Legendary Alter coach Petrocelli to be honored during state semifinal at UD Arena this month
Joe Petrocelli is not done adding honors.
The legendary Alter High School boys basketball coach, who led the Knights to three state championships, is a recipient of the John Wooden Legacy Award for 2024, the school announced this week.
“Archbishop Alter High School was blessed to have a living legend leading our boys basketball program for 49 years,” Alter director of athletics and co-coach of the girls basketball team Christina Hart said in a news release. “The impact he had on the game continues to live on in those players and assistants whose lives he’s touched.”
One of only two Ohio prep coaches to win more than 800 games, Petrocelli became the first coach in Knights boys basketball history in 1964 at the age of 26.
Over the next 49 years, he won 831 games, coached nine regional champions and 25 district champions as well as eventual NBA players Jim and John Paxson before retiring in 2013.
The Knights won state championships in 1978, ’99 and 2001, and Petrocelli was inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
“On behalf of the faculty, staff and students of Archbishop Alter High School, we are so excited that our own Coach Joe Petrocelli is being honored with this award,” Alter principal Lourdes Lambert said in a news release. “He has paved the path for many Knights by modeling the way with his own faith, pride and spirit. His continued love and support for our school and our community encourages all of our hearts. Congratulations, Joe.”
Petrocelli will be recognized during halftime of the OHSAA boys state semifinal game on March 23 at the University of Dayton Arena.