Bio

With over twenty years of professional pitching experience under his belt, Coach Gary Lavelle will be an incredible asset to Bryant & Stratton’s new baseball program. He spent most of his his pro pitching career with the San Francisco Giants where he was twice named a National League All-Star and held the record for most game appearances as well as being listed in the top 10 for saves and wins. 

Coach Lavelle also played pro ball for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics before deciding to move from the mound to the coaches’ box, where he had a strong desire to work with youngsters in developing their baseball ability, sportsmanship and leadership.  As head coach of Greenbrier Christian Academy in Chesapeake, VA, Lavelle was named TCIS Conference Coach of the Year for six consecutive years, as well as a seven-time Virginia State Independent Schools Coach of the Year.  Lavelle’s team was a four-time winner of the Metro Conference Championship, a six-time winner of the Division I Virginia State Championship, and winner of the Division II Virginia State Championship in 1999. 

In 2000, Coach Lavelle returned to the Big Leagues as a Pitching Coach for the New York Yankees where he culminated his career as the 2004 Eastern League All Star Game Pitching Coach. After five years with the Yankees, Lavelle decided to return to Greenbrier Christian Academy where he had found his true calling. Over the next 10 years, his team went on to win the Virginia Independent Schools State Championship four times and Lavelle was named Coach of the Year for each of those years.

In 2016, Coach Lavelle officially retired from Greenbrier Christian Academy and accepted the position as the Bobcats Baseball Team Head Coach.  In 2019, the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame inducted Head Coach Gary Lavell.

Head Coach Gary Lavell will return in the Fall 2020 alongside Head Coach Bottigliero as Special Advisor to Head Coach and Assistant Pitching Coach.   In his new role, Lavell will assist Head Coach Paul Bottigliero in all phases of development of the baseball program, including recruitment of players and development of the bullpen.