Anthony Sulser and Kyle Bracewell
Baseball Head Coach Bob Lofrano has been selected as Pierce College’s new athletic director, replacing Bob Lyons who in March retired from the position after 13 years.
Lofrano’s dedication to sports, specifically baseball, spans decades. He played baseball for Pierce from 1968 to 1969. He then coached baseball at Chatsworth High School from 1972 to 1978, leaving to coach Crenshaw High School’s team for two years before returning to Chatsworth in 1980, where he remained until he became head coach at Pierce in September of 1989.
“I jumped on the opportunity to come back to Pierce as a coach,” Lofrano said.
He has been Pierce’s head coach for 18 years, taking the team to the playoffs 11 times in the last 16 years. Among California community college coaches, Lofrano is ranked 20th in state history, with 442 career wins to date.
Now, however, he is ready to move on to a new chapter and apply his knowledge of competitive sports.
“After 35 years of coaching, I decided that was enough,” Lofrano said, adding, “35 years is a long time and [Lyons] was retiring.
“I just put two and two together.”
The athletic director is responsible for 11 sports, more than 24 coaches and coach’s assistants and more than 200 student athletes.
In March, the job was made available as a reassignment position to all full-time faculty members. Interested parties were required to express their interest on or before March 22. Lofrano was contacted over Easter weekend with the news that he had been selected.
“Bob Lofrano is a wonderful coach and a great teacher,” said Pierce President Robert Garber.
“He is a real asset and will carry on a great tradition.”
Garber declined to say how many people applied for the position.
“[Lofrano] is very personable, very approachable,” said Nabil Mardini, women’s volleyball coach. “He understands the needs of the coaches, because he’s a coach himself. As a coaching staff, we’re all very excited.”
“I know Bob will be a great person to head this department because of his experience as a successful coach and faculty member,” said Ed Babayan, men’s basketball coach.
First on Lofrano’s agenda as athletic director is the addition of new sports.
He has expressed interest in starting a men’s soccer team, but has not delved into the process or Title IX specifics of doing so.
“I think we can add sports as long as we can afford it and we follow the right route,” said Lofrano.
“We should have a cross-country program. We have a top-notch cross-country facility, one of the top facilities in southern California.
“Many high schools use our facilities. We should utilize it.”
Title IX is the federal law that mandates equal opportunity in sports for both men and women.
Returning to the classroom, Lyons will teach business at Pierce full-time next semester.
“I’ll be around if he has any questions during the transition process and I’ll be there to help him out in any way I can,” said Lyons.
“His life is going to change a bit,” Lyons joked.
“Bob Lyons did a great job as an athletic director,” said Lofrano.
“I’m just following in his footsteps.”
Lofrano will continue to coach the baseball team through the end of the season, as they head into the playoffs next week.
The baseball team has no reason to worry about who their new coach will be next semester, though.
Joe Arnold, who has worked with the team for more than a decade, will be Lofrano’s replacement.
Bob Lofrano will continue to coach the men’s baseball team through the season while he assumes the Athletic Director responsibilities. (Adrian Sanchez)