Former section commissioner Saco dies at 70
His voice was unmistakable, loud and clear. His ideas were innovative, creative and smart. But Pete Saco, a native of San Francisco, didn’t speak thunderously or offer a big proposal without a plan, purpose or research.
That made the former 21-year commissioner of the Sac-Joaquin Section one of the California Interscholastic Federation’s most respected and recognizable administrators.
Saco, who graduated from El Camino-South San Francisco and Cal State Hayward, died Sunday after dealing with stomach cancer for a long time. He was 70.
“He put in the work,” former San Francisco Section Cmmissioner Don Collins said Monday. “He did his research. He studied all issues, all over the country. He put forward a lot of ideas but they weren’t fly-bynight. He put so much time into the structure of things and because he was the son of a coach and educator, he lived with character and purpose. When you dealt with Pete, it was going to be done the right way.
“He wouldn’t back down from things and issues that were difficult.”
Saco was largely credited with bringing state football championships back to California in 2006 — they hadn’t been played since the 1920s. Collins said Saco also supported referees and fought for competitive and gender equity.
His death, almost nine years after retiring from his SJS post, hit many hard. His personality was big, fun and filled with many laughs. At the appropriate time.
“I’ve tried several times to compose some thoughts since learning of Pete’s passing,” wrote CIF Executive Director Ron Nocetti, another San Francisco native. “How do you encapsulate into words the life of someone who was so much to so many?”
Current Sac-Joaquin Section assistant commissioner Will DeBoard told Joe Davidson of the Sacramento Bee: “He was such a larger-thanlife figure. He was a guy who cared so much about high school sports and he wanted kids to have the best experience they could have. … They broke the mold with Pete, that’s for sure. He grooved on his job. We lost him way, way too soon. It’s totally unfair and it’s horrible.”
Nocetti, who called Saco a mentor and father figure, said a lesson Saco taught him came directly from his father at an early age.
“You make sure that you always do what is right, not what is popular,” Nocetti wrote. “He was always big on being grateful, of saying thank you. We don’t have enough of that today.”
Funeral services for Saco are pending.
Dougherty Valley still No. 1: Despite a 64-61 loss at Monte Vista-Danville on Thursday, the Wolverines (21-3) remain in the top spot of The Chronicle rankings, thanks largely to Connor Sevilla, who scored 26 points in a 59-46 win at CaliforniaSan Ramon on Saturday.
USF-bound Ryan Beasley, a 30points-per-game scorer, injured his ankle in a 65-53 loss to Southern California power Notre DameSherman Oaks on Jan. 21. Beasley missed all three East Bay Athletic League games last week, but Sevilla and Blake Hudson helped carry the load in wins over Amador ValleyPleasanton and California-San Ramon.
Beasley is expected back this week, the last week of the EBAL season, for games Tuesday at home against No. 2 De La Salle-Concord (19-5) and Friday at No. 9 Dublin (17-7). All three are tied at 6-1 in EBAL play. DLS had won nine of 10 before getting beaten 63-42 Saturday at the Nike Extravaganza in Santa Ana (Orange County) by state No. 2 Harvard-Westlake-Studio City (26-1).
WCAL play: Sixth-ranked Riordan (15-4, 8-1 West Catholic Athletic League) rebounded from a 66-59 home loss to St. Ignatius to win 6244 at St. Francis behind 18 points from freshman Andrew Hilman and 12 from Nathan Tshamala. Riordan, tied for first place with Mitty, travels to Serra (10-8, 3-5) on Tuesday.
In St. Ignatius’ win, Raymond Whitley scored 18 points for the Wildcats (11-8, 5-4), who lost Pepperdine-bound John Squire for the season with an ankle injury. Whitley is one of three freshmen starting for St. Ignatius.