St. Patrick High School, a small Catholic institution located in a rough urban area of New Jersey, houses one of the nation’s most storied high school basketball programs. Kevin Boyle, a pulsating leader who has garnered multiple National Coach of the Year awards, cultivated that winning tradition and, in turn, brought the team to the top of its sport over the course of two decades.

With the help of a close support system and famous alumni now making headlines at the collegiate and professional levels, Boyle orchestrated a rags-to-riches story despite being hampered by a budget shortfall strong enough to present a potential death blow to his school’s existence.

In Celtic Pride, sportswriter Brian Fitzsimmons uses his unlimited access to chronicle a group of teenagers forced to juggle friendship and the immense pressure of being on the nation’s best team throughout the 2010-11 season, while unmasking the man behind it all.

PRAISE FOR CELTIC PRIDE

“Fitzsimmons has hit a stunning three-pointer with this fascinating, engaging and thoroughly researched behind-the-scenes look at national powerhouse St. Patrick. Celtic Pride pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of the tiny Catholic school that produced Al Harrington, Kyrie Irving and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. It is a must-read for anyone interested in high-level basketball.”

-Adam Zagoria, author of ZagsBlog.com and She's Got Handle - The Story of Nicole Louden's Triumph Through Inner-City Basketball

“With rich detail, Fitzsimmons brings to life the colorful characters of Court Street, relating a tale of how Kevin Boyle built a no-frills program into a national power.”

-Kevin Armstrong, New York Daily News

“This book gives you an inside perspective on arguably the best high school basketball program in New Jersey and the nation.  Well written, with a Jersey flair.”

 -John Celestand, NBA champion

“Brian Fitzsimmons captures not only the true essence of St. Patrick High School and Kevin Boyle in Celtic Pride, but also that of a long list of figures who have helped turn it into one of the nation's premier high school basketball programs. His extensive interviewing and tremendous attention to detail helped tell a story no one dared to take on until now.”

-Josh Newman, Asbury Park Press

“Celtic Pride captures the close detail and attention that St. Patrick High School's basketball team received during the 2010-11 season.”

-Alex Kline, TheRecruitScoop.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR