PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC BASKETBALL
HALL OF FAME
COACHES
Pat Sullivan – 1965-1976
Pat Sullivan or “Sully,” as he is often called, began his career in coaching and education
at Providence Catholic High School. Not only was he the Head Varsity Basketball Coach, he
also served as a Guidance Counselor and Assistant Principal. He spent 7 seasons as the Head
Basketball Coach. He helped lead the Celtics to their first ever Regional Titles, ’74-’75.
In 1976 he transitioned to collegiate athletics at the University of St. Francis in Joliet,
Illinois. Coach Sullivan spent 34 years as the Head Basketball Coach. During his tenure the
Saints finished first or second place in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC)
15 times in an 18-year period, advancing to the championship game of the National Catholic
Basketball Tournament, and directing two teams to the National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament. In March 2010 Coach Sullivan retired with over 500
wins. He is also a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, the Lewis University
Hall of Fame and the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.
Frank Palmasani - 1976-1981
Frank left his mark on IHSA history by being the youngest head coach to win a state
title. In 1979, he led the Providence Celtics to their first and only Class A State
Championship. His team finished in third place in 1978. His teams also won 4 regional titles, 3
sectionals, 3 super-sectionals, and qualified for the state finals 3 times. In a four-year stretch,
the Celtics had an amazing 107-18 record, finishing the 78-79 season with 31 wins and just one
loss. He
After leaving Providence in 1981, Frank continued his career at Lewis University, where
he spent 12 years in the Admissions Office. He also coached Lewis basketball for four
years. He has worked as a guidance counselor at Hinsdale South High School for the past 16
years. Frank and his wife, Marge, reside in New Lenox. Two of Frank’s children are
Providence alumni.
Richard “Dick” Mandella - 1978—2000
As an alumni ’73, former coach, teacher and guidance counselor, parent of alumni and
proud supporter of Providence Catholic High School, Dick falls into the category of people who
bleed green. As a student, Dick was a 3-sport athlete playing football, basketball and baseball all
four years at Providence. He attended St. Xavier University in Chicago on a baseball scholarship
and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1977. Dick continued his education at Lewis University,
where he earned a master’s degree in 2001.
Dick began his teaching and coaching careers at Providence in 1978. He taught history
and coached boys’ basketball in the winter and girls softball in the spring. His coaching career at
Providence spanned 21 years. He led the Celtics to 3 regional titles, ’95, ’98-’99. He is a 3-time
recipient of the Illinois Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award in 2005, 2006 and 2010,
respectively. In 2000, Dick began working in the Lincoln-Way School District where he is still
employed as a counselor and coach.
PLAYERS
Howard Mabry ‘67
Howard Mabry was a member on the first 3 boys’ varsity teams in Celtic basketball
history (‘64-’67). He was one of the varsity’s top scorers his sophomore and junior seasons and
as a senior he led the team in scoring. On the floor he played PG. He possessed incredible speed
and court vision. This led him to lead the team in scoring and assists. On the defensive end he
regularly guarded the opposing team’s best player and would routinely shut him down. His
junior season he was voted the Most Improved Player. He would follow that up by being voted
the MVP his senior year. Howard Mabry was instrumental in putting Providence Catholic Boys’
Basketball on the map.
After high school Howard would continue his education. He would receive a B.A. in
psychology from Lewis University. Later he would receive an M.A. in Human development and
a M.S. in clinical psychology. Lastly he would work towards his Ph.D. in clinical psychology. In
1988 he would follow this up with a Postdoctoral Fellowship at The Kennedy Institute & The
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Department of
Behavioral Psychology. He currently is the executive director at the Institute for Behavioral
Change.
“I had some of the best years of my life at Providence. In fact, Providence has been the
eye in which I have seen the World. I am in Japan now. When I was in St Michel's Square in
Venice, Russia, South Pacific or any place in the world, I can think of a book, person, or place
that I first heard about when I was at Providence. Providence set the foundation for my life and
who I am now.”
James Robinson ‘79
James (Jim) Robinson was a three sport Varsity athlete at Providence Catholic. He was
the starting point guard for the 1978-79 State Champion Basketball team. He was able to run the
offense to perfection. Helping his team score points at will. Besides his offensive capabilities,
James was the team’s best defensive player. He was the general on the defensive end. Besides
basketball he also was the school’s star quarterback on the football team and was a pitcher/center
fielder for the baseball team.
Walter Downing ‘81
Walter Downing was a four year starter on the Providence Basketball team and holds the
Providence career scoring record with 2,074 points. His senior season he averaged 28 points, 9
rebounds, and 5 blocks a game. He was a great all-around player but was known as a shotblocker. He finished his high school career with an overall record of 107-18. Downing was the
first player in Illinois to win the Mr. Basketball award in 1981. He also was a McDonald's and
Parade All American, was the co-MVP of the famous Pontiac Christmas tournament in 1981, and
was twice voted all-tournament team in the state playoffs. During Downing's 4 years, his teams
either won a state championship (’78-’79) or lost to the state champion in state tournament
play. Walter was voted as one of the top 100 players in the history of Illinois High School
Basketball. He went on to play 2 seasons at Depaul University and then played 2 seasons at
Marquette University. The Los Angeles Lakers selected Downing in the sixth round of the 1986
NBA draft. He then played professional basketball in Europe with stops in
Holland, Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Monaco before returning to the United States.
TEAMS
1978-1979 State Champions
The 1978-1979 Celtics were led by 6’8’ freshman Walter Downing and defensive
standout James (Jim) Robinson. The team faced Havana HS in the state championship game.
They won 46-33 and were led by All Tournament selections Walter Downing and Barney Mines.
This was the first state title in basketball for Providence Catholic. The ’78-’79 team finished the
season 24-1.
NEW LENOX (PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC)
Player
Walter Downing
Barney Mines
Trennis Curry
Baron "Tiger" Williams
Jim Robinson
Tom Carruthers
Henry Shelton
Chuck Thomas
Tony Frye
Steve Cherveny
Paul Druhan
Ed Loughran
G
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
FG-FGA
29 54
24 47
11 26
8 12
6 15
1
2
1
2
1
3
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
FT-FTA Pts PF
12 16 70 12
7 12 55 13
8 14 30 11
3
7 19 13
1
4 13 2
2
2
4 0
0
0
2 0
0
1
2 2
1
3
1 0
0
0
0 0
0
0
0 0
0
0
0 0
R A B S
31 3 10 3
22 10
13
14 6
20 5
3
4 11
2 0
1 0
6 8
2 0
1 0
0 0
0 0
All-Tournament Team
Player & School
Walter Downing, New Lenox (Providence Cathol
Rich Fetter, Riverton
Brad Gregurich, Havana
Barney Mines, New Lenox (Providence Catholic
Ht.
6-8
6-8
5-11
6-2
Yr.
Fr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Tracey Trimpe, Havana