Philanthropy is a natural extension of Keith’s gratitude for the opportunities he received at SF State

San Francisco State University alum Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95) carries his Gator pride with him every day. As Vice President for Athletics at Menlo College, Keith has devoted his career to higher education, building programs, and helping students achieve their potential. His journey is deeply intertwined with his time at SF State, where he discovered the resilience, determination, and community spirit that continue to inspire his philanthropy today.

Originally from Florida, Keith moved to California in 1989 and began his academic journey at Skyline College before transferring to SF State. It was a decision shaped by both opportunity and family: his brother was wrestling at Skyline, and transferring to SF State allowed Keith to continue his education while staying locally connected to his family. “It was the right choice, the right time, and a good opportunity for me,” Keith reflects.

Keith credits his time at SF State with teaching him invaluable lessons about perseverance and purpose, particularly through the wrestling program led by the legendary Coach Lars Jensen. The program’s emphasis on supporting first-generation students and reflecting the Bay Area’s diversity resonated deeply with Keith, who saw the wrestling team as a microcosm of SF State’s mission and its commitment to equity and opportunity.

When the wrestling program faced potential cuts, it was Coach Jensen’s leadership and the team’s impact that preserved it. “Coach Jensen connected the dots very effectively. He tied the mission of the University — supporting first-generation college students and students from all walks of life — in a very meaningful way to our roster. We resembled that mission,” Keith recalls.

The wrestling program proved indispensable because its athletes represented what SF State stood for — access to education and opportunity for all students. “That really stuck with me,” Keith says, “and it honestly has been profound in my career.” An outcry from SF State alumni ultimately helped save the program.

This experience instilled in Keith a commitment to representing value and contributing to the greater good — principles that have guided his multifaceted career across athletics, enrollment management, marketing, and operations. “Everything I do is about proving return on investment,” Keith says, “and demonstrating the value that anything we're doing brings to the institution.”

“Everything I do is about proving return on investment.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

Philanthropy is a natural extension of Keith’s gratitude for the opportunities he received. Through the Spataro Alumni Wrestling Scholarship, he and his wife aim to support future generations of Gators. “We’ve been fortunate that we've been able to help change some students’ lives,” Keith shares. Connecting with scholarship awardees has been deeply rewarding for them both: “It’s always meaningful when you can put a face and name to your giving.”

The tight-knit wrestling community also inspires Keith’s giving. He remains thankful for the sport that shaped his life, crediting its “do it yourself” nature with honing his self-reliance and endurance. But wrestling also taught him the value of a supportive community that lifts one another toward success. Keith fondly recalls the potluck dinners Coach Jensen organized after student-alumni matches, where connections flourished and donations flowed. He was astonished when alumni handed Coach Jensen checks for the wrestling program in testament to their shared dedication to the team. “We couldn’t survive or be successful without that [money],” Keith realized at the time. Witnessing that generosity left a lasting impression and cemented his commitment: “I knew that when I had the capacity, I needed to do the same thing.”

“We couldn’t survive or be successful without that [money]. I knew that when I had the capacity, I needed to do the same thing.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

Keith vividly describes wrestling as a sport that demands extraordinary physical and mental toughness. Wrestlers are pushed to extremes — through weight cuts, relentless training, and physical exhaustion — while required to face their opponent, alone, in the center of the mat. It is a grueling test of both body and mind, where success depends entirely on individual effort. Yet what stands out most to Keith is the respect and camaraderie amongst teammates. Looking across the mat and seeing a teammate enduring the same challenges creates a distinctive bond, one forged through shared struggle and perseverance. “In wrestling, we’re just trying to survive,” Keith reflects, “but we need each other to do that.”

Keith Spataro

Keith Spataro as an SF State Wrestling student-athlete

Through the Spataro Alumni Wrestling Scholarship, Keith and his wife aim to support future generations of Gators

“In wrestling, we’re just trying to survive. But we need each other to do that.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A.,’95)

Keith’s philanthropic contributions focus on the Gator Athletics wrestling program, but he recognizes the broader impact of his giving. “Donating to one specific area frees up money to get to somewhere else,” he points out, ensuring resources can be allocated meaningfully elsewhere in Athletics and across the University.

Above & right: Keith with former SFSU athletes and teammates

Keith’s continued dedication to SF State is rooted in his passion for athletics and his belief in the University’s mission to provide an accessible, high-quality education to students of all backgrounds. He hopes his story will inspire others to give back.

“I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren’t for the experience I had at San Francisco State,” Keith says. “It shaped me in meaningful ways and for most of my professional career, but I didn't reflect on it until Coach [Jensen] passed away. I then realized how powerful my experience was. I want other wrestlers to gain the same thing.”

“I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren’t for the experience I had at San Francisco State.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

Keith is optimistic that the student-athletes supported by the Spataro Alumni Wrestling Scholarship will one day recognize the ripple effects of their own University experiences: “At some point in their lives, they’ll reflect back and say, ‘If I didn't get the Spataro Scholarship and wrestle at San Francisco State, this wouldn't have happened,’ whatever this is for that individual. ‘You know what, that changed my life.’ It won’t be the [scholarship] money that changes their lives, but the experience they get from the money. And that's what I'm for.”

Donate to Gator Athletics

For more information about donating to Gator Athletics, contact:

David Fierberg, MNA, CFRE

Executive Director of Development
Gator Athletics

dfierberg@sfsu.edu

(415) 405-3966

donor

From Mat to Mission: Keith Spataro’s Journey of Impact

From Mat to Mission: Keith Spataro’s Journey of Impact

Philanthropy is a natural extension of Keith’s gratitude for the opportunities he received at SF State

“Everything I do is about proving return on investment.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

“We couldn’t survive or be successful without that [money]. I knew that when I had the capacity, I needed to do the same thing.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

“In wrestling, we’re just trying to survive. But we need each other to do that.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A.,’95)

“I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren’t for the experience I had at San Francisco State.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

For more information about donating to Gator Athletics, contact:

David Fierberg, MNA, CFRE

donor

From Mat to Mission: Keith Spataro’s Journey of Impact

From Mat to Mission: Keith Spataro’s Journey of Impact

Philanthropy is a natural extension of Keith’s gratitude for the opportunities he received at SF State

“Everything I do is about proving return on investment.” —Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

“We couldn’t survive or be successful without that [money]. I knew that when I had the capacity, I needed to do the same thing.” —Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

“In wrestling, we’re just trying to survive. But we need each other to do that.” —Keith Spataro (B.A.,’95)

“I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren’t for the experience I had at San Francisco State.” —Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

For more information about donating to Gator Athletics, contact:

David Fierberg, MNA, CFRE

“Everything I do is about proving return on investment.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

“We couldn’t survive or be successful without that [money]. I knew that when I had the capacity, I needed to do the same thing.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

“In wrestling, we’re just trying to survive. But we need each other to do that.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A.,’95)

“I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren’t for the experience I had at San Francisco State.”
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)