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When Chip Reitano held his first practice at Neumann-Goretti on November 14, 2000, he knew it was “the start of something special.”
A decade later, the girls’ basketball coach has plenty of great memories worth talking about, including his 125 career wins and six straight Catholic League playoff appearances — both of which are all-time marks for the program based at 10th and Moore streets.
But last week, Reitano decided to step down for personal reasons.
“This was the toughest decision I have ever made,” the coach, who finished with a mark of 125-113 said. “These girls are not just my players, they are my family.”
His final game on the sidelines came last February against St. Hubert’s in the playoffs. Although his Saints fell 50-42 in overtime, Reitano said he was pleased with the effort.
“It was one of the most intense and hard fought games that I have ever coached,” he said. “It showed the toughness of everyone of those girls, and it showed the coming out of a couple of players.”
The ’05-’06 season is when Neumann-Goretti really made its mark by advancing to the league title game. The Saints met Cardinal O’Hara — ranked No. 12 in the nation at the time.
Reitano, who was the Review’s ’04 Coach of the Year, recorded his 100th career win in Jan. ’08 against Hallahan.
As far as Reitano’s future in coaching, he said he would like to remain on the sidelines. The where and when is to be determined.
In other Neumann-Goretti news, the Saints baseball team has opened the season 6-0 and is ranked No. 19 nationally in the ESPN Rise Fab-50 poll.
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