Info For audience icon
Quick Links  
close

Alumni Blog

St. Augustine Blogs  >   Alumni Blog  >   Paul Rodio ’70 P’09’11 Earns Milestone 1,000th Victory

Paul Rodio ’70 P’09’11 Earns Milestone 1,000th Victory

Posted January 11th, 2023

The St. Augustine Prep Community congratulates Coach Rodio on his 1,000th Career Win!

Coach Paul Rodio ’70 P’09’11 earned his 1,000th career victory on January 11, 2023 at St. Augustine Prep – a 50-41 victory over Ocean City at Paul A. Rodio Gymnasium.  Coach Rodio made history surrounded by a capacity crowd primarily consisting of friends, family, former players, student managers, coaches, and dozens of Hermits Alumni.  The post-game presentation was highlighted by a moving tribute video by senior Vincent Campanaro ’23.  Coach was also presented with a massive ‘1,000 wins’ banner unfurled by the Richland Rowdies and a commemorative framed poster created by a design team led by Billy Hughes ’23.

Coach Rodio: Journey to 1,000 Wins

• 5-time State Champion (1982, 1999, 2004, 2011, 2016)

• 2nd all-time winningest coach in New Jersey

• Top-10 winningest active coach in the nation

• 21st coach in the nation to reach 1,000

• 15 South Jersey Championships

Full Broadcast – Hermits Basketball vs. Ocean City – 1.11.23 (Rodio 1,oooth Win)

“He’s one of a kind”

As Mike Rizzo ’86 P’11 (Director of Athletics) shared during an all-school assembly celebrating Coach, “There will never be another like him, not here, not anywhere.”  The sentiments of the 1986 Prep Graduate and former longtime Hermits Basketball assistant coach matched those of so many from local, regional, and national news outlets.  As he had done throughout his career, Coach Rodio’s efforts put the regional and national spotlight on the Prep.  Shared below is coverage provided by NJ.com (NJ Advance Media), the Courier-Post, the Press of Atlantic City, and numerous media outlets from South Jersey and across the country.

Mike Catalana ’81 is the longtime Sports Director for Rochester, NY ABC Affiliate, 13WHAM.  He brought his Hermit Pride to Rochester’s 11 o’clock news broadcast on the evening Coach Rodio earned win 1,000.

 

Coach Rodio was front and center on the Press of Atlantic City for Thursday, January 12, 2023.

 

A WIN FOR THE AGES

Local and statewide media also honored Coach Rodio with a variety of articles chronicling his journey to 1,000 wins.  The news coverage included messages from fellow coaches, former players, and a variety of Hermits Alumni who had been with him along the way.

• NJ.com – 1,000!: Paul Rodio reaches monumental milestone

• Press of Atlantic City – St. Augustine Basketball Coach wins 1,000th game

• NJ.com – Coaching legend closing in on colossal milestone

• NJ.com – Road to 1,000: The numbers, moments, and memories over Paul Rodio’s 46-year career

• Press of Atlantic City – St. Augustine Prep Coach Paul Rodio can get win 1,000 on Wednesday night

The anticipation of Coach Rodio’s historic win brought dozens of Hermits Alumni and friends of the Prep back to Richland for the unforgettable night. The work of talented student videographer Vincent Campanaro ’23 graced the large screen in Rodio Gym shortly following the final buzzer. The moving tribute video captured the essence of Coach Rodio’s career and the role the rise of the Hermits Basketball program served in putting St. Augustine Prep on the athletic map in the state and the country.

TRIBUTE VIDEO BY VINCENT CAMPANARO ’23

Social Media Love for Coach Rodio

PHOTO GALLERY – JANUARY 11, 2023

Coach Rodio earns 1,000th Win - January 11, 2023