After graduating from St. Joe Prep, Gene joined the Coast Guard 1945-46 and completed 6 months pre-college in New York. Gene attended Notre Dame. Gene's father was from Ireland and wanted Gene to attend Notre Dame. Gene did have a letter from Adolph of Kentucky offering him a basketball scholarship to play at the University of Kentucky Each summer Gene came home from college to work with his Dad digging sewer systems and subways in New York. Gene played 4 years basketball at Notre Dame and in 1949-50 was listed as Assistant Coach under Moose Krause. According to Dick Rosenthal (Freshman teammate of Gene) "We became the opposing team at varsity practices under Coach Kenny". Dick Rosenthal says when he looked for coaches, he always wanted them to have the qualities that Gene had. Gene married his wife in 1950. His first coaching jobs were in Pennsylvania, then New York, Paducah and Louisville at Bellamine. Gene's heart was always in Bardstown, He loved the people, the town, and St. Joe Prep School.