John Pinone, the renowned Cromwell High School boys basketball coach, resigned from his position after 24 years. His tenure included over 400 wins and three state championships. He submitted his resignation letter on March 11th, six days after his team's loss in the state tournament second round. The reason for his departure remains undisclosed, as he did not provide a reason in his letter and has not responded to requests for comment. The school's athletic director and superintendent also did not respond to inquiries.
Cromwell's basketball team, under Pinone's guidance, achieved significant success, winning the Division IV state title in 2023, the Div. V championship in 2018, and the Class S title in 2009. Pinone's impressive background includes a stellar high school career at South Catholic High, college success at Villanova, and a brief stint in the NBA. He also coached at East Granby High before joining Cromwell.
Pinone's influence extends beyond his coaching record. He mentored numerous successful high school coaches, including Bob Freitas (Ellington's Division IV state champion coach) and Brady Sheffield (Old Lyme's Division V state title contender).