Aug. 15, 2001
Steve Pinone, a Villanova campus fixture since his arrival on the Main Line in 1984, has joined the Block V Club, Villanova's athletic fundraising arm. Pinone, 36, was named Block V Coordinator of Special Events by director of athletics Vince Nicastro in July.
"We are pleased that Steve has elected to join our athletics staff," said Nicastro. "He has served the Villanova community loyally as a member of the basketball staff for more than a decade and I have always sensed that he has a very special place for Villanova in his heart. In his new role he will continue to help us generate support for the 550-plus student athletes we serve."
A member of the 1985 NCAA championship squad, Pinone began his coaching career following his graduation from Villanova in 1987 with a degree in economics. While earning his Masters degree in secondary education from VU, Pinone worked as a volunteer assistant coach for Rollie Massimino. Following a nine-month stint as an assistant coach at Manhattan during the 1991-92 campaign, Pinone returned to his alma mater in April of 1992.
Over the course of the next eight seasons Pinone was part of a staff that produced the 1994 National Invitation Tournament and 1995 Big East championships. In May of 2000, the native of Weathersfield, Conn., was promoted to Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach.
"As a former Villanova athlete who has been a part of this since he first started coming to games to watch his brother John play in the 1970s, Steve is instantly recognizable to the Villanova community," said director of the Block V Whitey Rigsby. "He has already made an impact in his short time on board."
Pinone joins Rigsby and assistant director Ryan McDonough (Villanova Class of 1997) on the staff at Block V. The Block V Club was formed in 2000 with a mission to provide Villanova student-athletes with support. More than $2.0 million has been raised in Block V's short existence.
"We now have a staff of three former Villanova student-athletes from three different decades," notes Rigsby. "This gives us a diversity that benefits us as we look forward to making new friendships and renewing old ones with members of the Villanova community."
