JUNE 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 45
Last of the Redmen
Billy Mitaritonna
Memoir of a St. John’s Walk-on
Billy Mitaritonna tells his inspirational story in his book Last of the Redmen.
WALKING THE WALK
BY JOHN DUNDON
Though you won’t find any of the fans at Carnesecca Arena in Jamaica, home of the
St. John’s Red Storm, donning ’s number 31 jersey, there’s a good chance that every
spectator has something to learn from this Redman’s story.
It’s a story of perseverance. A story that encourages athletes and nonathletes alike
to never give up on their dreams — big or small — and teaches us that with the right
mindset in life, anything is possible.
“I wrote this book, really, to motivate people,” Mitaritonna tells the Press of his story
as a St. John’s Basketball walk-on, Last of the Redmen. “I did this to show kids and
parents that failure is OK, it’s important to fail in life on your way to success.”
Mitaritonna can now put his feet on his desk at Half Hollow Hills West High School,
where he still teaches social studies, and reflect on the 17 successful years he
spent building the school’s basketball program from the ground up. While under
Mitaritonna’s tutelage, the Hills West Varsity Boys Basketball team won four Suffolk
County AA Championships, and won back-to-back Long Island championships in
2010 and 2011.
WHAT’S INSIDE continued on page 46
47 50KINDNESS 51
PARENTING ACTS OF
TIPS
PETS
FAMILY & EDUCATION
IN MEMOIR, FORMER HILLS WEST HOOPS COACH DETAILS STORY AS ST. JOHN’S WALK-ON
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