Art teacher Jason Ganchou is the new assistant coach for the boys baseball team.
Art teacher Jason Ganchou talks with Lakewood’s boy’s baseball team during practice on Feb. 22. Ganchou is the new assistant coach for the boys 2012 baseball season. -- DANE MORRIS| SNN
By OWEN DYCHES
SNN Staff Writer
Art teacher Jayce Ganchou has a lot more in his past than drawing. He saved a man’s life and even played what was then Big 10 College baseball for a quarter. This is his story.
Born in Toledo, Ohio, Ganchou grew up a Detroit Tigers fan. When he was 7 years old, Ganchou attended a Tigers vs. Red Sox game. After catching legend Carlton “Pudge” Fisk was done catching in the bullpen for the Sox, he tossed young Ganchou a ball. After Fisk hit a home run, Ganchou was hooked on the Sox.
“When I got home, I took down all of my Tigers stuff off my wall in my room, and put the cut out Red Sox players names on the wall.”
Ganchou went on to attend Bowsher High School in Toledo, Ohio. He played baseball for all four years there, and then was invited to the draft. He was a last round pick by, guess who, the Red Sox.
“They told me to go to college and play. So I went to the school that recruited me the most, Indiana University. I tore my ACL ligament in my left knee, and I couldn’t play for a year. I had an option: be medically redshirted or transfer. So, I transferred to Columbus School of Art and Design, and got my Art Degree,” he said.
Ganchou played Independent League baseball for several teams, facing opponents from the famed Cape Cod League and in the Penn League. After his college term ended, he would play for these teams in the summer. Ganchou got his art education degree and started teaching in the Toledo Public School district. After the district cut all freshman sports, they tried to cut the fine arts. Ganchou and his fellow fine arts teachers tried for five years to keep the cut from happening.
“Then they started firing people in the fine arts department. I sensed that I could be fired, even though I had been teaching for 15 years. I had to move,” he said.
Ganchou’s parents live in Lehigh Acres, in the Fort Myers area. “They lived down here. I saw there were job openings in the Pinellas County schools district, so I went to interview. I was supposed to interview at four schools, Dixie Hollins, Tarpon Springs, East Lake and here at Lakewood.”
His first interview was here. “I walked in to the interview with Mr.Vicari. Within five minutes, he offered me the job. He told me ‘Call the other principal and tell him not to bother.’”
After he bought a house, he met with coach Cory Scott and received the assistant baseball coach’s job. Ganchou lives in Pinellas Park with his two boxers, Remy and Boggs, named after Red Sox legend Wade Boggs and Bruins legend Jerry Remy. He also has a built in batting cage in his garage.
A life saver
When art teacher Jayce Ganchou was still living in Toledo, he was driving on Anthony Wayne Trail with his friend on his way back from a Cleveland Indians game.
“There was a man driving (another) car. He was swerving all over. So we pulled off to the side. He caught an edge and rolled,” said Ganchou.
The car rolled over the median, coming to a stop upright. “We pulled over and called 911. Then the engine caught fire.”
Ganchou and his friend ran over to help.
“I reached to pull him out, and the melting pieces of the airbag landed all over my wrist. I got burned pretty bad,” he said.
The two put a car mat under the driver and pulled him out. The man survived, thanks to Ganchou and his companion.
“After I moved down here … there was a letter from the driver of that car. He thanked me for saving his life and gave me $200 in gift cards,” Ganchou said.
