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Keeping It 500: Legendary Westchester Basketball Coach Notches Historic Win

The accolades keep rolling in for legendary Mount Vernon High School varsity boys basketball coach Bob Cimmino.

Mayors from around the country congratulated Mount Vernon Coach Bob Cimmino for his historic win.

Photo Credit: Mayor Richard Thomas
Coach Bob Cimmino celebrates his 500th win as Mount Vernon High School’s head varsity boys’ basketball coach with his cousin Joanne Lederer.

Coach Bob Cimmino celebrates his 500th win as Mount Vernon High School’s head varsity boys’ basketball coach with his cousin Joanne Lederer.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Cimmino - whose resume includes 15 consecutive New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYPHSSA) Section 1 titles, seven NYPHSSA Class AA state championships and four New York State Tournament of Champions Class AA titles - added another notch to his belt, locking his down his 500th win as coach after beating Scarsdale on Tuesday night.

Following the historic victory, Cimmino became the fourth Section 1 coach to reach the 500 win plateau, joining Lou Panzanaro in Peekskill, John Volpe from Gorton and Sacred Heart high schools and Mike Del Val, who coached at Woodlands, Alexander Hamilton and Rye high schools. Cimmino is the first in Mount Vernon High School history to reach 500 wins.

Mount Vernon Schools Superintendent praised his longtime coach, calling Cimmino “incomparable.”

“I am extraordinarily excited to be at the helm of this district as Coach Cimmino brings home his 500th win for the Mount Vernon Knights. Having been an educator for over thirty years, I can say unequivocally that Coach Cimmino's commitment and dedication to his players, to his coaching staff, to the school and to this community is incomparable,” he said.

“The impact both he and his program have had on his students and community is immeasurable. With only 77 wins away from achieving the most wins of any high school basketball coach in New York State history, I am confident and hopeful Coach Cimmino will continue his great work and I look forward to being there for his 600th win.”

Cimmino is a six-time New York State Coach of the Year and six-time Conference Coach of the Year. He’s also been inducted into the New York State Coaches Association. Prior to accepting his current role as head coach, Cimmino served as the boys’ junior varsity coach from 1989-1994, with a 70-19 overall record during that time. He also served as an assistant coach at New York’s Empire State games from 1995-1996, before becoming the head coach. He served as head coach from 1997-2000.

“The career total reflects many dedicated student-athletes who have bought into our program of hard work, determination, and dedication,” Cimmino said. “I am also blessed with the best coaching staff in the USA. They are loyal and dedicated to our athletes. Lastly, there is no community to coach in like Mount Vernon. Before the game, I got calls from the superintendent and mayor wishing the team and myself good luck. The Mount Vernon community loves and supports their Knights.”

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