Unlike most college coaches, Tony is a teacher first and foremost.  Academics are very important to him.  Mr. Baracco moved from Oregon to Michigan in January 2006 to be a full-time US History instructor.  In his first full year of teaching he won the “Outstanding Faculty of the Year” award.

Added to his teaching duties is Head Cross Country Coach because he is an avid follower of the sport.  Actually, this is Tony's sixteenth year coaching Cross Country and Track, and his first year as the Raiders Head Coach.  Previously, he coached at Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon where 14 All-Americans plus the Northwest Scholar Athlete Award Winner were earned in two years.  The athlete set an NAIA record in 2007.  Another 14 All-American honors including 5 Individual Championships, and the Men's Cross Country team placed 5th at the National Christian College Championship then 17th at the NAIA Championships were earned at Warner Pacific College from 2001 to 2003.

From 1996-2001 he coached at Rex Putnam High School in suburban Portland, Oregon.  During this time he won the “Sean Atkinson Award” for Outstanding Community Service from AmeriCorps while building a team that consistently ranked among the better teams in the state.  Before that his first college coaching experience was at Fort Hays State University in Kansas in 1995-96 coaching the Steeplechase, 5,000 and 10,000 runners while earning a master's degree in History.  Two Frosh Men earned Steeplechase All-Conference honors, and his top lady won the Women's 10k beating the legendary Adams State ladies.  While in Kansas, he had the pleasure of spending several hours talking Track with the Head Track Coach for the USA at the Pan-Am Games and an Olympic Assistant Coach Alex Francis.  After watching Tony coach, Alex said, "you're a great coach."

Several of his former athletes have gone on to four-year universities and excelled at the NCAA and NAIA levels.  Former athletes have gone on to win All-American honors at the NCAA Division I, II, and III as well as the NAIA and post-collegiate competitions. 

Coach Baracco started running in the late 1970s at Portland (OR) Park Cross Country races.  Right from the beginning he enjoyed success.  He won several City Championships in XC/Track and two Regional Junior Olympic titles plus being ranked as high as fourth in the country.  He was a four-year letter winner in XC/Track at Central Catholic (OR) while earning MVP, Most Inspirational, All-League, and Team Captain Honors.  In college, Tony thrived in the longer events while again earning All-League, MVP, and Team Captain Honors. 

In 2000, Tony was one of the first 10 people to earn USA Track & Field Level III Endurance coaching certification.  He has attended numerous

USATF Seminars around the country.  He has taught USATF Level I at the University of Oregon.  Also, he has taught ASEP Level I coaching classes including two for the Road Racers of America at the Portland Marathon.

Most importantly, Tony is married to the former Katy Klein, and they enjoy staying busy with their children Peter and Molly.  They live in Farmington.