Draft:Tony Zefiretto


 * Early Life and Career Beginnings
 * New York Coaching Career
 * All Pro Baseball Camps and Entrepreneurship
 * Florida and Professional Baseball Career
 * Professional Baseball Management and Leadership
 * Career Beyond Baseball
 * Recognition and Awards
 * Controversy
 * References

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Anthony "Tony" Zefiretto is an American professional sports executive, former college baseball and football coach, and entrepreneur. He is known for his extensive involvement in various aspects of sports/ business management, including coaching, team management, and event organization.

Early Life and Career Beginnings
Anthony "Tony" Zefiretto was born in Brooklyn, New York. In college, Zefiretto worked for Joe Namath, ultimately becoming friends and forging a relationship that would serve as a powerful learning experience. Zefiretto was inspired not only by Namath's knowledge about football and sports but also his dedication to family values, his respectful treatment of his fans and how he dealt with the media.

Zefiretto's coaching career began as an Assistant Football Coach at Brooklyn College while simultaneously serving as the Head Baseball Coach at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn. He would later become part of the staff for the NYC High School Baseball All-Star Team and later as the Head Baseball Coach at City College of New York (CCNY).

New York Coaching Career
Zefiretto's coaching career in New York saw him achieve significant success, including leading Lafayette High School's football team to an Undefeated Brooklyn Championship. He was named Coach of the Year by prominent publications like the New York Daily News and Newsday. Additionally, Zefiretto made notable contributions to CCNY's baseball program, including a regular-season championship, and was selected to coach the CUNY Conference All-Star teams during his tenure.

All Pro Baseball Camps and Entrepreneurship
In addition to coaching, Zefiretto founded All Pro Baseball Camps, Inc., which hosted summer baseball camps in major league cities featuring players and coaches from their respective Major League Baseball teams, including the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers. He also ventured into entrepreneurship by establishing Batting World, a commercial batting cages business aimed at providing sports instruction to the local community.

Florida and Professional Baseball Career
Zefiretto's sports management career continued in Florida. He served as the Head Baseball Coach at Central High School and later transitioned to roles such as Athletic Director and Dean at Springstead High School. During this time, he also embarked on a professional wrestling career. He competed with superstars such as the Bushwackers, Jake (The Snake) Roberts, Jim (The Anvil) Niedhart, Greg (The Hammer) Valentine, The Wild Samoans, Bugsy McGraw, and Doink the Clown, and defeated The Fabulous Muta to become the World Professional Wrestling (WPW) Heavyweight Champion.

In 1998, Zefiretto transitioned to professional baseball, joining the Houston Astros' AAA team in New Orleans. His contributions to the organization extended beyond his role in ticket sales, as he also participated in on-field coaching activities and organized the successful New Orleans Zephyrs baseball academy.

Professional Baseball Management and Leadership
Zefiretto's career in professional baseball management continued with positions at various organizations, including being in charge of group sales for Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Director of Ticket Operations for the Round Rock Express (Astros), Vice President for the Wilmington Waves  (Dodgers), Senior Director for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Braves) and General Manager of the Newark Bears (Atlantic League). His leadership abilities and innovative marketing strategies contributed to record-breaking attendance and revenue numbers for each team.

Career Beyond Baseball
Outside of baseball, Zefiretto's career included roles at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), where he served as the Assistant Director of Event Services and as an adjunct professor. After serving as Vice President of Business Affairs for the Augusta Colts professional arena football team, he also was the Co-founder of the Arena Pro Football League. Zefiretto was also the Founder/ CEO of the American Arena League.

Recognition and Awards
Zefiretto has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including induction into the Minor League Football Hall of Fame in 2017. He has been recognized for his community involvement, such as acting as the Faculty Advisor for Up 'til Dawn for their fundraising accomplishments for St. Jude's Children's Hospital.