CUBA CITY, Wis. — Wisconsin basketball has lost one of its greatest champions. Jerry Petitgoue, the winningest coach in Wisconsin high school basketball history and a towering figure in the sport for over six decades, has passed away at the age of 84.

Petitgoue’s legacy is etched deeply into the hardwood courts of high school gyms across the state. With a remarkable coaching career that spanned 60 years — including 52 unforgettable seasons at Cuba City High School — his impact on the game and on generations of student-athletes is impossible to measure.

The numbers are staggering:

✅ 1,008 career victories — the first and only coach in Wisconsin history to surpass 1,000 wins

✅ Three WIAA State Championships with the Cuba City Cubans in 1981, 1991, and 1998

✅ Longtime Executive Director of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)

✅ Countless lives changed and careers launched through his leadership, mentorship, and passion

Petitgoue retired in 2023, ending a storied run that not only defined a school and a town but elevated Wisconsin high school basketball to national prominence. Under his watch, Cuba City became synonymous with discipline, class, and consistent excellence.

“His life was lived to the absolute fullest capacity — centered around helping thousands of young people,” said Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard, who attended Petitgoue’s basketball camps as a child and later coached against him. “He truly is the Godfather of the amazing evolution and growth of the sport of basketball in Wisconsin. Undoubtedly, he’s left this world and the game he loved in a much better place than he found it.”

In addition to his success on the court, Coach P, as he was affectionately known, was a tireless advocate for high school athletics across the state. As WBCA executive director, he worked to elevate coaching standards, promote youth development, and ensure that the values of teamwork, respect, and hard work remained central to the game.

Former players, coaches, and community members have poured out tributes across social media and local news channels, remembering him as a coach, mentor, and role model.

“He taught us how to play the game the right way, but more importantly, he taught us how to carry ourselves as men,” said one former Cuba City player. “Coach P didn’t just care about winning — he cared about people.”

Even in retirement, Petitgoue remained active in the basketball world, frequently attending games, mentoring younger coaches, and continuing to serve as a source of wisdom and encouragement.

His passing leaves an enormous void in the Wisconsin sports community, but his influence lives on — in the banners hanging from gym ceilings, in the careers he helped shape, and in the spirit of every young athlete who laces up their sneakers with dreams of greatness.

A memorial service will be announced in the coming days. In lieu of flowers, the Petitgoue family asks that donations be made to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Scholarship Fund, a cause Jerry championed throughout his life.

Rest in peace, Coach Jerry Petitgoue. You were more than a legend — you were the heartbeat of Wisconsin basketball. 🏀❤️‍🩹