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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to recognize and celebrate the birthdate
4of the late Gene "Coach Ping" Pingatore on October 25, 2023;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore was born on October 25, 1936 and
7passed away on June 26, 2019; he was raised in Cicero; he
8graduated from St. Mel's High School in 1954; he earned his
9Bachelor of Arts in History from Loyola University of Los
10Angeles, known today as Loyola Marymount University, in 1958;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, Following his college graduation, Gene Pingatore
13returned home and began working as a freshman boys basketball
14coach at St. Joseph High School in Westchester in 1960, the
15school's first academic year; he became the head varsity coach
16of the St. Joseph High School boys basketball team, the
17Chargers, in 1969; he served as head coach for 51 years and was
18the most successful basketball coach in Illinois High School
19Association (IHSA) history; he further served the school in a
20number of roles, including as a social studies teacher, the
21director of recruitment, the assistant principal, the dean of
22students, the director of development, the acting principal,
23the director of building and grounds, the special events

 

 

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1coordinator, and the alumni director; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Under Gene Pingatore's guidance, the St. Joseph
3High School boys basketball team was one of the best in the
4State, winning 34 regional championships and 13 sectionals,
5advancing to the state finals six times, and winning two state
6championships, Class 2A in 1999 and Class 3A in 2015; he
7possessed a record of 1,035-383, becoming the only coach in
8Illinois to accomplish 1,000 wins in 2017, making him one of
9only 15 coaches in the nation; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore received many accolades for his
11work, including being named Educator of the Year by the
12Illinois State Crime Commission/Police Athletic League of
13Illinois in 2008, Coach of the West for the McDonald
14All-American Game in Chicago in 2011, Coach of the Year by the
15Central Officials Association in 2016, and Coach of the Year
16by Pioneer Press and Suburban Life in 1978, 1979, and 1999, and
17again by Suburban Life in 1981, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1999,
18and 2004; he also received the Ellie Hasan Award from the
19Central Officials Association in 2005, the De La Salle Award
20for Service and Leadership in the Community from Lewis
21University in 2010, and the 2018 Morgan Wootten Award for
22Lifetime Achievement in Coaching High School Basketball from
23the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore was affectionately known as "Coach
2Ping", and he became nationally known for his starring role in
3the critically acclaimed 1994 documentary Hoop Dreams; his
4leadership and guidance positively impacted an immeasurable
5number of students; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Gene Pingatore was the son of the late Frank and
7Annette Pingatore; the brother of the late Sandra Pingatore;
8the father of Lisa; the grandfather of Erin, Kelli, and Jack;
9the fiance of Jill Oakley; the uncle of Frank, Nick, and the
10late Robert; and the great-uncle, godfather, cousin, and
11friend of many; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14we recognize and celebrate the birthdate of the late Gene
15"Coach Ping" Pingatore on October 25, 2023, and we remember
16the legacy he created and the many lives he touched during his
17lifetime; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Gene Pingatore as an expression of
20our esteem and respect.