Johnnie Baratto, a native of Therber, Texas, and a graduate of Concannon High School which is now part of the West Vigo school district, was one of the most respected high school basketball coaches in Indiana. For 27 years Coach Baratto produced top quality teams, starting from Fritchton High School and moving on to East Chicago Washington in 1944, continuing as head coach of that Lake County High School for 24 seasons.
His fabulous coaching career included 484 victories against only 170 losses, 12 Sectional and 8 Regional titles, 4 Semi-State crowns, and the 1960 Indiana high school championship. His team's 1960 triumph produced one of the biggest upsets in the state's high school basketball history as Washington knocked off top-ranked and heavily-favored Muncie Central, 75-59.
Additionally, John's teams played in the state's Final Four three other times, finishing second in 1947 and losing in the semi-finals in 1962 and 1966. Twice Coach Baratto was named Indiana high school "Coach of the Year" and in March, 1972, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Besides basketball, John has a few other loves in his life. The 1941 ISU graduate played baseball for Coach Paul Wolfe after helping Glen Curtis, then the Sycamore basketball mentor. John enjoyed coaching the freshman baseball team and was a good hitter himself. Later he coached two State American Legion Baseball Championships, including Rockville in 1941 and East Chicago in 1947.
Now Johnnie attends to farming activities in West Terre Haute, where he has trained several championship race horses, and enjoys watching ISU basketball and baseball.
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Coach IHSAA Basketball Runner-up East Chicago Washington (1962)
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Coached 12 sectional, 8 regional, 4 semi-state champions
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Coach in 4 IHSAA State Finals
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Indiana High School Basketball Coach of the Year (1960)
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Inducted into Hall of Fame October 24, 1986