Roeper Varsity Basketball Coach Achieves 700th Win

Ernie Righetti, athletic director and varsity basketball coach at achieved his 700th win as a Roeper coach on Friday, Jan. 6.

“Since 1983, Ernie has worked to develop a program to serve Roeper’s students and athletes,” said Roeper Head of School Philip Deely. “His 700 victories with the school are a testament to his ability to bring out the best in student athletes and help support and nurture their talent. Ernie teaches both skills and character values, allowing his players to not only win on the court, but to apply their skills as team members to real life occurrences.”

Righetti’s extraordinary win record — 700 wins and 385 losses throughout his Roeper career — began in 1983 coaching the girls’ team. He then took over as boys varsity coach in 1985.

Righetti is credited with organizing, stabilizing and growing Roeper's sports programs in his role as athletic director.  The school, which was widely regarded as a great academic institution for educating gifted children, also evolved into one with flourishing and successful highschool sports teams under his leadership. This created even more opportunities for the students to explore andidentify programs in which they excelled.

Righetti’s accomplishments as varsity girls and boys basketball coach include:

• Ten-time MIAC Coach of the Year
• BCAM Regional Coach of the Year in ’94, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’04, ‘05
• Associated Press Coach of the Year in ‘08
• 700 Varsity Career Victories

Righetti, a Beverly Hills resident, had an illustrious high school career at Wayne Memorial High School, went on to play football and run track at Olivet College and began his coaching career at Wayne High, coaching three sports in 1974.   

He is also a parent to two Roeper alumni, Eric, a 1996 alum, and Leslie, a 2005 alum. Ernie’s been supported over the years by his wife, Roxanne, and his parents Ernest and Catherine Righetti, who attended the majority of his games over the years.

Since joining Roeper in 1983, Righetti has served not only as the boys and girls varsity basketball coach, but also as a track coach for several years. His fellow coaches and assistants, as well as Roeper families and students, for bringing a tremendous amount of passion and energy to Roeper athletics, have credited him. During his time at the school, Righetti has gained the admiration and respect of not only his own players, but also of students, coaches, parents and the entire Roeper faculty.

“Ernie has shown year after year his ability to coach young teams into competitors, good teams into contenders and great teams into champions," Roeper varsity soccer coach Ed Sack said. "The record speaks for itself but the impact he has made on these athletes off the court is far more impressive. Ernie has instilled a set of hard working values, expecting the most out of each individual, while stillcapable of listening to a crying teenager’s problem or giving tough advice that others shy away from. Ernie is the standard of excellence in athletics and I have been very blessed to work for such a talented man.”

Deely and Roeper will be publicly recognizing Righetti's achievement at a half-time award ceremony during his next home game on the Roeper basketball court at 7 p.m. Jan. 13.

This report was provided by The Roeper School.