The leadership at the [Philadelphia] Archdiocese and at each of these schools [challenges] are faced. People dont know how good he is, Killings said of Griffin, who moves into the college ranks after five seasons at Broad and Vine, as head coach at Roman Catholic High. One of the reasons for the strong support of the PCL is simple. Irving, the former Archbishop Carroll standout who would later join Griffins staff at Roman Catholic. One more and I'll have a basketball team!" The Catholic joins in and says, "Well I've got 10 kids, and one more I'll have a football team!". Catholic and Haverford High product Doherty makes D1 leap to Drexel, Maryland transfer, Roman product Hakim Hart heading to Villanova, 2023 Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest: Day Two Standouts (April 29), 2023 Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest Notebook (Pt. I dont think were ever going to forget it, he said. Many of the catholic catholic irish puns are supposed to be funny, but some can be offensive. Junior point guard Xzayvier Brown (above) is a three-year starter for the Cahillites. As he moves onto his next endeavor, Griffin was able to reflect on the success he had at Roman Catholic and what coaching has always meant for him. 84 likes, 7 comments - Bahamas Press (@bahamaspress) on Instagram: "Statement From Hon. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL). The Cahillites saw a great deal of success with Griffin heading the program, and the departure of coach in a winning program can be an obstacle to deal with in some cases. Sacred Heart won the leagues Division 2 championship last year. He got everything you could possibly get out of it, so were excited. While all the players McNesby coached have been out of high school at least a couple years, hes still got plenty of familiarity with the current state of the Cahillites program. Im like Now, its OK if I want to stop.. In a statement, Gregg Simon, an associate executive director of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, which both Sacred Heart and Lyman Hall are also members of, said that the conference promotes safety and sportsmanship above all else for our member schools. The conference said it had been in communication with Sacred Heart and Lyman Hall as they work through this difficult situation.. And while the Catholic League hasnt undergone a revolution in the last half-decade, theres no doubt that theres been some shifting of power, new faces at other schools that have changed the landscape. It was another reminder of why he does it. 6 West Catholic 71, No. Jardines buddies thought Arrigale was a cop when he pulled into their predominantly Black neighborhood to pick him up for practice. Hes going to make sure we do what we have to do to win.. One of the reasons for the strong support of the PCL is simple. His father, John Griffin Sr., played at Roman Catholic and was the head coach at St. Josephs University from 1990-95. Youd get like 10 or 15 bucks and back then in the 70s, you had money in your pocket for the week. Just as Killings was a highly successful recruiter in this area, both while serving under Fran Dunphy at Temple for five seasons and Steve Wojciechowski at Marquette for three, Griffin suggests Im sure Ill be recruiting within this area and in the surrounding area.. He and his wife had three children under the age of 10, and the grind that is being a top-level coach in the Philadelphia Catholic League isnt one that ever really lets up. , who replaced McNesby, to become an assistant at Albany. So you know youre going up against future SEC players and Big East and ACC players, said St. Josephs Prep head coach Jason Harrigan. Page not found Instagram Boys HS When it comes to Philly hoops, Jardine said his old coach belongs in the conversation with luminaries like John Chaney and Bill Ellerbee. What's next . It was at that moment that he formally offered his longtime friend the opportunity to become a Division I assistant coach. On a Wednesday night in February, the Palestra was packed for the PCL championship game between Roman Catholic and Neumann-Goretti. Almost five years after taking the job at one of the most successful and notorious programs in Philadelphia (and abroad), Griffin will head north to play in the same league where he played his last two years of college basketball. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, North Catholic created a $1.5 million dollar information-technology program that gave its students opportunities to train as information technologists, computer repairmen and network managers. Maybe he could just go to a game at the Palestra and watch as a fan or have something else to talk about than basketball when he runs into old friends down the Shore. Giordano didnt intend to play Arrigale much but he knew it would be good for him to hang with the older kids as the school did not have a JV squad. The older guys got to stay and clean up and split up the money they made from selling the doughnuts after Mass, Arrigale said. Its been an easy transition, Killings said of the new floor under Griffins feet. (18.9 ppg), a 6-3 guard, are two of the top scorers in the PCL, while 6-2 rising junior point guard, (10.1 ppg) like his two teammates also has multiple Division I offers. We return almost our entire roster and I think the staff has been together for a really long time. Born in Manayunk, Morris acquired the nickname "Speedy" because he was one of the slowest kids in his neighborhood. That league title game came to a climactic finish as Greer found Hart for the game-winning basket in the closing seconds. Conversations between the two about the idea of Griffin joining a Killings staff began to get more real as Killings got on the short list for some head-coaching jobs. That turned the coaching lights fully on. They survived, and Arrigale the coach who goes to Mass every Sunday and coached last week with ashes on his forehead when a playoff game fell on the first day of Lent told Taylor that Cunningham served his penance.. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Please email any questions or concerns about these stories to: editor@philadelphianeighbors.com. Just as unrelenting were the barrage of three-point shots and fast-break chances. PIAA Class 4A boys basketball: Bethlehem Catholic ready to take - MSN The school announced his hiring Tuesday. Schools A glut of talent on PCL rosters created league-wide parody and heightened interest in the competition, as four programs had a realistic chance to win the 2023 title. This really did mean something to these guys. The long-standing tradition and reputation of the program made this issue easier to handle. After serving as an assistant for two seasons atSt. Joes Prep, his alma mater, under legendary coachWilliam Speedy Morris, Griffin succeededChris McNesby, who had stepped down after winning back-to-back Philadelphia Catholic and Class 4A titles. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL). "It's hard to describe," said Griffin, a 2007 St. Joseph's Prep alum, former first-team All-Catholic, and team captain at Boston University. A familiar face is leading the Roman Catholic basketball program once again as the Cahillites strive to return to familiar heights. First step was a consultation with his wife, Lisa, herself a state championship coach, of cheerleading at St. Huberts. Are we making more money than were spending?. Roman Catholic: 22: a-Neumann-Goretti: 8: La Salle: 8: West Catholic: 8: North Catholic: a -- formerly South Cath./Bishop Neumann/St. McNesby (above, in 2016) coached Roman Catholic to two straight PIAA big-school crowns before stepping down. When the Center Cityall-boys high school found itself in need of a new basketball coach following Matt Griffins departure to the University at Albany, a reach-out from an all-too-familiar name turned out to be exactly the right answer. Roman Catholic, When the Center Cityall-boys high school found itself in need of a new basketball coach following. Then the Roman job opened up the following year. Within the Philadelphia Catholic League, Griffin was the President of the Coaches Association for five seasons (2016-2021). Note: This story is the latest in CoBLs Prepping for Preps series, which will take a look at many of the top high school programs in the region as part of our 2021-22 season preview coverage. McNesby coached the sons and relatives of his former teammates at Roman Catholic. In five years, his overall record was 96-29. Mr. Carbone said that Mr. Kirck, who has two daughters who play basketball for Sacred Heart, would miss the teams highly anticipated game against Hamden High School on Thursday night. His first Philadelphia Catholic League title consisted of Seth Lundy (Penn State), Hakim Hart (Maryland), Allen Betrand (Rhode Island) and Lynn Greer III, who is headed to Dayton. From Miami Heat point guard Kyle Lowry to Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, the PCL has produced an immense amount of talent over the years. They won that night and his father died two months later. What am I doing? Certainly Chris comes with a lot of gravitas and did an excellent job, but I can honestly say from the committee we established, when we did interviews, he had to earn it again, Bongard said. McNesby is a graduate of Roman Catholic, class of 1995, and played for the basketball team as a student. Both McNesby and Griffin have won two Philadelphia Catholic League titles in their time at the helm, but Roman has finished as the runner-up the last two seasons. Our basketball program is in a great place. He informed his players of his decision on Tuesday as they wrapped up the season and got together one last time. They will take the reins at the moment as we get prepared for spring and summer workouts.. The dad told his son that he needed it by himself. The coach stuck to his principles. Everything had seemed to change since he sat at Deans Bar. Prior [continue reading], Lawncrest resident Rick Heydt is entering his 11th year coaching in the Fox Chase Roller Hockeyleague. A familiar face is leading the Roman Catholic basketball program once again as the Cahillites strive to return to familiar heights. Arrigale won his first league title and also set the foundation for his program. For me, being a Catholic League guy for years, McNesby said last month at the City of Basketball Love Interstate Shootout, (the goal) is to win the Catholic League. @RomanBasketball s departure to the University at Albany, a reach-out from an all-too-familiar name turned out to be exactly the right answer. A closer look reveals individuals in localcommunities who make sports accessible and enjoyable for others. Joseph Bongard, expressing his interest in getting in the mix. Roman Catholic's basketball coach resigns - Catholic Philly Boys HS I wasnt sure how it would feel at first, but it keeps coming back to me,, said. Roman won back-to-back Catholic League and PIAA state titles in 2015 and 2016 under McNesby led by current NBA wing. Boys' Basketball: Matt Griffin Hired As Roman Catholic's Basketball Coach 7 Cardinal O'Hara 69, No. The dedicated fanbase of the PCL was surprising to Neumann-Goretti Athletic Director Pat Devenney when he was first hired in 2021. Neumann Goretti beat West Catholic, 69-56, in overtime in their Catholic League semifinal Wednesday at the Palestra. Brown backed him . Roman Catholic Basketball has produced FIVE McDonald's All-Americans since the game's inception in 1978-Reggie Jackson '78, Lonnie McFarlan '80, Dallas Comegys '83, Mark Stevenson '85, Eddie Griffin '00, and Maalik Wayns '09. As the only Roman players to have started all 12 games last year, the trio will carry most of the load on the court for the Cahillites and will also be expected to handle many of the leadership responsibilities. He had pitched the idea of having Griffin join his staff with the Great Danes for a few weeks, as the deal evolved from more of a possibility to a reality. 18.2 ppg which included a career-high 37 points against Bonner-Prendergast in the regular season. Basketball is one of the most popular sports at Christ the King for boys and girls in grades 3-8. I get that, and thats the fun of coaching at Roman, too, the expectations are high and they have a lot of support as well. McNesby will still have plenty of familiar faces around him, including Tom McKenna (behind, with glasses). And the washing machine? A Roman alum, McNesby went 168-55 (.753) overall and 90-16 (.849) in the Catholic League in the eight years that followed, winning back-to-back Catholic League and PIAA state championships in both 2015 and 16. Jason Shea, the head coach of the boys basketball team at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, where Mr. Kirck had previously worked, defended him Tuesday on Twitter. Chapman, 5-9 junior guard, played the . PIAA basketball preview for Executive and Parkland quarterfinal round games There is nothing like it.. (Friday, Temple forward Dre Perry committed to Albany as a grad transfer.). Coaching that group taught me more about coaching than I probably taught them., On the phone, Griffin offered a little tour of his relationship with Killings, how Killings was at BU for one championship season, but moving on, he never stopped staying in touch., Example: Killings got back to Boston the following year, texted Griffin and some teammates. Im older. [1] [2] Coaching career After playing for the Hawks from 1974 to 1978, Griffin returned as an assistant coach in 1980, staying for two seasons before taking the head coaching job at Siena. That history is rivaled by few, if any, high school basketball leagues across the nation, leading the PCL to be considered one of the great athletic traditions in a city full of proud sports traditions. I have a family. That trio alone will be plenty for opponents to deal with, along with 6-8 big man Chad Anglin and promising sophomore Toby Ojukwu, who started a few games as a freshman; it remains to be seen if 6-7 rising senior wing Matija Radanovic, a Montenegro native, comes back for another year. If we all come together as a collective group defensively and get stops, the sky's the limit for our group. Bergen Catholic relay win highlights Day 2 for North Jersey at - MSN I was taught the value of practice, repetition at a young age, Arrigale said. MISSION STATEMENT. Other good players are coming to play the best players. . https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/nyregion/connecticut-high-school-girls-basketball-coach.html. Both McNesby and Griffin have won two Philadelphia Catholic League titles in their time at the helm, but Roman has finished as the runner-up the last two seasons. Buddies Jalil Bethea, Xzayvier Brown shine in Archbishop Wood loss to Roman To move forward, Roman Catholic went back. Our goal is to create the well-rounded athlete, one who understands sport from the mental and physical perspectives. The second team was led by Greer, Hart and Lundy as well as highly ranked freshman in Justice Williams and 6-foot-10 big man Jalen Duren, both of whom are now at Montverde Academy (Fla.). As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Griffin took over for the next five years and won two PCL championships, in 2018 and 2019. Its funny, the first time I ever saw Dwayne, he was walking around campus with Pat for his interview, Matt Griffin said this week. "We're going to come and compete every night. Killings had just been named the new head coach at the University of Albany as the Cahillites and Vikings played the latest installment of the Philadelphia Catholic League final, this time at Cardinal OHara. Is our enrollment good enough? Now the boss, putting together his own first staff, Killings reached back to that one season in Boston, to a guy he calls a rock star born in the business.. Theres always going to be ups and downs, but the more that those three guys can bring the group along I always say players play and, as coaches, we can guide them, but they have to take it over.. 1:15. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. I felt the pressure every day, Griffin said, not just from the tradition, but because he had brought in the highest-level players, certain to go on to Division I hoops. Jackson, as a younger player, wont be relied on too heavily, but the 6-foot-6 ninth grader should contribute on the defensive end and the glass at points this season at the least. Hes been there before. North Catholic created a $1.5 million dollar information-technology program, Amateur Sports: Five People Most Local Citizens Havent Heard Of, North Philadelphia: Andy German of The Prep Says, It All Comes Down to Coaching., Fox Chase: How A Hockey Coach Intertwines Sport And Family, Health: The Unseen Cost of an Undiscussed Topic, Northeast Philadelphia: Socks For The Streets Is Reducing The Stigma Of Homelessness, Mantua: Murals Serve As Reminders of Community Triumphs, Fairmount: Joining the Global Conversation on Water Sustainability, Philadelphia Neighborhoods Student Reporters, Lew Klein College of Media and Communication. Sacred Heart raced out to a 29-0 lead after the first quarter of the 32-minute game. It was also there that he met teammateD.J. Get Your Popcorn Ready! Camden vs Roman Catholic Part II Arrigale was ready and applied for the job. Some of the players had graduated 20 years ago. At times, basketball has taken a back seat to these broader realities. "It was pretty cool. 2 Roman 76, Cardinal O'Hara 52 No. 1 thing he wants me to do is develop players and monitor their progress, Griffin said. Parkland boys basketball can't keep up with Roman Catholic in PIAA exit Reading High defeats Roman Catholic in overtime to win PIAA Class 6A boys basketball title [Updated] Now, Nick has his moment and his gold medal too. As he pulled into the fabled school at the corner of Broad and Vine Streets, he received a call from an old friend: riffin will step down as Roman Catholics head coach and athletic director, effective April 1, and become an assistant on Killings staff at Albany. READ MORE: Imhotep Charters Justin Edwards is Phillys top high school player in 30 years. Neumann-Goretti High School (Philadelphia, PA) Varsity Basketball By Rich Flanagan - Photos: Kathy Leister & Mike Nance, 03/24/21, 9:30AM EDT. DiCamillo had been pulling for Arrigale behind the scenes.