May-Cassioppi Scholarship

Don and Gene were dedicated swimming and diving coaches. The intent of this scholarship is to honor them by providing support to a swimmer or diver who exemplifies the strength, discipline, and loyalty they instilled in those they coached.

Gene Cassioppi (Coach Cass) 1929-2023

Gene began teaching at Guilford High School in the fall of 1966. In 1968, he became Guilford's boys’ diving coach, teaming up with his eventual best friend, Don May, Guilford’s swim coach. This began a lifetime of enjoyed dedication and commitment to high school swimming and diving, and hundreds of high school athletes, became fondly known as Coach "Cass". He was Guilford’s boys’ diving coach for 45 seasons (1968-2008/2010-2014); girls’ diving coach for 19 seasons (1977-1993/2011-2013), head girls’ swim coach for 13 seasons (1979-1995); hosted many local and US diving camps; and was a speaker at numerous diving clinics. Gene continued working with talented divers from many different schools during the past few years. Among his many accomplishments as Guilford’s diving coach, was the opportunity and honor to work with and coach 71 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Meet Qualifiers, 50 IHSA State Meet Finalists, 33 All-Americans, and 10 IHSA State Diving Champions (7 boys and 3 girls titles)-the most by any single coach in Illinois. Gene was awarded the IHSA State Diving Coach of the Year 10 times. Of special note, he was the only Illinois coach with both boys and girls IHSA State Diving Champions in the same school year (1984-1985). As Guilford’s head girls' swim coach, Gene was honored to have had 3 IHSA state champions, one national champion and 15 All-Americans. He was also The Rockford Register Star’s overall girls' sports coach of the year in 1991. Gene was inducted into the Illinois Diving Hall of Fame in 1984, Illinois Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame in 1991, Guilford Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 and Rockford Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. He also received the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) Outstanding Service Award in 2012. During his coaching career, he truly considered it a privilege to be a part of, and influence on, so many young people's lives.

Don May 1935-2022

Don started at Guilford High School in 1965 where he taught PE and Driver’s Education and was named Head Coach of the Boys Swimming Team. As a Physical Education teacher, Don was a lifelong supporter of fitness and exercise. He ran every morning at 4 a.m. and alongside every PE class; he led by example. Even after he retired, he remained committed to a healthy lifestyle, and he challenged his body at the gym daily well into his 80s. His coaching success is legendary in the state of Illinois. Across the years under his leadership, the boys' swim team won 32 NIC-9 championships. They had 49 individual state medalists, 27 sectional championships, 9 district championships, and 14 top-10 state finishes. In 1982 and 1993 he was named Boys Swimming Coach of the Year by the Illinois Swimming and Diving Association. In 1984 he received the Illinois SwimHall of Fame Award. In 2015 he was inducted into the Rockford Public Schools Hall of Fame. Then in 2017, he was inducted into the Rockford Public School District Athletics Hall of Fame. Among the swim coaching community, Don enjoyed the admiration of the veteran coaches and officials for the success of his swimmers and the quality of his program. Even more, he built lasting relationships through a genuine interest in each and every person. Don never displayed an ounce of ego and could laugh at himself readily. The most important thing for Don in coaching was always the swimmers. He left a legacy of amazing lessons, not just in the pool but about life. Many of his swimming alumni fondly recall his humility, honesty, and genuine caring. He was noted to be one of the most significant people in the lives of many swimmers. He taught many how to be good human beings.