(From our friends at McDonald’s All American)
CHICAGO, Ill. (Jan. 27, 2011) – Four prep coaches from Chicagoland, New York and New Jersey were selected today to lead the top high school talent in the country during the 2011 McDonald’s All American® Games on Wednesday, March 30 at the famed United Center in Chicago, Ill.
Dorothy Gaters of Marshall High School in Chicago will lead the Girls West team while Mary Klinger of Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, N.J. will coach the Girls East team. Gene Pingatore of St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Ill. will lead the Boys West and Bob Cimmino Jr. of Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, N.Y. will serve as head coach of the Boys East team.
“The four coaches we selected to lead the 2011 McDonald’s All American Games combine for more than 2,500 wins and 120 years of head-coaching experience,” said Douglas Freeland, McDonald’s Director of Marketing and program manager for the McDonald’s All American Games. “We’re extremely proud that some of the greatest coaching legends in high school basketball history will be calling the shots at our Games in Chicago.”
The 10th annual Girls Game will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on ESPNU. The 34th Boys Game will follow the Girls Game at 9:00 p.m. CT and will air live on ESPN. Tickets to the Games can be purchased via Ticketmaster, charge-by-phone at 1-866-909-GAME and at the United Center box office. Free United Center parking included with all ticket purchases. Proceeds from the 2011 McDonald’s All American Games will benefit families and children in need through Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI). Funds raised will go directly to the construction of the world’s largest Ronald McDonald House, which will be located in downtown Chicago.
2011 McDonald’s All American Head Coach Bios
Dorothy Gaters (Girls West) has led Marshall High School to eight State Championships and holds the all-time Illinois coaching record of 924 career victories. She has produced five WNBA players during her 35-year tenure. Gaters, an eight-time Illinois Basketball Coaches Association “Coach of the Year,” is a member of five Hall of Fames including the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WCBA) in Nashville, Tenn. In 2009, Gaters was awarded the Morgan Wootten Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching High School Basketball. Joining Gaters on the sideline will be her current assistant Gwen Howard, as well as former Marshall boys head coach Courtney Hargrays.
Mary Klinger (Girls East) has accumulated 409 wins during her 27-year career as head basketball coach for the Rutgers Prep Argonauts. Under her direction, the team has won eight NJISSA Prep B State Championships along with two Somerset County Championships. Klinger is enshrined in New Jersey’s Sports Writers Hall of Fame as well as the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for her role as a player on the 1982 AIAW National Championship team. Klinger will use the services Girls East assistant coaches Anthony Pappas (Waterloo West High School, Iowa) and Teri Morrison (Southlake Carroll, Texas).
Gene Pingatore (Boys West) is one of Illinois’ winningest head coaches of all-time. He has 862 victories during a 41-year tenure at St. Joseph High School. The 2010 National High School Athletic Coaches Association Boys Basketball Coach of the Year, Pingatore has advanced to the state semi-finals on four separate occasions, bringing home a state title during the 1999 season. Pingatore has helped produce countless college and professional players including former McDonald’s All Americans Isiah Thomas in 1979, Daryl Thomas in 1983 and Deryl Cunningham 1989. Daryl Thomas, currently an assistant at St. Joseph’s, will join Pingatore on the sidelines for the 2011 Games along with fellow St. Joseph assistant Bill Riley.
Bob Cimmino Jr. (Boys East) holds a record of 341-64 in his 17-year career as head coach of Mount Vernon High School. The four-time New York State Coach of the Year has led his team to four New York State Public High Schools Athletic Championships (2000, 2004, 2006 and 2007) and 11 sectional titles, including five straight. Cimmino has helped produce 90 college basketball players including a first round draft pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. Cimmino will be joined on the sideline by his current assistant and former player, Brian Pritchett
About McDonald’s
McDonald’s USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome food made from quality ingredients to more than 26 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local business men and women. Customers can now log online for free Wi-Fi at any of the 11,000 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter (@McDonalds) and Facebook (Facebook.com/McDonalds) for updates on our business, promotions and products.
About RMHC
Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Through its global network of local Chapters in 52 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children’s programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-supported programs provide a bridge to quality health care and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, visit http://rmhc.org or follow us on Twitter (@RMHC) and Facebook (Facebook.com/RMHCGlobal).
