Legendary South Jersey coach dies

Art DiPatri won more than 300 games and two state titles as one of the legendary coaches in South Jersey boys' basketball history.

But friends who recalled DiPatri said the man was defined by his warmth and generosity, not his success on the hardwood.

DiPatri, 70, died Wednesday of an apparent heart attack suffered while shoveling snow.

"You talk to anybody who knew Art DiPatri, and they'll tell you he was an incredible coach, a coaching icon," said former Gloucester Catholic coach Ralph Saquella, one of DiPatri's closest friends.

"But it was Art the person who was so special. He was a terrific human being. He was so humble, always looking to do something for somebody else."

DiPatri was head coach at Gloucester Catholic, Woodrow Wilson, Gloucester City, and Paul VI in a career that ran from 1965 to 1986. His teams won Parochial A state titles at Paul VI in 1980 and 1983.

"I think about him all the time during the season," said James Madison University coach Matt Brady, who was a star point guard on DiPatri's 1983 state-championship team. "What would he do in this situation? What would he say?

"The thing that struck me most about him was how hard he worked to relate to us, to understand us. He was an old-school guy, but he tried so hard to be flexible."

When DiPatri retired from Paul VI in 1986, he was replaced by Steve Selby, who had been an assistant coach in the program for three years.

"I'm lucky that I had the opportunity to learn from not just a great coach but a great man," said Selby, who was a successful coach at Paul VI and Washington Township.

DiPatri was the coach at Woodrow Wilson in 1967-68 and 1968-69. When he left the Camden school to take a position at Gloucester, he was replaced by his assistant, Gary Williams.

Williams led the 1970 Woodrow Wilson team - which was bolstered by the summer arrival of 6-foot-8 star Harold Sullinger, who died last month - to a 27-0 record and the Group 4 state title.

Williams went on to a highly successful career as a major-college coach, including a national title at Maryland in 2004.

DiPatri was the head coach when Gloucester made the Group 1 state finals in 1971. The Lions lost a close game to East Rutherford, whose coach, Dick Vitale, soon left the high school ranks to become one of college basketball's most popular personalities.

DiPatri was a member of the Gloucester faculty from 1969 until 2002, when he retired as director of guidance.

"He was a tremendous mentor to so many people," Gloucester athletic director Leon Harris said. "Rarely a day goes by when I'm not grateful that I had the opportunity to be coached by him."

Said Gloucester principal Jack Don: "Art was one of the most beloved and respected gentlemen who has ever been known."

DiPatri graduated from Gloucester Catholic in 1958. He graduated from St. John's University and began his teaching and coaching career at St. Joseph's High School in Camden.

His first head-coaching job was at Gloucester Catholic from 1965 through 1967.

"There was no French pastry with Art DiPatri," said Saquella, who replaced DiPatri at Gloucester Catholic in 1968 and won state titles with the Rams in 1970 and 1972. "He was as genuine as they come."

Funeral arrangements were pending.