Winning Strategies from Veteran High School Basketball Coach with 1000+ Wins!
Yep, you read that right - there's a boys basketball coach from Wisconsin who recently achieved his 1000th win! Not one hundred...one thousand!
Meet 81-year-old coaching phenom, Jerry Petitgoue (pronounced "Pet i gew"), from Cuba City, Wisconsin, a Division 4 school...
- He's the first and only coach in Wisconsin to win 1,000 games (on January 29, 2022).
- His current record is 1005 wins - 261 losses.
- He's got 3 state championships under his belt.
- His teams have won 15+ games each season in 48 of 51 years!
- In January 2020, he was named National Coach of The Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations with a perfect season of 25-0 and a state championship in sight...until the state tournament games were canceled due to covid.
- Currently, his Cuba City Cubans are 21-2.
Keep reading for some winning coaching tips and strategies from Coach Petitgoue...
Here's What You'll Find Below:
- Petitgoue's Backstory Involving a Coin Flip
- Youth Basketball: 3 Tips For Creating Flourishing Youth Programs
- The Offensive Mentality That Created 93 Points With Only Two 3-Pointers
- Defense: Why Coach Petitgoue Teaches 4 Defenses (And What They Are)
- Practice Schedule: 5 Things In Every Practice and When To Adjust Your Practice
- 3 Things to Focus on When Scouting Opponents
- Advice to New Coaches - A Class All Coaches Should Take
- 3 Tips for Players
- Changes Over the Years
- The Record That Means the Most
- Retirement? He's a Terrible Golfer So...
Along the way, Petitgoue has met many influential coaches, and you'll see some pictures below.
I hope you enjoy Coach Petitgoue's story and wisdom from 5 decades of coaching!
The Backstory...
The Beginning Years - A Coin Flip Sent Me Elsewhere...For Awhile
I started back in 1963 at a small high school that is now part of the Blackhawk School District. We had about 75 kids in the school, and I taught Phy Ed and American History. I was a basketball coach, head football coach, cheerleading advisor, and track coach!
So when that small school closed and became part of Blackhawk, I applied for the job in the new school...and their coaches also applied .
The school boards couldn't decide on who to give it to. So they said they were going to flip a coin!
I had already had another position for quite a bit more money in Galena, Illinois, and so I said, No, I don't want to look back 50 years from now and say I lost a job by a coin flip. And so I left and taught there for four years.
Then out of nowhere, the superintendent for Cuba City called me and said, "Would you come up for an interview?"
And so I did. I really wanted to get back into head basketball coaching. I remember the superintendent saying to me, "If you beat Platteville once every four years, your job is safe."
So, we beat Platteville 17 times in a row - we were kind of happy, let's put it that way.
I took the job, and have been coaching here in Cuba City for the last 51 years. And I've been a varsity basketball coach for 55 years.
Youth Basketball: 3 Tips For Creating Flourishing Youth Programs
Youth programs change. You know, they really change.
I can remember when I first came to town and we had a local hospital and to promote basketball, I bought a number of these little miniature basketballs, and I would put on there "Future Cuba City Cuban."
I gave them to the hospital and they would give them to all the women who had babies. And so we promoted that way.
Now our youth program has been taken over by the parents and they do a really nice job. They start in 3rd grade all the way up through 8th grade.
- All you really want to do is to get as many kids as possible playing at a young age.
- I encourage the grade school coaches to play a positionless offense, like a 5-Out where everybody handles the ball, everybody dribbles, everybody shoots...Which makes them a better all-around player.
- Make sure every player learns the fundamentals of basketball.
And it would be nice if everybody had a basket in their backyard...and they actually used it.
Then your hope is that by the time they get to high school, if I can get 3 or 4 capable athletes per class, then my program is in good shape.
The Offensive Mentality That Created 93 Points With Only Two 3-Pointers
In high school, I always adapt to our personnel.
This year, we're small for our team. When I say "small," I mean I have no starter over 6'3" this year, and he's a guard.
My post is 6'2". I do bring a post off the bench at 6'5" and he's coming along well.
Last year we emphasized getting the ball underneath because we had the size and I could do it.
This year we don't have the size, so we're 4 Out - 1 In.
So this year to adapt, I've become very close friends with the godfather of the dribble drive. Vance Walberg. And we talk a lot about the dribble drive and how we can create double gaps and triple gaps to give my kids a better opportunity to attack the basket.
That means our motto this year is "Love the Layup. Like the 3" because sometimes we fall in love with the 3.
And like last game, we hit 13 threes. Well, that's great. But there's been games where you hit two 3s.
In fact one game this year we had 93 points...and we had a grand total of two 3s. You got a chance for a layup, you take the layup. Attack the hoop, get to the freethrow line, and then bring energy on defense. That's where it's going to happen - on the defensive end of the court.
Defense: Why Coach Petitgoue Teaches 4 Defenses (And What They Are)
First of All - Be Adaptable
Never get pegged in one defense at the high school level...
A really good friend of mine, Steve Klaas, coached at Adams-Friendship forever, and he ran the 1-3-1 defense, which is a dynamite defense when you have the personnel to do it. Like a 6'5" out on top with long arms
So I look at a team and maybe they run their man well but they struggle against a zone. So then I may start out in man against them but switch to a zone.
I am going to change whatever it takes to give my kids the best chance to win.
Most of the time our freshmen and sophomore teams are playing man to man defense to learn those concepts first...
But I don't make it an absolute rule because a sophomore coach wants to win, too. So if he can win in 1-3-1, that's fine. I don't have a problem with that.
How Often He Works on His Defenses
Because, you know, I hear some coaches say, "Well, it takes about a year to get my defense in." And I say, What the heck are you doing?
You teach the drills. You teach the concepts.
We work on the 1-3-1, the 2-3, and the Triangle & 2 once or twice a week.
But we work on No Middle Defense EVERY DAY.
How Baylor & Texas Tech Influenced Their Main Defense
I reached out to Mark Adams, the new head coach at Texas Tech. At 65 years old, it's his first major college head coaching job, but he's the architect behind the Texas Tech "No Middle Defense."
Texas Tech is ranked in the top 10 right now...and they play the best defense in the country.
Then I became good friends with the associate head coach at Baylor. They also play No Middle Defense.
So I'm on the phone or I'm emailing those people a lot...just getting their ideas on how you play no middle defense.
Continue to Learn From Others
People ask me what keeps me going. I think as a coach, no matter where you coach at or who you're coaching as long as you're improving each and every day. The day that you think you know it all is the day that you better go to the recliner...because you don't.
I can't tell you how many times I've went on the Breakthrough Basketball site to look things up.
And you know, I might be going on it again because there's a team that we play next week, and they just might play us a triangle. I don't want my kids to be surprised by it. What do we need to do to overcome that?
You continue to learn each and every day.
Practice Schedule: 5 Things In Every Practice and When To Adjust Your Practice
5 Parts to Every Practice
There's wiggle room in this schedule, too, since these take about 60 minutes...
#1 - Fast & Furious (first 5 minutes)
- We start practice with this because we love to RUN and we love ROCK.
- You go 5 on 0
- You can only throw 2 homerun balls, meaning from out of
bounds to the other end for a layup
- Get the ball out quick and go up the sideline
- 1st group - How many points can you score in a minute?
- Next group - How many can you score in a minute?
This is a fast break drill that will help simulate game time.
The opponent scores a bucket...Boom! Out of bounds underneath the bucket, we're down the other end...
They take a 3 and miss, we grab the rebound...Boom! We're down the other end.
#2 - 2-Man Shooting Drill (5 minutes)
#3 - Man to Man Defensive Drills (20 minutes)
#4 - Specific Drills to Prepare for Upcoming Opponent (15-20 minutes)
#5 - Dry Run of Specials (aka "Plays" or "Sets") (at least 10 minutes)
- We run our Specials in 5v0
- We have 9 Specials
- Each players has at least one Special
- My best player might have 2 Specials that we can take
advantage of during the game
Specials
I call the Specials something different each game. Once you get the kids used to it, it's really quite simple.
It's just the last digit that they're worried about.
For example, for my #1 Special, I can call it anything like, 91, 71, 41...it's just the 1 they're worried about.
We might run a 32 or a 43...a 54 or a 75...it's just the last digit that the players need to know for what Special to run.
I picked that up a long time ago from legendary coach John Barth at Platteville. He ran all specials and sets, and that was before the pack line defense.
They used to score layup after layup...it was just a beauty to see.
I always carried that with me.
And you know that you're going to see a lot of Specials out of us during the night.
Once Again, There'll be Times You Have to Adjust...
For instance, we're playing tonight...but then we're playing for the conference championship on Thursday night against Mineral Point - the only team that defeated us down here.
Tuesday, the girls got a game at home...that means I have to be out at the gym by 5:15.
Wednesday's church night - that means I have to be out of the gym by 4:55.
So you need to adjust. We'll probably go Wednesday morning to work on defense, and then after school, I've got about an hour and 20 minutes to go over out-of-bounds plays and what we're going to be doing against Mineral Point.
3 Things to Focus on When Scouting Opponents
I'd like to tell you that I have a really organized scouting form - but I don't.
Like tonight - the opponent has a great point guard, but he's only attempted 10 3-point shots in 19 games. He's 3 for 10. So he's not going to shoot the 3. So you need to level him off.
I look at individual players when I watch tape.
You know - Their post guy always turns to his left shoulder, so we'll play behind and block his left shoulder because that's the way he's turning. He's not turning any other way.
Or...Hey, does he handle the ball? Is he all right? Can he go back both ways on the dribble? Does he shoot the step back? Can we switch?
And that's what I scout...that's what I look for.
I really do not have a form...I just look at a team and say...
Advice to New Coaches - A Class All Coaches Should Take
Take as Many Psychology Classes as You Can...
...because the landscape has changed.
I don't think the kids have changed all that much, but it used to be in the old days that kids were proud just to have a uniform. Not anymore.
If you've got seniors on your team and they're not in your top 7, then you'd better have a conversation with them and find out if they really want to be out or not.
Because you have to be extremely honest.
And let's face it, when parents come to a game, they have eyes for only their boy or girl. And if that kid is not playing much and struggling, they feel pain. I understand that completely. I'm not blaming them.
But my job is to make them better people, but also win basketball games.
That's what we try to do...and I try to be upfront.
I had a young coach say to me once, "I really like coaching but I don't care for teaching."
I'm thinking, Wow, you're not going to be in it long.
It's your teaching job. That's where it happens. And so the basketball floor is an extension of my classroom.
You have to be part psychologist...you have to know when kids are hurting.
Should Players Like You?
I've never been a screamer or a hollerer...I want kids to leave with a good taste when they're done with practice.
I got to see John Wooden, the great UCLA coach, at the first basketball clinic I was ever at.
After he got done speaking, he opened up for questions from the audience, and one coach asked him about respect and he said,
"Well, obviously the players have to respect you. But it wouldn't be half bad if they liked you."
That kind of always stuck with me because I think if your players like you, they'll run through the wall for you.
Be Willing to Increase Your Knowledge of the Game Each and Every Day
There's a wealth of material out there with the internet. You have so many more opportunities to develop your craft than you did years ago.
I also recommend reading any books by John Wooden, Pat Summitt, or Bob Hurley.
Reflect and see where you can improve...and if you don't think you can, it's time to get out.
3 Tips For Players (7th Grade on Up)
1 - Play Summer Ball
In a small school, kids play all the sports, so I would just say that if you're going to be good at this game, you got to put some time in on it.
You just can't drop the ball in March and then pick it up back in November.
It doesn't work that way anymore. It may have worked years ago, but not anymore.
I usually try to set up a nice summer schedule (for grades 7 on up)...
When I say "nice," I mean athletes should make time for basketball a couple days a week. I understand your time is precious because you're doing a lot of different activities.
But remember to make sure to play other sports and go on family vacations...
And devote some of your time to the art of basketball.
Last year we played about 40 - 44 games in the summer, and we played them usually Monday through Thursday because I had a few kids who had AAU or baseball tournaments on the weekend and so forth.
We also went to a league on Sunday nights where we played 3 games a night against some stronger competition.
We also run a basketball camp focusing on fundamentals just to get them fired up about basketball.
2 - Hit the Weights and Get Strong
Weightlifting will pay off in the long run.
3 - You Only Have 4 Years - Why Not Play as Many Sports as You Can & Enjoy It?
I kind of discourage just specializing in one sport.
Because if things don't work out, they don't work out.
You've only got 4 years...why not play as many sports as you can and enjoy it?
If you're good enough, they'll find you. Believe me, they'll find you.
Changes He's Seen Over the Years...
The game has changed so much...
We used to come off down picks and shoot a 20-foot or 10-foot jump shot, but now...
- You have to have a Dribble Drive in your offense to attack the hoop
- If you've got yourself a monster in the middle, then you have to be able to get him the basketball in a high-low situation
- You adapt to your kids, not vice versa
- The game is a lot faster now
Athletes 50 years ago were good, but now they have so many more advantages that make them more skilled...
- Weights, training, and nutrition
- They can look up anything on the internet now
The Record That Means the Most
When I think about records, what makes me happiest is this:
My teams have won 15+ games each season in 48 of 51 years.
Which to me is the mark of a good, consistent program...even in the down years.
Like in 1979, my team went 9 -10.
Or in 2016 - the low watermark of my career - we only won 7 games, and I was ready to give it up because I'm not a good loser...but I decided to give it 1 more year...
(And lucky for Cuba City, he gave it another year...and another...and another...!)
Retirement? He's a Terrible Golfer, so...
Everyone asks me when I'm going to retire because I'm 81 years old. I tell them I retired 20 years ago! But everyone needs a hobby, and since I'm a terrible golfer, my hobby is basketball.
And actually believe it or not, I'm a much better coach now than when I was teaching because I have so much more free time to watch film.
Although I'll be honest with you...the best part of the day for me was being in the classroom. I just really enjoyed teaching and it was to me the best thing that ever happened. I couldn't believe they paid me to teach!
Do you have any questions or suggestions for this article? Let us know by leaving your comments...
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