Although it had been a foregone conclusion since summer, Roman Catholic High School has officially named Brad Wanamaker as the next head basketball coach of the Cahillites.
A formal presentation and press conference is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Aug. 14.
A 2007 graduate, Wanamaker becomes the 17th head coach in the storied history of Roman Catholic basketball, a program that has captured a record 34 Philadelphia Catholic League championships – including two of the past three seasons.
“We are thrilled to welcome Brad Wanamaker as the new head coach of Roman Catholic basketball,” said Roman Catholic President and 2008 graduate John Prendergast. “Brad’s pedigree as a professional athlete, his deep connection to Roman, and most importantly, his clear commitment to developing young men on and off the court made this a confident and natural decision.
“We look forward to the leadership and vision Brad will bring as he returns to lead the very program that helped shape him as a student at Broad and Vine.”
At Roman, Wanamaker scored an impressive 1,306 career points. None were more integral than the 17 he tallied – along with seven assists, six rebounds, and four steals – in Roman’s thrilling 59–56 comeback win over Neumann-Goretti in the 2007 Catholic League final. His twin brother, Brian, added 10 points.
Now 36, Wanamaker starred at the University of Pittsburgh, where he amassed 1,090 points. After going unselected in the 2011 NBA Draft, he refined his game overseas for seven seasons before signing with the Boston Celtics in 2018. Ironically, his NBA debut on Oct. 16 came against his hometown Philadelphia 76ers. He logged two points and one rebound.
Wanamaker went on to compete in the NBA for four seasons, averaging 16.2 minutes, 5.5 points, 2.4 assists, 1.7 rebounds, and a stellar 90.7 percent free-throw percentage.
“We are thrilled to have Brad take over on Broad and Vine,” said Roman Catholic athletic director Brian Haas. “Not only did Brad succeed at Roman Catholic, he went on to have a great career in college, abroad, and in the NBA. With all of that experience, I think Brad will be a great fit to ensure the tradition at Roman continues and the program stays on top for years to come.”
Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, has known Wanamaker for many years. Stevens took to social media to applaud Roman Catholic’s decision.
“I’m excited for Brad to have the opportunity to coach at his alma mater,” said Stevens. “It’s no surprise that Brad has separated himself as a coach. Throughout his playing days, he showed incredible savvy and understanding at each and every stop along the way. His experiences both domestically and abroad will give him a great head start as he begins this journey.”
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(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @johnknebels.)
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