As the Notre Dame varsity boys basketball team(16-3) prepares for their big game against their biggest rival on Wednesday night, the Elba Lancers, the team is thinking about their head coach Mike Rapone who will be on the sidelines for the team’s last regular season game.
After 42 years, Coach Rapone will retire from coaching, passing the torch to his son Mikey who he has been guiding the last 15 years. In the interview below, Rapone reflects on his career and the relationship between coach and player and what his plans are for the future.
Rapone holds the Section V record for most wins, which before game time today is 724 wins.
Since 1980, some of the highlights:(Information compiled by NDHS-totals through the 2020-2021 season)
32 Genesee Region Championships
9 Section V Championships (Section V Record)
5 NYS Far West Regional Championships
2 NYS Championships (1992,2001)
17 Time Section V Tournament #1 Seed (Section V Record)
18 Section V Championship Game Appearances (Section V Record)
Section V Championships in 4 different classifications (Section V Record)
3 Time Section V Coach of the Year
Inducted into the Notre Dame High School Hall of Fame in 1996
Inducted into Section V Hall of Fame in 2016
Note: Tonight’s game against Elba is sold out.
Mike congratulations. What a wonderful journey you had at ND. I’m sure you touched a lot of lives and made people better in life because of what you did for them on the court. As a coach you brought out the best in each player and they became winners not only on the court but I’m sure in life in general. It will be tough to stay out of your son’s way but let him do it his way until he asks for help. Take care and God Bless a wonderful NDHS Coach.