| Michael Mascolo with daughter Katie and son Michael |
Michael Mascolo with fellow Hall of Famers Mark McCarthy '93. Coach Herb Magee, and Ed Malloy '93 |
Michael Mascolo '93 was a member of the 1992-93 Men's Basketball Team, which was inducted into the Jefferson Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020.
What does being a Hall of Fame member mean to you?
It is an honor to be part of one of Coach Magee’s best and favorite teams. Our 1992-93 team was 30-2 and we made it to the Elite Eight but it is the funny stories, the memories, and the friendships that we still have with each other today that mean the most. Being a Hall of Famer with Coach Magee and my teammates is another thing for us to share and laugh about as we get older!
How does what you learned as an athlete affect your life currently?
When I think about what it took for me to get to Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia Textile when I was on campus) as a scholarship athlete, I am grateful for the lessons I learned along the way. I am grateful to have parents like my dad, Art, and my mom, Rosemary, who never missed a game when I was growing up. They did anything and everything to support my crazy goals. I learned that hard work, sacrifice, and always giving your best effort are the keys to success on and off the basketball court.
What is your fondest memory of life on campus and as an athlete?
We had so much fun on campus (and around campus in Manayunk and other spots in Philadelphia). Coach Magee always says that the wins are great but it is the relationships and friendships that you remember the most. The times we spent hanging out together in the cafeteria, the gym, the dorms, and the townhouses doing nothing but laughing are the memories that I remember the most.
Describe a time that a coach/teammate/mentor inspired you.
I remember watching Coach Magee speak at the Pocono Invitational Basketball Camp when I was in 8th grade and he did not miss a shot the entire time he spoke at the camp. I don’t want to pump up Coach’s ego but that was pretty impressive. It was amazing to play for him just a few years later.
What are you up to now?
I have been fortunate to work for companies like Xerox, Oracle, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young in different sales and business development leadership positions after graduating from Philadelphia Textile; but I am most proud of being a dad to my son Michael (18) and my daughter Katie (15). They are both “Hall of Famers!”
Do you have a message to share with current student-athletes?
I would say be proud of the hard work you put in to get to Jefferson. Give your best effort as an athlete and as a student, and enjoy every day with your friends and teammates on campus! I also want to wish Coach Jimmy Reilly the best taking over for Coach Magee. He has been a big part of the program’s success over the last 15 years and he will do a great job.
