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Winningest Wisconsin high school basketball coach passes away at 84

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•06/12/25•

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Jerry Petitgoue - Wisconsin high school basketball
Cuba City coach Jerry Petitgoue watches the action in a boys basketball game against Riverdale on Friday, February 17, 2023, at Cuba City High School in Cuba City, Wisconsin. (© Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Wisconsin high school basketball community is grieving the death of Jerry Petitgoue at age 84. His son, Mart Petitgoue, tweeted last June 8, “It’s with a heavy heart that my best friend & dad passed away today! He touched so many people as a high (school) basketball coach for 60 years in the state of Wisconsin! He will be greatly missed! I love you dad!”

The older Petitgoue started coaching Wisconsin high school basketball for Cuba City in 1971. He retired in 2023 at the age of 82 with 1,027 victories. He’s the first coach in the state to reach 1,000 wins and second place Jon Murphy (668) isn’t even close.

Petitgoue led the Cubans to Wisconsin high school basketball state titles in 1981, 1991, and 1998. In addition to coaching, he also taught history for 32 years and served as director of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association.

His achievements in high school basketball earned him an induction into the University of Dubuque Hall of Fame. He’s also a member of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Hall of Fame, and the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile, the University of Wisconsin Men’s Basketball head coach Greg Gard paid tribute to Jerry Petitgoue. As posted on the team’s official X account, Gard said, “His life was lived to the absolute fullest capacity centered around helping thousands of young people. He truly is the Godfather of the amazing evolution and growth of the sport of basketball in Wisconsin.”

“We lost an amazing ambassador for the game, but we need to reflect on and cherish the unforgettable memories we’ve had with him. Undoubtedly, he’s left this world and game he loved in a much better place than he found it. He is going to be deeply missed by so many.”