Geneva grad Navigato remembers those ‘fun times’ on the basketball court
The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association recently announced its 2026 Hall of Fame class.
Within the Daily Herald coverage area, 13 players, coaches and officials, Batavia’s David and Nancy Moe as “Friends of Basketball,” and Montini’s 2014 girls team got the call.
The full list is on the association website, ibcaillinois.org. Space won’t allow updates on all 13 even if we were able to reach them, so as a Class of 2026 representative let’s focus on …
Nate Navigato, Geneva Class of 2015.
“I think it’s humbling, for sure. It’s something super cool and that I’m really appreciative of, that I’m recognized for something I did in high school,” he said Wednesday, adding that he couldn’t have achieved what he did without his teammates and coaches.
An athletic 6-foot-8 swingman, Navigato had an uncanny ability to score inside while also possessing great shooting range. After four solid seasons at the University of Toledo, he graduated in 2019 as the Mid-American Conference all-time leader in 3-point field goals. (He’s now No. 3.)
Navigato finished as the Geneva boys all-time leader in scoring, assists, blocks, steals and 3-point baskets while leading the 2014-15 Vikings to fourth place in Class 4A.
That Phil Ralston-coached team’s 30-5 record equaled Geneva’s program wins record until Scott Hennig’s 32-win squad of 2018-19 set a new mark.
“The thing I remember,” Navigato said, “is the group of guys was awesome. From the coaching staff down to all the players, I think it was one of those teams where you knew everyone saw eye to eye. It was just super fun to be around.
“No one really butted heads, and it was one of those things where whether in practice or in games everybody jelled awesomely, one of those teams where everyone knew their role perfectly. Yeah, those were fun times, for sure.”
Now 29, Navigato lives in St. Charles with his high school sweetheart, the former Geneva softball player Anna Geary. Married four years, they have a son who turned a year old in October.
Navigato didn’t have concrete plans after graduating from Toledo with a double major in marking and management. Seeing his wife’s passion as a physician assistant, he followed her into the medical field. Navigato travels the metropolitan area selling wound-care products for Urgo Medical.
Navigato played basketball in a recreational league a couple winters ago, he said, but now finds his “competitive edge” in golf. Along with a younger sister, he’s got triplet brothers, and two of them, Cole and Dominic, work at local courses.
Nate Navigato shoots in the 80s at places like Mill Creek, Tanna Farms and Hughes Creek.
He misses basketball to an extent.
“I miss the games, the teammates, the traveling, all of that stuff that comes with it. The relationships you build, everything like that, that’s what I miss the most,” Navigato said.
“But every day, the stress on your body, that’s something I definitely don’t miss too much.”
Big numbers
With Tuesday’s 70-60 victory over St. Laurence, Naperville Central’s girls basketball team moved to 4-0.
Better yet, it was the 750th win for Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum. The leading active coach, according to IHSA records, Nussbaum is No. 8 all-time. He’ll attempt to tie former Loyola coach Tanya Johnson at 751 when the Redhawks tip off Friday at Benet.
Also Naperville Central’s softball coach, Nussbaum stands at No. 8 there as well with 768 victories.
Taking over Redhawks softball in 1984 and girls basketball in 1989, he’s coached an astounding 2,539 games. Plus, he’s an assistant football coach.
Back in the ring
A few months ago we highlighted Glenbard North graduate Austin Gomez for his participation in the debut of Real American Freestyle (RAF), an unscripted professional wrestling league that kicked off Aug. 30 in Cleveland.
With RAF founders including former Montini coach Izzy Martinez, that first event was a big success. After visiting Pennsylvania in October, RAF 03 comes to Chicago’s Wintrust Arena at 8 p.m. Saturday. It also streams live on Fox Nation.
Gomez is back, against former St. Rita wrestler Austin O’Connor at 155 pounds.
Gomez’s cousin and fellow Glenbard North standout, Alexis Gomez, also is on the 10-match card. So is Montini’s Real Woods. Real Illinois mat fans will know Johnsburg’s Clay Guida, Hononegah’s Anthony Cassioppi and Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades.
Never know what may happen in Chicago. At RAF 01, Holly Holm made her wrestling debut.
doberhelman@dailyherald.com