Its a Great Day to Retire – HutchCC Business Professor, ‘Coach Nac’, Gives Last Lesson

By Lizzie Rush
Editor In Chief
IG: liz.rush

Everyday’s a great day to study business if you’re Dan Naccarato, and now, it’s a great day to retire.

Business professor Dan Naccarato, commonly known as ‘Coach Nac’, is finishing up his 22nd year of teaching at Hutchinson Community College before heading into retirement this month. Naccarato is a full-blown Kansan, having lived in the state his entire life, where he received an education from middle school through college in Emporia.

His passion for business started when he was 15-years old and got his first job at a K-Mart. Naccarato kick-started his career in business when he was an undergrad student at Emporia State University when he started working at Dillons. He remained in his position at Dillons until he finished his MBA, when he received a call from the president of Dillons, John Baldwin, inviting him to lunch at the Dillons headquarters in Hutchinson.

“Fortunately, our luncheon meeting went well, and John Baldwin offered me a new position of ‘Retail Operations Analyst.’ My job was to assist the VP of Operations and make recommendations about how to improve productivity, customer service, and safety in all our stores,” Naccarato said.

That’s when Naccarato and his family picked up their things and moved to what Naccarato dubs “the garden spot of the universe”, Hutchinson in 1985, and where they remained for nearly 40 years.

Naccarato began his teaching career at Emporia State while still working toward his MBA. This side quest began when his father suffered a stroke and the college asked Naccarato to fill in teaching the classes that his father instructed.

“My dad was a college professor. I always wanted to follow in his footsteps. Ever since I can remember I really wanted to coach and teach,” Naccarato said.

Once he moved to Hutchinson, he took a small break from teaching before getting back in the classroom in 2004.

“Twenty years went by. My dad passed away in 1997, and then my mom followed him in 2003,” Naccarato said. “In 2004, I noticed an announcement that HutchCC was looking for a Business Instructor. The time was right to make a career change. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to help students learn how to successfully play the game of Business for the past 22 years at HutchCC. Every day is a great day to study business.”

For the last 22 years, Naccarato has been a business and leadership instructor for the college.

Matt Smith, who also teaches business classes at HutchCC, has known Naccarato for nearly 11 years.

“In my opinion, Coach Nac is adored because of how he makes people feel. His demeanor and kind words make people feel appreciated and heard,” Smith said, “I can’t express enough how positive and genuinely kind Coach Nac is. I was very blessed to have him as my mentor when I first started here at HutchCC. Over the years, he has always been there when I needed advice on how to handle something. Especially when I just needed to talk out an issue. He always has an empathetic approach and helps me see ‘the other side’ of things. These encounters have helped me develop a more positive attitude, even when it isn’t my first reaction.”

Joshua Burdick, a freshman who studies Business Administration, has had classes with Naccarato.

“Coach Nac would, almost every day, welcome each student. He made sure every individual knew that he recognized them as an individual and not just another student on the roster.”

Naccarato has had countless moments in his time at HutchCC. From watching his kids grow up, and later playing for the Blue Dragons, to coaching baseball, basketball, and football (coining his nickname ‘Coach Nac’), to broadcasting with Salthawk and Blue Dragons sports. Naccarato’s dedication to his community has not gone unnoticed.

“Lots of good people make magic around here every single day,” Naccarato said.

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