Kean University

Not only was August J. "Gus" Jannarone an outstanding basketball player for Newark Normal School (now Kean University) in the early 1930s, he also left the school a quarter-century later as its most successful head basketball coach to that time.

Jannarone was the first freshman in the program's history to crack the starting lineup in 1929-1930, and subsequently became the first player to win a varsity letter all three years. (Newark Normal School granted only three-year degrees at the time.)
A playmaking guard, Jannarone led his squads to three winning seasons, including a 10-6 mark in 1931-1932.

Jannarone assumed the head coaching reins of the club in 1949 and held the post for seven seasons. The official records may not be entirely accurate, but his career mark is acknowledged to be 80-57, making Jannarone the winningest coach in the program's history by the time he departed in 1956. He was able to achieve this success at a time when the male enrollment at the College was between 85 and 200.

During Jannarone's coaching stint, he tutored such 1,000-point scorers as Marshall Butler and fellow Hall of Famers, Ernest Frino and Wade Likins. Jannarone also spent one season as the school's head baseball coach in 1950.

Jannarone earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 1932 and added his master’s degree in 1937.