Two local girls’ high school basketball coaching legends reached a career milestone this month.
Holy Cross’ Frank Lombardo picked up his 600th win on Jan. 10 when his team defeated Ansonia, 79-21, at Ansonia High School. Players, coaches, family and friends celebrated with Lombardo after the game. Lombardo’s career record is an astounding 604-99 He has won a pair of state championships, one in 2007 and the other in 2022. Lombardo, in his 29th season as head coach, has won 11 NVL tournament titles.
Congratulations came from coaches in both the U.S. and beyond.
“Congrats! Big time achievement!” wrote Douglas Leichner, Holy Cross alum and head coach at Feltrim Academy in Florida.
“Congratulations Frank!” commented Rob Paternostro, Holy Cross alum and head coach of the British Basketball League’s Leicester Riders.
It took a little longer for Bristol Eastern’s Tony Floyd, but a dominant 41-12 win at Career Magnet on Saturday secured win No. 600 for the Lancer coaching legend. His career record is now 600-343. Floyd has four state championships, 10 CCC South crowns and one CCC tournament title to his credit.
“Congrats Tony 🍾 ……well deserved for a great coach and even better person!!!” tweeted Rob Smernoff, Middletown High girls coach in response to a tweet from Bristol Eastern athletics noting Floyd’s achievement.
“Congratulations Tony!! Very much deserved!” tweeted Jessica Neuweiler, current girls coach at North Haven High and former coach at Plainville High.
Floyd (2018) and Lombardo (2019) went into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in back-to-back years. Now they’ve both reached a career milestone in the same month.
Lombardo photo caption: Holy Cross girls’ basketball head coach Frank Lombardo poses with his assistants after picking up his 600th career win on Jan. 10 in Ansonia. The assistant coaches (left to right) are: Margret Heyward Bowen, Mike Stanco, Bri Bradford and Meg Dwyer.
Floyd photo credit: Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
