2005, 1997 PSAC-West "Coach of the Year"
RON RIGHTER - Head Coach
Ron Righter begins his 18th season at Clarion. A bright, highly motivated, always positive and effervescent coach, Ron is Clarion’s all-time winningest coach with 286 career wins.
Tippin Gym has roared with excitement during Righter’s reign. A 17-year record of 286-172 (62%), he averaged 20 wins a seasons from (1997-2001). The 2005 team won the PSAC-Western Division and finished 19-9. The 2001 team qualified for the NCAA Playoffs, along with winning Clarion’s first PSAC title. The Eagles also won PSAC-West titles in 2000 and 1997. Clarion was 19-10 in 2003 and 2001, 20-7 in 2000, 19-8 in 1999, 20-7 in 1998 and 22-7 in 1997. He was named PSAC-West "Coach of the Year" in 2005 and 1997.
Other top seasons include a 19-8 mark in 1992, 17-9 in 1993, and 16-10 1991. Great players during his tenure include Kwame Morton (1992-95), the NCAA’s leading scorer in 1995 at 32.5ppg, and the PSAC’s career leading scorer (2,543 points). Oronn Brown (1993-97) held the D-II record for career steals with 361, and the list goes on.
Also the head coach at Wilkes for two seasons (80 & 81) where he was 24-24. His 19-year collegiate record is 310-196.
53, Righter was the First Assistant under George Raveling for 7 years at Washington State (1981-83), Iowa (1983-86) and Southern Cal (USC) 1986-88. Ron came to Clarion from USC, where he was the Associate Head Coach for two seasons.
A native of Doylestown, Pa., and Central Bucks West High, Righter graduated from CBW in 1970 and accepted a basketball scholarship to Duke. After two years at Duke, he transferred to St. Joe's in Philadelphia and played his final two seasons (1973-75) averaging 13ppg as a junior and 17.8ppg as a senior as the team's captain and MVP. A 1975 St. Joe's grad in Humanities and Theology, he received his Master's from Lehigh in Counseling Education in 1979.
Righter started his coaching experience at Lafayette (1977-78) under Tom Davis (former Iowa coach), was an assistant at Lehigh (1978-79) and the head coach at Wilkes College. He left Wilkes to join Raveling at Washington State. Raveling's first assistant, Righter helped get the Cougars to the NCAA Div.I Playoffs in 1983. Righter then went with Raveling to Iowa as first assistant and recruiting coordinator and saw the Hawkeyes post a 54-38 record in three seasons, plus make 2 NCAA Div.I Playoff appearances. As Recruiting Coordinator, Righter posted three straight top 20 recruiting classes. He helped Raveling rebuild at USC for two years before coming to Clarion.
Righter's basketball philosophy? "We're a smart, scrappy, hustling type of team that never quits no matter what the score. That's what people can expect when they come to see us play."
Righter has olympic and international experience. In the Summer of 1988, Righter was one of eight assistants helping U.S. Olympic Coach John Thompson and Raveling narrow the 1988 U.S. Olympic team at Colorado Springs, Colorado. Then he coached in Yugoslavia for two and one-half weeks, running the I.B.A. clinic series that included players throughout Europe. In the Summer of 1994 he was selected by USA Basketball as an assistant coach at the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival. He also played and coached in Luxembourg in 1976 and has authored three basketball videos marketed internationally.
Inducted into the St. Joe's basketball "Hall of Fame" in the Summer of 1991, Ron and wife Juliet reside in Shippenville. They have a son Matthew and daughter Emily.
RIGHTER’S REIGN AT CLARION
YEAR OVERALL % PSAC-WEST % PSAC-WEST PLACE PSAC PLACE
2005 19-9 67.9 8-4 66.7 1st *
2004 16-12 57.1 6-6 50.0 4th *
2003 19-10 65.5 7-5 58.3 3rd *
2002 15-11 57.7 7-5 58.3 4th *
2001 19-10 65.5 7-5 58.3 3rd 1st
2000 20-7 74.1 10-2 83.3 1st *
1999 19-8 70.4 7-5 58.3 3rd *
1998 20-7 74.1 8-4 66.7 3rd *
1997 22-7 75.9 9-3 75.0 1st 2nd
1996 12-13 48.0 4-8 33.3 5th -
1995 11-15 42.3 4-8 33.3 5th -
1994 15-11 57.7 4-8 33.3 5th -
1993 17-9 65.4 5-7 41.7 4th -
1992 19-8 70.4 5-7 41.7 4th -
1991 16-10 61.5 5-7 41.7 5th -
1990 13-13 50.0 2-10 16.7 6th -
1989 14-12 53.8 4-8 33.3 6th -
17-YEARS 286-172 62.4 102-102 50.0 *3 *13 PSAC-West Titles; 1 PSAC title; * - 10 PSAc Playoff Appearances - 9-straight.
YEAR SCHOOL RECORD %
1980 Wilkes 10-13 43.5
1981 Wilkes 14-11 56.0
2-YEARS Wilkes 24-24 50%
TOTAL YEARS OVERALL RECORD %
19 310-196 61.2%