Boys Basketball: St Joseph’s Gene Pingatore back on top

Updated: February 9, 2012 7:07PM

Gene Pingatore is the all-time winningest boys basketball coach in Illinois history — again.

The veteran St. Joseph coach moved up to the No. 1 spot in 2009 with his 827th win, passing Dick Van Scyoc. But Pingatore was passed up by Steve Goers, who retired after last season with an 881-264 record at Bardolph, Oswego, LaSalle-Peru, Harvard and Boylan.

Pingatore regained the wins record Jan. 14, when the Chargers edged Evanston 63-61 for his 882nd career victory. He’s 886-305 heading into Saturday’s game at Notre Dame.

“No. 1, it means I’ve been around for a long time,” said Pingatore, who took over as the Chargers’ coach when Pat Callahan resigned during the 1969-70 season.

He still remembers his first win, an upset of St. Patrick.

“They were in first place, and we were not very good as far as our record,” Pingatore said.

He has been on the St. Joe’s bench ever since, except for the two games he missed because of illness in 43 seasons.

Along the way, Pingatore won a state title in 1999, three more state trophies, 11 sectionals and 27 regionals.

“It’s not about me,” Pingatore said. “It’s about all the people who contributed.”

That group includes star players Isiah Thomas, Evan Turner and Demetri McCamey among many others, as well as longtime assistants such as the late Dennis Doyle and John Hornacek, who was St. Joe’s freshman coach for 25 years.

The players come and go, but Pingatore remains a constant. Don’t expect that to change any time soon.

“I’d like to keep going, God willing, as long as my health is OK,” Pingatore said. “I mean, what else would I do?”

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