Cardozo's Ron Naclerio sets New York state high school basketball win record

Veteran coach wins 973rd game, surpassing legendary Jack Curran's 972 wins

Jan. 30, 2026 at 11:31pm

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Ron Naclerio, the longtime head coach of the boys' basketball program at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens, captured his 973rd victory on Friday, making him the winningest high school coach in New York state history. Naclerio, 68, surpassed legendary head coach Jack Curran of Archbishop Molloy, who racked up 972 career wins over his five-decade tenure.

Why it matters

Naclerio's milestone achievement cements his legacy as one of the most successful high school basketball coaches not just in New York, but across the country. His longevity and sustained excellence over more than five decades have made him a revered figure in the New York City basketball community.

The details

Naclerio's 973rd win came in a 69-46 victory over Julia Richman High School. The Bayside native has coached at Cardozo for 51 years, winning two city titles in 1999 and 2014, and producing four NBA players: Rafer Alston, Royal Ivey, Duane Causwell and James Southerland. Naclerio was almost sidelined from coaching after city investigators accused him of improperly recruiting students, but he ultimately scored a legal win.

  • Naclerio captured his 973rd victory on Friday, January 31, 2026.
  • Naclerio has coached at Cardozo High School for 51 years.

The players

Ron Naclerio

The longtime head coach of the boys' basketball program at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens, New York, who has now become the winningest high school coach in New York state history.

Jack Curran

The legendary head coach of the Archbishop Molloy High School basketball team, who previously held the record for most wins by a high school coach in New York state with 972 career victories.

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What they’re saying

“I knew it was special. Because when you look in the crowd and you see 30 or 40 former players, and you see the media.”

— Ron Naclerio, Head Coach, Cardozo High School (The Post)

“At halftime I realized unless an atomic bomb hit the place, 16 basketball minutes would put me on a basketball Mount Rushmore myself.”

— Ron Naclerio, Head Coach, Cardozo High School (The Post)

“To even be considered in the same sentence as the only Knick coach to win two NBA championships, a Hall of Famer … I'm going to enjoy this.”

— Ron Naclerio, Head Coach, Cardozo High School (The Post)

What’s next

Naclerio, who has coached at Cardozo for 51 years, says he is not done yet, noting that in basketball terms, he is in the "fourth quarter" of his career.

The takeaway

Ron Naclerio's record-setting 973rd win cements his legacy as one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in New York history, a testament to his longevity, sustained excellence, and profound impact on the sport in the city over the past five decades.