Model coach

Since beginning the Model Coach Award seven years ago, the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section has honored 38 men and women coaches who have been positive role models within their schools and community.As part of a statewide program to honor coaches that have made a difference, each CIF school in the state is allowed to nominate one male and one female coach from their coaching staffs for the award.Those nominees then are submitted to the schools' respective leagues and from there the league is directed to submit one male and one female coach to the section for consideration.This week the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section office announced its six 2007-08 recipients and included among the honorees is longtime Colfax High boys basketball coach Ron Pucci."It's a real honor to even be considered for the award," said Pucci when he learned of being selected. "This is something I'll always cherish." Pucci, who has coached a total of 33 seasons, has been the varsity boys coach for the Falcons for 17 seasons.His varsity teams have won over 300 games and captured seven league championships and two Sac-Joaquin CIF crowns. In addition, his teams have qualified four times for the CIF NorCal Regionals.In 2006-07, Pucci was named both as the Sacramento Bee's all-Metro Coach of the Year and honored as Cal-Hi Sports' Div. IV Coach of the Year.In 2005, Pucci was also named as the Placer Union High School District Teacher of the Year. He is also active in the Knights of Columbus chapter through St. Dominic's Catholic Church in Colfax.Pucci, a 1967 graduate of Colfax High where he was a two-time all-league player and team MVP, graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.He resides in Colfax with his wife Lynelle and have two grown children, Michael, 30, who resides in Santa Monica and Nicole, 26, who lives in Auburn. They have one grandchild, Levin, 2. Pucci becomes the second Colfax High coach to be honored as Mondo Alonzo was a Model Coach recipient in 2002-03.The other award winners this year along with Pucci include Walt Lange of Jesuit, Max Miller of Cordova, Thalia Puddy of Will C. Wood, Felcia Rowley of St. Mary's of Stockton and Mary Jo. Truesdale of Sheldon.Each of the six model coaches will receive a plaque and a lifetime Sac-Joaquin Section pass and will be honored at an awards breakfast on April 18, 2008 at Elkhorn Country Club in Stockton.