Joey Centanni enters his third season as San Diego State’s volunteer assistant coach after having spent the 2015 season as an assistant at the University of Pacific, his alma mater. His duties with the Aztecs will include the day-to-day operations of the program as well as heading up the Aztec baseball camps.
Prior to his one season of coaching at Pacific, Centanni served as the head baseball coach at The Bishop’s School in San Diego in 2014 where he turned a struggling program into a playoff team as the Knights earned a home playoff game for the first time in years. Centanni was born and raised in San Diego and is a 2005 graduate of University of San Diego High School where he played baseball for Coach Gary Remiker. He went on to attend the University of the Pacific.
A two-way player at Pacific, Centanni spent four seasons playing for the Tigers as an all-around talent as he starred as the Tigers’ ace on the pitching staff, designated hitter, outfielder and first baseman. He earned two All-Big West selections including second team honors as a utility player as a senior in 2009.
Centanni was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 2009 and played one season in the Minor Leagues before retiring due to an arm injury.
After his playing days ended due to injury, Centanni immediately began his coaching career. He spent his first year assisting at Francis Parker High school.
In addition to coaching the Knights, Centanni also worked as an associate scout for the Orioles in the San Diego Area. As a part of the Orioles, Centanni spent time recruiting a number of high school athletes to play for the Fall Scout Ball program.
The 31-year-old Centanni earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Pacific in 2009 and received his master’s degree in organizational management from Ashford University in 2011.