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#pounditThursday, March 28, 2024

John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash

John Altobelli

Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna (Gigi) were among nine people who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday morning in Calabasas, California. We are now learning the identity of one of the other crash victims.

John Altobelli, the head baseball coach at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, was also on the helicopter and died.

Altobelli has three children according to his profile on Orange Coast College’s website. Son J.J., a baseball scout for the Boston Red Sox, daughter Alexis, and daughter Alyssa.

Alyssa was a teammate of Gigi on their Mamba Academy basketball team and was later reported to have died in the crash, along with her mother, Keri.

John Altobelli was entering his 24th season as head coach at Orange Coast College. He led the team to two state titles, and a national No. 1 ranking for much of the 2012 season.

From 2012 to 2014, Altobelli was the head coach of the Cape Cod League’s Brewster Whitecaps. He received some tributes online.

A press conference held Sunday afternoon by Los Angeles County sheriff Alex Villanueva stated that nine people died in the crash — eight people plus the pilot. All original reports said five people had died.

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Other victims of the helicopter crash:
John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims

Tributes to Kobe:
Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences

More coverage:
Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41

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