Mauro Panaggio (January 19, 1928 – April 11, 2018) spent more than six decades shaping
players, programs, and communities — from Rochester high schools to SUNY Brockport and
the professional ranks — retiring as the winningest coach in CBA history.
A Life Built on Basketball, Family, and Community
Mauro dedicated his life to shaping people through basketball — not only molding championship
teams but instilling values that built leaders on and off the court. Over more than four decades
of coaching, he transformed programs, mentored generations, and left one of the most respected
legacies in American basketball. Born in Rochester, NY, he starred at SUNY Brockport, captained
the team, and led them in scoring — a foundation of precision, passion, discipline, and heart.
Building Winners from the Ground Up
At the high-school level, his teams became known for relentless defense, selflessness, and an
unshakable will to win. In just over a decade he compiled an extraordinary 240–42 record.
He returned to his alma mater, leading the Golden Eagles through one of the most dominant eras in program
history: 4× SUNYAC titles, 2× NCAA East Region championships, and
2× Final Four appearances. He finished 148–76 at Brockport and entered
the Brockport Hall of Fame (1985).
His sons Mike and Dan both excelled at Brockport and entered the Hall of Fame. Dan later built a
40+ year coaching career across the CBA and NBA as an assistant and international head coach.
Under Mauro, Brockport became more than wins — it became a legacy.
A Continental Basketball Association Legend
With the Rochester Zeniths and other franchises (Rockford Lightning, Quad City Thunder,
Bay State Bombardiers, San Diego Wildcards), Mauro won multiple CBA championships, became
the league’s all-time wins leader, and was a 3× CBA Coach of the Year.
He was named to the CBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Family, Rivalry, and Legacy
One remarkable chapter: Mauro and his son Dan faced each other as opposing head coaches — the first father-son
coaching duel in professional basketball. It captured the values he lived: mentorship, family, and integrity.
“A builder of champions — and, more importantly, a builder of character.”
A Legacy That Lives On
Mauro passed away in 2018 at age 90, but his impact still echoes through the programs he built, the players
he mentored, and the communities he uplifted — from high-school gyms in Rochester to packed CBA arenas.
Honors & Recognition
- Winningest coach in CBA history
- 2× CBA Champion (Rochester Zeniths, etc.)
- 3× CBA Coach of the Year (1979, 1986, 1993)
- SUNY Brockport Athletics Hall of Fame (1985)
- CBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
