Traditions

Ralph Nero 

Ralph Nero, of Welland, Ontario, was instrumental in building one of the top Men’s Basketball intercollegiate programs not only in Ontario, but in Canada. Competing in the most competitive and largest conference in the country, the Niagara College program has been represented on the basketball court by some of the most outstanding athletes in Ontario.

The success of this program is due in large part to the outstanding dedication of Head Coach Ralph Nero. In his nearly 50 years of coaching – of which seven and a half years were spent as head coach of the Niagara Knights men’s basketball program – no one worked harder or gave more of his personal time than Coach Nero when it came to recruiting and preparing student athletes at Niagara College. His passion for the game and dedication to the success of his student athletes on the court and in the classroom was second to none. He worked tirelessly year round recruiting new athletes to keep his program competitive.

In 2003, Niagara College introduced the Registrar’s Recruiting Excellence Award, recognizing an individual who, through athletics, represents the college in a positive manner and contributes to the college’s overall student recruitment and retention efforts. Not surprisingly, Coach Nero was the first recipient of this award. On the court, he directed the Knights to an impressive 64-26 record in league play. He also led the Knights to their only Ontario Colleges Athletic Association medal (Bronze) and Western Region title in 2002–2003, while appearing in six OCAA championships.

We are forever grateful to Coach Nero’s dedication, leadership and love for the sport of basketball as well as the many lives he touched during his time at Niagara. It is with great honour that we induct Ralph Nero into the Niagara College Knights Hall of Fame.