Former El Camino College Director Tony Barbone Passes Away at 71
TORRANCE, Calif. --- Former El Camino College Athletic Director Tony Barbone died Sunday, April 13 at the age of 71 after a long battle with cancer.
Barbone, affectionately known as "Bones" by those who knew him and worked with him, was the AD at ECC from 2009-2013. He was the fourth official Athletics Director in the history of the ECC athletics program, interim and acting ADs excluded.
During his time at ECC, the Warriors won a state championship in women's track and field in 2011. The athletics program also made many strides forward under his watch. His "What's Up with the Warriors" weekly recap of athletics results during the season evolved into the creation of the sports information associate position in the athletics program and expansion of the athletics website with more information updated of the Warriors athletics program.
In 2014, Barbone moved on to Pasadena City College to take over that AD position where he spent nine years at the helm, leading to many accomplishments and renovations in the PCC athletics program and the 3C2A.
Barbone served a prominent run on the 3C2A Management Council as the state baseball representative. He was an executive board member in the California Community College Athletic Directors Association (CCCADA), a former president of the South Coast Conference (SCC), and also served as a president for the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) Central Conference.
Prior to his time at ECC, Barbone was a staple of collegiate baseball at Azusa Pacific University. He set a then-record of 516 wins in 16 years at APU, retiring as the winningest coach in APU history in 2002. The record stood for nearly two decades.
Barbone's coaching career spanned a quarter century with stops in high school, the NAIA and minor-league baseball.
His influence will forever be felt in the 3C2A community in his work with student athletes and current staff and administration. Three current South Coast Conference coaches all played for Barbone with Pat McGee (Pasadena), Mike Salazar (Rio Hondo) and John Knott (Mt. SAC).
OTHER TRIBUTES TO BARBONE