JOE SPAGNOLO NAMED PROVISO WEST HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Released:  September 18, 2005

Returning to a position that he occupied for nineteen years during the 1980’s and 1990’s, Joe Spagnolo will once again administer one of the nation’s most renowned basketball tournaments in the entire country, as he has been named as the Executive Director of the Proviso West Christmas Holiday Basketball Tournament.

Since 1981, Spagnolo has served as officials’ assignor, media services coordinator and tournament director for the annual Christmas classic, which will celebrate its 45^th year this December. 

“It is great to be back in a position that has been so much fun and so rewarding in the past” said Spagnolo.  “We will be committed to restoring the highest positive professional image of the tournament and continuing to make it the best it can be for years to come.”

Among the cutting edge innovations and highlights during the previous Spagnolo administrations include the first ever use of three man officiating crew in 1988, implementation of the first computerized courtside statistics program at the high school level in 1992, live television coverage starting in 1994, the addition of the 35-second shot clock in 1998, real-time cybercasting of game action on the world wide web in 1999 and record setting attendance figures throughout the past three decades. 

Spagnolo was also selected to the Holiday Tournament’s 40 Most Influential All-Time All-Tournament Team, in commemoration the 40^th Annual Holiday Tournament, in 2000. 

This year's tournament will start on Tuesday, December 27 and run four straight days, with the championship round scheduled for Friday, December 30.
 

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