Naclerio carves path to the top of PSAL
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
When Ron Naclerio steps into Cardozo High School’s gym Tuesday night it will be a little different.
The long time Judges boys coach will be attempting to achieve a monumental milestone against Francis Lewis High. A victory over the Patriots will help Naclerio become the PSAL all-time leader in coaching victories. Former legendary coach Chuck Grandy, of Andrew Jackson and Campus Magnet, held the top spot when he retired after 45 years of coaching in 2014.
“To do something that has never been done in New York City Public School,” Naclerio said. “You look back and say what a pretty big accomplishment.”
Naclerio is in his 35th season as a head coach at the Bayside school, where he has helped the school win two city championships – 1999 and 2014. Prior to that he was an assistant coach for five seasons when the school won a city crown in 1978.
However, there was a time when he wasn’t the King of Queens or New York. In Naclerio’s first season, the Judges finished 1-21. He proceeded to buy every tape, visit any clinic and talk to coaches – like former St. John’s University men’s coach Lou Carnessecca.
“I was smart enough to know I could learn from everybody,” Naclerio said. “I have out of bound plays that I have taken from CYO coaches. I am also smart enough to know that if I think I know everything, I need to call it quits.”
It is a good thing Naclerio did not call it quits. After that dismal first season, he turned it around going 21-4 after 13 players from that team returned. When Naclerio took over the program at his alma mater many did not think a winning basketball program could blossom at the Queens school. Basketball was an inner city game and there are no projects in the suburban community. It would be difficult to get students into the highly academic school.
Many of those critics today look at Naclerio shaking their heads just wondering how Cardozo became one of the best programs in city.
Some of the notable players many will know by name were Duane Caldwell, Rafer “Skip to My Lou” Alston and Royal Ivey several of the former Judges who are also former NBA players.
“Success breeds success,” Naclerio said. “Good players want to come and it is a good school.”
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About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.