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Elyria, OH, December 17, 2024 —Over the course of Bob Guinta's two-plus decades leading the Elyria Catholic boys basketball program, he had only five losing seasons. Suffice to say, the longtime coach won his share of games on the floor of the Coliseum. On Friday, December 20, EC will officially dedicate the court in his honor as the Coach Bob Guinta Court in a ceremony held between the girls and boys varsity games against Lake Catholic.
The girls game against the Cougars will start at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dedication ceremony at approximately 6:45 p.m., and the boys game at 7 p.m.
Coach Guinta won 329 games during his 22-year tenure with the Panthers (1966–1988), which included 10 conference championships, seven district titles, and a Class AA regional championship in the 1972–73 season -- a year when EC won a school-record 24 games and made the program’s lone state Final Four appearance.
Along with his years at Elyria Catholic, Guinta also had coaching stints at Wapakoneta
St. Joseph and Celina Immaculate Conception, winning 433 games over the course of his career. He was inducted into the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and earned the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association’s Paul Walker Award in 1988. He was later enshrined in the OHSBCA Hall of Fame in 1991.
Panther boys and girls basketball alumni are invited to attend a pregame reception at 5:30 p.m. To RSVP, contact Alumni Engagement & Event Coordinator Landyn Sito at sito@elyriacatholic.com.
Event Details:
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5:30 pm Reception Location: Coliseum Room 010
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Entrance: Please use the stairs near the men’s restroom. Signage will guide you.
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Dedication Ceremony: Before the boys' game, basketball alumni will be invited to enter the Coliseum by ascending the stairs and gathering courtside along the baseline for the dedication ceremony.
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Seating: After the ceremony, you and your families can access a reserved section in the stands.
A Note About Coach Guinta and his wife, Shirley:
Many have inquired about Coach Guinta’s attendance. While we know he would love to be here, Coach and his wife, Shirley, recently moved to Missouri to be closer to their daughter, Tracie. Unfortunately, Coach’s health prevents him from traveling.
With deep sadness, we also share that Shirley, who was a beloved member of our Elyria Catholic community, passed away on Sunday, December 15. We will honor her memory with a prayer and moment of silence during Friday's event. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions before Friday. We are excited to welcome the community to this Friday’s special event as we honor Coach Bob Guinta’s legacy and celebrate his impact on the Elyria Catholic community.
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