Salesian High School Alumni

LEGENDARY COACH
BR. JAMES WIEGAND, SDB
INDUCTED INTO THE SALESIAN HALL OF FAME
Nineteen-year Career Includes 353 Victories, a NYS Title, and 13 League Championships

On Saturday, January 19, 2008, at halftime during the varsity basketball matchup between the Salesian Eagles and Sacred Heart High School of Yonkers, Salesian High School inducted legendary basketball coach Br. James Wiegand, SDB to the Salesian High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Br. Jim became the school’s second inductee.
Br. James (Jim) Wiegand, SDB coached the Salesian High School basketball team from 1961 until 1980. Over his career at the Salesian High, he amassed 353 victories. His teams won a New York State title and 13 league championships. Four of his players became 1000-point scorers in college basketball, and Luis Brignoni ’71 played for the Puerto Rican Olympic team in the 1976. Luis Brignone became the inaugural inductee into the Salesian Hall of Fame last year.
Br. Jim, a native of Freeport, IL, professed as a Salesian on September 8, 1954. His first assignment was to Don Bosco Tech in Paterson, NJ, as physical education teacher and basketball coach. He came to Salesian High School in 1962, where he distinguished himself as the quintessential physical education teacher and coach. After his post in New Rochelle, NY, he was assigned to Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, LA, as an Administrative Assistant to the Principal and Athletic Director. Then, he worked as counselor at the Salesian Boys and Girls Club in East Boston, and is now assisting the Athletic Director and assistant coach of basketball and tennis at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ.
The Hall of Fame weekend festivities included an Alumni basketball game at 9:00 AM, followed by the Junior Varsity and Varsity basketball matchups between Salesian High School and Sacred Heart High School (Yonkers, NY) at 11:00 AM and 1:15 PM. The all-time winningest coach in Westchester County history Mr. John Volpe led the Sacred Heart High School team.