Credits players who put team first and his family’s support
OCEAN CITY — John Bruno hasn’t been handed a host of Division I college recruits to pad his rosters over the past 36 years coaching Ocean City High School basketball. Instead he has been blessed with “good kids” with a team-first mentality that he credits for reaching the 500-victory milestone Friday night, Jan. 17.
What makes it all the better along the way is the basketball family — his wife, Karen, and daughters Chelsea and Jillian — who have been supporting him.
On Friday night, the 36th edition of his Red Raiders boys team beat St. Joseph High School of Hammonton 54-42 to give Bruno his 500th career win. He earned his 501st the next night with a 50-37 victory over rival Mainland Regional.
Although he has had scores of standout players over the years, he preaches that it’s not about the individual who is out for himself, but who is ready to fulfill his role on the team.
He wants his players “to play the game the right way. To show what team basketball can do.”
Bruno seems to bring out the best in his charges.
“They’re good kids. I think they come from strong families that understand hard work and what it really comes down to, you have to accept your role on the team. That’s what we’ve been really good at,” he said.
He cited current senior Ben McGonigle as a great example.
“Last year he was a role-player. Why? We had Kori Segich, Dylan Schlatter, Charlie LaBarre and Pat Grimley. He gave way for them.”
Still, McGonigle had 15 points in the South Jersey final against Mainland Regional last winter.
“I said that was going to be a springboard for this year. He now knows he’s the guy who has to score and be the aggressor. Everyone else accepts that. That’s the key. When you become selfish and just worry about you, that’s when teams splinter,” Bruno said.
“I’ve been blessed. They all want to win. Even the guys who don’t play in the games, sometimes they’re disappointed they didn’t play but they’re happy for the team. That’s what it’s been and they’re skilled enough. They’re good players who know how to play the game and how to play the game together,” he added.
“One of the more pleasant things I like to hear people say is how well we pass the ball to each other. Nowadays you don’t hear that a lot. Everything is one-on-one and highlight tapes and whatever the case may be. These kids, if you have a good shot, you’re ready to give it up for a better shot. I think that’s what’s been able to lead up to success. Sharing of the basketball and understanding your role on the team. I’ve been blessed with tremendous kids who can do that.”
He also wants his players to remain on an even keel to “be really good at bouncing back when we lose, not getting too down, and after we win not getting too high. They really kept an even keel and that is why I’ve really appreciated how they have played over the last handful of years.”
Bruno said the wins “are really just a byproduct. I think I would enjoy coaching just as much if we didn’t win games, but we were allowed to practice and play games all the time.”
500th win, surprise
spectators and a
basketball family
Playing for his 500th career victory didn’t feel any different than other games, but it hit him afterward “when former players were here, coaches that I had, referees that I had, the people who came up after the game,” Bruno said.
“More importantly it was having my daughters in the stands that I did not know were coming. They came from Virginia and North Carolina and I didn’t even recognize they were here until halftime,” he said.
“All I could think about was all the time and effort I put into basketball, they put into being a basketball family, allowing me to do as much as I do and being as involved, allowing me to scout games back then. Now the games are on video and I could be home watching them now. My wife said, ‘Where was that 20 years ago?’
“That was probably more important to me that my family was able to share it with me. My wife Karen has barely missed a game in 36 years. And the kids, when they were here, always came to games. They would travel to games; they didn’t want to see it online. They wanted to see it live,” he said. “They took a chance it would happen last night. Sharing this with my family is probably the most important thing I’m able to do.”
One of the other things that has made his 36 years and counting important to him is the relationships he has developed with his players, some of whom later became some of his best friends.
“That to me is what’s more important — the relationships you establish between players, fellow coaches and referees — believe it or not a few of them do like me. That’s what makes it a lot of fun.” (For those who haven’t seen Bruno in action, he has been know to animatedly argue calls with referees.)
Speedy Morris
Bruno said he always enjoyed sports, particularly baseball and basketball, growing up and in college. He knew he wanted to teach and “coaching and teaching seemed like a good thing to do.”
He was working a La Salle basketball camp around 1985 or 1986 and William “Speedy” Morris encouraged him to be a head coach. Morris is a now-retired coaching legend with more than 1,000 career wins in high school basketball.
“He said if you want something, you should go after it. That’s when the Ocean City teaching job opened up and I got that and the next year I was able to get the coaching job,” Bruno said.
“I really owe it to Speedy Morris for encouraging me to pursue what I really wanted to do.”
Bruno took over OCHS boys basketball in the 1989-90 season.
Two memorable wins,
one memorable loss
Bruno said there are two old championship games that were highlights for him and one new one that stands out for another reason.
He pointed to the South Jersey final in the 1998-99 season “where we beat Middle Township and Ryan Reich hit the half-court shot to put it into overtime and we came back to win,” Bruno said. “And winning the CAL (Cape-Atlantic League) with Chris Curran’s team and Chris Turner hitting some big foul shots at the end and winning in double-overtime against Lower Cape May (in 2010).
“Those two probably stand out but there have been so many individual performances I’ve been able to share. LaQue Lee scoring 50 points. J.D. Asselta having 38 points against Woodrow Wilson in 1991. Gannon Brady’s season he had even though it was a COVID year. Watching a number of kids score a thousand points and being happy for them.”
The coach said he appreciated sharing the experiences with them.
“I never dreamed we’d win the CAL. We just wanted to have good years, win some games in the playoffs. And being in the South Jersey finals the last two years isn’t too bad either. Unfortunately we couldn’t win the games, but I don’t think there is anything more memorable than that triple-overtime game with Mainland (last year). You couldn’t ask for a better ending except that we couldn’t win the game. Two teams that were equally matched and just gave everybody everything it was worth. That’s probably my most memorable loss. It was enjoyable just to see the game.”
“I try to keep a scrapbook of every year. I’m sure I’m going to go back and look at some of those games, but I’m always looking forward. As I told the kids today, 500 was great, but now we’re looking for 501,” he said.
No word to the players
Bruno said he did not mention the 500-win milestone to this players.
“I never said one word good, bad or indifferent or even alluded to what it could mean,” he said. “That’s why when the game was over it hit me after the game. That’s when it really hit when that happened.
“I had 106 texts, family, friends, coaches, referees, people that I forgot were friends. My friends from West Chester were all here yesterday. They came to the game. The fact I was able to share it with those guys. One hadn’t been to a game in 36 years, but look at the game he came to,” he said. “It is something you reflect on. I agree with people who say as the years go past and I look back I’ll understand. Or if I see someone else go through it, I’ll understand what a great accomplishment it is. It’s very uncomfortable when people talk to you about your success.”
Attesting to his lengthy career, he said, “It’s amazing the people you meet doing this job. I’m coaching against kids not only that I played against, but are the kids of people I’ve coached against. It’s neat to do that.”
As of Monday, the Red Raiders were 11-2 (5-1 CAL) and sitting atop the Power Points in South Jersey Group III.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
