Sun Valley Alum Gina Procaccio ('82) Earns Dual Hall of Fame Honors

Sun Valley High School Class of 1982 graduate Gina Procaccio has earned two major honors, being elected to both the Pennsylvania High School Track & Field Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.

A standout distance runner for the Vanguards, Procaccio was a three-time District I champion in the 800m and captured the PIAA state title in 1982 after earning bronze and silver medals the two years prior. She also won a District I title in the 1600m and recorded some of the fastest times in Pennsylvania history, including the state’s top 1500m performances in 1981 and 1982 and one of the top indoor mile marks in state history at the time.

Her success extended beyond high school, as she went on to become a USA Track & Field national champion in the 5000m and later built a distinguished coaching career at the collegiate level. Now the head coach of Villanova University’s women’s track & field and cross country programs, Procaccio has guided teams to multiple NCAA championships, including back-to-back cross country titles in 2009 and 2010 after previously contributing to national championship teams as an assistant coach. She was also inducted into the Penn Relays Wall of Fame in 2015.

Procaccio will be honored at the PIAA Track & Field Championships this May at Shippensburg University. Her Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame induction will follow in November at Live! Casino & Hotel Event Center.