Christina Colucci/ Rounup
A Chicago Cubs calendar, Cubs license plate, pictures of players, ex-players and Wrigley Field surround Bob Lofrano, athletic director, who is even wearing a Cubs visor as he sits in his office at
“I’m not shy about publicizing my love for the team,” he said.
Born in
In 1981 he took his relationship with the Cubs to the next level when he became a special assignment scout for the team.
Explaining what his job entails, Lofrano said, “I go all over the country to look at [prospective] players. I then write a report painting a picture of the players I see.
“I essentially become the eyes of the Cubs’ general manager, they take my word and we make our trades.”
Lofrano did not earn the trust of the Cubs’ general manager overnight; his expertise is derived from an extensive history with the game of baseball.
“I began playing baseball as soon as I was old enough to pick up a ball,” he said, adding that he started out “like every boy does, playing catch with my father.”
The baseball enthusiast continued playing the game in youth leagues, then at
When he graduated, he became a physical education teacher and the baseball coach at his former high school.
“I wanted to stay in the game; I did so by coaching,” he said.
Lofrano transferred to Pierce as the assistant baseball coach in 1989.
He said, “Pierce presented a great opportunity to teach and coach at the college level.”
Under Lofrano’s direction, Pierce sent several players to the major league including Barry Zito of the San Francisco Giants and Coco Crisp of the Boston Red Sox.
“Baseball at the west end of the
Lofrano retired from 35 years of coaching in 2007.
“I thought I had done it for enough time,” he explained.
Since his retirement, the former baseball coach has become the Athletic Director for the college.
“It is my job to make sure students are eligible and make sure teams have enough money for uniforms, supplies and transportation [among other things],” he explained.
So how is Lofrano doing at his new position?
“Awesome,” said Pat Grennan, head coach of the softball team.
According to Grennan, the team has seen many improvements on the field. Some of these improvements include a new dugout, new bleachers, new fencing and new infield dirt.
Softball team catcher Jackie Domnie said, “The new stuff makes us want to perform better for the school.”
Coaches from other Brahma teams agree that Lofrano has help raise the morale of the Athletics Department.
“He is working really hard,” said Football Coach David Ochoa. “He is very open; he listens to all of our complaints, concerns and supports us.”
Nabil Mardini, head coach of women’s volleyball team, concurs.
“He is great; he has really done a lot.
“He is a big supporter of athletics, and one of the coaches more than anything, which makes him easy to relate to,” Mardini said.
Head Baseball coach Joe Arnold knows all about Lofrano’s coaching; he played for him at Pierce from 1991-92.
“He is a great teacher of the game,”
In 1995,
“Bob presented a great opportunity for me as a player, and then presented the same opportunity for me as a coach.
“As much as I learned from him as a player, I learned even more from him as a coach.”
“A lot of the things I do today I draw from my experiences with him,”
“It is impossible to fill the shoes of a man like Bob Lofrano.”
When asked if he missed coaching the sport, Lofrano smiled and said, “My work with the Cubs still gives me my fill of baseball.”