If Malvern Prep reaches its fundraising goal of $2.5 million, students, parents and alumni will be saying “See you at The PAC!” next fall, as the school has announced that it is naming its proposed new outdoor athletic facility after legendary football coach Gaspare “Gamp” Pellegrini P'87'90.

“Get it done for Gamp!” is the phrase on the lips of the Malvern community now, as it has just passed $1.4 million in cash and pledges to build The Pellegrini Athletic Complex (The PAC), which will include an all-weather track, an all-purpose turf field for football, lacrosse and soccer and new tennis courts.

Malvern first announced the complex naming at halftime of its Thanksgiving Day football game against St. Joe’s Prep at Villanova Stadium. A large contingent of Malvern football alumni participated in the short ceremony of tribute to Pellegrini.

“Malvern Prep is delighted and honored to name our new athletic complex after Gamp,” said the Rev. James R. Flynn, O.S.A., Malvern head of school. “Gamp has been a mentor, teacher, role model, colleague and friend to the Malvern community. He believes in the mission of the school and impressed upon his players the values of character, hard work and loyalty – qualities that have prepared his student-athletes to be leaders beyond Malvern. For all that you have done for our school, thank you, Gamp.”

For 31 years, Gamp guided the Malvern Prep football team through a period of unrivaled success. No coach in the history of the Philadelphia city leagues has reached the level of success of Gamp Pellegrini. His 278 wins, against 144 losses and nine ties, are a record, as are his 21 league titles and 42 seasons as a head coach. After a three-year stint at his alma mater, St. Thomas More, Gamp compiled a 50-38-1 record at St. Joseph’s Prep, leading them to a Catholic League title and City Championship in 1977. Gamp joined Malvern Prep the following season. At Malvern, Gamp went 219-86-9 and won 20 Inter-Ac League titles. He steered the Friars to four undefeated seasons, 1980, 1995, 2001 and 2008, concluding his career with arguably his best team. Last year, his Friars went 10-0, 5-0 in the Inter-Ac, and outscored their opponents 424-115. Malvern ended the year with a thrilling 34-27 come-from-behind win over St. Joseph’s Prep on Thanksgiving, and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s final Southeastern Pennsylvania Rankings.

This season, Gamp has served as an assistant to his son, Kevin, who took over the reins of Malvern football after Gamp’s retirement last year and led Malvern to a shared Inter-Ac title and another win over St. Joe’s Prep on Thanksgiving.

For more information about The Pellegrini Athletic Complex and to make a gift to The Campaign for Malvern Athletics please visit www.malvernprep.org/ThePAC.