Longtime Seabreeze baseball coach retires after a quarter-century

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

After 25 seasons, 432 wins, 18 state qualifiers, nine conference titles, seven district championships, three State Final Fours and a 2001 state runner-up finish, Seabreeze head baseball Anthony Campanella has decided to retire.

“I just figured after 24 years as head coach and one year as an assistant, it was time, and I’m at peace with it right now,” said Campanella, ‘Campy,’ for those who know him. “Coaching high school baseball has been fantastic, and I loved every minute of it.”

Seabreeze Athletics Director Billy Gahagan — one of Campanella’s former school and teammates — broke the news on Twitter, which created a buzz that went beyond the baseball world. He also spoke explained what Campy has meant him and to Seabreeze High School.

“I’ve known Campy for a long time; we’re family,” he said. “I coached with him in football and for him in baseball. When you replace somebody after 24 years as a head coach, there’s going to be a void, regardless of who we bring in next. It’s going to be tough on that next person, whoever it may be. Campy is as synonymous to Seabreeze as the Sandcrab is. He’s going to be missed.”

Father Lopez head baseball coach Bo Hall played for Campanella and also coached with him. Hall made it as far

“Campy is as synonymous to Seabreeze as the Sandcrab is. So, he’s going to be missed.”

BILLY GAHAGAN, Seabreeze Athletics Director

as Triple-A in the Yankees organization as a player, and he credited Campanella for helping him get there and now as a head coach.

“I’ve learned a lot from Campy for my playing career, but now I’ve taken a lot of lessons from his coaching style also,” he said. “He always did such a great job with his teams. He knew how to relate to his players to get the best out of them.”

About his future, Campanella says that he’s open to new opportunities but intends on staying at Seabreeze for at least another five years to retire as a teacher. He also hopes to continue helping the student-athletes get into college.

“I’ve spent 25 years developing players and trying to help them to the next level,” he said, “and I’m not going to stop doing that now. It’s my passion.”

Dennis Filipovski, a recent Seabreeze graduate, spent the last four years under Campanella. He highlighted Campanella’s personality on and off the field, saying, “Campy’s just a great guy. I wouldn’t have wanted to play for anyone else. He taught me a lot throughout my high school career that I would never forget, and I wish him luck on his next endeavors.”

Head baseball coaches Trevor Berryhill (Trinity Prep) and Eric Entrekin (Lake Brantley), among many others, took to social media to express their gratitude for Campanella’s years of service.

Berryhill posted: “Thank you for all you've done for the game! I'm specifically thankful for you taking me under your wing when I came to Lopez! #Legend.”

Entrekin added “Congrats, Campy, on a great career! Loved competing against your teams. You made the game better! #legend.”

While he may not know what his future holds, because of what Anthony Campanella has done in the past 25 years, he’s given hundreds of young men a chance at a future they are now proud of.