Head Coach John Altobelli 15th Year Three-time OEC Co-Coach of the Year

John Altobelli proved wrong those who believe number 13 is unlucky by winning his first Orange Empire Conference title in 2005 while also leading the Pirates to the state tournament. The Bucs finished the season with a record of 29-18, just one win off of a 30-win campaign. He was chosen the OEC Co-Coach of the Year while also being honored as the Southern California Coach of the Year.

"Alto" led Coast to a 30-win season during his first year at the helm, then repeated the feat in 2002 as the Pirates posted a 32-14 mark, advancing to the Super Regionals. He was just one victory away from turning the trick again in 1999, when he guided the Pirates to a 29-20 finish and into the second round of postseason play. He also earned Orange Empire Conference Co-Coach of the Year honors -- the second time in just seven seasons he had won the award.

In addition to working with Coast's current players, Altobelli takes great pride in helping out future Pirates. Every summer, he heads to Alaska to conduct a skills camp along with four-year college coaches. He also puts on a youth camp in Newport Beach. 

Altobelli became the sixth head coach in OCC baseball history in June of 1992, when he replaced Mike Mayne, who won 400 games in a 15-year span. With youth and enthusiasm, he has provided the vitality and vision the athletic adminstration has sought for the future of the OCC baseball program. 

A former assistant for five years to Mike Gerakos at UC Irvine, he used his experience as a fundraiser for the Anteater program to help make much-needed refinements to the Pirates home park, Wendell Pickens Field. The changes include a state-of-the-art scoreboard, a new sound system, snack stand, bathrooms, improved batting cages and bullpens and a better playing field. 

In addition to his experience at UCI, where he coached offensive strategy, defensive alignment and hitting starting in 1988, Altobelli also coached the junior varsity at his high school alma mater, Newport Harbor, in 1986. The following year, he was a graduate assistant coach at the University of Houston.

He played at Harbor and Golden West, where he was an outfielder in 1982 and 1983. He was team captain as a sophomore and also won the squad's "Rustler of the Year" award. Altobelli transferred to the University of Houston, where he was a team captain and two-year starter in the outfield. 

As a senior, he led the Cougars to the NCAA regional finals -- one game away from the College World Series. Later, Altobelli played one season professionally with the Miami Marlins of the Florida State League. He earned his B.S. degree in physical education at Houston in 1987 and picked up his M.A. in education at Azusa Pacific University in 1988.

Altobelli and his wife, Keri, live in Newport Beach with their son, J.J., and daughters Alexis and Alyssa, who joined the family in June.