Athletic Director Bob Lofrano, 64 is a Brahma through and through.
Starting as a student in 1968 at Los Angeles Pierce College, Lofrano has a long history and close ties to the campus.
“I’ve probably spent half my life at Pierce or close to it,” Lofrano says.
His sun aged skin and white hair belies his love for the outdoors. He can almost always be spotted somewhere on campus socializing with students and staff or occupying the fitness facilities.
Most mornings for Lofrano begin at 7 a.m. with golf, followed by jogging the track at 9 a.m. Next, he teaches golf, dips in to the pool for a few laps around noon, and occupies the fitness center around 1:30 p.m.
Lofrano became part of Brahmas athletics in 1968 when he played second base for the baseball team.
After leaving Pierce, he graduated from Cal State Northridge, taught at Chatsworth High School and returned to Pierce in September of 1989 to coach the Brahmas baseball team.
He became the athletic director in September of 2007.
According to Lofrano, he was planning to retire in 2008 when the position for athletic director opened.
As athletic director, Lofrano’s job consists of making sure that all 12 of the Brahmas teams have enough money to pay for gear and transportation needed to play the sport.
“I never looked at myself as being an A.D. because I don’t like to sit in an office. You know when you’re a coach, you’re outside all the time,” Lofrano says. “Now I sit in my office, but I don’t do that often either.”
Pierce College student Lilly Sardari takes beginning golf with Lofrano.
She has taken different courses with other coaches before, but her experience has not been as rewarding as taking Lofrano’s golf course.
“He’s in control of his class. He knows what he’s doing and he makes sure that he gets that across,” Sardari says. “And, at the same time, he’s very understanding and extremely positive. I love his energy.”
Pierce men’s basketball coach Ed Babayan started working with Lofrano in February of 2002 when Babayan began coaching the men’s basketball team at Pierce.
“He’s been coaching here for much longer than I, so I go to him to try to get a better understanding of situations when they come up, in dealing with the school or with players,” Babayan says.
“There is no doubt about that, but I’m at an age where I’ve done a lot, so there could be times, sooner rather than later, where I say, that’s enough and thank you,” Lofrano says. “It was great, but time to go to another phase of one’s life. So retirement could be on the horizon. You don’t want to over stay your invitation.”
