Breaking: Rick Perez Resigns

As I first reported this afternoon, Reading High School boys basketball coach Rick Perez announced his resignation on Friday. Perez spent twelve years as the Red Knights’ head coach. He guided Reading to three state championships, five District 3 titles, and six Berks County gold medals. Perez won more games than any coach in school history. He finished with a record of (281-74). Perez surpassed Jim Gano (251 wins) early last season.

The Red Knights went (32-1) during the 2022-23 campaign. They rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Exeter 70-63 in the BCIAA Championship at Santander Arena. Reading edged Cumberland Valley 55-54 in overtime at the Giant Center for its third consecutive District 3-6A title. The Red Knights knocked off District 12 champ Roman Catholic 63-56 in overtime for the PIAA-6A crown. It was Reading’s third state championship in seven years.

Perez led the Red Knights to their first state title in 2017. Lonnie Walker and company outlasted Pine-Richland 64-60 in front of 9,531 fans at the Giant Center. Reading claimed its second state trophy in 2021. The Red Knights stunned previously unbeaten Archbishop Wood 58-57 after trailing 13-2.

Perez spent one season as an assistant coach at Wilson before joining the staff at Reading. He was an assistant for eight years before becoming the Red Knights’ head coach. Reading has won more games than any high school basketball program in Pennsylvania history. Perez certainly left his mark at the Castle on the Hill.