Ron Vernon almost worked for free

Stickball in Coney Island. Photo courtesy of Jason Cusato

Admit it – there are certain things you would do for free.

Maybe you already have.

And, you might even travel a hefty distance for the pleasure. Hmm…still thinking?

Time is up.

We found one for you. His name – Ron Vernon. The same Ron Vernon who coached basketball for 16 successful seasons at New Utrecht High School.

“I always wanted to be a Physical Education teacher and coach,” he told the Brooklyn Eagle from his now Palm Beach County, Florida residence the other day.

The Lincoln High grad didn’t play basketball for the Honest Abes, but he said he was a “street player. I played ball in the Surf Projects and at Kaiser Park in Coney Island.”

Vernon lived at Mermaid and Neptune Avenues – six blocks from Sea Gate, “But I’ve always considered myself a Coney Island person. My grandparents lived there, too,” he said. “Coney Island is my home.”

And 11 of Vernon’s buddies packed their bags – left Coney Island – for four years at Northeast Louisiana State University in Monroe, La. “Jim Ryan was my roomie,” he said. “He coached high school football 40 years — at Andrew Jackson High, Bayside and Erasmus Hall. We were best friends.”

Were is the word – he lost his bestie recently.

But you can’t take Brooklyn – or Coney Island – out of the boy. So, upon the four years of culture shock in Louisiana, Vernon returned to the big city – Brooklyn. He got his taste of teaching at I.S. 147 in The Bronx. “One hundred sixty-seventh street and Webster,” he said like it was yesterday. “And it was my first opportunity to coach basketball.”

The coaching probably was the easy part for the rookie teacher. He took the subway daily from Coney Island to school. “About three hours round trip daily; I did it four years,” he said. But opportunity knocked.

“The principal at I.S. 147 wanted a basketball team,” Vernon recalled. “He asked the two senior Physical Education teachers on staff and they declined.”

Why?
“No pay,” Vernon laughed now, some 54 years later. “So,” Vernon remembered, “He (Principal) turned to me and I said, ‘Yes.’”

There was no league at the time, Vernon says, but he figured he could call some schools for teams to play. But before any basketball action, Vernon did have one demand.

“I told the principal if he can’t get the kids uniforms, I won’t coach,” he said. “We got jerseys – no shorts.”
And no paychecks for two seasons. “I was laid off after that second season, and worked as a sub, and an exterminator. I had a wife and young son at the time.”

He didn’t win the lottery – but Ron Vernon came close when he was soon hired at Middle School 51 in Park Slope. “It was like going to heaven,” he said.

Not completely – he coached their basketball team several season’s and again – no pay.

What soon followed –a 16 year career – starting in 1982 – at New Utrecht High School. A career with close to 250 wins. “I don’t keep all-time records,” he said, “Just go game-to-game.”

And a career that, yes – saw him collect pay checks. Why not – he was named Brooklyn Coach of the Year twice in his lofty career. “I was young and somewhat inexperienced at the start,” he admits. “My first four years we missed the post-season playoffs. After that it was 12 consecutive playoff appearances.”

New Utrecht basketball, under Ron Vernon, advanced to the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) semi-finals twice – both heart breaking losses – once to Monroe in overtime (they went on to win the title) – and another loss to Paul Robeson.

It wasn’t only basketball for Vernon. “I adapted a Study Hall on non-game days from 2:30-3:30,” he said. “I had two or three volunteers from the Honor Society. I believed School First then basketball.”

When it came to basketball, Lafayette may have been the neighborhood rival, but Vernon claims the biggest rivalry was playing Lincoln and Grady. “Lincoln, Grady, Robeson and Boys and Girls High were Brooklyn’s best,” Vernon said. “We were as good as them.”

In fact, Vernon quickly remembered a playoff game – the game not the year – when Utrecht played at Boys and Girls and his sophomore Darius Waters stole the ball at midcourt with :40-seconds remaining for a Green and White win.

Which opened the door for the coach to name his Top Five players of all-time:

“This won’t be easy,” he said, starting to tear-up and a bit of crackling in his voice, “But here goes.”

Andrew Adderly, a 6-3, two-time Division II All American who played at Assumption University, inducted in their Hall of Fame (2003) and played pro ball in Europe, eight seasons.
John Burkett, Sacred Heart University, all Conference performer.
Oronn Brown, Led the nation in assists at Clarion University (’93-’97), played 106 games and averaged 13.6 ppg, 1,442 points, eighth all-time.
Kareem Lewis, 6-7, Coppin State, All-City performer First Team at New Utrecht , 89 games at Coppin State for an 8.4 ppg average.
John Thomas, Genesee Community College, ended his career at Brooklyn’s St. Francis College, 12.6 ppg.

And, the coach’s highlight – easy. “I was a speaker at Andrew Adderly’s Hall of Fame induction,” he said. “I love watching these kids grow up. They still call me.”

Certainly they call him – coach.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected] X: @AndyFurmanFSR.