Red Bank Catholic’s Joe Montano became the sixth coach in New Jersey girls basketball history to win 700 games after the Caseys’ 44-36 win over Scranton Prep last Saturday in Red Bank. Rich Chrampanis 
Montano has been leading the Caseys since the 1990-91 season. He has led RBC to eight state championships and six Shore Conference titles. Rich Chrampanis 
Colleen Prior, left, was on the floor during Montano’s first win as Caseys coach. Daughter Casey Prior is a senior on this year’s RBC squad. This is the first mother/daughter combi- nation to play for the legendary Red Bank Catholic coach. Rich Chrampanis 
Montano and Josie Larkins celebrated the Caseys 8th state championship in 2017. Rich Chrampanis 
Joe Montano became the Shore Conference’s all-time wins leader in boys and girls bas- ketball with his 654th career win back in 2020. Courtesy RBC Athletics 
Larkins is in her first season as an assistant coach with the Caseys after an outstanding college basketball career at the University of Vermont. Rich Chrampanis
By Rich Chrampanis
RED BANK – Not much has changed in 33 seasons at Red Bank Catholic. Joe Montano is still the fiery leader of the Caseys Girls Basketball team and still winning games. Following a 44-36 win over Scranton Prep last Saturday at home, Montano reached his 700th career win becoming just the sixth girls basketball coach in New Jersey history to reach the milestone. He wasn’t looking for the fanfare but the man with eight state titles, two Tournament of Champions wins and six Shore Conference Tournament crowns took pause to reflect on an amazing milestone.
“It’s all about the kids,” Montano said. “They’re the ones that go out there and win the games. It makes me very happy that I’ve been able to do this for so long and be around a lot of really, really good kids who I consider great ambassadors of RBC that I’ve had the privilege to coach.”
It’s simply too long to list the countless RBC girls basketball players who went on to the college ranks and there are plenty of interesting connections in the lives that Montano has effected not only on the basketball court but off the court as well. Casey Prior is a senior guard on this year’s Caseys squad. While she was on the floor for win #700, back in 1990, her mother Colleen Prior was on the court for the first Montano victory.
“It’s a tribute to coach Montano and all of his years and all of the girls that played in between us,” Colleen Prior said. “It’s more than what happens here, it’s what happens off the court. He supports all of his players and would do anything for anyone.”
The only mother/daughter duo to play for Montano joked that they share notes on how things are at practice, but the respect for Caseys past and present is evident for their coach.
“It’s funny to think she was win number one and I’m number 700,” Casey Prior said. “It’s awesome. We have a lot of freshmen and we’ve got some great seniors and we’re super excited for the rest of the year.”
Then there’s the Montano coaching tree. Lisa Kukoda, who has built Manasquan into one of the state’s top public programs was a former RBC player who credits Montano for helping mold her into a great coach. On his own bench, Josie Larkins won a state title and had a stellar career at the University of Vermont is back once again learning from her coach in her first season as Caseys assistant.
“It’s been really special to have been part of wins as both player and now as a coach,” Larkins said. “He’s really taught me so much over the past five or six years. I’m so fortunate that he wanted me to come back this year and be an assistant coach.”
For the 60-year old coach, there’s no signs of slowing down. RBC has an influx of talented freshmen and sophomores who have already won a WOBM Christmas Classic title and have earned a top 10 ranking in the state polls. This group will continue to pile up the wins in the coming years. Perhaps what makes Montano most proud is the growth of the women’s game throughout his coaching career.
“Back when I started it was kind of an afterthought for some kids to play the game,” Montano said. “Now it’s a way to get to college, it’s a passion. They enjoy what they do and they put so much time into it. I just think it’s come so far and I’m really proud of the kids.”
The article originally appeared in the January 12 – 18, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
