Hall of Fame
Richard Castellano, who graduated from Deer Park Schools (Section XI) in 1969, was one of the most successful girls basketball coaches in New York State history. After graduation he earned his Bachelors at St. Johns University and began his career at Northport High School coaching girls varsity basketball in 1979. Over four decades, Castellano racked up 613 wins (top five in NYS), 21 League titles, 10 County Championships, five Long Island Championships, and made the NYSPHSAA State Semifinals three times. Richard had the honor of being a part of the National Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) in 2011-2012 and a member of the Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) since 1990. He was inducted into the BCANY Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame the same year. Additionally, Castellano was named Newsday’s “Coach of the Year” four times, NY Daily News “Coach of the Year” twice, and was honored as “BCANY Section Coach of the Year”. In 1991, Castellano coached the freshman baseball team, then in 2001, he began coaching freshman boys volleyball, and from 2002-2004 he coached girls JV volleyball. Community service also played a huge role in Castellano’s career. He created the Suffolk County Coaches vs. Cancer/Score for a Cure Fundraiser, a program that 95% of all schools in Suffolk County currently participate in. He also has led the program to raise tens of thousands of dollars since its inception. During Richards’s 22-years as President of SCWBCA, he awarded over $250,000 to basketball players for camps and college scholarships. He has proven a dedication and support of student-athletes during his long career and continues to coach girls basketball and freshman baseball at Northport High School today.