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1932-2001
Tony Canino coached with John Schaefer and helped start Hinsdale Central
Gymnastics in 1960. In 1965 -66 Tony was named the head coach at Hinsdale South
in their first year as a school. He returned after one year to Hinsdale Central
in 1966-67 as head coach when John Schaefer was appointed head coach at the
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. Tony brought his firm but fair and often
"tough" coaching philosophy to the gymnastics program catapulting it to the
premier system in the State and Country. Previously, Tony coached Football,
Tennis, and Swimming and was successful at all of them. He was an expert
paratrooper in the military and head of the Chicago beaches and life guard in
his early years. Tony lead in a dedicated, determined manner. He demanded
excellence and earned the respect of his team, competitors, coaches and judges
throughout the state. He was head coach from 1967 - 1974 bringing Hinsdale
Central gymnastics to prominence and a "model of action". He is in the Illinois
Gymnastics Coaches Hall of Fame and the NCAA College Hall of Fame as well as in
the Hinsdale Central Foundation Hall of Fame. He became the Physical Education
Department chairman in 1974 - 75 .In 1996 The WSC Invitational was renamed the
"A.J.Canino" Invitational in his honor.
