Gary DiNola (2007)

2007 Outstanding Graduate Award Winner

Gary DiNola is graduate of Mont Pleasant High School, a 1974 Graduate of FDU and a Fulbright scholar at the University of Salerno, Italy and at Wroxton College in Oxfordshire, England. Gary returned to teach English at Mont Pleasant High School for 25 years and was an educator for more than 33 years.

In his time as a teacher, he was twice named teacher of the year. He coached boys’ basketball at Mont Pleasant from 1983-1989 and led the team to both Big Ten and Section II titles as well as returning to the newly merged Schenectady High School as Boys’ basketball coach taking them to the Eastern Regional and State Championships in 1998. He also coached girls’ Track and Field in the late 1980’s and golf as well. In 1999 Gary became the Principal of Schenectady High School’s GE Scholars School of Humanities and Culture. In 2004 he became the district’s Director of Institutional Wellness and Director of Athletics from 2004 until his retirement in 2007.

He also coached for both Basketball and Lacrosse at the University at Albany and RPI respectively.

Gary currently has “retired” to his farm where he produces organic vegetables to donate to local food pantries.