Mercer Athletic Director Simone to be Inducted into Mercer County Basketball Hall of Fame

MCCC Athletic Director John Simone will be inducted into the Mercer County Basketball Hall of Fame on April 16 ^th.  Simone coached the boys and girls basketball teams at Notre Dame High School prior to becoming Athletic Director at MCCC. 

 

Simone spent 12 years as Girls Basketball Coach at Notre Dame where he compiled a 257-61 record.  For 11 of these 12 seasons, Notre Dame maintained a top 20 ranking in the state.  Simone helped Notre Dame win 9 conference, 3 county and 2 State Sectional Championships.  Notre Dame was undefeated against 4 CVC schools for 12 years.  Simone was named Girls Basketball Coach of the Year by local media outlets six times. 

 

Simone was also the Boys Basketball Coach at Notre Dame after coaching the girls’ team.   Simone compiled a 105-63 record in seven seasons as the boys’ coach.  Simone helped the boys’ team at Notre Dame earn a top 20 state ranking for two years.  The boys’ team advanced to two NJ State Sectionals under Simone.

 

The girls and boys basketball teams at Notre Dame qualified for the NJ State Tournament for 19 consecutive years while Simone coached both teams.

 

In addition to his work as a coach, Simone has made additional contributions to Mercer County and basketball.  Simone served as Director of the Mercer Marauders professional basketball team in the Eastern Basketball League in 1998.  In 1990, Simone received the Rev Clarence O’Shea Achievement Award. Simone also served as a youth basketball director and clinician for 19 years.

 

This induction adds to a growing list of accolades for Simone.  Simone was inducted into the Notre Dame High School Hall of Fame in 1999.  In 2015, Simone received the “Man of the Year” award from the Trenton Select Committee.  Simone was awarded the Auggie Esso Region 19 Award for Service in 2016.  In 2017, Simone received the Mary Ellen Leicht National Award for Service from the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association.)  Simone was awarded the Community Partner Award for Service by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2018.  Most recently, Simone received the MCCC MLK Service Award in January.

 

For more information of the Mercer County Basketball Hall of Fame Dinner, visit: www.mercercountybasketballhof.com/dinner.hmtl