On March 12, head coach James Giacomazzi was ready to recruit candidates for the new women’s basketball head coach position. He mass-mailed every head and assistant women’s coach in the area.
Twenty-plus people leaped at the opportunity. Giacomazzi was swimming in a pool full of talent and experience — and wanted to swim the extra mile.
He reached out to his old friend Chris Watters, head coach of Skyline College’s women’s basketball team. Giacomazzi asked if Watters knew anybody who would fit the mold, and the Skyline coach knew just the man.
Patrick Coffey’s phone chimed just an hour later. Giacomazzi’s recruiting talents go beyond international players.
After a season devoid of a women’s basketball team, Las Positas hired Massachusetts native Coffey as the new head coach. Coffey was an assistant coach for four years with the San Mateo College women’s basketball squad — a Las Positas rival.
“I really feel like this is a great place for me,” Coffey said. “And I really feel like we’re gonna be good. Gotta put a lot of work in to make that happen, but I’m really, really excited about it.”
This turning point is pivotal for expanding sports on campus — and for reviving one that existed just two years ago. With pending projects such as pickleball courts, a cross-country track and beach volleyball dunes, the versatility of Las Positas athletics continues to grow one sport at a time.
Coffey’s journey started at Colby-Sawyer College, where he played division three hoop. He racked up over 1500 career points, all while studying sports management. He then moved overseas to England to pursue basketball. He completed his master’s in sports management, but his playing career was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
He moved back home to Westford, Massachusetts, where he began his job search in sports — specifically in operations. He landed his first coaching job at his old high school, Westford Academy. He coached the junior varsity women’s team while simultaneously playing semi-professional basketball.
The team he played for — the Massachusetts Monarchs, which no longer exists due to poor funding — was a semi-pro team. The best players in the league were cut from the National Basketball Association G League, like minor leagues in other sports. In his time there, Coffey was able to play against international talents. He was able to elevate his skill set despite being paid less than promised.
Eventually, he realized how unstable and difficult it can be to play pro. That’s when his life’s focus shifted: Coaching was his real calling.
“I realized I fell in love with coaching,” Coffey said. “So I wanted to look for college coaching jobs.”
That he did. He applied for jobs in America again, from England. Not only was he in need of a job, but he stated the weather was too cold. This effort landed him back in the United States in 2022 in San Mateo
Now, he’s opening a new chapter at Las Positas.
“We’re beyond excited,” Giacomazzi said. “He has a calm demeanor, but his work ethic is what sets him apart.”
Coffey came prepared the moment he was hired, with a well-defined plan for how he would recruit, acclimate and, most importantly, coach a team.
“The exciting part is that it’s a complete fresh start for me,” Coffey said. “I can put in my values, my culture, what I believe can help us become successful, the staff that I want to put in place and put together a program that puts the student athletes in the best situation where they’re developing academically and on the court.”
Giacomazzi saw a perfect fit in Coffey and his style, and it looks promising.
“You need to hit the ground sprinting in this job,” Goiacomazzi said. “He was the one who really made it clear what the plan is going to be immediately, and he’s already doing it.”
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TOP PHOTO: Friday April 10, Patrick Coffey was offered to become LPC’s new head coach for women’s basketball. Coffey, previously an assistant coach with San Mateo College, is set to reestablish LPC’s the Hawks to the nest after the program went without a team in the 2025-2026 season. (Photo Courtesy of LPC Athletics)
Annie Moore is the Sports Editor of The Express. Follow her on X @SanJosAnnie.
