Men's Basketball Coaching Staff

John Pigatti — Head Coach

Coach Pigatti's is in his fourth season at the helm of the Bulldogs men's basketball team. His first three years were ones for the record books. His teams compiled an overall record of 87-21. Last season the team finished 30-6 and won the Region IV-A Championship. For the past 2 seasons they have had 30+ wins, which is the first time that has been done in school’s history. The Bulldogs won three straight Region IV-A titles for the first time ever as a Division II Junior College and qualified for the National Tournament. In 2008 they finished 5th in the nation and in 2009 & 2007 they finished 7th. The 2007-08 team finished 31-5 which was the best record in school history as a Division II Junior College.

Pigatti’s teams have also set another record as they currently have a 33-game home winning streak and have gone undefeated on their home court for the past 2 seasons. In his first three seasons as the head coach at South Suburban College, Pigatti was named 2009,2008, and 2007 Coach-of-the Year in Region IV-A, District 3, and by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.

More importantly, every one of Pigatti's sophomores who he recruited in his first three years, have signed scholarships to play at a 4-year college or university. He has had 2 First Team All-Americans: Kris Harris and Nick Carey. He also has had the last 3 MVP’s of the Regional IV-A Tournament: Kris Harris, Larry Swann, and Bradley Birton.

Coach Pigatti came to SSC from St. Francis University in Loretto, PA where he was the head assistant men's basketball coach and recruiting coordinator. At St. Francis, Pigatti was an integral part of signing the number one recruiting class in the Northeast Conference. Also, the 2004-05 season record was the school's best in 8 years.

Pigatti helped lead Kent State to a 22-9 final record in 2003-04, a Mid-American Conference (MAC) Eastern Division championship and a berth in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).

Prior to his one-year stint at Kent State, Pigatti served as an assistant coach at Elmhurst College-IL (1987-89), Creighton University (1989-91), Texas A&M University (1991-92), Western Michigan University (1992-94), Saint Joseph's College-IN (1994-95), the University of Akron (1995-01), and Chicago State University (2002-03).

During Pigatti's tenure as an assistant at Akron, the Zips captured the most MAC wins for any team in the league from 1997-01, including a MAC Eastern Division title in 1998. He helped recruit two Mr. Basketball award winners, including Jimmal Ball, who was voted one of the top 15 freshman players in the country by USA today and ESPN. At Creighton University, he helped lead the Blue jays to back to back 20 win seasons. Creighton also won the MVC title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tourney. He is also the head coach of the Five Star Basketball Camp, where he instructed several top 100 high school players in the country.

On January 12, 2010, Coach John Pigatti earned his 100th win in just his fourth season as a head Men’s Basketball coach at the college level.

A 1985 graduate of the University of Dayton with a bachelor's degree in business administration, Pigatti earned a masters degree of business administration from Creighton in 1993. He served as President of the National Assistant Basketball Coaches Committee for six years (1996-01). Pigatti and his wife, Kimberly, have a daughter Ashley Jo, and a son, Andrew John.

 

Mark Carpenter — Assistant Coach

Coach Carpenter is in his 9th season as an assistant coach at South Suburban College, and his 4th under Coach Pigatti. Mark is a former Bulldog player who led the 1986 team to a 31-4 record, while during that year setting a school record for consecutive victories at 21. That team also finished 3rd at the National Tournament. “Carp” was named as the team’s MVP and also collected 1st Team All Conference, and 2nd Team All-Region honors that year. Mark also set the school’s all-time season assists record at 432, which was good for a 12.3 assist per game average.

“Carp” continued his collegiate playing career at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. During his junior season at UAA, the team participated in the NCAA Division II National Tournament, and got all the way to the championship game before losing, At UAA “Carp” tied the record for most games played in one season at 34.

Mark has been married 13 years to Jacqueline, and has for children: Myah, Ashanti, Jiovane, and Marquise.

 

Leon Van Hook II — Assistant Coach

Leon is in his first full season as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs. Last season he joined the staff mid-way through the season when a spot opened on the Coach Pigatti’s staff. Leon started his collegiate career as a player at NCAA Division I; Drake University. After his playing days were over at Drake he played semi-professionally for the Chicago Stars. In 1988 he was employed by American Airlines and led the company’s team to its first ever Corporate Championship. He then led the National Select Team to their first ever International Championship in Panama City.

Leon started his coaching career as the founder of the Uptown Youth Organization, and then became as assistant coach at Marian Catholic High School. At Marian Catholic he helped guide them to their best three year record in school history.

Leon is married to his wife Joyce, and they have 3 children: Leon (who is a current player at South Suburban College), Tiffiny, and Janae.

 

Omar Vasquez — Assistant Coach

Omar was the Head Boys Basketball Coach at William A. Wirt H.S. Indiana from 1990-2009. At Wirt he won over 215 games, had 50+ players go on to play at the college level, including 10 DI players and 3 top 50 JC All American Honorees. He led Wirt High school to Several Upsets of top ranked teams including the #1 Team in the State and #9 team in the country Warsaw H.S. in 1993. Coach Vasquez also led his teams to the Final 8 in 2007 3A tournament, four sectional finals, Several Northwestern Conference titles and a NWC Holiday Title. He holds the school record for most wins at Wirt High School. He also was named the Northwest Indiana All-Star game head coach in 1996. From 2006-2009 he was a member of the Indiana Junior Basketball Showcase coaching staff, which featured the state’s best underclassmen.

His coaching career started as the Student Assistant at the University of Dayton (NCAA), under legendary Don Donoher. Dayton lost in first round of 1984 NCAA tournament to eventual NCAA National Champion Villanova, in which was considered the most difficult game Villanova played during the Tournament.

After college he went to San Jose High School Varsity and J.V. Coach. There is teams won two Commonwealth State Titles in 1983 & 1984. His most renowned player was Center Ramon Ramos who eventually led Seton Hall to the NCAA title game in 1989.

Coach Vasquez has also worked at several scouting services camps such as Five Star, Metro Index and Blue Chip.

Coach Vazquez is married to Laura Medina, a former Puerto Rican beauty queen. They have three children; Marie (25) an IPFW speech therapist student, Andrew (19) an Army veteran deployed in Iraq and Laurie (13).

He presently works as a Health/P.E. teacher with the Gary Community School Corporation and is a University of Dayton graduate (1985).