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Troy Nakamura enters his 14th season as an assistant coach for the Dons and his second as recruiting coordinator for the program.
“It’s a great feeling as a coach to have Nakamura’s loyalty, respect and hard work since the day I walked onto campus,” USF head coach Nino Giarratano said.
“We’ve been together for 14 seasons and I’ve seen Troy grow into the one of the best base running, outfielder and short-game teachers in the game of baseball. His new role as recruiting coordinator opens up another great chapter that will push USF baseball to new heights in Division I collegiate baseball.”
Nakamura has been part of the USF program for the past 17 seasons, coaching for the Dons in 13 of those years (1999-current) and playing for the Green and Gold for four years (1995-98) prior to coaching. He has been part of 910 consecutive USF baseball games.
In addition to his responsibilities as recruiting coordinator, Nakamura’s other on-field duties include coaching third base, overseeing the team's SPARQ training and leading the team's visualization and imagery training program.
"In 1998, coach Giarratano had a vision of building something special with difference makers on and off the field,” Nakamura said. “That vision is reality on the Hilltop as we attack the recruitment and development of young men every single day.”
“I'm honored to carry the torch of recruiting coordinator into the bright future of the program and have had wonderful mentors in Coach G and Greg Moore. The people closest to the program know that we have approached recruiting and player development differently for a long time."
During his coaching career at USF, Nakamura has coached 10 All-West Coast Conference outfielders, including Scott Cousins, who was an all-American and the WCC Player of the Year in 2006. Cousins was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the third round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft and was recently called up to the Marlins’ major-league team in early September of 2010.
Nakamura also coached Stefan Gartrell, a 31st round pick by the Chicago White Sox, and Luke Sommer, a 30th round pick by the Chicago Cubs, along with seven others who have signed professional contracts.
Last season, Nakamura guided junior outfielder Connor Bernatz to first-team All-WCC honors after he was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American two seasons ago with a .347 batting average.
Nakamura's knowledge and ability to teach the art of base stealing produced a season in which the 2009 Dons stole 107 bases, second only in program history to the 1995 effort of 112. Under Nakamura’s instruction, Zach Kim stole a program-record 42 bases in 2009.
“I have had the unique opportunity to be a teammate, be coached by and now be mentored by Troy for my life both on and off the field,” said Taggert Bozied, a three-time all-American at USF. “Both he and the USF staff as a whole have continually provided a growing experience that exceeds any value you can put a number on for anyone who chooses to be a Diamond Don. Playing for USF was an experience that I, now eight years removed from college, still consider a blessing to have benefited from.”
“Since my professional career began, I made it a priority to surround myself with the culture on the Hilltop that Troy has been instrumental in creating. I can honestly say that the direction of my life has been changed profoundly for the positive because of the person and baseball man that Troy has been, is, and always will be."
During his playing career, Nakamura was considered one of the hardest working and grittiest baseball players to ever grace the diamond at USF. He finished a stellar four-year career in 1998 by hitting .307 and stealing a career-high 19 bases. He also had a big junior campaign with career highs for batting average (.312) and hits (54).
An excellent performer in the classroom, Nakamura was named to the WCC All-Academic Team following his junior and senior years and is one of just three players in program history to earn two selections.
Nakamura graduated from USF in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in Sports Administration.
