Earlier this year, head basketball coach James Giacomazzi, reached his 300th career win. He now adds another achievement to his resume: He was appointed LPC’s head athletics director in September.
The role of the athletics director includes oversight of the program’s staff, laying a foundation for their department and making sure students are on track both athletically and academically.
Over the course of his time with Las Positas, Giocomazzi has seen two people fill the role of head athletic director for the school. As Giacomazzi put it, “There was concern from our administration that we wanted to try to keep someone here, more permanent.”
“I was excited about it (earning the position) because I enjoy this type of work, and I’ve been in the assistant athletics director position for so many years. I’ve had a lot of the relationships already established,” Giacomazzi said.
All of these point towards Giacomazzi being an intriguing choice as LPC’s athletics director. In addition, he has been serving as the school’s assistant athletics director for four years as well as the assistant athletics director at Cosumnes River College college for eight, coinciding with his role as the active LPC men’s basketball coach.
Some could see heading both the school’s athletics program and the basketball team as being overwhelming. Giacomazzi seemed to be enthusiastic with his new-found role.
Giacomazzi described his changing of position to be a “smooth transition” because he has already been working as an assistant athletics director for 12 years total. Within these years, he has been doing research about how he can improve the athletics program for students.
“I’ve done a lot of traveling to different universities. I like to see what they have, in terms of facilities. I like to jot down ideas, to see what we could bring back to LPC. As this would only help our programs, as far as creating a culture that students are capable of being proud of,” Giacomazzi said.
Making the athletics department more respectable and enticing for recruiting seems to be one of Giacomazzi’s primary goals. Giacomazzi has already headed a project in order to provide new lockers for all LPC’s sports programs.
The men’s basketball coach and new athletics director seems to be a good fit for the athletics director position. Giacomazzi playing both roles creates a continuity within the athletics program. He is able to play both sides in that he’ll be able to see what both the players and staff need. It also gives players and staff members a person they know they can go to.
Giacomazzi looks to lead the athletics program with his experience and knowledge
Kiano Deperalta is a staff writer for The Express. Follow him @kkdeperalta.
