Perno sheds interim label as Knights coach
Calls position at alma mater his “dream job”
There is no truth that Mike Perno’s real first name is Interim.
For most of the college basketball season, Perno was known as Interim coach Mike Perno around the campus at the College of Saint Rose.
No more. The interim tag was removed on Feb. 1 when the school made the announcement — one everyone knew was coming — that Perno would be the head coach of the team.
“It was obviously nice to get it off,” Perno said with a laugh when asked about losing the moniker. “But I didn’t really worry too much about it.”
Perno takes over a program that was guided by a St. Rose icon in Brian Beaury. Beaury retired in October after a 32-year career that saw him win 643 games, lose 226 and get to the Division II NCA A Tournament 14 times in the 27 years the Golden Knights have competed at that level.
It only made sense that Perno would be the heir apparent for the job. He played two years for Beaury after transferring from Monmouth and graduated in 2000.
He came back to his alma mater after a five-year stint coaching high school on Long Island and became an assistant under Beaury. For two of those seasons (2014-15, 2017-18) he took on the role of acting coach when Beaury went to the sidelines because of medical issues.
When Beaury stepped down in October, Perno expressed interest in the position. The school had its own process to go through before announcing Beaury’s successor.
Technically, anyone could have inquired about the job. St. Rose athletic director Cathy Haker said there was interest, but also said no one was interviewed for the position. Haker, like everyone else, thought Perno was the natural successor.
And, on Feb. 1, it was made official.
Perno, who will turn 41 on March 17, said he had meetings with athletic department personnel and also met with St. Rose President Carolyn J. Stefanco.
“It was pretty much a situation where they felt I was ready for the next step,” Perno said. “From a security standpoint, when they took the interim away, it kind of solidified my place at the college. It also helps with recruiting. But, obviously, I have some very big shoes to fill.”
“I’m very excited for him,” Haker said. “When Brian (Beaury) and I had conversations about his departure, I felt very strongly that Mike would be the guy. Brian has been a wonderful mentor to Mike and you could not ask for a better mentor than Brian Beaury.”
Beaury has also been a strong supporter for Perno taking over the program he built.
“I am very happy for Mike,” Beaury said. “This went the way I really hoped it would go.”
Beaury and Perno still talk on a regular basis and Beaury has been to a few games and a “handful” of practices.
This season has not gone the way anyone wanted it to. The Golden Knights, who play American International in a Northeast-10 Conference game Wednesday night at Nolan Gym, have three games left in their season.
St. Rose, which is 5-12 in the league and 8-16 overall, will not qualify for the league’s postseason tournament.
“It hasn’t been an easy year,” Beaury said. “They are young. They have had some injuries. And it can’t be easy doing the job every day not knowing whether or not the job will be yours.”
This is the first season that St. Rose’s record will be reflected in Perno’s personal win/loss record. When he was the acting coach, the wins and losses still went to Beaury, who was still listed as St. Rose’s head coach.
Now, the new era has started, and it’s one Perno hopes will last a long time.
“I would love to be able to spend the next 30 years here,” Perno said. “This is a dream job.”