Notre Dame’s Jeff Graviett to retire from coaching after 27 seasons

After a 27-year run as a coach for Notre Dame baseball and softball, Jeff Graviett announced his retirement after the 2023 baseball season concludes.

In 1997 Graviett began coaching the baseball team as an assistant coach before becoming the head coach in 1999. A year later he joined the softball coaching staff before becoming the head coach in 2003.

“When I took the athletic director job I knew I wanted to do both,” Graviett said. “I wanted to keep coaching and I wanted to be the AD knowing the work that was ahead of me. It’s really worn on me and I don’t feel like I’ve given the time to all of it that needs to be given.”

On the softball side, Graviett’s teams won 17 district championships, a state title in 2009 and made 9 final fours.

Graviett’s baseball teams won 11 district championships, 2 state titles and made 5 final four appearances.

Graviett’s combined record between both baseball and softball is 938-259.

While Graviett has spent the last 27 years at Notre Dame, he said he’s been coaching in some aspect since he was 15 years old.

“I started helping coach my brother’s 10-year-old team when I was 15,” Graviett said. “It’s just been in my blood and something I’ve always done and I’m probably not done coaching. Once I have a free summer, who knows, there’s plenty of opportunities to coach baseball and softball.”

Graviett will still continue to serve in his role as athletic director at Notre Dame.

“I’ll still be around, I’m not going anywhere,” Graviett said. “It’s probably one of those things where it’s not going to hit me until August 6 when softball starts.”

The retirement from coaching will allow Graviett to spend more time with his wife.

“My wife is retiring from public school education so she’s going to have a lot more free time,” Graviett said. “It’s time to give her more time.”

Graviett said without the support of his family, coaching for this long wouldn’t be possible.

“My mom and dad still have been one of my biggest supporters all the way through,” Graviett said. “They come to watch the games like they have a kid playing. My mom’s taking it really hard. It’s a full family effort.”