Steinert’s Giallela Honored with 2016 Region 2 Baseball Coach of the Year

By Rich Fisher
Fish4scores.com
Brian “The Chef” Giallella doesn’t really prepare gourmet meals, although his nickname has fooled a few people into thinking that might be the case.

Brian Giallella was the recipient of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year for Region 2.

Brian Giallella was the recipient of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year for Region 2.

There was no fooling the voters for Region 2 of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association when it comes to Giallella’s ability to coach, however. The veteran Steinert mentor was recently named the 2016 Region 2 Coach of the Year after guiding the Spartans to another outstanding season.

Last spring, Steinert went 24-5 and won the Mercer County Tournament, while Giallella won his 400th career game.

“This is a great honor and I truly appreciate it, but this is one of those awards that goes to an individual, even though it’s really a team award,” he said. “The season we had was due to my players, my assistants, our administration and the support of our parents. Anyone who coaches will tell you that.”

“I have great assistants who work hard on every level. Our booster club does an outstanding job of making sure we have everything we need. And like any sport, it’s all about the players and we constantly have some of the best in the area.”

Giallella is a Steinert graduate, having played for his father, Rich Giallella, before going on to play for Rutgers. The elder Giallella is considered one of the top baseball coaches in New Jersey history.

“My dad, obviously, has been a great influence on my career,” Giallella said. “He let me be my own man as a coach, but would help whenever I needed it.”

Brian was Notre Dame’s head coach for one season before returning to his alma mater and sustaining the success of one of Mercer County’s premiere programs dating back to the 1960s.

Brian has also served as the Mercer County Carpenter ‘s Cup coach for numerous years. It was through that event that he met Bob Colburn, who coached St. Andrew’s High School in Delaware for 55 years. Colburn was on the Carpenter Cup Executive Committee, and nominated Giallella for the honor.

Steinert Coach Brian Giallella with the Carpenter Cup Trophy.

Steinert Coach Brian Giallella with the Carpenter Cup Trophy.

“To be nominated by a guy like that, who has touched so many lives and had so much success, is just an honor in itself,” Giallella said. “Even if someone else won – and there were a ton of deserving candidates – just to be nominated by Bob Colburn is a big deal. I just respect the guy so much.”

Giallella’s was honored at the NHSBCA’s convention in Ohio on Dec. 2, where he was in the running for national Coach of the Year. Although he did not receive it, “The Chef” did not get indigestion over it. He was still considered the top high school baseball coach in New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York, which is what Region 2 encompasses.

“There are so many great coaches out there in our region,” Giallella said. “You could give it to 25 different guys and no one could argue any one of them.

“I’m just blessed with a great support system. Not only the people at the high school, but the Hamilton little leagues and Babe Ruth leagues, who get these kids ready when they come to us. Steinert has always been a great baseball school. The main thing I try to do is get them to maximize their talents and to be good people off the field, and hopefully quality men when they go forward in life.”

Who knows? Some of them may actually become real chefs.

About The Author


Rich Fisher has been around the Hamilton Township sports scene for so long that he actually got Rich Giallella’s autograph when Giallella was still a player! Proud product of Hamilton YMCA and Lou Gehrig baseball leagues and former teammate of Jim Maher on a very average Barton & Cooney rec basketball team, Fish graduated from Nottingham Junior High and Steinert High school and has covered township sports since 1980. His goal in life is to convince Maria Prato that Jersey tomatoes are at least 100 times better than California tomatoes.