David Gaeta joined the California State University, Bakersfield track and field coaching staff in summer of 2016 and serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the Roadrunners overseeing Hurdles.
Gaeta has had at least one hurdler crack Top 10 on the school's all-time list in three seasons (2018, 19, and 2022) since bringing his expertise to the program. His first NCAA West Regional qualifier was his son, Gabe Gaeta, in 2019.Â
A native of the area, Gaeta has been an influential member of the Kern Country track and field community for decades. From 1998 to 2005, he was the head boys’ and girls’ coach at Wasco High School in Wasco, Calif. During his tenure, Gaeta’s teams captured two South Sequoia League titles. In 1998, the Wasco girls’ track squad earned a Central Section Championship and produced a Central Section girls’ hurdle champion. Gaeta also served as director of the annual Wasco Relays Track & Field Invitational. In 2005, he was named a Central Section Track and Field Honoree Coach.
From 2007 to 2016, Gaeta was the head boys’ and girls’ track and field coach at Frontier High School in Bakersfield, Calif. His teams won three Southwest Yosemite League girls’ varsity league titles and two SWYL boys’ varsity league titles. His teams also earned eight SWYL JV/F-S boys’ and girls’ league titles. In 2009, Gaeta coached Frontier to a boys’ California State Track & Field Championship.
Gaeta also served as director of the annual Frontier Frosh-Soph Relays Track & Field Invitational and the annual Titan Top 16 Frosh-Soph Track & Field Invitational. Gaeta was named The Bakersfield Californian boys track & field Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2014. He coached three Central Section hurdle champions, one girl and two boys, while at Frontier. Gaeta also had one hurdler (boy or girl) named to The Bakersfield Californian All-Area Team since 2008.
Gaeta competed in track and field at Shafter High School in Shafter, Calif., specializing in the high and intermediate hurdles. He was an All-American in the 330-yard hurdles and was elected to the Shafter High School Hall of Fame in 2013.
In 1976 and 1977, Gaeta was a member of the track and field team at Fresno State, where he competed in both the 120-high hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles.
Gaeta also competed in the 120-yard high hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles for the Bakersfield College track and field team. He was a two-time Metropolitan Conference champion in the 120-yard high hurdles in 1974 and 1975 and was elected to the Bakersfield College Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2010.
Gaeta has taught world history at Frontier High since 2008. He has been a member of the Kern County Officials Association, refereeing high school and college basketball, since 1983. Gaeta has been married to Catherine Merlo since 1991. Their son, Gabe Gaeta, attended California State University, Bakersfield, where he was a 400m hurdler on the Bakersfield track and field team.
