Completing his 2nd season as the Inferno General Manager and Head Coach, Frank Lollino, Jr has definitely made a name for himself in the American Basketball Association. As the son of IHSA Hall of Fame coach, Frank V. Lollino, the younger Lollino, who grew up watching his father’s amazing Westinghouse High School teams of the 70’s and 80’s and then learned firsthand from his father as his top assistant coach at Triton College, and has amassed a 28-10 professional record.
Lollino overcame many challenges in the last three years, including a leg amputation and a kidney transplant. However, he has built the Inferno into a national power. Last season Lollino won his 300th career win, the Inferno were consistently ranked in the top ten in the country, they had two players who made All-ABA teams and participated in the ABA All-Star game and celebrated Jarvae Tate’s ABA Slam Dunk Championship.
Lollino began his career at Austin High School, where he led his team to a Blue West Conference Championship in his first season, a feat that had not been accomplished in almost twenty years. In addition to the Austin job, Lollino was also named the head coach at Triton College at 26 years old – coaching a high school team and a college team at the same time. Then Lollino opted for a move north to Lane Tech College Prep. He led Lane to a Red North Championship in his second season, appeared in a number of televised games and coached two games on the United Center floor.
Following a successful run at the high school level, Coach Lollino returned to the collegiate arena to revive the Morton College basketball program. It took just one year. During Lollino’s second season, the Morton College Panthers won the Region IV tournament and were selected to participate in the 12 team, NJCAA National Tournament. Lollino followed with two undefeated Skyway Conference Championships, where he amassed a 28-game winning streak. He then took his talents as a collegiate scout for a couple of professional teams during the next decade.
Coach Lollino entered the ABA scene in 2023 as the head coach of the Chicago Rebels. After being fired by the Rebels with a 15-12 record, the Windy City Inferno were born. Creating the Inferno during the 24-25 season was the idea of his sister Laurie and niece Anna Marie Taylor at a Christmas Day Dinner.
The Inferno concluded its inaugural season with a 13-7 record and a loss to the eventual ABA champion in the conference championship. The Inferno reached as high as #18 in the ABA power rankings and were among the top 25 for the last 6 weeks of the season. The Inferno can also boast the ABA National All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player.
Lollino is really excited for his third campaign with the Inferno. Facing the toughest schedule to date, the Inferno will feature games with national powers from Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and of course city rival the Chicago Fury. Finally, the Inferno will be playing their home games this season at the Hope Sports Complex (formerly Attack Athletics and Quest) located at 2641 W. Harrison on the west side of Chicago.