Queens native Ron Naclerio is New York’s most legendary high school basketball coach. Since 1981, he has led the Benjamin N. Cardozo High School boys basketball team in Bayside to victory, earning multiple PSAL titles and leading his most skilled players into Division I and NBA professional careers. Most recently, after obtaining his record-breaking 973rd career win this past January, Naclerio became the all-time winningest basketball coach in New York State history on all levels. Shortly after, he was also inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in recognition of his remarkable career and contributions.

Naclerio’s impact extends beyond the game court. He has mentored thousands of students throughout the years, helping many succeed off the court and building long-lasting relationships with them along the way. This year, Naclerio is riding the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, a tradition that started after one of his former players inspired him to take up biking during the pandemic. He finds fulfillment in helping and connecting with the youth in New York City, and he believes lifelong bonds and community define his legacy.

NB: Other than the amazing diversity, what do/did you love most about living in Queens (or Queens in general)? How has Queens changed over the years?

RN: What I’ve always loved most about Queens is that it truly has everything. No matter what you’re looking for – whether it’s a sport to play, a type of food to try, or a community to be part of – you can find it here. It is truly beautiful. There’s a constant energy here, so much going on all the time.

Over the years, I’ve seen Queens change in tangible ways, with new buildings, schools, and infrastructure. But what’s stayed consistent is that feeling of opportunity. As I’ve gotten older, it’s become clearer to me why Queens is such a key part of New York City. It really reflects that we are all in the greatest city in the world.

NB: How does Queens inspire you? What are some of your favorite places to be inspired in Queens?

RN: Queens inspires me every day, in many ways. You quickly realize that if you can do something in Queens and it’s considered great, then that becomes the standard everywhere else, being recognized across the rest of the city too. For example, with coaching, I’ve won with the Cardozo High School boys basketball team in Queens, and to me, that feels like I’ve won across all of New York City.

There are so many great places in Queens. It’s hard to choose, but one of my favorites has to be the World’s Fair grounds. The airports, too, whether it’s LGA or JFK, and the way they connect us to the rest of the world. There’s something truly special about that.

NB: What advice do you have for readers who are hoping to develop their biking, basketball, or sports in general practices? Are biking and basketball practices that anyone can learn? How important is daily practice? Is athletic talent innate or can it be developed?

RN: Biking is certainly a skill anyone can learn, especially compared to other activities like jogging or even walking, both of which can be challenging for many people. It can be tiring to jog even one mile, and walking 10,000 steps a day can be time-consuming and a difficult goal to reach. Biking, on the other hand, is a great way to get in shape. I got back on a bike when I was older. It was during the pandemic; I was 64 years old, when a former student approached me. He told me, “I know you still got it in you,” and introduced me to the world of biking. So I got back on the bike. After 30 seconds, it felt like I had never stopped riding, and I haven’t stopped since. This year is my sixth TD Five Boro Bike Tour.

Basketball is what most people know me for. Earlier this year, I became the all-time winningest basketball coach in New York State history at all levels, earning my 973rd win. Now, I’m aiming to become the first coach ever to reach 1,000 wins.

Biking and basketball may seem very different, but they share important similarities: hustle, intensity, and the desire to improve. You may feel the impulse to quit, and you can, but then you realize you can keep going. The further you pedal, the closer you get to where you want to be.

NB: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? What is something you wish you knew a decade or two or three or four ago?

RN: The harder you work, the luckier you get.

NB: Who are some of your favorite bikers, basketball players, martial arts instructors, yoga teachers, and other athletes with a Queens connection?

My favorite players are the ones I’ve coached—the ones who played for me. I’ve had quite a few over the years, and they’ve become like family. We stay connected, into college and long after they graduate. Those relationships mean more to me than anything else.

NB: What do you wish more people knew about biking and basketball? What is something you wish you knew before you became a biker and basketball coach?

RN: Both biking and basketball are great ways to stay in shape and have fun along the way. They’re also incredible ways to connect with people, especially your family. Everyone can come together: age and gender don’t matter. You get on the bike, you ride, and there you go. Just make sure to wear a helmet.

I became a basketball coach when I was 18 years old. I was very young. Biking, as you know, came later in my life. In my 20s, I wish I had known that bike riding is a great way to stay in shape, break away from the mundane, and explore. If you want to, you can bike ten or twenty miles in endless directions and see so many places. I’ve biked up to Harlem, past the Empire State Building, through Staten Island. All over the five boroughs. It’s truly unbeatable.

NB: Can you tell us more about how you have “led the Benjamin N. Cardozo High School boys basketball team in Bayside to victory, earning multiple PSAL titles and led your most skilled players into Division I and NBA professional careers”?

RN: It’s a year-long process built on mutual trust. The parents trust me in everything I say and in the advice I give, and the players follow my lead. Coaching can be challenging because you’re working with so many different personalities and styles of play. But that diversity becomes a strength, and you see it when everyone comes together as a team. These achievements belong to all of us. We’re all part of the long-standing Cardozo basketball tradition.

NB: Can you tell us more about riding the TD Five Boro Bike Tour?

RN: I’ve done it a few times now—this will be my sixth tour. What truly stands at its core is that it’s a bike ride, not a race.

When I first did it, I was very nervous because I was already older. But on the day of the Tour, looking around, I saw people my age and older, and talking to them, I realized you just have to do it. It’s such a great ride, and not only because you’re seeing all five boroughs, but also because you’re meeting so many people from different backgrounds, of all ages, from all places, and each with their own reason for riding.

It is challenging, while not being a race. Forty miles is definitely a feat, and it’s all a mental game. In the beginning, the energy is always at an all-time high. By the halfway point, you start to feel tired, and then you have to face the bridges. The Queensboro Bridge, that’s a tough one. It’s steep, but you prepare yourself and think, “Once I reach the top, it’ll be easy coming down.” And just like that, you’ve done it.

My favorite part is that there are thousands of people riding the Tour each year, and I’m confident in saying that almost everyone who starts finishes. It’s fun. There’s no judgment. You just do it.

NB: Can you tell us more about finding “fulfillment in helping and connecting with the youth in New York City”?

RN: If you’re a human being, there’s nothing more gratifying than helping young people. I’ve spent my whole life working with kids from all kinds of backgrounds—those with low self-esteem, family challenges, or who may be getting themselves into trouble. There’s something special about connecting with them and knowing you’re making a positive impact in their lives

 

—Nicollette Barsamian

The Local-Express interview series was originated on July 3, 2013 by Nicollette Barsamian.