General Manager/Head Coach Fracnk Lollino
Frank Lollino Jr.
Although this is Coach Lollino’s first season as General Manager and Head Coach, he is certainly no stranger to the basketball world. As the son of IHSA Hall of Fame coach, Frank V. Lollino, the younger Lollino grew up watching the amazing Westinghouse High School teams of the 70’s and 80’s and then learned firsthand from his father as the top assistant coach at Triton College.
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. After battling all the powerful Red West schools, Lollino opted for a move north to Lane Tech College Prep. He led the team to a Red North Championship win in his second season, appeared in a number of televised games with the Lane Tech Indians, 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.
Coach Lollino entered the ABA scene in 2023 as the head coach of the Chicago Rebels. His overall record was 15-12, which included an appearance in the Hype Hoops League Eastern Conference finals. Creating Windy City Inferno alongside his family is among his greatest accomplishments, and he looks forward to showing Chicago what it means to feel the burn.
General Manager/Head Coach
Assitant Coach Albert Tomasello
Albert Tomasello
A native of Chicago and a St. Patrick alum, this will be Coach Tomasello’s forty-second year coaching basketball in the Chicagoland area. He has spent nearly thirty of those years assisting both Coach Lollino, Sr. and Jr.
Tomasello started his career at St. Giles in Oak Park where he coached boys and girls. He was proud to see many of his athletes go on to play at the high school level. Tomasello then joined his mentor, the late and legendary Frank V. Lollino, Sr., as an assistant coach at Triton College. That position led to him becoming the Triton College Women’s Head Coach for two seasons. While at Triton, his team missed reaching the NJCAA National Tournament by one game in his second year.
He then followed Inferno Coach Lollino, Jr. to both Austin and Lane Tech College Prep High Schools. While at Austin, Tomasello led the Lady Tigers to an undefeated Blue West Conference Championship before joining Lollino’s staff at Lane Tech where he helped win the Red North title for the Indians.
After coaching on the AAU circuit for several years, Tomasello assumed Coach Lollino, Jr.’s top assistant spot again at Morton College. It was there where Coach Tomasello helped Lollino gain national acclaim. The Panthers won the Region IV Tournament and participated in the NJCAA National Tournament and followed that with two undefeated Sky Way Conference Championships.
Tomasello joined Coach Lollino, Jr. once more at the ABA level as his top assistant coach with the Chicago Rebels last season and decided to help build the Windy City Inferno this season. With “Playing defense as the key to championships” as his philosophy, Tomasello will undoubtedly help the Inferno achieve high levels of success.
Assistant Coach
Special Advisor/Assistant Coach John Quinn
John Quinn
The Inferno were extremely fortunate to land Coach John Quinn on the coaching staff. Quinn, who compiled 469 wins and 7 Catholic League Championships during his 28-year reign at Fenwick High School, was the longest serving head coach in the Chicago Catholic League. His basketball resume also includes an Elite Eight appearance, 2 Supersectional appearances, 2 Sectional Championships, as well as 12 Regional titles.
He enjoyed coaching 67 All-Catholic League players, 8 of which became Illinois All-State players. He has had the distinct pleasure of coaching 78 young men who competed at the collegiate level, 35 of which who participated in NCAA Division I programs. His most notable was former Duke sensation and NBA legend Corey Maggette.
He is a 27-year member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, National Camp Coach and lecturer at the world renowned Five Star Basketball Camp. Additionally, he has won the Golden Apple for Teaching excellence in 1992, was inducted into the Catholic League Hall of Fame in 2009 and the IBCA Hall of Fame in 2010. Quinn, who is also the winningest Boys coach in Fenwick history, shares a special relationship with Inferno Head Coach Frank Lollino, Jr. as he was Coach Lollino’s US World History teacher while Lollino attended Fenwick.
After a 43-year teaching career, Quinn now enjoys spending time with his wife, three daughters and brother, Pat Quinn, former governor of Illinois. He is excited to join the Windy City Inferno coaching staff and bring his expertise to the ABA level.