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John Altobelli

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John Altobelli
Biographical details
Born1963 or 1964
DiedJanuary 26, 2020 (aged 56)
Calabasas, California
Playing career
Baseball
1982–1983Golden West
1984–1985Houston
Position(s)Outfielder
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1987Houston (asst.)
1988–1992UC Irvine (asst.)
1993–2019Orange Coast
Head coaching record
Overall705–478–4 (.596)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • 3× CCCAA (2009, 2014, 2015)
Awards
  • 2× CCCAA Coach of the Year (2009, 2014)

John Edward Altobelli (May 8, 1963 – January 26, 2020) was an American college baseball coach. He worked for 27 seasons at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, before his death in a helicopter crash that also killed Kobe Bryant and several others, including Altobelli's wife and daughter.

Early life and education

John Altobelli was the sixth of eight children. His father was a professional baseball player.[1]

Altobelli attended Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach, California. He attended Golden West College, and played college baseball for the Golden West Rustlers as an outfielder.[2] He transferred to the University of Houston, and finished his college baseball career with the Houston Cougars from 1984 to 1985.[3][2] In his junior season of 1984 at Houston, Altobelli led the team in RBI (34), runs scored (47), and triples (3) and shared leads in doubles (14) and stolen bases (8). As a senior in 1985, Altobelli had a single-season record 57 walks and led the team in runs scored (68) and stolen bases (13).[4]

After playing for the 1985 season in Minor League Baseball for the Miami Marlins of the Florida State League.[5] Altobelli graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in physical education in 1987.[6] In 1988, he earned his master's degree in education from Azusa Pacific University.[7]

Coaching career

Altobelli became an assistant coach at Houston in 1987.[4] In July 1992, he was hired to coach for Orange Coast College.[3] Altobelli led the Orange Coast Pirates to state championships in 2009, 2014, and 2015. He won his 600th career game in 2017.[8] He was named national coach of the year by the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2019.[9][10]

For three summer seasons between 2012 and 2014, Altobelli served as head coach for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Among his players were Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets, and Ryan Healy of the Milwaukee Brewers.[5][11]

In 27 seasons as Orange Coast head coach, Altobelli had a cumulative 705–478–4 record.[4]

Personal life

Altobelli was married to Keri Altobelli, with whom he had a son, Boston Red Sox scout J. J. Altobelli who briefly played for the Johnson City Cardinals (born 1990), and two daughters, Alexis Altobelli and Alyssa Altobelli (2006/2007 - 2020).[7][12][13][14]

Altobelli underwent open heart surgery in December 2012.[15]

Death

Altobelli died on January 26, 2020, in a helicopter crash that also killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter and several others.[16] His wife Keri and daughter Alyssa were also killed in the crash, which occurred 30 mi (48 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles.[17][18] His wife and daughter died alongside him in a helicopter crash, which also claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant. Altobelli's daughter and Bryant's daughters had been teammates, both members of the Mamba Sports Academy basketball team, and the group was reportedly on their way to a basketball game when the helicopter crashed.[19]

References

  1. ^ Golanka, Spencer (February 21, 2017). "Baseball in his blood". Coast Report Online. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "John Altobelli". Orange Coast College. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Ex-UCI Assistant Altobelli to Coach Baseball at OCC". Los Angeles Times. July 3, 1992.
  4. ^ a b c Rogers, Kyle (January 26, 2020). "Houston Mourns Loss of John Altobelli". UHCougars.com. University of Houston. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Glaser, Kyle (January 26, 2020). "Renowned Coach John Altobelli Killed In Helicopter Crash With Kobe Bryant". Baseball America. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  6. ^ Duarte, Joseph (January 26, 2020). "UH family mourns copter crash victim John Altobelli". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "John Altobelli". Orange Coast College Athletics. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Altobelli adds to OCC legacy". Daily Pilot. February 10, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Associated Press (January 26, 2020). "The Latest: Baseball coach, family also killed in crash". Localsyr.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  10. ^ "Altobelli scores big". Coast Report Online. September 4, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  11. ^ Reed, Russ (January 26, 2020). "Former Cape League coach, father of Red Sox scout, among victims of deadly helicopter crash". WCVB-TV. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  12. ^ "College baseball coach John Altobelli, wife Keri, daughter Alyssa also died in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant (report)". masslive. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  13. ^ "J.J. Altobelli College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  14. ^ Brown, Larry (2020-01-26). "John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash". Larry Brown Sports. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  15. ^ Watson, Brantley (May 30, 2013). "Five Questions with OCC baseball coach John Altobelli… about his over four decades of experience with the game". Orange County Register. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  16. ^ "Juco legend among helicopter crash victims". ESPN.com. January 26, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  17. ^ "Orange County baseball coach, his daughter and wife were in helicopter crash along with Kobe Bryant". CNN. January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  18. ^ Associated Press (January 26, 2020). "The Latest: Baseball coach, family also killed in crash". Localsyr.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  19. ^ Lapin, Tamar (2020-01-26). "Kobe Bryant was headed to Mamba Sports Academy when he crashed". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
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