St. Augustine's Legendary Coach Paul Rodio Gets 999th Win

St. Augustine Prep's longtime basketball coach Paul Rodio came within one game of his 1000th career win on Sunday when the Hermits beat Toms River North 76-44 at the Seagull Classic Tournament held at Holy Spirit High School.

Rodio, who has coached basketball at St. Augustine's since 1977, has the most wins of any active New Jersey high school coach and ranks number two all-time for victories in New Jersey behind retired St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley's 1135 wins.

St. Augustine's first chance to get their coach his 1000th win is this Wednesday when they host Ocean City.

Paul Rodio, a 1970 graduate of St. Augustine's Prep who has spent his entire career coaching the Hermits basketball team, once answered a question from a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter about retiring with a question of his own: Why?

Last week, St. Augustine's spotlighted Rodio's upcoming 1000th-win accomplishment in a Facebook post that shows the regard with which he is held by the school.

Coach Paul Rodio '70 stands just 3 victories away from 1,000 career wins, all of which were achieved at the helm of the Hermits Basketball program. The milestone is one that the St. Augustine family is eagerly anticipating for the man who has dedicated his life to the Prep.

When the coach had a health situation that required surgery in 2021, St. Augustine's released a statement praising Rodio's amazing run as a coach and a role model.

“Coach Paul Rodio, our teacher, coach, colleague, friend, and Hermit Brother, needs our prayers right now. He underwent emergency surgery early yesterday morning and currently remains in the hospital undergoing treatment.

Coach Rodio has dedicated his entire life to St. Augustine Prep, serving the Hermit Brotherhood for over 40 years and endearing himself to the community as the unquestioned heart and soul of the school.

Rodio has served an unprecedented 46 years as a head basketball coach, and it should be fascinating to see how far the coach can push his record of longevity that we will likely never see again.