Salerno hired by Heaves
Toolbox
By Anna Grearson TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: September 30, 2009
When his name surfaced as a candidate to replace Will Voigt as the head coach of the Vermont Frost Heaves, regardless of the outcome, Joe Salerno said he'd be coaching at the Barre Auditorium this winter.
The two-year head coach of the Montpelier varsity boys basketball team will make that a reality this winter as he was named the assistant to the Frost Heaves new head coach, Jeff Strohm, on Tuesday.
"I am so excited to have Joe become my assistant and become part of the Frost Heaves family," Strohm said in a statement issued by the team. "We wanted someone with deep relationships, ties and a background rooted in Vermont. We wanted someone who has a love for the game of basketball and is driven by a desire to be an integral part of the process of building success with the Frost Heaves team. We wanted someone who is committed to a lifetime of learning of this game of basketball. We wanted someone who would embrace all the qualities and traits that makes the franchise such a tremendous experience."
Salerno's Solons made a trip to the Division II semifinals at the Aud this past season, falling to No. 2 Vergennes. Salerno played his high school basketball and football career first at Spaulding and then at Montpelier.
"I am extremely excited to become a member of the Frost Heaves family," Salerno said in the release. "I'd like to thank coach Strohm for giving me this great opportunity to work for such a successful and beloved franchise. Growing up, I could see the Barre Auditorium from my bedroom window, and to be able to coach at the professional level on that court is really something special to me. I look forward to contributing in what we believe will be another great year of Frost Heaves Basketball in Vermont."
Salerno, 27, coached the Vermont men's team at this past summer's Merchants Bank Twin State Rotary Classic: He is one of only 11 coaches out of 29, and the youngest, to lead Vermont to a win over the Granite State team.
"I've wanted to be a coach since I stopped playing basketball," Salerno said. "It's something I've been around since I was 9, and when the playing career ended, I still wanted to be around. And playing a point guard, being a coach on the floor, really made me want to stay on the sidelines.
"I've always wanted to be a college basketball coach, coach at a high level of competition…working under a coach as great as Jeff Strohm is definitely a step in that direction."
Salerno was also the head coach of the U17 boys squad for the Lone Wolf Athletics National Travel Team this summer, a high-profile AAU program that sends the top Vermont boys and girls basketball players to tournaments around the country. The Travel Team is run by Wayne Lafley, who was an assistant to Voigt.
"Our philosophy is to give both players and coaches the opportunity to advance," Frost Heaves general manager Michael Healey said, "and we're very happy Joe has decided to come on board. Everyone has someone who gives them that first opportunity, from writing their first story for Sports Illustrated to their first head coaching job. We're looking forward to giving Joe this opportunity. We think he has the skill set and the determination to be successful."
The decision was not an easy one for Salerno, who had worked with the current senior class at Montpelier since they were freshmen.
"I wish them luck," he said. "They've got a great team and should do well this year."
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