Pirates name Nate Johnson as new head baseball coach

COSTA MESA – The keys to "The House That Alto Built" have officially been turned over.

After an extensive, national search, Orange Coast College has named Nate Johnson as the new head baseball coach, becoming just the seventh OCC skipper in the 72-year history of the Pirate program.

"We are very excited with the direction that Nate will take our baseball program," said OCC Athletics Director, Jason Kehler. "He brings such a great combination of playing and coaching experience, along with his commitment to student-athlete success, that makes the next phase of Pirate Baseball as promising as its history."

Johnson's hiring came just six months following the tragic loss of longtime head coach John Altobelli, who died on Jan. 26 with his wife, Keri, daughter Alyssa, and six others in a helicopter crash.

"It's been a roller coaster six months, that's for sure, but in the end, this is where I always wanted to end up and I'm so excited to follow in Alto's footsteps," Johnson said. "He has set the standards high with this program and I'm going to do my best to not only maintain the success he brought, but also maintain his legacy, while at the same time, begin my career as the skipper of this program."

Johnson, 30, was selected as the Pirates' head coach following a two-month hiring process that saw over 70 applicants vie for one of the top community college baseball head coaching positions in the state. 

"This was a very coveted job opportunity ... no doubt about it," Johnson said. "I really focused on my interviews and just did the best I could. Once I went through the process, I remember receiving the call from (Dean of Kinesiology/Athletics, Michael Sutliff) and I had to run out of our apartment because our phone coverage isn't all that great. When I got offered the job, my wife, Jonai, ran out and gave me a big hug ... there were some tears shed, that's for sure."

After seven years as an assistant coach under Altobelli, Johnson now takes over a Pirate baseball program rich in tradition. Orange Empire Conference champions over the past three seasons (excluding the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19), the Pirates have won four state baseball championships since 2009 and seven titles in school history.

"Alto definitely taught me so many different aspects about the game ... things I didn't even realize were there," Johnson said. "Coming to OCC as a kid, he really took me in and I wanted to learn everything I possibly could from him and I managed to work my way up the ranks. He named me the Associate Head Coach for 2020 in the hopes of taking over the program once he retired, but unfortunately, everything changed. 

"The thing I remember the most from Alto's death was the love and support our team received from everyone involved with our school ... other coaches, administrators, former Pirate players ... it was incredible. Now that I'm the head coach, I want to be able to return that same support to the rest of our teams and to our college. The term "Pirate Family" is used a lot, but it's real and I'm excited to be a part of it."

Before coming to OCC, Johnson played his collegiate career at Pepperdine University, where he played from 2009-13. Over that span, he batted .247 with 15 home runs and 78 RBI and started in 135-of-156 games played.

Johnson earned All-West Coast Conference honorable mention in 2010 after batting .237 with 49 hits, 28 runs, nine home runs and 36 RBIs, starting all 54 games behind the plate for the Waves. In his last year as a senior, Johnson was off to a hot start (.325 in 12 games) before suffering a season-ending injury.

"I've worked next to Nate for the last seven years and I've observed a man that studied and assisted Alto in more ways than people realize," OCC assistant baseball coach Tim Matz said. "I feel it was really important to hire someone who would honor the great system that Alto developed over the years. Nate is that guy. I believe we will see more technology used in our program and I believe that is a positive. He is a man of great character and a true student, a lover of the game and he will be a very positive influence for our players."

So how does a rookie head coach step in and try to fill the shoes of a certain soon-to-be hall of fame coach who racked up over 700 wins and four state titles? "I've seen the success here and the foundation has been set, but how can I make it better?" Johnson said. "I think as a younger guy who grew up with all of this technology, I feel like I can help implement some coaching tools that Alto didn't grow up with and that'll help our program improve even more."

While there will be philosophies and styles that will continue from the Alto era, perhaps the delivery of that message might come with a different tone. "I don't have that fiery 'Norman' style in me," Johnson said with a laugh, referring to Altobelli's alter-ego that led to some intense moments on the baseball field. "Am I a competitor? Yes. Do I want to win? Yes. I want my players to respect me just as I will respect them. Alto and I have the same 'grinder' approach to the game so that type of baseball you've seen from us in the past, you'll see that in the future as well. I want to take the best traits of Alto and all of our coaches and infuse them into my own coaching style that incorporates by personality."

But Johnson also knows the success of this baseball program goes well beyond the titles and trophies. "As it's been in the past, the main focus is on the kids and preparing them to be successful in life, not just in baseball," Johnson said. "It's not about the wins and losses and when I first came here at 23 years old, I was super green and Alto really taught me to surround yourself with good people and listen to what they have to say. Yes, it's the head coach's decision in the end, but Alto really showed me how to listen to all of your coaches and get as many options for every situation that presents itself."

Johnson's hiring officially closes the book on the past and, while the Pirates are excited about the future, Johnson will make sure the team's history will remain in the minds of all who are a part of this program. "It's nice to move forward and I'm excited to start this new chapter in my life ... but I'll never forget about Alto and J-Wat (former player Jourdan Watanabe) and everything that this program has gone through," Johnson said. "During this time of isolation and not being able to be on the field, I think the mental health of our players is just as important as the physical side of the game. Using Zoom calls ... making sure they're OK ... keep them all included while we are forced to stay apart."