This is an honor that’s looooong overdue (and so is the mention on this space ;).
St. Joseph recently announced that it will name its basketball court after veteran boys coach Vito Montelli in a ceremony Friday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 prior to the Cadets’ season-opening game vs. Central.
Montelli, who is beginning his 47th season at St. Joseph, has been the school’s only boys basketball coach. He has coached in 1,106 career games and has a record of 793-313 (a .717 winning percentage), a career win total that ranks him first in the history of Connecticut high school basketball. His teams have qualified for the state tournament in 40 of the 44 eligible years and have won nine state championships.
It should be a nice ceremony that, once again, long overdue. Longtime friend and rival Charlie Bentley had Harding’s Miska Gymnasium court named after him two seasons ago. And even that was long overdue. But at least Bentley can say he beat Montelli to this punch, right?
As for St. Joseph’s team, which is coming off a much-publicized scrimmage “victory” over Windsor (according to eyewitness reports on here), this will be its season-opener. The Cadets get the FCIAC’s first bye when the 2008-09 season opens on Wednesday. “It’s great because now I’ll get to scout a few teams,” Montelli said earlier last week.
Should be a packed house. See you there.
Didn’t Vito Montelli get busted a few years back for recruiting violations? The man somehow kept his job and the court is named after him. Brushed under the table.
Vito Montelli is a tremendous basketball coach and a great human being. He has put ST. Josephs High School on the map. Go back over forty years and Coach Montelli has laid the ground work for the success of the school and its athletic program. Top coaches up and down the line in each sport and an excellent student body with good athletes and good people. Congratulations to Coach Montelli for this tremendous honor.
i dont understand why you would publish a scrimmage game, but i know your sources are wrong. but i do apprieciate the respect that your readers give the windsor high school program. also check your sources reliabilty
happy holidays!
ciao!
Here we go with scrimmages again. Ansonia football based on scrimmages almost stole the States Number one ranking because they beat someone in a scrimmage. You guys will never learn.