Lewis University Athletics

A 1973 Lewis graduate, Joe Gura spent nearly five decades coaching basketball throughout the Chicagoland area, compiling more than 600 victories, numerous conference championships and regional appearances, and an induction into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame.
 
Gura most recently served as head varsity boys basketball coach at Joliet Catholic Academy from 2012-22. During his 10 seasons with the Hilltoppers, he guided the program to three regional appearances, including its first regional title in 34 years in 2014, and earned Coach of the Year honors.
 
Before joining Joliet Catholic, Gura coached at Bishop McNamara High School from 2009-12 and Plainfield North High School from 2005-09, where he won a conference championship, advanced to a regional, and earned Coach of the Year honors.
 
Gura previously served as head boys varsity coach at Pontiac High School from 2002-05, winning a conference championship and earning Corn Belt Conference Coach of the Year honors. He spent three seasons at Thornton Fractional South High School from 1999-2002.
 
His longest coaching tenure came at Lockport High School, where he spent 22 seasons from 1977-99. His teams won 12 conference championships, including five at the varsity level. As boys' varsity head coach, Gura led Lockport to five regional and three sectional appearances and was named conference Coach of the Year five times.
 
He began his high school coaching career as an assistant boys varsity coach at St. Rita High School during the 1976-77 season after spending three years coaching eighth-grade basketball at Bromberek Grade School.
 
Gura and his wife, Karen, have two daughters, Carie McIntyre and Carly Forneris, and six grandchildren.