John Noce

John Noce

• Bats Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lbs.
• School College of San Mateo, University of the Pacific

• Born March 3, 1932

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Catcher John Noce played in the California League in 1952-1953 before becoming a legendary coach. He enlisted in the Army after playing in the minors and was discharged in 1956. He started coaching at a small public high school in Half Moon Bay, then coached at Carlmont and San Carlos high schools.

Noce was head coach at the College of San Mateo from 1962-1992, compiling a record of 772-412. The school won 13 conference titles and finishing runner-up three times in the California Community College state playoffs.

Noce was appointed assistant coach for the Italian National Baseball Team from 1977 through 1996. Noce accompanied Italian teams to the Olympic Games in 1984 (Los Angeles), 1992 (Barcelona), and 1996 (Atlanta) as well as the 1978 Amateur World Series, 1986 Amateur World Series and 1988 Baseball World Cup, and he continued coaching internationally through 2011 in Lithuania. He received the 2023 Lefty Gomez Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association, presented annually to someone who has contributed significantly to the game of baseball locally, nationally and internationally.

Noce was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1994, the inaugural class of the College of San Mateo Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011, the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993, the San Mateo County Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Peninsula Basketball Officials Hall of Fame in 1996.

Noce's son Paul Noce played in the major leagues from 1987 to 1990, and his son Doug Noce played in the minor leagues in 1990-1991.

Related Sites

• ABCA Hall of Fame
• UOP release