jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
Cardozo High School basketball coach Ron Naclerio earns PSAL-record 723rd win
BY SEAN EGAN NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Updated: Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Ron Naclerio surpasses Chuck Granby as the PSAL's all-time winningest basketball coach.
Ron Naclerio never lets up. Even with an 18-point lead and just two minutes left on the clock on Tuesday night, the Cardozo coach was still yelling at his players, “Stay on your man!” With just seconds remaining, Naclerio cringed each time one of his players missed a free throw.
It may sound crazy — and at times, he is — but that intensity is at least part of the reason Naclerio now owns the most wins in PSAL history.
With his Judges’ 88-72 win over Francis Lewis on Tuesday, Naclerio earned his 723rd career win, more than anyone else in the public school league’s 112-year history. He went into the game tied with Chuck Granby of Campus Magnet, who won 722 games in 45 years. Naclerio is starting his 35th year.
The crowd inside the packed Cardozo High School gym counted down the last 10 seconds of the game and erupted when the buzzer sounded. In a heartbeat the Judges’ bench was surrounded by cameras and applause.
“It’s a wonderful feeling,” Naclerio said. “As each second goes on it’s meaning a lot more.”
In attendance at the game was Duane Causwell, Cardozo alum and former NBA player. He and many other former players made it to the game to celebrate a monumental night for a coach they consider one of the most important people in their lives.
“When I first tried out here, I couldn’t play a lick,” Causwell remembered. “He took me to the side and said if I came to practice every day he could help me play in college and maybe even the NBA.”
“I was obsessed with making Duane a player,” Naclerio said. “Everyone loves the player on the court who hustles and dives. I wanted to coach basketball, I ended up coaching lives.”
Coach Ron Naclerio with Antoine Tutt showing off a T-shirt with "History 723" to commemorate the game.
Naclerio took over as the head coach at Cardozo (2-0) in time for the 1981-82 season, going 1-21 in his first campaign. Since then he has won two city titles, in 1999 and 2014. He has also coached four players at Cardozo who have gone on to play in the NBA and numerous others in summer leagues and camps who have gone pro.
“The things I’ve done with my hands tied, it’s hard,” he said of the challenges that come with coaching high school basketball. “If anyone else wants to try it then God bless them.”
Over the years Naclerio, 58, has become one of the most respected coaches in the city, in any sport. He is tight with numerous college coaches, including some of the best in Division I, and he has made no secret of his recent desire to perhaps try his hand at coaching on another level someday.
Now that this milestone is out of the way, there is a chance that Naclerio could turn the page on his high school career.
“I hope this will be his last year and someone gives him the opportunity to go to the next level,” Causwell said. “It’s his time now.”
Naclerio is known for his intensity on the sideline, flailing his arms and legs as he rides officials for calls and barks out orders to his players.
Cardoza players gather around their coach to celebrate his milestone after Tuesday's victory.
Tuesday he may have been the loudest person in the gym.
Afterward, he was also the most humbled.
“I don’t take praise easy, but I realize what I’ve done in life,” Naclerio said. “I’ve become a student in basketball and now I got a graduate degree. I’m very proud.”
After the game, Naclerio headed to a party he had planned ahead of time, apologizing to Francis Lewis (0-2) for taking the victory for granted but insisting he did it only because so many people had to know the plan.
“A couple of cold ones!” he shouted to some former players before leaving the gym.
“He’s the greatest of all time,” Causwell said. “He’s the king of Queens.”
Actually, the king of the entire PSAL.
BY SEAN EGAN NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Updated: Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Ron Naclerio surpasses Chuck Granby as the PSAL's all-time winningest basketball coach.
Ron Naclerio never lets up. Even with an 18-point lead and just two minutes left on the clock on Tuesday night, the Cardozo coach was still yelling at his players, “Stay on your man!” With just seconds remaining, Naclerio cringed each time one of his players missed a free throw.
It may sound crazy — and at times, he is — but that intensity is at least part of the reason Naclerio now owns the most wins in PSAL history.
With his Judges’ 88-72 win over Francis Lewis on Tuesday, Naclerio earned his 723rd career win, more than anyone else in the public school league’s 112-year history. He went into the game tied with Chuck Granby of Campus Magnet, who won 722 games in 45 years. Naclerio is starting his 35th year.
The crowd inside the packed Cardozo High School gym counted down the last 10 seconds of the game and erupted when the buzzer sounded. In a heartbeat the Judges’ bench was surrounded by cameras and applause.
“It’s a wonderful feeling,” Naclerio said. “As each second goes on it’s meaning a lot more.”
In attendance at the game was Duane Causwell, Cardozo alum and former NBA player. He and many other former players made it to the game to celebrate a monumental night for a coach they consider one of the most important people in their lives.
“When I first tried out here, I couldn’t play a lick,” Causwell remembered. “He took me to the side and said if I came to practice every day he could help me play in college and maybe even the NBA.”
“I was obsessed with making Duane a player,” Naclerio said. “Everyone loves the player on the court who hustles and dives. I wanted to coach basketball, I ended up coaching lives.”
Coach Ron Naclerio with Antoine Tutt showing off a T-shirt with "History 723" to commemorate the game.
Naclerio took over as the head coach at Cardozo (2-0) in time for the 1981-82 season, going 1-21 in his first campaign. Since then he has won two city titles, in 1999 and 2014. He has also coached four players at Cardozo who have gone on to play in the NBA and numerous others in summer leagues and camps who have gone pro.
“The things I’ve done with my hands tied, it’s hard,” he said of the challenges that come with coaching high school basketball. “If anyone else wants to try it then God bless them.”
Over the years Naclerio, 58, has become one of the most respected coaches in the city, in any sport. He is tight with numerous college coaches, including some of the best in Division I, and he has made no secret of his recent desire to perhaps try his hand at coaching on another level someday.
Now that this milestone is out of the way, there is a chance that Naclerio could turn the page on his high school career.
“I hope this will be his last year and someone gives him the opportunity to go to the next level,” Causwell said. “It’s his time now.”
Naclerio is known for his intensity on the sideline, flailing his arms and legs as he rides officials for calls and barks out orders to his players.
Cardoza players gather around their coach to celebrate his milestone after Tuesday's victory.
Tuesday he may have been the loudest person in the gym.
Afterward, he was also the most humbled.
“I don’t take praise easy, but I realize what I’ve done in life,” Naclerio said. “I’ve become a student in basketball and now I got a graduate degree. I’m very proud.”
After the game, Naclerio headed to a party he had planned ahead of time, apologizing to Francis Lewis (0-2) for taking the victory for granted but insisting he did it only because so many people had to know the plan.
“A couple of cold ones!” he shouted to some former players before leaving the gym.
“He’s the greatest of all time,” Causwell said. “He’s the king of Queens.”
Actually, the king of the entire PSAL.
