Head Men’s Basketball Coach at St. Joseph High School – became all time win leader in Illinois during February 2017. Gene Pingatore was born and raised in Cicero, Illinois, the son of Annette and Frank Pingatore. While at St. Mel’s High School, Gene was an Honors student and three year varsity letter winner in basketball and a member of the 1954 City Championship Team.

Upon graduation from high school, Gene received an athletic scholarship to play basketball at Loyola University of Los Angeles. A three year varsity letter winner, he captained the Loyola team in his senior year. In 1960, he began a coaching and teaching career at the newly built St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois.  He served as an assistant basketball coach and social studies teacher until 1970.