With an enthusiastic and passionate group of coaches . 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. Killings later moved on to Connecticut and Marquette. 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. The former St. Joes Prep point guard, who had also taken over as the schools athletics director, had the team in prime position to challenge for yet another PCL title in 2021-22 when he jumped on the opportunity to be a Division I coach. Held at the historic Palestra, the Catholic League playoffs are the biggest stage in local high school basketball. Arrigale will try Monday at the Palestra to win his 13th Catholic League boys title when his Neumann Goretti squad takes on Roman Catholic. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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.. Sacred Heart raced out to a 29-0 lead after the first quarter of the 32-minute game. Last nights Girls Basketball game vs Lyman Hall High School does not align with our values or philosophies.. But Ive never done it for the money. For a program that has churned out the likes of Eddie Griffin, Marc Jackson, Rasul Butler and Maalik Wayns, Griffin believed any of his players could reach their potential if they followed his coaching model. He's also one of Philly's greatest hoops coaches. When youre in it, you dont realize it, but when you step away, [you miss] the relationships of the Philly basketball community and your players, he said. BENSALEM The Archbishop Wood-Roman Catholic game Tuesday night featured two of the best boys basketball players in Pennsylvania. It was never his plan to own the store filled with refrigerators, dishwashers, and range hoods on the corner of 8th and Passyunk. Some current PCL players are considered among the best local and national high school recruits, including Neumann-Goretti point guard Robert Wright and Archbishop Wood shooting guard Jahlil Bethea. On a Wednesday night in February, the Palestra was packed for the PCL championship game between Roman Catholic and Neumann-Goretti. You had to have difficult discussions., READ MORE: Drexel's T.J. Bickerstaff enters transfer portal. The large crowds are a calling card of the PCL, although not the standard for high school gymnasiums. Philadelphia High School Basketball Coaches' All-Catholic Teams (1970-2022) Return to TedSilary.com Home Page 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. Having played at St. Joes Prep, been a First Team All-Catholic in 2007 and coached in the area for years, he has a terrific understanding of the landscape and will work to recruit the right players to join the Great Danes program. Forget all the expectations about winning; the most important thing of why I got into coaching is to make a difference. Through their abilities, these Christian NBA players glorify God. Do Las Vegas churches accept gambling chips? Were entrenched, Arrigale said of South Philly. Ever since Ive coached at Roman, they expect us to be in the championship every year, he said. Hes been there before. The scoreboard, stuck on zero for the visiting team until the games final quarter, wasnt broken. After five seasons, Chris McNesby is back as head coach following the departure of previous coach Matt Griffin, who replaced McNesby, to become an assistant at Albany. MISSION STATEMENT. 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. Conversations with Killings were part of his own evolution, Griffin said. In the role of head coach, you cant make everyone happy all the time. & Co. McNesby stepped aside in May 2016. Playing and developing under Killings and former Penn State head coach Pat Chambers, Griffin was an integral part of the Terriers 2011 America East Conference Tournament Championship as a junior and helped the team advance to the NCAA Tournament against No. Do we need to do a better job of teaching what sportsmanship is?. 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. 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. Then coming into this year,[I] [am] really getting to see it explode, especially with the pandemic behind us. Lange made his approval very clear on the other end of the phone. Our goal is to create the well-rounded athlete, one who understands sport from the mental and physical perspectives. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL). 4) (April 22-23, 2023), GUAA/Live at the Nook Notebook (Pt. The impact he had on me was probably what probably pushed me into the high school coaching thing, Arrigale said. As theyve gotten older, he explained, theyve focused on certain activities and that doesnt always mean they need him around: I dont think they want the dad-coach anymore, McNesby said with a laugh. Youre a champ forever and thats an experience with that group of guys that you take forever. Jackson, the older son of former Roman Catholic and Temple star and NBA player Marc Jackson, finished with 19 points on 8-for-8 shooting from the field and 3-for-5 from the line. We are grateful for some of the people that we have partnerships with within the [South] [Philadelphia] community.. [ April 26, 2023 ] Amateur Sports: Philadelphia Catholic League Has Traditions That Extend Beyond the Court. 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. The title game will be the fifth matchup between Saints coach Carl Arrigale and Cahillites coach Chris McNesby in the PCL finale. Even though he knew it was the right call at the time, McNesby still missed being part of the action when he stepped aside. 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.). He returned to coach his alma mater to develop a new generation of PCL standouts. Fandom is passed down through generations. Catholic League (B) This is not A.A.U. Its something you really need to take in first hand. That turned the coaching lights fully on. Staying engaged on defense and the glass will be a key in handling those games and being able to reach their potential, according to McNesby. 1) (April 28), 2023 Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest Day 1 Standouts (April 28), Plymouth Whitemarsh Spring League Notebook (Thurs., April 27), Jay Ems Northeast Basketball League (NEBL) 2023 Schedule, GUAA/Live at the Nook Notebook (Pt. I want the kids to have things that theyll talk about forever, Arrigale said. . But it wasnt the Xs-and-Os that made Arrigale special. As he pulled into the fabled school at the corner of Broad and Vine Streets, he received a call from an old friend:Dwayne Killings. Roman Catholic basketball coach Matt Griffin to work for former Temple assistant Dwayne Killings at Albany | Mike Jensen "It was a PhD in coaching," Griffin said of his time at Roman. Thats when it started to get rolling, Arrigale said. Roman won back-to-back Catholic League and PIAA state titles in 2015 and 2016 under McNesby led by current NBA wing. On 3/25, the Roman Catholic varsity basketball team lost their home playoff game against Reading (PA) by a score of 62-56. Griffin picked Killings brain on presenting his program to college coaches. Arrigale was in. 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. Theyre really excited, McNesby said. , who replaced McNesby, to become an assistant at Albany. Arrigale was a fifth grader at King of Peace on 26th and Reed when Dom Giordano put him on the seventh- and eighth-grade team. All three have been assistants alongside Griffin since he was hired. Who is next?. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL). A little thing, Griffin said. In addition to his coaching duties, Griffin served as the Athletic Director for the last two years, overseeing 17 athletic programs. Basketball is one of the most popular sports at Christ the King for boys and girls in grades 3-8. Although Heydt [continue reading]. Im not 30 anymore. Boys Basketball 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. Am I going to kill him for five minutes?. Everything had seemed to change since he sat at Deans Bar. They were walking around the soccer field., READ MORE: Gillespie and Samuels returning to Villanova. Killings was with his wife, but drove to the group, put on his hazards, runs over, talks to us for ten minutes thats who he was.. They even got paid. 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. At times, basketball has taken a back seat to these broader realities. Im just coaching to chase that down, Arrigale said. Killings told him that for open gyms, college coaches might know who theyre coming to watch, but might not have seen that player yet, wouldnt recognize him, or they might see someone younger who catches their eye. The storefront on 8th Street is where Carl Arrigale went each summer to earn extra money while in high school at Penn Charter. We trust him. Its like being a part of something really special, and when youre away from it, youre outside the circle. In spite of the passionate fans, the bottom line is that enrollment numbers and financial pressures are concerns that PCL schools must monitor. But the lopsided result of the high school girls basketball game in Connecticut this week might have made even Bobby Knight blanch the final score between Sacred Heart Academy and Lyman Hall High School was 92-4. Philadelphia Catholic Hes going to make sure we do what we have to do to win., Leading the Roman roster is star two-way senior forward, ., who has committed to Cincinnati; a pure scorer in Farmer, who has offers from a number of schools including Drexel, Albany and Fairfield; and junior point guard. He will officially sign his contract with the university on Thursday. 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. Its bittersweet because Im going to miss my kids so much. His mom told him they would take care of the store while he coached. Arrigales time at Neumann started with a beer at Deans Bar, a hole-in-the-wall at 29th and Tasker. It was also there that he met teammate, As the school has no plans to hire a permanent head coach yet, Irving, assistants, After serving as an assistant for two seasons at, While his final season at the helm of the Cahillites ended in the title game, Griffin is leaving a talented corps for whoever takes the job. So you know youre going up against future SEC players and Big East and ACC players, said St. Josephs Prep head coach Jason Harrigan. One transfer picked up already out of the portal, Paul Newman, is a Roman grad, but graduated just before Griffin took over. Morris finished his career with 1,035 victories as the coach of five teams, including high school boys' teams at Roman Catholic, Penn Charter, and St. Joseph's Prep, as well as the La Salle University women and men. Killings recommended a workout place he used in Fairmount and Griffin signed on, getting closer to his old coach as Griffin taught at a charter school on Broad Street and helped out Speedy Morris at the Prep. Dwayne has a very creative mind, always forward thinking, ahead of the curve, Griffin said. What's next . You have pressure to know what youre talking about, know what youre doing. 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. We are doing everything we can to use playgrounds [and] recreational centers, Devenney said about other practice sites. So it is scary in that regard. But in recent years, despite the championship pedigree, the PCL has become known for something else: A lack of resources. Following his teams loss toArchbishop Woodin the Philadelphia Catholic League championship game just hours before, Griffin was mulling over what he could have done differently to potentially change the outcome and what to improve upon so the result could be in his teams favor next season. He said, Listen, if I ever got a [head coaching] job, the first thing I would do is change the office. He specifically said, I would change the flooring in the office, just to create a different environment. . Ill look back and think it was a time where I kind of grew up, said Griffin, the younger brother of St. Josephs University assistant John Griffin, whom he speaks with multiple times a day. Matt Griffin (above) takes over as Roman Catholic's head coach 42 years after his father graduated from the school. 3 of 18 4 of 18 University at Albany men's basketball assistant coach Matt Griffin, right, . 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. And with the right progress, Roman has the potential to make some noise there again this season. PIAA CLASS 6A QUARTERFINAL. Im feeling recharged and ready to go., It was 13 years ago that McNesby, several years a Roman assistant coach, succeeded longtime Roman coach. Every time he thinks hes out, the guy from South Philly gets pulled back in. I love the Phillies. Neumann-Goretti is not the only strong fanbase in the PCL. Three of his assistant coaches Bill Goebig, Kyle Bernard and Mike Wild are all still on staff, as is team statistician and local hoops figure Tom Hock McKenna. Roman Catholic head coach Matt Griffin will become the assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Albany - PSD Photo by Geneva Heffernan. Were not looking for yesterday, were looking for the future.. The reality is the land some of these schools are on, the [Philadelphia] Archdiocese can probably profit greatly from that, said Mike McKee, the mens basketball coach at La Salle College High School, speaking about the closures. Photographer Paul Burdick has posted a new gallery Reading @ Roman Catholic (PIAA 6A Championship) containing 54 photos. Story Links Saint Joseph's Head Coach Billy Lange has announced that Xzayvier Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic), Anthony Finkley (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) and Shawn Simmons, Jr. (Philadelphia, Pa./Hillcrest Prep) have signed national letters of intent to attend Saint Joseph's University in the fall of 2023. Hes going to make sure we do what we have to do to win.. Bongard, a Roman alum who worked at the school from 2006-10 and was appointed to his current position in 2014, was also on the selection committee that hired McNesby the first time around. I was 10 years old, practicing five nights a week with a game on the weekends.. That league title game came to a climactic finish as Greer found Hart for the game-winning basket in the closing seconds. After a 10-2 season, which saw the exodus of Williams and Duren along with playing around restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Roman Catholic returns 6-6 junior forward, Just as Killings was a highly successful recruiter in this area, both while serving under, This website is powered by SportsEngine's. McKee, 46, has been a college assistant coach at King's College, Lafayette, Air Force, Richmond, the University of Denver, and Denver's Regis University. Home No, Jardine said, Arrigale was just a South Philly kid like him and his teammates. Some were fresh out of school. Its an adjustment for me and it happened so quickly. Our basketball program is in a great place. He helped with deliveries, stood behind the counter, and did whatever else was needed at his grandfathers South Philadelphia appliance store before basketball season started. Theres always a new challenge to meet or a talented guard to coach or a kid he just wants to see graduate. The suspension of Jason Kirck, the third-year coach of the Sharks, one of the top-ranked teams in the state, was confirmed on Thursday by Al Carbone, the commissioner of the Southern Connecticut Conference. NAME: 12: Carl Arrigale . Hopefully, Ive done that.. One of the reasons for the strong support of the PCL is simple. Its the longest street in the city. He is the son of former Temple star and Philadelphia 76er Marc Jackson. So Arrigale left C&D Appliances on Friday afternoon and headed to Neumann Goretti. Its amazing, senior guard Khalil Farmer said of working with McNesby. 6) (April 21-23, 2023), GUAA/Live at the Nook Notebook (Pt. Except for Central in the early part of the 20th century, no city leagues team had won six consecutive titles. He probably wouldnt look at it like this, but, given the trust he has for his new boss, Griffin might have less pressure with this latest move. JuniorJhamir Martinis also a returning starter as is 6-7 juniorMatija Radunovic. 21h Shareef Jackson hits a basketball at the buzzer! I was taught the value of practice, repetition at a young age, Arrigale said. Arrigale looks to finish his 25th Catholic League season with a win in Monday's championship vs. Roman. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022 All Rights Reserved. Matt Griffin leaves Roman Catholic after five years, in which he won two PCL championships and one state title - PSD Photo by Mike Nance, As the school has no plans to hire a permanent head coach yet, Irving, assistantsKyle BernardandMike Wild, a member of the Cahillites 2000 Philadelphia Catholic League title team, will collectively oversee the program in the interim. 2023 University at Albany. Because weve had a relationship for such a long time, it was something that we had talked about, Griffin said. Neumann-Goretti is not the only PCL school that struggles with limited facilities. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Cantrell Fletcher one of the leagues best players tore an ACL at the start of the quarterfinals and his backup freshman Tabby Cunningham had skipped practice the day before, resulting in a benching. 9 Father Judge 61 Quarterfinals No. It wasnt going to be an easy choice; Bongard said that the last time around, when McNesby left the job while the school was also in the search for a new principal, we had seven people apply for principal and 32 apply for basketball coach.. He even eased up on his strict practice time, giving players a few-minute buffer to arrive. 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. [1] Early life and college [ edit] Coach, Im on 11th Street. Im like 11th Street is the new Broad Street. How does it impact our student-athletes?. He will officially sign his contract with the university on Thursday. I think hopefully we're a tough out." Roman Catholic senior Xzayvier Brown, above, and teammate Anthony Finkley are both headed to St. Joe's next season. Griffin played his first two collegiate seasons at Rider then transferred to play at Boston University, where he met Killings, who was an assistant with the Terriers at the time. Jason Kirck, the head coach at Sacred Heart Academy, during a girls basketball game against West Haven in West Haven, Conn., in 2020. MaxPreps National Basketball Editor Jordan Divens takes a look at this week's MaxPreps Top 25 basketball rankings. , who both played under McNesby and graduated in 2015; Wilkerson played college hoops at Hartford and Lincoln, while Taylor played football at Rutgers. 1, Pennsylvania hs bbkb state tourney primer. Roman Catholic Basketball Arrigale won his first league title and also set the foundation for his program. Brown backed him . 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. In 2021, Bishop McDevitt High School and John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School suffered a similar fate. 1) (April 28), 2023 Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest Day 1 Standouts (April 28), GUAA/Live at the Nook Notebook (Pt. 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. We return almost our entire roster and I think the staff has been together for a really long time. But they want to ask about this, Arrigale said. McNesby is a graduate of Roman Catholic, class of 1995, and played for the basketball team as a student. In a statement, Sister Sheila ONeill, the schools president, said: Sacred Heart Academy values the lessons taught and cultivated through athletic participation, including ethical and responsible behavior, leadership and strength of character and respect for ones opponents. Meanwhile, I want to know if this Noah Song guy is going to make the team. Rising seniors Daniel Skillings (19.7 ppg), a 6-6 wing, and Khalil Farmer (18.9 ppg), a 6-3 guard, are two of the top scorers in the PCL, while 6-2 rising junior point guard Xzayvier Brown (10.1 ppg) like his two teammates also has multiple Division I offers. Wood junior guard Jalil Bethea earned Catholic League Player of the Year honors and is being recruited by the likes of Syracuse and UCLA, while Xzayvier Brown is a high-level senior guard headed to St. Joseph's. I was at the stage where I didnt know what I didnt know. In five years, his overall record was 96-29. We got to buy in, Farmer said. WHYY reported the Archdiocesan conducted a study that found North Catholics enrollment decreased by 29 percent. Within the Philadelphia Catholic League, Griffin was the President of the Coaches Association for five seasons (2016-2021). Tournament Game 2023 PIAA Boys' Basketball Championships 4A Boys' Championship Allentown Central Catholic 49 Neumann-Goretti 67 Final Box Score Tournament Bracket Mar 21, 2023 @ 1:29am Your email address will not be published. McNesby will still have plenty of familiar faces around him, including Tom McKenna (behind, with glasses). Then the Roman job opened up the following year. Because at the end of the day, it is a business. A familiar face is leading the Roman Catholic basketball program once again as the Cahillites strive to return to familiar heights. Its unlikely read, impossible that a five-star guy like Jalen Duren will end up in Albany because of a Griffin connection, but the Roman days wont leave Griffin anytime soon. The Catholic League is loaded yet again, whether thats the length and athleticism of West Catholic, the experience and maturity of La Salle, or the talent and depth at Archbishop Wood, all of which have rosters full of future D-I and college players and theyre not the only ones. 10 Bonner & Prendie 60 No. Good things happen to good people.. If he can tighten up all aspects of his game, he can help take Roman to another level. Mr. Kirck, 47, did not immediately respond to phone and email messages on Thursday. Deep down, I do love it.. Catholic and Haverford High product Doherty makes D1 leap to Drexel, Zero Gravity XL Summit: Standouts (May 15-16), Big Shots Philly Pride: Local Storylines Notebook, Delaware native Jalen Duren fulfilling promise as the 'next big thing', Team Final Scrimmage: Preview & Schedule (April 17-18), Imhotep's Andre Noble continues humble march towards greatness, PIAA 6A: Archbishop Wood stays undefeated, heads to championship, PW product McTamney helps turn around West Chester for historic run, Tight-knit Jefferson ready for first Sweet 16 trip since 1986, Caprise's game-winner sends Swarthmore to Final Four over Nichols, 2023 Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest: Day Two Standouts (April 29), 2023 Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest Notebook (Pt. In an editorial on Thursday, The Hartford Courant newspaper commended Sacred Heart for apologizing. Mr. Carbone, the Southern Connecticut Conference commissioner, pointed out that scholastic coaches in the state must be certified. His brother, John Griffin Jr., is the associate head coach of the Hawks. He and his staff immersed his players in what he called the Roman Way, where he pushed them to achieve their individual goals of success at the high school level while working to play collegiately. Certainly Chris track record of knowing the program there was an advantage.. Mantua: Neighborhood Community Center Faces Potential Demolition, Philadelphia has a rich sports tradition thatmany throughout the city share a deep passion for. I was always a people pleaser. When the news got out last month former Temple assistant coach Dwayne Killings was the new head mens basketball coach at the University of Albany Killings didnt immediately announce his staff, but promised some Philly flavor. Its been an easy transition, Killings said of the new floor under Griffins feet. His 12 titles are the most ever, but it's the kids that keep him coaching. Would you be willing to move wherever I go? Killings asked. His father, John Griffin Sr., played at Roman Catholic and was the head coach at St. Josephs University from 1990-95. Roman Catholics Xzayvier Brown leads the Cahillites back to a Catholic League championship game, California residents do not sell my data request. As he transitions out of the program and school, he will not be in charge of any type of hiring for my position and wont have much say in who takes over for me., He informed his players of his decision on Tuesday as they wrapped up the season and got together one last time. Now, McNesby and his team are aiming to pick up 2021-2022 where the coach left off his last time: on top of the PCL. In 2018, Griffin was named USA TODAY Coach of the Year in the state of Pennsylvania. But now were kind of needing them to really step up even more. By Rich Flanagan - Photos: Kathy Leister & Mike Nance, 03/24/21, 9:30AM EDT. McNesby coached the sons and relatives of his former teammates at Roman Catholic. Another person said, Every time I drive by the Palestra, my son knows Roman is in that game. Deep down, Matt Griffin has always had Roman Catholic in his blood. Hopefully, weve made an imprint.. A School Won 92-4 in Basketball.