Former Team Italy catcher Tyler LaTorre was recently named 2023 Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Coach of the Year. In his first year as head coach at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, he has led the 10th-ranked National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Warriors to an impressive 39-8 overall record. The Westmont College Warriors are currently playing in the GSAC Tournament in Irvine with hopes of making it to the NAIA Baseball World Series in Lewiston, Idaho from May 26-June 2, 2023.
Tyler LaTorre said, "It is extremely humbling because I feel like conference coach of the year is more of a program award. As a head coach, you are only as good as coaching with your assistant coaches and your players responding to how they are being coached. To get recognition as coach of the year is a true honor, but it is a testament to the program that Westmont College Athletic Director Robert Ruiz built and allowed me to be a part of."
Prior to taking on the reign at Westmont College, Tyler LaTorre served as pitching and catching coach and recruiting coordinator at Sacramento State and San Jose State as well as associate head coach, pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at San Francisco State.
The Santa Cruz, California native played professionally from 2006 to 2015 in the San Francisco Giants' and Milwaukee Brewers' minor league systems. He represented Team Italy in international competition from 2012 to 2016. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
