Coaching Profiles: Coach Cerroni

Photos by Roberta Pratt.

Addie Hess

Coach Cerroni, Hamilton High School’s varsity basketball coach, has been coaching at Hamilton for 25 years. Basketball has long been a significant part of his life as he has held several head coach positions throughout his career. His love of sports and basketball developed early while growing up in a small town as he played football, baseball, and basketball alongside his graduating class of about 70 others. Outside of coaching, he enjoys spending time with his 10 grandchildren and going to their many sporting and extracurricular events such as softball, swim, baseball, volleyball, and theater.

Senior Asher Haas has this to say about Coach Cerroni: “Something that Coach Cerroni has taught me over the years is that hard work is the key to many things in life. Even if things may not be going your way at the moment, hard work will help you get to where you want to be.”

Sophomore Alec Vernon added, “Coach will always be there for anyone on the team no matter what. For example, I was sick for a couple of days, and he would make sure that I’m doing well by calling and texting me. Coach has taught me to fight through things and just work as hard as I can every day and not be satisfied. He has also …help[ed] me grow as a player.”

Read this interview with Coach Cerroni to learn more about him!

Did you coach somewhere else before HHS?

I was the head coach at Arrowhead High School for 13 years before coming to Hamilton.

Since you work outside of our district, what does your job look like?

Well, I retired from teaching four years ago, and I am employed by the district as a food delivery person. I transport the hot lunches that are prepared at SSI to the four grade schools in the district. I share the job with another person, so I only work two days one week and three days the following week. I start at 7:15am and I am done by 11:45 most days.

What are your goals for the team this year and years to come?

I just want our team to continue to improve throughout the year. I want them to continue to grow as young men, people, and basketball players. I want them to be able to look back and know they gave everything they had to help this team reach its potential. We are in a very good conference and every game will be a challenge. No days off in the GMC!!! I want them to develop lifelong relationships with their teammates and have the most positive experience possible!

What is the best part of coaching?

Building relationships with the players. Watching them grow as young men to young adults. Watching them work so hard to try to achieve team success and come together as a team. I love it when their hard work comes together and they play the game it is supposed to be played. Selflessly. I love when the stands are filled to watch them perform and cheer so loudly!!! Nothing better.

What is the hardest part of coaching?

Basketball is a long season—sometimes players lose focus and the drive to continue to push through. It is sometimes hard to help players realize the grind is part of their growth as a player and as a person.

What does a typical practice look like?

Well, I like them to be hard and competitive. I always tell them practices have to be harder than games. We work on all phases—Offense, Defense and Transition. Later in the season, we cut back on the amount of time as we begin to play more games.

Describe your pregame and halftime rituals.

Pregame we review our scouting report—matchups for the game and points of emphasis. At halftime the players have some time to talk among themselves about the first half before the coaches come into the locker room. When we get in there, we discuss how well we are executing the game plan, areas we need to improve on, or areas we are doing well.

What does the tryout process look like?

We use the first week of practice to evaluate all players at every level—many kids have a pretty good idea where they are at, and we have not had to make many cuts over the years. This is the worst part of coaching for me: telling someone they cannot be a part of the program—SO AWFUL!

Who is your biggest inspiration in the basketball community?

My first coaching job was when I was a junior and senior at Lakeland College. I volunteered at Sheboygan North High School in Sheboygan for Coach Tom Desotell—a Hall of Fame Coach who has the most victories of any Wisconsin high school coach at a Division 1 school. He has won multiple State Championships and is a legend in the coaching community. He has been my mentor throughout my career. He has been retired for over 6 years, but we still have weekly conversations, and he is always willing to share advice and be there for me. I am truly blessed to have him in my life. My other inspiration would be my wife Paula—the sacrifices she has made throughout all my years of coaching is beyond the call of duty. Without her support, there would be no way I would still be coaching. She is my rock!

If you could play on any NBA team, what team would it be and why?

I would be on the Washington Wizards so I could play with Patrick Baldwin, Jr.—former Charger Superstar! *Editor's note: Since this interview, Baldwin, Jr. has been traded to the San Diego Clippers.