What's New

Congratulations to the newest members of the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame. Bill Gleeson, Pete Mackanin '69 and Pat Richardson were inducted at a ceremony on May 1, 2008.

Bill Gleeson, Athlete, Coach and Athletic Director, Brother Rice and St. laurence High Schools.

Bill is a 1976 graduate of St. Laurence High School where he participated in basketball for four years, track for three years, football for two years and cross country for one year. During his career at St. Laurence, he was the Catholic League Track Champion in the 400 meters and a member of the Catholic League Champion Mile Relay Team. In 1975 and 1976 he played on the Catholic League and Regional Championship basketball teams, Bill earned All-Catholic League honors in football in 1975 and was a track and field state finalist in 1976. He continued his career at Illinois Benedictine where he played football for four years, ran track for three years, played basketball for two years and played baseball for one year. While at Illinois Benedictine, the track team captured the NAIA District Championship twice and competed in the NAIA National Track and Field meet. For the past 23 years, Bill has been a teacher, coach and administrator at Brother Rice High School. Prior to his teaching and coaching career at Brother Rice, he spent one year at De La Salle Institute and one year at Leo High School where he was head track and field coach and assistant football coach. He earned his Masters degree in Educational Administration in 1988 from the University of Illinois. While completing his graduate degree, he served as an assistant football coach under Mike White. During his tenure as head track and field and football coach at Brother Rice, his 1993 track and field team captured the Catholic League Championship, his 1994 football team won the Prep Bowl Championship and his 1995 football team captured the Catholic League Championship. Bill was awarded the Lawless Award three times, twice as a head coach in track and field and once as head football coach. He has served the IHSA as a state championship official in track and field for the past 15 years. Bill is a member of the St. Laurence and Brother Rice Halls of Fame. He has served as the Vice President of the Chicago Catholic League Coaches Association since 1998. Bill and his wife Mary Joan, have two children - Tommy, 6, and Jillian, 4.

Pete Mackanin, Athlete, Brother Rice High School

Peter Mackanin, Jr. was born on August 1, 1951 in Chicago and is a former player, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball. In 1969, after an outstanding high school career as a shortstop for Brother Rice High School, the Washington Senators selected Pete in the fourth round of the Major League draft. He made his Major League debut in 1973 after the `Nats relocated to Texas and became the Rangers. In 548 big league games over a nine-year playing career, Pete played for the Montreal Expos, Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins. After retiring as a player, he spent many summers successfully managing in the Minors, eight of which were in Triple A. Pete's five years with the Cubs organization included one year as Minor League coordinator. He spent winters honing his managerial skills in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico. He skippered his team from Zulia, Venezuela to the Caribbean World Series Championship in 1989. He became the Montreal Expos' third base coach for Felipe Alou in 1997 and spent four years there. His next stint began when the Pirates tapped him to be their bench coach for the 2003 season. After Lloyd McClendon was fired, Mackanin served as the Pirates' interim manager to close out the 2005 season, leading the team to a 12-14 record. In 2007, as interim manager for the second half of the season, Pete led the Cincinnati Reds to a .510 record. After Reds ownership decided to go with a slightly better known name for the new manager, Pete turned to the Yankees and currently serves as their Major League scout. Pete and his wife, Nancy, reside in Bradenton, Florida. Their son Shane had a successful college baseball career and currently manages a resort hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Pat Richardson, Coach, Brother Rice High School

Pat is a 1982 graduate of Illinois Benedictine College and a lifelong resident of the southwest side of Chicago. He has just completed his 19th season as head basketball coach at Brother Rice High School. During that time his teams have won 357 games and 35 championships including eight Catholic League, 11 IHSA Regional, four IHSA Sectional and one IHSA Supersectional Championships. Pat's teams have had 11 20-win seasons. He has coached 37 All-Catholic League players, nine All-State players and ten Division I college players. He has been named Catholic League Coach of the Year four times and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association District Coach of the Year seven times, Pat was inducted into the Brother Rice High School Hall of Fame in 2003. He is the fifth and youngest son of Rooney and Lavergne Richardson. His bothers Jim, Tim, Tom and Don are here tonight along with many other family members.

Raymond Schul & Lee Granitz Testimonial
Brother Rice High School – Rice Relays
April 18, 2008

During the 1970’s, the Brother Rice Track & Field teams dominated the Chicago Catholic League. Brother Rice produced numerous individual Catholic League Champions and several State Champions.

Most notably from 1976 thru 1978, Brother Rice Varsity and Junior Varsity Track & Field teams simultaneously amassed consecutive Catholic League Championships, a feat which has not since been duplicated.

In 1977, Jim Solus led the Crusaders to their 2nd consecutive Varsity Catholic League Championship, and became Brother Rice’s first individual Track & Field State Champion, by winning the Long Jump competition. Solus’ school-record leap of 23’-9” still stands.

In 1978, the Varsity Track & Field team was undefeated in conference competition; won the Rice Relays; won its 3rd consecutive Catholic League Championship; and was third at the IHSA District qualifying meet. Six individuals – “The Rice Six Pack” – qualified for the 1978 State Track & Field Championships, and each of these State qualifiers was a school – record setter.

The 1978 season concluded with a State Championship victory by the record setting 440 yd. Relay team, and the IHSA Class AA State Championship runner-up trophy.

These Crusader athletes were led by two remarkable coaches, Raymond Schul and Lee Granitz. And today we honor these men, their athletes, and their collective achievements.

At this time we would like to formally recognize Raymond Schul and Lee Granitz for all their accomplishments by dedicating the “Schul & Granitz Homestretch.”

--J.J. Duffy ‘78