Jerry Petitgoue, Cuba City
When you are the all-time winningest coach in state history and have led your team to seven state tournaments, and three three state titles, your name gets brought up as one of the greats. For Cuba City's Jerry Petitgoue, he earned that title well before his 40th year at the head of the boys basketball program ended this past weekend at the Kohl Center in the Division 4 state finals. It was announced this morning that the long-time coach will be calling it quits after the 2012-13 season, which has garnered him this edition of the PlayintheDells.com's Splash of the Week.
After starting his career at Gratiot High School in 1963—his second career-game being postponed due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy—he stayed at the southwestern Wisconsin school for four years before moving on to Cuba City. Since then the Cubans have advanced to the state tournament seven times, winning the gold ball in 1981, 1991 and 1998. Petitgoue won his 800th game earlier this season in a 80-18 victory over River Ridge-Scales Mound High School in Illinois. Cuba City finished the 2011-12 regular season 22-0 and were ranked No.2 behind the eventual state champions, Dominican.
Madison.com's Rob Hernandez broke the news this morning on Twitter: “Jerry Petitgoue to retire after 2012-13 school year. Coming back for 'transition' year.” According to Hernandez, Petitgoue made the decision on Sunday and informed the Cuba City School District administration this morning. He wanted to be “fair” and give the school district a year to find a new coach, while hoping they consider coaches on his staff. He will leave the team with at least 820 career victories and only suffered his 200th loss on Saturday to the Knights.
Aside from coaching, Petitgoue was a teacher for 48 years and has been the executive director of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) since 1985. He has authored 18 basketball videos, including 2010's “The Championship Feeder System – Youth Basketball Practice for Grades 5-8”. In 2005 he was named the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's “Coach of the Century”and was most recently honored and highlighted in Jim Swenson's book about basketball in the Tri-State area, “A Driving Passion”.
As a fitting end to an excellent career, Petitgoue had this to say to Hernandez: “I will be in basketball until the day I die.”
The Splash of the Week is sponsored by PlayInTheDells.com. It highlights the player, coach or team that has "made a splash" in the world of high school sports. This could mean coming out of nowhere to do something great, going above and beyond the call of duty, etc. If you have a nominee for Splash of the Week please send them to martenzie@wissports.net.
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