Former Major Leaguer joins athletic department in first major initiative under Athletic Director Scott Bairnsfather

Jesuit has appointed former Major League Baseball player Johnny Giavotella ’05 as head of sports development, effective immediately. The appointment is the first major action of newly minted Athletic Director Scott Bairnsfather and establishes a new leadership role focused on the development of students, athletic programs, performance systems, facilities, and future programmatic athletic opportunities.

Working with Bairnsfather and Jon Orillion ’01, Jesuit’s assistant athletic director, Giavotella will work across every sport and level of competition. His responsibilities will span the full athlete life cycle from foundational skill development and healthy training practices through college recruitment and preparation for post-secondary athletics.

“Johnny’s appointment is a step towards building a more deliberate and coordinated approach to student development across our athletic program,” Bairnsfather said. “He has experienced every stage of an athlete’s path from a Blue Jay student-athlete to a college player, major leaguer, coach, and university athletics administrator. That perspective will help our students and families make more richly informed decisions, and it will help our coaches operate within a stronger system.”

Giavotella will serve as an advisor to students and families as they evaluate training opportunities, athletic goals, college recruitment, and long-term development. He will coordinate with coaches, college counselors, and other school leaders to provide families with reliable guidance throughout the entire student-athlete lifecycle.

That work will include education about the name, image, and likeness (NIL) environment that students may encounter in college. Giavotella will help students and families understand collegiate NIL mechanics, the role of agents and representatives, and the decisions that prospective college athletes may face.

“Families are entering a college athletics environment that is more complicated than it was even a few years ago,” Bairnsfather said. “Our responsibility is to prepare students to ask the right questions, recognize sound counsel, understand the consequences of their decisions, and remain focused on their education and personal development.”

Giavotella will also help establish a coordinated vision for sports performance, strength and conditioning, nutrition, recovery, specialized training, and performance analytics. His work will include identifying ways to use data more effectively, developing training opportunities tailored to particular sports and athletes, and connecting Jesuit coaches and students with qualified local trainers, coaches, sports-medicine professionals, and performance specialists.

Although the position will directly support Jesuit’s formal athletic programs, Bairnsfather said its broader purpose extends beyond team rosters.

“Every Blue Jay benefits from learning how to train with purpose, recover responsibly, respond to adversity, and measure progress,” Bairnsfather said. “Our teams will be a central part of this work, but the goal is to elevate the culture of physical development and health throughout the school.”

Giavotella will contribute to the long-term development of athletic facilities and programs and will evaluate new ventures that could expand opportunities for students. Those efforts may include specialized camps and clinics, tournament hosting, enhanced training programs, and relationships with regional healthcare, sports-medicine, and athletic-performance organizations.

Most recently, Giavotella served as general manager of the University of New Orleans baseball team and as UNO’s youth program director. In that role, he supported the daily operations of a Division I baseball program, led youth programming across several sports, coordinated community partnerships and facility projects, and spearheaded NIL initiatives for UNO athletes.

Kansas City selected Giavotella in the second round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent 11 seasons in professional baseball, including seven years in the major leagues. Throughout his career, he served in leadership and mentoring roles and worked with younger athletes on preparation, accountability, and performance.

“I came to Jesuit from a public school and worked in the bookstore to help make my education possible, so I understand that students arrive here from different circumstances,” Giavotella said. “What unites them is the expectation that they will work, prepare, and take responsibility for their growth. Jesuit’s academic program sets a demanding standard for the whole person. Our athletic program should be built with the same care, ambition, and fidelity to mission.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to be back at my alma mater,” Giavotella added. “My goal is to give students, families, and coaches the guidance and resources they need at each stage of development. Jesuit’s athletics program compliments the academic formation that Blue Jays receive. We train young men to become competent without entitlement, to accept coaching, to persevere through setbacks, and to use their abilities in service to their teammates.”