By Jay Sorgi • Posted June 26, 2025

Chris McNesby has devoted 19 years of his life to the hallways and basketball courts of Roman Catholic High School, 15 in the role of coach.

That time is coming to an end, as McNesby has wrapped up his career spanning 12 years as the head coach of Roman Catholic’s longtime powerhouse boys’ basketball program.

McNesby believes that leading his alma mater to four Philadelphia Catholic League championships and three PIAA state titles isn’t his greatest legacy. The brotherhood he has both fostered and received from his players far outweighs the hefty trophies in Roman Catholic’s case.

“You’re helping them move on as young people to not only grow as young men, but to further their education, and to think that we had some part of that is pretty special,” McNesby said.

“Seeing a lot of these guys be fortunate to go play professionally, which (I) was so proud to see; but it’s after they’re finished playing, seeing them get jobs and seeing them be successful fathers and husbands, and then see them passing it forward.”

McNesby experienced that brotherhood first as a student who, like many who attend Roman Catholic, reached outside his comfort zone to find his pathway in life.

“I grew up in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. It was about a 40-, 45- minute commute every day to Roman. It’s not a neighborhood school,” he said.

“You really meet kids from all different areas, backgrounds, demographics, financial status. It helps you grow up pretty quickly, and you really learn how to get along with others. I was able to grow in that way, be fearless to take some chances to try to grow as a person. I think Roman really kind of brought that out.”

A 1995 Roman Catholic graduate, McNesby learned the craft of coaching from Dennis Seddon, a 10-time PCL champion coach.

“He had just a great demeanor about him,” McNesby said.

“He wasn’t a yeller, a screamer. He was a teacher. He really tried to connect with all of his players, not just as a coach, but on a personal level. He had so much success, wins and losses, but beyond that, he just developed great respect from all of his players, and I think that’s just because of how he treated each of them.”

Seddon brought McNesby on as an assistant in 2005, further molding him into the man who would replace the legendary coach three seasons later.

>>>SEE RELATED: Read a CatholicPhilly profile of McNesby in his first season at Roman’s helm.

“There was that feeling of, ‘OK, I know the school. I know the program. I went there. I coached there. A lot of the teachers there were the same,” said McNesby. “It was just a matter of doing what I love to do, which is coach basketball and have an impact on young kids.”

That impact became his priority over two head coaching tenures (2008-2016 and 2021-2025), far beyond strategies, practices, and 270 career wins.

“If you ask anyone who played for him, they’ll tell you, Chris McNesby believed in them, he pushed them, he held them accountable. But he also showed up for them, on and off the court,” said Roman Catholic High School President John Prendergast.

“Whether it was helping a student navigate a college decision, showing support during a tough time at home, or just offering guidance about life, Chris was a steady presence.”

McNesby cites numerous players as examples of how the brotherhood he fostered led to their personal growth.

“Tony Carr (a two-time first-team All-Catholic player), he’s still knocking on the door of finding his way into the NBA, but he’s back in Philly running camps, helping the youth in North Philly. Brad Wanamaker (three All-Catholic team slots), who’s likely to take over for me, had a great international European career and then played in the NBA for multiple seasons, but now he’s coming back coaching. Trey Wilkerson is a pharmaceutical sales rep. He’s very successful,” said McNesby.

“You feel like a father figure where you’re just so proud of them becoming great people.”

McNesby forged his professional career in wealth management and investment planning at PWA Financial in Newtown. He said growing responsibilities led him to end his coaching tenure.

“My two partners who were going to be retiring, they basically came to me and offered me an opportunity to run the company, which would just take more of my time,” he said.

“My daughter is also going to college at Penn State, so I always want to do things with a clear mind and not try to juggle too much. I just wanted to be in the right mindset, professionally and also as a father.”

Fifteen years as a head and assistant coach at Roman Catholic may be ending, but by stepping down McNesby is making space for gratitude in brotherhood.

“God is with us and he’s brought us all together,” said McNesby.

“I love them, love them all. Not only have they made my life pretty special with some of the things that we’ve achieved, but it’s just memories forever.”