Bosco hires new baseball coach

BELLFLOWER – St. John Bosco High School announced this week that Don Barbara has been named the new head baseball coach, replacing longtime head coach Mario “Moon” Cordero. Along with his baseball responsibilities, Barbara will teach in the St. John Bosco Kinesiology department.

“I want to thank St John Bosco for giving me the opportunity to come run the baseball program,” said Coach Barbara. “I come here with some goals that I would like to accomplish. One is to turn our baseball program into a nationally ranked program and to get our student athletes to the next level. I believe with all my experiences and the staff that we will have that we can accomplish these goals. I am very excited to get started and again thank you for this opportunity to be your coach at St John Bosco. Go Braves”

Coach Barbara comes to Bosco from the University of Pacific in Stockton, where he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Tigers. He brings over 21 years of college and professional coaching experience, 17 at the NCAA division one level.

Coach Barbara also

brings six years of professional playing experience and has strong local ties as a coach and player. He was a first team All American for the original LB State Dirtbags and was an assistant at LB State for Coach Snow and Coach Weathers.

“Not only does Coach Barbara have an impressive baseball resume both as a player and as a coach, but he is also a man of strong character and possesses a compelling track record of being invested in the growth and success of his players beyond just success on the baseball diamond,” said Casey Yeazel, St. John Bosco’s principal. “These qualities are consistent with our mission at St. John Bosco High School, and make Coach Barbara a natural and exciting fit for the Bosco community.”

Coach Barbara currently lives in Stockton but will be moving to the southland with his wife, Corrie, and two children, Madison and McKenzie.

“The hiring of Coach Barbara marks an exciting time for our athletic program. He will be an outstanding role model for his baseball players, as well as all of the students at St. John Bosco,” said athletic director Monty McDermott. “Coach Barbara’s wealth of experience, local ties and knowledge of the NCAA college landscape instantly elevates our program to the next level.”

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Published: July 3, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 12