OT: RIP Gene Pingatore

[Gustavus Adolphus]

I realize it's not the NBA, but an Illinois basketball legend passed away yesterday. It would have been his 51st year coaching.

 

[zack54attack]

I realize it's not the NBA, but an Illinois basketball legend passed away yesterday. It would have been his 51st year coaching.

Woke up and saw this. Sad news. He was a legend in HS Basketball and growing up I really didn't get a ton of exposure to some of the schools out int he Chicago area but seeing Hoop Dreams introduced me to him and the St. Joe's program.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

7th all-time nationally for wins by a HS basketball coach.

 

[dennehy]

I knew him, played in the StJ 7th and 8th grade tournaments, my coach's son played at StJ and my coach wound up as an assistant there. Played against him in high school as well. Really old school guy, for better or worse.

This will probably be the end for StJ too. It's been dying for a while.

 

[TL1961]

Glad you posted this thread.

RIP Gene.

Great career.

 

[Rory Sparrow]

I knew him, played in the StJ 7th and 8th grade tournaments, my coach's son played at StJ and my coach wound up as an assistant there. Played against him in high school as well. Really old school guy, for better or worse.

I'd like to know more about your thoughts on him. He came across terribly in Hoop Dreams, TBH. I remember there was a lot of controversy surrounding him getting Isaiah Thomas (kind of like when Derrick Rose went to Memphis St.), and in the end he still couldn't win the title with Thomas (like Rose at Memphis St.).

 

[dennehy]

I'd like to know more about your thoughts on him. He came across terribly in Hoop Dreams, TBH. I remember there was a lot of controversy surrounding him getting Isaiah Thomas (kind of like when Derrick Rose went to Memphis St.), and in the end he still couldn't win the title with Thomas (like Rose at Memphis St.).

Not a nice guy, but most of the coaches of his generation were like that I think. Mine was, and we all loved him. Knew how to play the Chicago game, obviously. I think Hoop Dreams nailed that part. Guys who went there knew what they were going to get. His team's played great m2m defense. He was a Bobby Knight fan boy and modeled everything on that, for better or worse. Biggest shortcoming as a coach: very rigid.