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Former University of Pittsburgh basketball standout
Orlando Antigua is in his third year on Head Coach
Jamie Dixon's staff as director of basketball
operations. Antigua is responsible for the
day-to-day operations of the men's basketball
program and serves as a liaison to the athletic
administration and other school officials,
coordinates the student-athletes' practice, game and
daily schedules and is involved in recruiting.
A four-year basketball letterwinner and two-year
team captain at Pittsburgh from 1991-95, Antigua
ranks 11th all-time in career 3-pointers made (117)
and sixth in career 3-point field goal percentage
(.386). He also ranks among Pittsburgh's career
leaders in blocked shots with 78, the 12th best
total in Panthers history. Over his four-year
career, Antigua scored 930 points and grabbed 409
rebounds. He averaged 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds
per game while starting 78 of 116 career contests
played. A 1992 Big East Conference All-Rookie team
member, Antigua helped lead the Panthers to an 18-16
record and berth in the National Invitation
Tournament as a freshman. As a sophomore in 1992-93,
Antigua helped lead Pittsburgh to a 17-11 record and
NCAA tournament berth under Head Coach Paul Evans.
He was named the United States Basketball Writers'
Association (USBWA) Most Courageous Athlete in 1994,
an honor presented annually to the college
basketball player who displays exceptional courage
both on and off the floor. Antigua averaged over
10.0 points per game in each of his last two
seasons. He graduated from Pitt with a degree in
social sciences in December 1995.
Upon his graduation from the University of
Pittsburgh, Antigua was selected to play for the
world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters, becoming the
first player of Latin American descent to play for
the squad. Nicknamed "Hurricane" for his dazzling
moves and quickness, Antigua played with the
Globetrotters for seven years until 2002. He
represented the squad in 49 different countries and
on tours to South America, South Africa and on the
acclaimed "Youth in Our Lives Tour."
Antigua also played in the Puerto Rico Superior
Basketball League for eight years and represented
the Dominican Republic national team in both 1994-95
and 1997-98. Because of his dedication to the
community, Antigua was named one of the nation's
top-100 most influential Hispanic Americans by
Hispanic Business magazine.
In 2002-03, Antigua served as an assistant
basketball coach at nearby Mt. Lebanon High School
under former Panthers player Joey David (1983-86)
and worked as a sales representative for Cavanaugh
Promotions in the North Hills.
"I am extremely excited to be a part of this staff,"
Antigua said. "I am looking forward to continuing
the great tradition that has been established over
the past few years at the University of Pittsburgh.
This is a great opportunity for me to be involved in
coaching at my alma mater."
A Dominican Republic native who was raised in Bronx,
N.Y., Antigua recovered from a 1988 Halloween
incident where, as an innocent bystander, he was
shot in the head near his left eye. Nevertheless,
Antigua was back playing basketball just two weeks
after the incident and played three seasons at
Pittsburgh with the slug in his head. Doctors
initially ruled out removing the bullet as being too
risky, but Antigua began suffering severe headaches.
Antigua's family also went through a period of
homelessness. The oldest of three brothers, Antigua
was credited with keeping the family together while
housing was secured.
He overcame these difficulties and went on to serve
as student council president at St. Raymond's High
School and played a major role in the program's New
York Catholic League Championship run under head
coach Gary DeCaesare. As a senior, he earned
McDonald's All America, All-New York City and Parade
All America Second Team honors after averaging 15
points and eight rebounds. He also became the
school's second all-time leading scorer with over
1,000 career points.
In addition, Antigua played on the Gauchos youth
basketball team along with his Panthers teammates
Jerry McCullough and Eric Mobley.
Fluent in Spanish, Antigua has resided in Pittsburgh
since graduation. |
