After nearly half a century on the sidelines, one of New Jersey's most iconic high school basketball coaches is preparing for his final season.
Paul Rodio, the legendary head coach of the St. Augustine Prep Hermits in Richland, New Jersey, has announced he will retire following the 2026-27 campaign. The news was shared by the school's athletic department on Saturday, marking the end of an era for a coach whose name is synonymous with excellence in Garden State hoops.
The 2026-27 season will be Rodio's 50th year coaching high school boys basketball in New Jersey—a milestone that only a handful of coaches have ever reached. Over his remarkable career, Rodio has amassed 1,060 victories, 15 South Jersey titles, and five state championships. He has also guided his teams to 20-win seasons an incredible 36 times, a testament to his consistency and leadership.
"Coach Rodio has been the cornerstone of our basketball program and school community for 50 years," St. Augustine Prep athletic director Mike Rizzo said in the release. "His commitment to excellence, his leadership of young men, and the pride he has brought to St. Augustine Prep is immeasurable. He built the school into what it is today. While we will certainly miss him, we are grateful to have one more season to celebrate his incredible career."
While the Hermits have experienced a slight dip in wins over the last three seasons—averaging 12 victories per year—it does little to diminish Rodio's legacy. For most of his tenure, he led the program to dominant 20- and 30-win seasons, cementing his place as one of the greatest coaches to ever step on a New Jersey hardwood.
St. Augustine Prep finished the 2025-26 season with a 14-12 record and was ranked No. 96 in the state, according to the final New Jersey High School Boys Basketball Massey Rankings.
As the countdown to his farewell season begins, fans across the state are already preparing to celebrate a career that has defined high school basketball in South Jersey. More details on the season schedule and special events honoring Coach Rodio will be released later this summer.