Best High School BB Coach Ever in the State of Connecticut | The Boneyard

Best High School BB Coach Ever in the State of Connecticut

Jim Calhoun began his coaching career at Lyme-Old Lyme High School in Old Lyme, CT, but he was 1-17 and then went back to MA, so I'm not sure that would qualify him.

Vito Montelli from St. Joseph's in Trumbull had an impressive run back in the day. I didn't like him though.
 
Realistically, it's probably some coach from a tiny school we don't think of as a powerhouse. You don't get to choose your talent at the vast majority of high schools. A coach who maximizes their talent at a tiny school might still only go 12-12, even if they are a brilliant coach.
 
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I know this isn’t about NY, but felt it worthwhile to mention the High School I attended has (had?) the winningest coach in NY State history. Unfortunate that he retired before I got to play there. His name is Ed Petrie btw, I wonder if anyone here has heard of him.
 
Frank Crisafi, East Haven, deserves mention. Had a 77 game winning streak from 53-56 that stood until Corny Thompson Middleton team eclipsed it with an 80 game win streak

Career record of 525-196 and all 6 of east haven's state titles
 
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pierogiscri said:
John Pinone from Cromwell. He also played basketball at Villanova in the early 80's.
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His son is at RHAM now. John is Definitely a contender for best coach. Potentially the thing against him would be the tiny conference. He's always had the best talent in that conference which makes boosting his record easier
 
huskiesouth said:
Sam Bender - Hillhouse
Sal Verderame - Wilbur Cross

But I'm dating myself
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Bender retired in 1965, and had coached as head coach at Hillhouse from 1940-1965. After that, for one year, he coached a semi-pro team known as the New Haven Elms, but his record for that year was 8-20. I went to a few games, and one of their best players was Wayne Lawrence from the New London area. They played at the old New Haven Arena, the same place where the New Haven Blades hockey team played.

Sal ("Red") Verderame coached at Wilbur Cross from 1953-66, and was the predecessor of Bob Saulsbury.

I too am dating myself as I remember that era very well.
 
Sachem said:
Kenny Smith from Windsor is an excellent coach
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Coached against him in a U13 AAU tournament and he got EVERY call. I told one of the refs that I did not care who the other coach was he does not deserve every call. Ref said he didn't know who he was, I laughed and got T'd up. My kids got super fired up and we won the game.
 
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husky429 said:
His son is at RHAM now. John is Definitely a contender for best coach. Potentially the thing against him would be the tiny conference. He's always had the best talent in that conference which makes boosting his record easier
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Coaches a very physical style. Just like he played.
 
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Mike Walsh- Trinity Catholic, probably only cause I've watched his team over the years without really paying attention to the state as a whole.
 
husky429 said:
His son is at RHAM now. John is Definitely a contender for best coach. Potentially the thing against him would be the tiny conference. He's always had the best talent in that conference which makes boosting his record easier
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John isn't even the best coach in Cromwell history. Jake Salafia is. 24 consecutive tournament appearances in his 25 year career, including 11 finals appearances and 7 titles.
 
Didn't specify men's so I am going to put a shout out to Fred Williams at Northwestern Regional #7.

At the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, Fred was 594-289 with 10 Berkshire League championships, the 1990 Class M state championship (capping a 26-0 season), a 49-game winning streak from 1989-91 and a Berkshire League winning streak of a remarkable 142 games from 1986-93. Fred has coached in the state tournament 32 times. He was named Region One Coach of the Year three years and therefore a finalist for National Coach of the Year each of those years. Fred was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches' Association Hall of Fame in 2013. He is coaching at his alma mater, having graduated from Northwestern in 1969, and has had the distinction of coaching all three of his daughters, all on the same team.
 
husky429 said:
Realistically, it's probably some coach from a tiny school we don't think of as a powerhouse. You don't get to choose your talent at the vast majority of high schools. A coach who maximizes their talent at a tiny school might still only go 12-12, even if they are a brilliant coach.
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This is entirely possible.

I played a guy like that, I’d put him against almost anyone considering the talent coming through the small town.

Who it is not is any of these private schools recruiting from all over and then playing S or M schools when their actual enrollment is from legit mega city sizes (when you consider all the municipalities represented on their team).

DayDayTFS said:
Ken Smith
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Sachem said:
Kenny Smith from Windsor is an excellent coach
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Kenny smith a hell of a coach. Definitely a worthy contender
 
CardiacAndre7 said:
I know this isn’t about NY, but felt it worthwhile to mention the High School I attended has (had?) the winningest coach in NY State history. Unfortunate that he retired before I got to play there. His name is Ed Petrie btw, I wonder if anyone here has heard of him.
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This is from a few years ago, it looks like he might still hold the public school record but not overall - of course, NYS likes to separate the public and private schools as though it's 2 totally different sports, a whole 'nother convo for me.

 
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