Gary Picone became only the second head coach in 35 years at Lewis-Clark State College when he took over duties on Sept. 1, 2010, after legendary coach Ed Cheff retired.

 

Cheff left big shoes for Gary to follow as he compiled a 1,705-430-2 record during his 34 years and put LCSC baseball on the map with 16 NAIA national championships, more than quadruple any other NAIA baseball team during that stretch.

 

In 2011, in his first season at the reins, Gary led the team to a 38-17 record. As well as baseball coach, Gary also serves as LCSC's athletic director and was named the NAIA West Region’s Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year in 2011 by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

 

Gary is actually in his second go-around as Athletic Director/Director of Auxiliary Services at Lewis-Clark State College and has been key in helping the Avista NAIA World Series continue to grow in popularity.  The Series has regularly set all-time attendance records year-in and year-out under Gary’s supervision.

 

Gary has a long history with LCSC, dating back to 1972 when he enrolled at the institution and join the LCSC baseball team as an outfielder for coach Ramon Hooker.

 

Gary played with the Warriors during the 1973 and ’74 seasons and also spent five years playing with the Canadian National Team. After graduation, he joined the Warriors' coaching staff, which included the 1976 season, the first season LCSC qualified to participate in the NAIA World Series.

 

In 1980, he left LCSC to teach and coach in Canada. He returned in 1983 as the Warriors’ pitching coach. In 1989, the Trail, British Columbia, native was the executive director of the British Columbia Amateur Baseball Association, but returned to LCSC in 1991 as athletic director, a position he served for nine years.

 

While athletic director, Gary helped bring the Series back to Lewiston. The Series had previously been held in Lewiston during 1983-91, but then jumped around between four sites before returning to Lewiston in 1999. The Series is under contract to remain here at least through 2012.

 

Gary left as athletic director in 2000 to become pitching coach at Washington State University under new coach Tim Mooney. He spent two seasons there before returning to LCSC as pitching coach in 2002. In the fall of 2003, Picone was involved with the Canadian National Team, serving as head coach during international play in Cuba.

 

Picone was hired as athletic director in 2006 and has initiated a number of World Series projects every year to help improve Harris Field, which has been home to the NAIA World Series. LCSC installed stadium seating in 2007, a new press box in 2008, and new lighting in 2009, which has helped LCSC continue to have one of the best ballparks in the Pacific Northwest as well as the NAIA. All told, these three improvements totaled more than $700,000.

 

By taking over as baseball coach, Gary relinquished his duties as the Avista NAIA World Series Tournament Director, which is now being filled by assistant athletic director Brooke Cushman.  

 

Gary and his wife Terri have three children, Nina, Rico, and Maria, and two grandchildren, Marissa and Grady.