Signal The Light Basketball - Giacomazzi - Signal The Light Basketball

When it comes to winning, James Giacomazzi has been one of the most consistent coaches in the state in junior college basketball. With over 20 years experience, the Las Positas College head coach has averaged more than 20 wins per season in the same span. “My staff, and players work their tails off,” said Giacomazzi when asked about the consistency. The Hawks head coach worked for seven years as an assistant coach under longtime San Jose City Coach Percy Carr before taking his first head coaching job at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento. At Cosumnes River, the head coach led his program to 209 wins, was named Big 8 Coach of the Year twice, and appeared in the sweet sixteen five times. Giacomazzi learned a lot from Carr on and off the floor and has been blessed with solid assistant coaches. “I don’t know a good head coach that does not have great assistants,” added Giacomazzi.

As far as the culture that the former UC Riverside player has instilled, it all starts with loyalty and relationship building. The Las Positas program is big in building relationships and want to make it rememberable experience for their players. The memorable experience starts once the players are recruited to the Hawks program. “We try to put a 30 mile radius around our campus and if you fit our style then we recruit you,” said Giacomazzi when asked about the recruiting process in his area. It has worked out as the Hawks are usually in the upper half of the Coast North Conference standings each season. “We have some really good competition and really great coaches in our conference,” added the Hawks coach after being asked about the competition in the Coast North. It is like a playoff game each game you step on the floor playing in one of the top conferences in the state.

Another part of the process that goes into the program is moving guys on to the four year level. Giacomazzi has had a lot of success in moving guys to their next destination. The head coach has transferred over 90% of his players to the four year level. “We are so academically involved and invested in our guys,” added Giacomazzi. The Hawks have a computer lab upstairs and it circles back to the relationship part of the program. All of the winning is a great part of the success but at the end of the day it is about moving guys on to the four year level. The winning has not been a focus of the head coach of the Hawks. “The less I focus on winning the more I win,” added Giacomazzi. The winning will add up and Las Positas will look to be competitive in the upcoming 2021-2022 season.