Madison East Boys Basketball

 VARSITY COACHES

The Head Varsity Coach for your Purgolders is Rich Cleveland.  Rich is going on his 21st year with the team, and has had 26 years of Head Coaching experience.  He just accomplished a career feat, notching his 300th career victory.  Now with 318, this ranks him 5th in the State among Division 1 coaches.  Rich was named as an assistant in the WBCA Boys all-star game in 1997, and most recently named as the Head Coach at the 2006 Division 1 WBCA all-star game.  His North team won the game by 2.  Rich was also named Big 8 Coach of the year during the 1992-1993 season when his Purgolders and their 21-3 record won the Big 8 Conference.  Rich is a East High Grad of 1978, and was a starter on the Boys Basketball, Football, and Baseball team back then.  He then went on to UW-Whitewater to try and earn his Physical Education and Health degree, and went to Whitewater for 1 year and then finished off his degree at UW-Madison.  He is currently the department chairmen in the Physical Education department where he is a teacher.  Rich currently lives in Stoughton with his wife Tami. And has two sons, Tyler (19) and Ben (15).  COACHING SUMMARY

The Head Assistant coach for Rich Cleveland is Roderick Carson.  Roderick is entering his 11th season as Cleveland's Assistant Coach, and is entering his 13th season with the Purgolder Program.  He is great with the kids and is a great presence at both practice and during games.  Roderick graduated from Madison Memorial High School and then went on to Central State in Ohio and played football.  Roderick has been teaching in the Madison School District for many years at Madison Memorial High School for most of them.  Roderick also coaches a youth team with the Badger Sporting Goods organization (NESYB).  He lives in McFarland with his wife Maritza and daughter Yevonessa. 

One of the two volunteer assistants is coach Jeff Mack.  Coach Mack is entering his 8th season under Cleveland.  He provides a huge boost of confidence and energy and also provides a great sense of humor.  He is also an assistant coach for the East Football team, and has been for many years.   Jeff also works for Badger Popcorn.  Jeff's son Aaron, was a volunteer assistant for Cleveland for the last couple years before he got a head Football coaching job at Iowa-Grant.  Aaron was a starter on Rich Cleveland's team in the early 90's.  Jeff currently lives in Madison with his wife Carrie and has 2 children.

The newest addition to Rich Cleveland's staff is his son, volunteer assistant Varsity coach Tyler Cleveland.  19 year old Tyler played, and started for Stoughton High School and Mike Hintz, for his Junior and Senior year.   He was a big part of the defense, as he set the Stoughton School record for charges taken in a season (24), and for his career (31).   He was asked by Hintz to coach the SBBA program this last summer.  He coached in 105 games, (45 Varsity games, 60 JV Games), and had a record of 68-37.  He also is currently the Co-Head Freshmen Baseball Coach under Jay Brazeau, and just got hired as the new Head Boys Varsity Volleyball coach at East.   Tyler currently goes to MATC, and will go to UW-Whitewater in 2010-11 school year to major in Physical Education and Coaching.  

SOPHOMORE COACHES

Entering his 2nd season with the Purgolders under Coach Cleveland, he brings with him a conference title and a 16-2 record with the sophomore squad.  Steve is a retired teacher and coach who wanted to come back and coach under Rich.  Steve was a teacher in the MMSD at Madison West until he retired in 2003.  He started as a coach at Madison East for 15 years(12 years as a head coach), Madison West for 9 seasons (7 years as a head coach), and he compiled a whopping 320 wins in the High School Girls Level to go along with 181 losses.  He was named Big 8 coach of the year, and Madison-Area coach of the year in his tenure.  He also placed second in State in the 1988-89 season.   He then coached at MATC for 3 years with the Girls program including leading them to a 32-2 record in 2005-06.  Which is a MATC record!!  He then lead his team to finish 3rd in the Nation at the NCJAA Division III National Tournament.  MATC was ranked 2nd in the nation throughout the season and then Bentin was named NCJAA Region XIII-B Coach of The Year.  This team won 23 consecutive games leading into the national tournament!  Steve's son Jeremy played under Rich in the mid-90's and was a great player in the program.  Steve grew up in Detroit, Michigan.  He recieved a degree from Wayne State University in 1966 and a M.S. degree from UW-Madison in 1984.   Steve currently lives in Madison with his wife Maureen.  He also has three children.

Assistant coach Jeff Koch is entering his second season with the Sophomore team.  Prior to coaching at East, Jeff coached 8 years at Edgewood College, as an assistant coach.  An East graduate (1986), Jeff was a two sport athlete in Basketball and Football.  He then went on to go to college, and graduate from Marycrest University in 1990.  Jeff currently lives in Madison, with his wife Toni Rosemeyer and her two sons, Drew and Sam.

FRESHMEN COACHES

Freshmen Gold coach Josh Schafer is entering his 2nd season at the helm.  He is switching from the freshmen purple team, to the freshmen gold team for the 2008-09 season!  Josh, entering his 10th overall season of coaching, has a passion for coaching and for the game of basketball.  A former Madison East graduate (1995), and a player of Rich Cleveland, was a three sport athlete (football, basketball, and baseball) in High School.  Coach Schafer currently lives with his girlfriend Amy, and son Deron in Madison.

PICTURE OF FRESHMEN PURPLE COACH COMING SOON