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Thanks to her Italian mother, Andrea Peterson knows the value of being vocal, so when she learned last week of her victory as the Naismith Trophy National Coach of the Year, the first-year leader of the girls’ basketball team at Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St., her reaction came as an anomaly to her and those familiar with her nature.
“I was speechless,” the 30-year-old said Monday as her charges, who comprise the nation’s top team, prepared to practice. “Never in a million years would I have expected this.”
Similar modesty has marked this season as an unforgettable one for the Saints, who tomorrow at noon will play for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AA state crown at Hershey’s Giant Center. With a 29-0 mark, they will look to cap an unblemished campaign, and, according to star senior guard Ciani Cryor, they have the perfect overseer to cement their flawless slate.
“Our bond is so close,” the First-Team All-Catholic said of Peterson. “I love gathering her input and using her wisdom to better myself.”
The Georgia Tech University signee has served as the floor general for the East Passyunk Crossing school the last two years, with Peterson, who worked as an assistant under South Philly Review 2011 Difference Maker Letty Santarelli last season, encouraging every assist, field goal and steal. Sharing the killer instinct that one would expect from tenacious point guards, the player and coach have celebrated the vanquishing of 58 out of 59 foes, the lone defeat coming in last year’s state title tilt.
“We take so much pride in representing this school and being a family,” Peterson said. “I wouldn’t change my situation for the world.”
Naismith personnel lauded her commitment March 11, inciting a surplus of text messages that froze the honoree’s phone. Learning of the kudos from athletic director Chalie Szydlik, she found herself rendered silent but has returned to her talkative self in evaluating the commendation.
“It’s all possible because of these young women,” she said of the squad, which repeated as Catholic League champion Feb. 23 with a 50-45 triumph over Archbishop Wood and earned a third-straight City title Feb. 28 via a 71-28 thumping of Imhotep Charter. “They buy in to what we’re trying to do here, and they love looking out for one another. What’s not to love about helping them to mature?”
Having joined the staff through a recommendation from South Philly Review ’13 Difference Maker Lynn Oakes-West, who had familiarity with Peterson through Hoops 365, the commended coach fondly recalled her early interactions with the performers, whom she declared would win a state championship.
“They looked at me as if I had five heads,” Peterson said. “I knew their potential, and it’s been so amazing to see their trust and talent put them in this position.”
The Delaware County native and inhabitant always knew hoops would help her to forge a prosperous path. Playing with brothers Joseph and Christopher as a girl, she began honing her skills, using her home as a haven for perfecting her dribbling.
“My parents were worried that I would break something,” she said, laughing about how constantly Thomas and Alice Peterson vented that fear. “It became my obsession and gaining experience and knowledge was on my mind all the time.”
Peterson “learned a ton” suiting up for Radnor-based Archbishop Carroll High School, collecting two league titles and as many All-Catholic nods. Playing a key role for a prominent program, she attracted ample attention, deciding on St. John’s University.
“Definitely a huge thrill,” she said of her New York sojourn, which included collecting a Big East Freshman of the Week accolade and helping the Red Storm to reach the National Invitation Tournament. “From there, I went to Drexel University, which was another great stop. At one point, I even led the country in assist-to-turnover ratio.”
Peterson pondered extending her playing days, with overseas adventures on her mind, but circumstances kept her from continuing her career. However, based on her sports management studies, she knew she would want to instruct fellow zealots. Her fortitude found a match in Stetson University, where she landed an assistant coach gig, with film perusal a primary part of her vocation.
“I love to scout teams and to know what to expect,” she said of a product of the professional stop. “That’s extended to the ladies here, too, because they appreciate that level of commitment, too.”
With a fervent fascination for molding young lives, Peterson, who runs a Norwood-situated day care, knew the high school scene would likely yield numerous occasions to inspire growth within roster members and herself.
“She has a great spirit,” First-Team All-Catholic and Towson University signee Sianni Martin said. “She’s like another mom to us and helps us to be confident in going hard against everyone.”
“We’ve come to understand how team unity inspires personal belief and vice versa,” Peterson said. “Winning awards is great, don’t get me wrong, but at the end of the day, these girls know I have their backs, and I’m thrilled to know they have mine.”
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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