Former Cape Baseball Coach Killed In Crash With Kobe Bryant

BREWESTER, MA — John Altobelli, a former baseball coach in the Cape Cod League, was killed Sunday in the helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter. Altobelli's wife Keri and daughter Alyssa, who played on the same AAU basketball team as Bryant's daughter Gianna, also died in the crash that killed seven.

From 2012-2014, Altobelli, 56, was the head coach of the Brewster Whitecaps. He coached his son JJ, now a Boston Red Sox scout, and helped in the development of several future MLB All-Stars, including New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and New York Mets outfielder Jeff McNeil.

"Tough to hear the news of coach Altobelli," McNeil tweeted after learning the death of his former coach. "One of my favorite coaches I have ever played for and one of the main reasons I got a chance to play professional baseball. Both the baseball and basketball world lost a great one today."

Chris Kenney, the Brewster Whitecaps president, told the Boston Globe Altobelli was a "class act" and always had his players' interests at heart.

"John was a trusted assistant who became our head coach. His family became part of our baseball family ..." Kenney told the Globe. "He was just always focused on the success of his teams and success and development of his players."

Altobelli spent the last 27 years as the head coach at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. His team won the state championship last year, and Altobelli was named the American Baseball Coaches Association's coach of the year.

"John meant so much to not only Orange Coast College, but to baseball," Jason Kehler, the school's athletic director said in a statement. "He truly personified what it means to be a baseball coach. The passion that he put into the game, but more importantly his athletes, was second to none — he treated them like family. Our deepest condolences go out to the Altobelli family during this time of tragedy."

During Altobelli's career at Orange Coast College, he led the team to four state titles and had over 700 wins.

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