SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Joan McDermott, Director of Athletics at the University of San Francisco, announced today that head baseball coach Nino Giarratano has been fired, effective immediately.

The announcement comes after a class action lawsuit and subsequent news coverage on March 11 revealed new allegations related to the behavior and judgment of Giarratano and former associate baseball coach Troy Nakamura that affected the safety and well-being of students on the USF baseball team. 

In late 2021, USF investigated complaints from team members and their families, and as a result had fired Nakamura on Jan. 13 and officially reprimanded Giarratano on Jan. 24. Separate from the lawsuit allegations, USF learned that Giarratano allowed Nakamura to be on the university baseball field before a game on March 9, after Nakamura's termination.  

Pitching coach Mat Keplinger has been appointed interim head baseball coach, effective immediately.

McDermott said: "When the university first became aware of the complaints by students and families about the environment and behavior of coaches in the baseball program, the USF Office of Human Resources immediately conducted an internal investigation that led to the firing of Troy Nakamura and official reprimand of Nino Giarratano."

"The new allegations in the lawsuit as well as Giarratano's recent behavior in allowing Nakamura access to baseball operations is extremely concerning. As a result, we have taken actions to make changes in baseball program leadership."

"The safety and well-being of our students is USF's highest priority," added Rev. Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J., university president.  "We apologize to current and former students who have been affected. We have reopened our internal investigation, and encourage anyone with information to share their experiences with the Title IX office or to the anonymous whistleblower hotline."