Pete Gillen
Saturday August 21, 2010
Show 024
Coach Pete Gillen is on the phone in this week's installment of The Passing Game with Fletcher Arritt. Coach Gillen has had success at all levels of coaching and is currently an analyst for CBS College Sports Television and Westwood One Radio. Gillen, who is the winningest coach in Xavier University history, comes to the show fresh off a coaching trip to China where he was invited to work with the Chinese University Basketball Association.
A member of the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, Coach Gillen began his coaching career at his alma mater Brooklyn Prep (also the alma mater of coaching great Joe Paterno). In 1975 Gillen joined Bruce O'Neil's staff at the University of Hawaii, where he stayed for one year (alongside assistant coach Rick Pitino). Gillen spent a decade as an assistant (VMI, Villanova--with Rollie Massimino, and Notre Dame--with Digger Phelps) before landing his first collegiate head coaching position at Xavier University in 1985.
Coach Gillen compiled a record of 202-75 in 9 seasons at Xavier. His Musketeers made 7 NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in 1990. He succeeded Rick Barnes at Providence in 1994 and took the Friars to 2 NIT's and made an Elite Eight run in the 1997 NCAA Tournament (upsetting Duke, Marquette, and Chattanooga before losing to eventual champion Arizona). Gillen replaced Jeff Jones at The University of Virginia in 1998. He led he Cavaliers to the 2001 NCAA Tournament, 4 NIT's, and compiled 118 wins in seven seasons.
Coach Gillen won a gold medal with Team USA at the 1994 FIBA World Championships as an assistant on Coach Don Nelson's staff. He is a member of The Xavier University Sports Hall of Fame, The Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame, The 5-Star Basketball Hall of Fame, and The Jim Valvano Nike Basketball Hall of Fame.
One of the great personalities in today's game, Coach Gillen shares his thoughts on the developing game in China, the state of Conference USA, and developing a competitive atmosphereamongst today's youth.
Note to Listeners: Coach Arritt discusses defensive philosophies for youth basketball during the third segment. Special thanks goes out to Scott in California for writing in with a great topic for discussion.
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