown of Pueblo, Colo. to join the fourth class of the Pueblo South High School Hall of Fame and the 38th class of the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame.
Both Giarratano's mother and father — Josephine and Mickey — still live in Pueblo, where Giarratano was born and raised. Pueblo is located 100 miles South of Denver on Interstate 25. Giarratano is the youngest of four children, the other three: Joe, who lives in Pueblo, and Mike and Marianne, who live in Denver, will be present for the two Hall of Fame inductions.
The Pueblo South High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place on Nov. 6 at the Sangre DeCristo Arts and Conference Center. Giarratano, who is in his 13th season as head coach at USF, will also speak at a school assembly at his former high school on Nov. 5 and attend a banquet put on by the student council afterwards. Joining Giarratano in the induction class will be two other Pueblo South graduates, a former faculty member and a former coach.
"Obviously it's an honor to be mentioned as a high school hall of fame member, especially at Pueblo South High School because of the number of great athletes that have come through its doors," Giarratano said.
"For me it's a humbling experience to be selected among my peers for any award. Any time you receive such an award you are happy your parents are able to be there for the moment as well because they had a lot to do with getting you there. My parents, teachers and coaches all had profound impacts on me being able to sustain my coaching career."
Giarratano played four years of baseball, two years of basketball and one year of golf at Pueblo South High School.
The second Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place on Nov. 17 at the Occhiato Center on the Colorado State University-Pueblo campus. Giarratano will be one of six inductees who will be honored at the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame banquet.
"It's extremely gratifying to be nominated by my ninth grade algebra teacher Dick Vinci, who was a wonderful athlete in his own right and educator of young people," Giarratano said.
Also being inducted are: Bill Hybl (president of United State Olympic Committee from 1996-2000), Christy Bivin (standout Centennial High School pitcher and tennis coach), Becky Golob (all-state basketball player), Kirk Kochenberger (all-city basketball player and part of 1989 Pueblo Crusaders national championship football team) and Fraces Price (pioneering women's basketball player and award-winning coach).
"I am humbled and honored to be inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame," Giarratano said. "What makes it even more special is that my father was inducted into the same Hall of Fame in 1993 and then my uncle Dick Giarratano was inducted in 2001. To have the opportunity to sit in such an illustrious group of my family is wonderful for me.
"Growing up as a young kid in Pueblo, I just wanted to compete in athletics like my brothers Joe and Mike and share the enthusiasm and excitement my sister Marianne had for athletics. To be selected for the Hall of Fame really validates their efforts as great role models for me growing up."
•Played and coached at Trinidad Junior College
•West Coast Conference Coach of the Year in 2006 & 2005
•Three-time national Junior College Coach of the Year
•Five-time conference Coach of the Year at Trinidad Junior College
•Assistant Coach for Team USA in 2008 & 2010
•Helped Team USA to Gold Medal in 2008 and Silver Medal in 2010
•Led USF to first NCAA Regional Appearance & win in 2006
•Led USF to first WCC Championship in 2006
•Three College World Series Appearances at Trinidad State
•Assistant coach for 1998 National Runner-Up Arizona State
•Produced back-to-back first-round MLB Draft picks in 2007 & 2008
•32 USF players have signed professional contracts
•Shortstop Tavo Hall was USF valedictorian in 2007
•32 USF players have earned All-WCC Academic selections
