Taft College Baseball Head Coach Vince Maiocco Announces Retirement

By Ryan T. Blystone of the Bakersfield Californian

TAFT, CA – Vince Maiocco, who has been with the Taft College baseball program, first as an assistant coach in 2001 and then as the Cougars' head coach since 2004, announced his retirement from coaching and teaching at the institution, effective in late May when the spring semester concludes.

"After spending 25 years at Taft College, 22 years as the head coach, I am ready to begin a new chapter in my life," Maiocco said. "Rest assured, baseball will still be front and center in my retired life. I feel I still have so much to still offer the game of baseball before I permanently step away from it."

His remarks went the gamut of those he thanked for the baseball career he's built, both as a player and then his lengthy coaching resume. Maiocco has been coaching baseball since 1986, first at the high school level as an assistant and then head coach at College of the Siskiyous, before a brief stint at Delano High in 2000 and a year as an assistant at Gavilan College in Gilroy before coming to Taft College.

While at Taft College, Maiocco's teams have snapped long postseason droughts. In 2018, he guided the Cougars to their first Northern California regional postseason playoff appearance since 1992, ending a 26-year playoff drought. With the Cougars making the NorCal playoffs in both 2018 and then again in 2019 it marked the first time Taft made the 3C2A state baseball playoffs in back to back years since the mid-1980s.

"Today's an amazing day we get to celebrate an incredible career for somebody who has changed an enormous amount of lives in our community and I couldn't be happier for him for this day, but at the same time would be remiss that we're very sad to see him go," Mike Giacomini, Taft College's vice president of administrative services, said. "There's been a commitment to this program, this college for a quarter of a century that's going to be impossible to replace."

Maiocco's work to make Taft a competitive program over the years, trying to recruit players from Kern County and beyond — he's had several international players — is always a tough task, but he's always put time into improving things for the players. He's done major work to keep the ballpark on campus in tip-top shape and having dorms on campus helps expand the reach. Taft and Bakersfield College, for instance, aren't too far apart, but Maiocco has been successful getting Bakersfield-area players who can be at Taft and still be close enough to get home if needed. On the field, he's run things as well as possible.

"We've tried to instill a professional style of approach," Maiocco said. "I've been able to do is adapt and embrace change. Coaching kids in 2025 and now '26 is different than 20 years ago."

In the early going this season, his team is 7-2 and already has a victory over top state programs such as Mt. San Antonio College and a few Northern California teams, too. He's also moved players on to the next level.

"During Vince's 25 years at Taft College, he's worked with countless student-athletes and has helped so many transfer to the four-year level," Taft College Athletics Director Kanoe Bandy said. "I want to thank you for all that you've done for our student-athletes. I also want to thank you for your own labor and fundraising dollars that enhanced this program, enhanced the facility and the baseball field really does have Vince's mark on it. He has worked tirelessly to update the facility and it is beautiful for all of our student-athletes to use."