1976 Yorkwood High graduate Paul Missavage crafted a successful playing and coaching career around the state of Illinois in the late 70’s to mid 80’s. That, in turn, turned into a long and rewarding playing/coaching career overseas.
After playing as a Yorkwood Golden Bear in high school, Missavage played at the collegiate level at Eureka College. That led to an assistant coaching position for the men’s and women’s teams during his senior year at Eureka. That coaching gig fueled his desire to stay into the business of coaching and even a led to a stint as a successful soccer coach at St. Viator High School in Arlington Height from 1981-1985. He was 58-18-8 at Viator during those four seasons. But Paul’s main passion is basketball and after a fortunate turn of events, he was able to play professionally overseas in Luxembourg as a player/coach for two seasons in 1988 and 1989.
Missavage loved the country of Luxembourg so much, he remained to coach basketball for the next several years turning around various struggling programs into successful franchises. Missavage returned to the states for a couple of stints, including coaching boys basketball at his alma mater of Yorkwood High School from 1999-2001 and at St. Viator in 2014 and 2015. Missavage is back in Luxembourg instilling his passion for coaching basketball with various youth teams, including his talented basketball-playing daughters.
Prairie Communications sports director Shawn Temple caught up with Coach “Sav” on the AM 1330 WRAM Morning Show on Thursday morning.
