USF Baseball Coach Fired Amid Sexual Culture Scandal

SAN FRANCISCO — University of San Francisco head baseball coach Nino Giarratano has been fired effective immediately, USF Athletic Director Joan McDermott announced Sunday.

Pitching coach Mat Keplinger will take over as interim head baseball coach.

The university is cutting ties with Giarratano after a lawsuit was filed Friday accusing the coach and former assistant Troy Nakamura of fostering an abusive, sexual culture within the program.

The school fired Nakamura on Jan. 13 and reprimanded Giarratano on Jan. 24 after allegations first surfaced within the program in late 2021. Separate from accusations outlined in the lawsuit, the USF recently learned Giarratano allowed Nakamura access to baseball facilities prior to Wednesday's game against Fresno State, according to the school.

"The new allegations in the lawsuit as well as Giarratano’s recent behavior in allowing Nakamura access to baseball operations is extremely concerning," McDermott said. "As a result, we have taken actions to make changes in baseball program leadership."

The lawsuit accuses the longtime coaches of knowingly creating an "intolerable sexualized environment" over two decades, including persistent psychological abuse. Players said it was commonplace to see Nakamura naked, even on the field, and swinging his genitals in a helicopter motion while members of the team watched, according to the complaint.

Giarratano normalized Nakamura's behavior, and both coaches attempted to ostracize and get rid of players who didn't fit into the sexualized culture, according to the lawsuit. In one instance, a player whose parent reported misconduct to the athletic department was repeatedly told not to return to the program.

"The safety and well-being of our students is USF's highest priority," USF President Rev. Paul J. Fitzgerald said. "We apologize to current and former students who have been affected. We have reopened our internal investigation and encourage anyone with information to share their experiences with the Title IX office or to the anonymous whistleblower hotline."