Zinanni joins an elite group — sports staff charts coach’s career

On Friday, Bishop McNamara coach Rich Zinanni became the fifth Illinois coach to win 300 games when his Fightin’ Irish beat Leo, 21-18. We asked former sports editors of The Daily Journal, who covered the coach, to tell us what they remembered about this larger-than-life teacher.

Caleb Benoit:

I walked the Bishop McNamara sideline during a home game a few years ago, maybe against De La Salle. Zinanni was happy to delegate much of the hands-on coaching to his assistants — until it was crunch time. Bishop McNamara was driving with the ball and needed points, so Zinanni took over the play-calling responsibilities. That’s not to say he wasn’t coaching before or that he didn’t trust his staff, but maybe he just cared too much to put it in someone else’s hands. You don’t get to 300 wins without caring.

I chronicled an entire week of practice prior to Bishop McNamara’s Class 3A IHSA championship game against Rockridge in 1987, which capped off a run of three-straight state titles.

What impressed me most during that week was the relaxed atmosphere at practice and how Rich Zinanni interacted with his players and coaches. And it wasn’t just the star players. Rich joked with a young man who was arguably the last player on the bench. He made everyone feel a part of the team.

It was obvious that Rich had a special bond with his players.

Rich was not a micromanager. It was obvious he trusted his assistants and let them handle their duties. And, as the practices came closer to game day, it was clear that they had put in their homework when it came to scouting their opponent.

It all culminated with a 45-14 victory in the championship game.

Winning matters to Rich Zinanni.

But the true measure of a man can often be found in how he deals with disappointment, and how Zinanni responded when the 1992 and ’93 seasons came to abrupt endings is among the things I most admire about him.

McNamara reached the semifinals of the ‘92 Class 4A playoffs, and only a win in a home game against Oswego stood between the Fightin’ Irish and another state championship game berth.

While the Irish coaches and players took nothing for granted, their loyal fans seemed to assume a win was inevitable. But Oswego beat Mac 21-13.

As the team crowded into the small dressing room underneath the Memorial Field stands following the game, one of the players, Pat Sandusky, held the door open so I could squeeze in. It gave me a chance to hear Zinanni’s postgame speech. Instead of lamenting the fate of the Irish, he encouraged and praised the group for its season-long efforts.

One year later, McNamara traveled to meet an old nemesis, Morris, in the quarterfinals of the 4A tournament. A field goal on the last play of the game dealt Mac a bitter 31-28 defeat.

Zinanni stood in the middle of the field after the game, again encouraging his devastated troops. After the huddle broke up, we walked off the field together. Zinanni was to scheduled for joint replacement surgery soon and he took my arm for balance. You could see the anguish in his eyes as we walked toward the bus. But he answered my questions in a calm, professional manner, never showing his frustration outright.

Zinanni lives the words in the song by Steven Tyler of the rock band Aerosmith, “You got to lose to know how to win.’’

When you cover a Bishop McNamara game, you come to expect a few things.

There are a ton of people on the sidelines, and after the game when you talk to coach Zinanni, you have to expect a few interruptions. Former players, parents of former players, current players, family members, everyone wants to talk to Rich.

Great coaches come and go, but this one has stayed a long time, and the Fightin’ Irish are the better for that.