John Calipari
Basketball
In the “one-and-done” era of college basketball, John Calipari has mastered the art of transforming top-tier recruits into cohesive team players, while also developing them into NBA lottery picks. When he took the helm at the University of Kentucky in 2009, Calipari quickly solidified his status as one of the best recruiters in the country. His arrival marked the beginning of a new era for the Wildcats, as he rapidly assembled top-ranked recruiting classes and led Kentucky to multiple conference titles. Over his first six seasons in Lexington, Calipari guided the Wildcats to four Final Four appearances, including a national championship in 2012, securing Kentucky’s eighth NCAA title.
A former point guard with a deep love for the game, Calipari’s coaching journey began under the tutelage of legendary mentor Larry Brown at Kansas. He eventually took the reins at the University of Massachusetts, where his first head coaching job brought unprecedented success, making the Minutemen a national contender. After a brief stint in the NBA, Calipari returned to college basketball at Memphis, where his innovative dribble-drive offense and player-centric approach helped resurrect the Tigers’ program and elevate it to national prominence. Through his ability to develop talent, build strong teams, and navigate the challenges of modern college basketball, John Calipari has become one of the sport’s most influential and successful coaches.
Jim Covert
Football
Jim Covert had a stellar college career at the University of Pittsburgh. As the team’s left tackle, he was named All-American twice and did not allow a sack in his senior season. Selected in the first round by the Chicago Bears in 1983, Covert made an immediate impact. With Covert blocking and Walter Payton running, the Bears led the league in rushing four consecutive years (83-86). The team won six division championships, played in three conference championship games, and Won Super Bowl XX after the 1985 season.
Arguably the greatest left tackle ever to play the game, Covert was a four-time All-Pro (84-87), and was selected as the 1985 NFLPA Offensive Lineman of the Year and the 1986 Miller Lite Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was elected to the All-NFL team of the 1980s by the Pro Football Hall of Fame board of selectors.
Bobby Czyz
Boxing
A three-time World Champion, Bobby Czyz first gained notoriety in the ring as an 18-year old in 1980.
Robert Edward “Bobby” Czyz is a New Jersey native of Polish and Italian descent, he is both a former world light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion.
Still an amateur, Czyz was selected to box for the United States in the Olympics, but missed a shot at the gold when the U.S. boycotted the Moscow Summer Games. He turned down several college scholarships that year to follow his boxing dream, and his drive immediately paid off. His pro career began with 20 consecutive victories, 15 by knockout. In 1986, Czyz stopped Slobodan Kacar in the 5th round to win the Light Heavyweight Title. For the next six years, Czyz competed against the very best fighters in the world, including Virgil Hill, Robert Daniels, and Don LaLonde. He retired in 1998 with an impressive record of 44-8.
Czyz has used his quick wit, charm, and wealth of boxing expertise to become one of the most respected analysts in the sport. He currently provides commentary for a number of boxing programs.
He was inducted into the Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Joe DeNucci
Boxing
Angelo Giuseppe DeNucci was born on October 30, 1939, in Newton, Massachusetts. He made his professional boxing debut at the age of 17 and quickly gained attention by winning his first 16 bouts, 11 of which were by knockout. Many of his early opponents were considered subpar, and some were faced multiple times—such as Jackson Brown, whom DeNucci fought in his 6th, 10th, and 11th professional bouts. His impressive early streak earned him the distinction of being named “Ring Magazine Middleweight Prospect of the Month” in March. However, his rise was interrupted in his 17th fight, when he faced veteran Chico Vejar (with a record of 81-16-2 at the time). DeNucci was stopped in the 6th round and lost by unanimous decision on all three scorecards.
Following that setback, DeNucci primarily fought lower-ranked opponents. When given the opportunity to compete against more established fighters, he typically lost by decision, though he was only knocked out once—by Florentino Fernandez, who delivered a brutal left hook that left DeNucci in a semi-conscious state, supported by his knees and elbows.
Despite these challenges, DeNucci went on to compile a respectable career record of 54 wins, 12 losses, and 4 draws. His career included two notable encounters with boxing legend Emile Griffith, both of which ended in split decisions, with Griffith emerging victorious. The second of these fights is particularly memorable due to the striking disparity in the scoring: one judge gave every round to Griffith, the referee scored the bout in his favor, while a third judge, who had never officiated a match before or since, scored the fight for DeNucci by a single point.
DeNucci’s final bout was a stoppage loss to Jean Claude Bouttier, who passed away in August 2024. Following this defeat, DeNucci retired from professional boxing in March 1973 at the age of 33.
After retiring from the sport, DeNucci transitioned into public service, serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for a decade, during which he chaired the Human Services Committee. From 1987 to 2011, he held the position of Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, becoming the longest-serving auditor in the state’s history.
Margaret Gisolo
Baseball
Margaret Gisolo, born on October 21, 1914, in Blanford, Indiana, was an accomplished athlete whose early love for baseball broke gender barriers in the 1920s. Growing up as the youngest of six children in a family of Italian immigrants, she learned the game by playing with her brothers on a sandlot near her father’s grocery store.
At just 13 years old in 1928, Gisolo earned a spot on the Blanford Cubs, an American Legion junior baseball team. She played various infield positions, excelled as a base stealer, pitcher, and batter. Her talent caught the attention of national sportswriters after a rival team challenged her eligibility. The controversy surrounding her participation led to a consultation with MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, and the American Legion ultimately allowed her to stay on the team. Gisolo helped the Cubs win the Indiana state championship and advance to regional play in Chicago.
However, in 1929, the American Legion reversed its decision, officially banning female players from junior baseball. Despite this setback, Gisolo continued to play baseball throughout the early 1930s with women’s barnstorming teams, including Maud Nelson’s All Star Ranger Girls. She used her earnings to put herself through college, graduating in 1935 from Indiana State Teacher’s College with a degree in physical education.
Gisolo’s career expanded beyond sports when she became a Girl Scouts director, and later served in the Navy WAVES during World War II. After the war, she pursued dance, teaching at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and later at Arizona State University, where she helped establish a nationally recognized Department of Dance. In 1979, she received the Arizona State University Distinguished Teacher Award.
In retirement, Gisolo took up tennis, competing on the national senior circuit until 2000, achieving top rankings in both singles and doubles. She passed away in 2009 at the age of 94, leaving behind a lasting legacy as the “girl Babe Ruth” who inspired countless women to pursue their athletic dreams.
Dan Marino
Football
In his 17 years quarterbacking the Miami Dolphins, Dan Marino managed to shatter virtually every passing record in NFL history. Born in Pittsburgh in 1961, Marino was a star high school football and baseball player, but decided to attend the University of Pittsburgh on a football scholarship. Marino was an All-American Quarterback with the Panthers and was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 27th pick in the 1983 draft. That year he became the first rookie QB to start in the Bro Bowl. In the 1984 season, Marino led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl while setting an NFL record for most touchdown passes in a season (48). During the next 15 years Marino re-wrote the NFL record books, setting marks for most career TD passes (420), passing yards (61,361), pass attempts (8, 358), and pass completions (4,967).
Marino currently works as an NFL analyst for both HBO and CBS. The Dan Marino Foundation, a charity that serves children in the South Florida area, continues to thrive under his guidance.
Dan Marino was inducted to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Vincent Naimoli
UT Athletics, UT Board Chair
Vince Naimoli, a devoted leader, philanthropist, and lifelong supporter of the University of Tampa (UT), passed away on Sunday night. His nearly 40-year relationship with the University played a pivotal role in its transformation from a small regional institution to a globally recognized educational powerhouse. As Chairman Emeritus of the UT Board of Trustees, Naimoli’s contributions spanned across academics, athletics, and institutional development, making a lasting impact on generations of students.
Naimoli’s generosity is evident in the numerous facilities at UT that bear his name, including the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex, the Naimoli and Young Family Tennis Complex, and the Naimoli Family Softball Complex. His commitment to education led him to establish the Naimoli Institute for Business Strategy in 1999, which has benefited over 17,000 students and 750 local businesses through its innovative Strategic Analysis Program. Naimoli’s leadership extended to serving five terms on the UT Board of Trustees, including as chair from 1997 to 1999, and he was named an emeritus chair member in 2007 for his outstanding service.
Beyond his significant role in shaping UT’s growth, Naimoli was also deeply committed to student-athletes, endowing multiple scholarships and earning recognition in 2012 with his induction into the UT Athletics Hall of Fame. His accolades included receiving the Sam Bailey Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, the Champion of Higher Independent Education in Florida Award in 2005, and the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sports Club of Tampa Bay in 2018.
Vince Naimoli’s visionary leadership and steadfast dedication to UT, alongside the support of his wife Lenda, will forever be remembered. His legacy continues to inspire and serve as a model of excellence in higher education and community engagement.
Frank Viola
Baseball
Frank Viola became the first Italian American pitcher to win the coveted Cy Young Award in 1988. Known for his nearly unhittable changeup, Viola went 24-7 that year with an ERA of 2.64. In 1987 he led the Minnesota Twins to their first-ever World Series Championship. Viola earned World Series MVP honors that year, and clinched the title with a dramatic 4-2 victory in game 7 over the St. Louis Cardinals while pitching on 3 days rest. During the years 1984-88, Viola’s 93 victories were more than any other Major League pitcher.
Born April 19, 1960 in Hempstead, NY, Viola made his major league debut for the Twins on June 6, 1982. He later pitched for the Mets, Red Sox, Reds and Blue Jays, compiling a career record of 176-150 with a 3.73 ERA.
Jim Valvano
Basketball
Jim Valvano will forever be remembered for perhaps the most famous college basketball game ever, NC State’s dramatic 54-52 victory over heavily favored Houston in the 1983 NCAA title game. Valvano was diagnosed with terminal cancer in June of 1992. He remained full of life for the next 10 months, delivering a famous speech while accepting the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at ESPN’s ESPY awards show.
He also founded the Jimmy V Foundation to raise money for cancer research. The foundation raises five million dollars annually and the Jimmy V classic is now one of college basketball’s most successful tournaments. In his short but brilliant life, he managed to win an NCAA Championship, inspire and motivate every player he coached, raise awareness and raise funds for a terrible disease.
John Beradino
Baseball
John Berardino was a talented athlete and actor, whose life spanned notable achievements in both baseball and television. Born in Los Angeles on May 1, 1917, Berardino’s early life included appearances in silent films and minor roles before he focused on baseball. A standout athlete at the University of Southern California, he was signed by the St. Louis Browns and quickly rose through the ranks of minor league baseball. In 1939, he made his Major League Baseball debut with the Browns, where he earned a reputation as a reliable infielder, leading the league in double plays and showing off his power and speed.
Berardino’s playing career spanned several teams, including the St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He played both infield and outfield positions, with notable highlights such as a 21-game hitting streak in 1946 and a game-winning homer in the 1944 season. His career was interrupted by World War II, where he served in the Navy and later the Air Corps, but he returned to baseball after the war and played several more seasons. Over his MLB career, Berardino posted a .249 batting average with 36 home runs, 167 doubles, and 387 RBIs. His versatility on the field made him valuable to his teams, even though he often played as a backup or utility player.
After retiring from baseball in 1952, Berardino fully transitioned into acting, where he would become best known for his role as Dr. Steve Hardy on the iconic soap opera General Hospital, a role he played for 33 years. His work in television began with various guest roles in series such as Superman, The Lone Ranger, and I Led Three Lives. However, it was General Hospital that solidified his place in TV history, where he not only became a beloved character but also helped advocate for the Daytime Emmy Awards, leading to their establishment in 1974. Berardino’s acting career spanned over 100 TV roles and more than 25 films, including appearances in North by Northwest and Marty.
In recognition of his contributions to television, Berardino received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993, cementing his legacy as both an athlete and an actor. Though his baseball career was marked by solid performance and perseverance, it was his decades-long portrayal of Dr. Steve Hardy that made him a household name. Berardino passed away in 2003, leaving behind a legacy in both the sporting world and the entertainment industry.
