Mike Graceffo

Burbank youth coach

When he was a senior at Burroughs High School in the mid-1970s, Mike

Graceffo was persuaded into coaching in a Burbank Park, Recreation

and Community Services Department league.

“I kind of got into coaching just because they needed people to

coach youth baseball in the city,” he said. “Little did I know that

coaching would become my life, and I would come to love it so much.”

Twenty-eight years later, Graceffo has become one of the most

revered and most successful youth coaches in the city.

Whether it’s guiding park and recreation teams, heading sports

programs at St. Francis Xavier Elementary School, coaching at the

high-school level or conducting local camps, Graceffo continually

influences the lives of thousands of area boys and girls.

“Coaching has turned out to be more rewarding than I could have

ever imagined,” he said. “It is just special to see players grow from

these small athletes to become successful, not only in sports, but in

life.”

Working at St. Francis Xavier since 1991, Graceffo was inducted

into the Catholic Youth Organization Fall of Fame on May 1.

Graceffo also has the distinction of coaching at all four local

high schools over the years.