2016 Fall Dragon

ATHLETICS
CONTINUED
Tony Ronzone ’83 was 12-years-old when he attended
his first NBA game at the Coliseum Arena, thrilled to
be watching the Golden State Warriors. Though his
$5 seat was nearly in the building’s rafters, Ronzone
was in seventh heaven. “What could be better than
this?” he thought.
Fast forward nearly 40 years. Currently Director of
Player Personnel for the Dallas Mavericks, Ronzone
has traveled the globe as a basketball coach, Director
of International Player Personnel for the USA Men’s
National Team, and an NBA executive for the Detroit
Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks,
sitting courtside and working with the most
elite basketball players in the world. He’s also got an
envious assortment of hardware - two Olympic Gold
Medals (2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London), a USA
FIBA World Championship Gold Medal (2010 in Turkey)
and an NBA Championship ring (with Detroit in
2004).
Not bad for a kid from Castro Valley.
Tony Ronzone ’83. Contributed photo.
Tony Ronzone
’83 Named to
His Hometown
Sports Hall of
Fame
Recognition Adds to an
Already Long List of Awards
and Honors
Ronzone’s home town formally recognized his accomplishments
when he was inducted into the Castro
Valley Sports Hall of Fame on April 16, in a ceremony
held at Willow Park Golf Course in Castro Valley.
Ronzone is a member of the O’Dowd Hall of Fame.
“It’s surreal and humbling to have a city honor you,”
Ronzone said. “The unique thing is that it doesn’t
matter where you grow up. You can keep your dream
alive by taking advantage of opportunities that come
your way.”
As a youngster, Ronzone said he would never have
envisioned the level of success he would have in the
sport that he loved.
Ronzone played CYO basketball and baseball for Our
Lady of Grace, as well as Castro Valley Babe Ruth
baseball. It was through sports that he forged a lifelong
friendship with Kevin Maas ’83. The pair went to
O’Dowd together, where they continued their athletic
pursuits. Maas subsequently played baseball at UC
Berkeley and for the New York Yankees.
A member of the selection committee for the Castro
Valley Sports Hall of Fame, Maas said Ronzone’s professional
accomplishments impressed the committee.
“He stands out amongst the biggest of the big at the
NBA level, in terms of management, scouting and in
52 // Dragon