Former Mission Coach Sam Piraro Part of 2026 ABCA Hall of Fame Class
Sam Piraro, who was a head coach at Mission College from 1980-1986 before a storied career at San Jose State, is being inducted along with five others into the 2026 class of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Piraro will be honored with Steve Bazarnic, Pat Casey, Terry Gobert, John McCormack, and Steve Ruzich at the 82nd ABCA Convention on Jan. 9 in Columbus, Ohio.
Piraro, 74, built the Mission (Santa Clara) baseball program from the ground up as he directed the Saints to 190 victories in seven seasons. Besides a .731 win percentage, five Coast Conference titles, and appearances in the postseason in each of his years there, Piraro directed Mission to capture the then California Community College Small Schools state championship in both 1981 and 1983.
He then took the helm at San Jose State, leading the Spartans from 1987–2002 and again from 2004–2012. Piraro guided San Jose to its first-ever College World Series appearance in 2000, and he finished as the school's all-time wins leader with an 806-632-6 record as he was just four wins shy of 1,000 victories in his collegiate career (996-702-9). His tenure included four Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards and two NCAA Tournament berths.
Ending his coaching career with a four-year stint at Willow Glen High from 2015 to 2018, he remains one of California's most respected coaching figures.
Piraro's coaching accomplishments earned him significant recognition, beginning in 1996 when he became the second-youngest coach ever inducted into the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA) Hall of Fame. His legacy was further honored with his inclusion in the inaugural class of the Mission College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021 and the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
Mission College video of Piraro's account of his years there: