Congratulations to Alter’s former Boys’ Basketball coach, Joe Petrocelli, who is a recipient of the John Wooden Legacy
Award for 2024.

Coach Petrocelli was the first basketball coach at Alter and coached for 49 years. He led the Knights to state
championships in 1978, 1999, and 2001.

Petrocelli is one of two coaches in Ohio to win over 800 games in his career – 831 to be exact! He also led teams to nine
regional and 25 district championships. He coached many who received Division I college scholarships, two NBA players,
brothers Jim and John Paxson, as well as several who continued their basketball careers in Europe.
Coach Petrocelli was inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999 and the
Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Mr. Petrocelli will be presented with the John Wooden Legacy Award during half time of the 2:00 p.m. boys state semifinal
game on Saturday, March 23, at the University of Dayton Arena.

Thank you, Coach, for the impact you had on the game as it lives on in our players, coaches, and all whose lives you
touched.