Mark Mangino Inducted Into Pittsburgh Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
March 24, 2009
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Kansas head football coach Mark Mangino was inducted into the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame at the group’s 23rd annual awards and scholarship banquet on Sunday, March 22.
Mangino, who grew up just outside of Pittsburgh in New Castle, Pa., was recognized by the chapter, which started in 1986. The chapter has inducted more than 100 Italian American athletes from the greater Pittsburgh region. Some of the inductees are nationally-known athletes, while others are amateurs, who made their impact on the local sporting scene.
Mangino joins a Hall of Fame list which includes Franco Harris, Joe Paterno, Terry Hanratty, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, and Joe Montana among many others.
“It is an honor for me to be inducted into the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame,” Mangino said. “I am humbled to be in the same company as some of the greatest competitors from the Pittsburgh area.”
Mangino is heading into his eighth season as the Jayhawks’ head coach. He guided Kansas to bowl games in consecutive seasons for the first back-to-back bowl games in school history.
In 2007 KU was 12-1 and claimed an Orange bowl victory, while in 2008, the Jayhawks won the Insight Bowl to cap an 8-5 season. Mangino was the consensus national coach of the year in 2007.
He began his coaching career at New Castle (Pa.) High School, serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater from 1981-84.
Mangino and Al Amelio were the two 2009 Hall of Fame inductees. The chapter also recognized 10 other specialty awards, including a sportsman of the year, high school coach of the year and athlete of the year.
The group also provides scholarships to exceptional Italian American students in financial need.
The banquet took place at the Westin Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
