Coach Gene Nolan Floor Project
We’re excited to announce a special project honoring Gene Nolan, a 1992 graduate and Marist’s all-time winningest basketball coach. This summer, we will unveil a newly renovated basketball court named in his honor.
Gene’s impact on the Marist community is immeasurable. As a student, he rewrote much of the basketball history while excelling academically as a National Honor Society member and Faculty Award recipient. After a record-breaking career at Washington University in St. Louis, he returned to Marist to teach and coach. During the school’s transition to co-ed in the early 2000s, Gene became a key figure in the community, working closely with the admissions office to help guide Marist’s new direction. As head coach for 18 years, he elevated Marist basketball to a Tradition of Excellence, guiding the team to ten 20-win seasons and six regional championships. His leadership fostered a culture of honor, respect, and integrity, leaving a lasting legacy at Marist and throughout the Chicagoland area.

The gym floor at Marist, installed in 1963, is the original surface. While we’ve made repairs over the years, experts now recommend a full replacement. This project will replace the floor and serve as a lasting tribute to Gene and Dan Garvey, who is also being honored in a separate campaign.
We need your help to fund this project. The total cost of the replacement is $600,000, and we are challenged to raise $200,000 specifically for the court naming in honor of Coach Gene Nolan. Your support, whether modest or generous, will make a lasting impact and will be acknowledged when the new court is unveiled.
The Marist mission is strong, with a continued focus on academic excellence and athletics. We are grateful for the guidance of mentors like Dan Garvey and Gene Nolan, and we thank you for your consideration and support. Future generations of Marist students will greatly benefit from your generosity.