Rick Perez Returns to Coach at Reading

Описание: Rick Perez was smiling from ear to ear when asked about his return to Reading as the boys basketball head coach. "This is where I belong. This is home. They gave me some of the best years of my life," he told SV Sports' Paul Roberts. Perez guided the Red Knights to three state championships and five district titles over a dozen seasons. He also spent eight years as an assistant coach at Reading. Perez is part of a legendary program that includes names like Pete Carril, Stu Jackson, Donyell Marshall, and Lonnie Walker. "I feel like I'm one of the guardians of Red Knights' tradition...It's amazing to be in this fraternity and to be amongst some of the greatest of the greatest," he said. Reading holds the state record for all-time wins with nearly 2,300. The Red Knights have captured 24 District III championships and 25 Berks County titles. Perez, who was approved by the school board on September 24th, is the winningest coach in school history with a mark of (281-74). He brought state gold back to Reading for the first time in 2017 with a 64-60 victory over Pine-Richland. More than 9.500 fans were in attendance that day to see Lonnie Walker and company at the Giant Center in Hershey. The Red Knights went (13-12) last season and missed the District III playoffs for the first time since 2001. Although Reading did win seven of its last eight regular season games, Francis Camara wasn't brought back as head coach. He went (35-23) over the past two years. "Francis did a great job. They finished on a very high note. We're going to build upon that. There's no shortage of toughness. Those young men are eager to work," noted Perez. Weshly Rosario, Jostin DeCastro, and 6'9 forward Blake Adams return for the Red Knights this winter. Rosario, a senior point guard, and DeCastro both averaged more than 12 ppg. last season. Perez, the CEO of the local Olivet Boys & Girls Club, was an assistant coach at Muhlenberg for the last two years. His sons, Jadin and Kalib, play basketball for the Muhls. "It was very difficult [leaving]. Those are my babies, but we needed to really sit back and reflect on where we all needed to be. My kids need to blaze their own path which they will. They'll do great," replied Perez.