Robert "Stretch" Gillam, 1934-2017 -- http://www.vnews.com/Coach-Stretch-Gillam-Dies-at-82-11617106 |
Born in Rutland, VT He graduated from
MSJ in 1954 where he excelled in sports. As a senior, MSJ was state champs and went to the New England Tournament at Boston Garden. He did a prep year
at Kimball Union, served in the US Army and attended University of Georgia.
Stretch began his coaching career at KUA coaching football and baseball; he
coached at Hartford , Oxbow, Green Mtn and Hanover. In his long career he
won over 600 games, was inducted into the VBCA and New England Hall of Fame. He
was very active in the VBCA and helped make Basketball Better in Vermont.
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Coach Jim Bashaw
Coach Bashaw was the head girls' basketball coach at Bellows Free
Academy
in St, Albans from 1981 - 1995. In his 14 seasons, Coach Bashaw won
two
state championships and his team made the "Final Four" nine
times. Coach Bashaw
touched many lives, and none more than those that had the privilege
of playing
for a man that loved life and lived with remendous enthusiasm and
faith. He was
a dedicated professional always looking to improve and learn while
bringing
out the best in others. Coach Bashaw also was the father of two boys
who he
loved dearly and a wonderful husband to his wife and best friend,
Shari. Coach
Bashaw served the St, Albans community in numerous ways and his legacy
will
certainly live on through his wife and sons. Coach Bashaw always found
a way
to teach his players not only to be successful as ball players, but
he taught them
how to be successful in life. His energy and infectious smile will
always lie on
in the lives of those who knew him. |
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Frank Bizzarro May 12, 1935- January 9, 1999
Frank was a 1953 Mount Saint Joseph Academy of Rutland graduate. He
received
his bachelor of science in education from Castleton State College
in 1957. Frank
excelled in basketball at both schools and is a member of the Castleton
Athletic
Hall of Fame. Frank taught social studies for 40 years and coached
basketball
for 35 years. He coached at Bennington Catholic High School, Mount
Anthony
Union High School, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brattleboro High School,
Lake Region Union High School, and North Country Union High School.
Frank retired in 1997. He excelled at developing basketball programs
that
had been "down". In his career he won 2 state championships
(Bennington Catholic)
and brought five divisions I schools to the final four. Frank was
Vermont coach
of the year in 1965 and in 1980 coached the Vermont Alhambra team
to a victory
over New Hampshire in the first game of the series.
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David Blake January 1950-May 2012
Coach Blake began his coaching career at the Junior Varsity level at Burr and Burton Academy in 1973. He took over the Varsity team and proceeded to win a State Championship in 1979. There were three more to follow in 1981, 1983 and 1984.
In 1987, Dave accepted a position as an assistant men’s basketball coach at St Michaels College in Colchester, Vt. Two years later, he moved to Champlain College in the same position.
In 1993, Coach Blake became the head coach at Castleton State College. In five years, he rebuilt the men’s basketball program into a competitive one that earned a spot in the NAIA National Basketball Tournament.
In 1998, Dave joined the staff of Mill River Union High School, where he was an Athletic Director, Social Studies teacher and assistant girl’s basketball coach. He retired in 2008.
Coach Blake received several awards during his career, including Vt. Division 11 Coach of the Year, Marble Valley League Coach of the Year, Head Alhambra Coach in 1984, Assistant Coach in 2000 and Hall of Fame honor from Burr and Burton Academy.
Dave impacted hundreds of people throughout his life and will be missed. Dave was a Coach who preached positive thinking, helped his players achieve success and demanded a supreme effort at all times. But, he will always be remembered for his care and concern for his players and students. |
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Edward J. Burke--May 25, 1929-June 9, 2000
Started at Winooski High School in 1959 and won 4 state class I championships
1959-1963.
Only coach to win a state title in each of his first 4 years of coaching.
Went to 2 New England
High School Tournaments with Winooski and won the New England in 1962.
He then went to Burlington High School where he won class I state
championships in
1969, 1972, 1973, and 1977. Was coach of the year in 1972 and past
president of the
coaches association. His teams were in the state finals 10 years.
Ed coached for 18 years and retired in 1977. |
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Coach Bernie Cieplicki "Coach Cieplicki
Coach Bernie Cieplicki was the head boys' basketball coach at Rice
Memorial High
School from 1960-1978. He established Rice as a perennial power leading
the
"Little Indians" to 317 wins and 3 state championships in
his tenure as coach.
Coach Cieplicki had tremendous love for the game of basketball and
was a committed
man who cared deeply for his players. He was an outstanding teacher
of the game
and had a great mind for basketball.
Coach Cieplicki was also a devoted family man and dedicated to the
youth of Vermont,
being instrumental in founding both the Catholic Youth Organization
(C.Y.O)
basketball leagues in the state of Vermont as well as the Burlington
International
Games (B.I.G.). Coach Cieplicki's legacy is now being carried on by
his son Kevin,
who is presently the head coach at Rice memorial. Kevin's team was
the
1999-2000 state champions. Coach Bernie Cieplicki's wife, Christine,
continues to be an avid supporter of Rice Basketball. |
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Joe Corey June 7, 1958-January 9, 2002
Joe Corey was the head Boys' basketball coach at Arlington High School
from
1992-2002. In addition to that, he was the Boys' Varsity Assistant
for 6 years from
1986-1992. Coach Corey won the Division III State Championship in
1998, and
reached the Final Four on 5 occasions. Coach Corey was a 1976 graduate
of
Arlington High School, where he played on the Varsity Basketball team
for 3 years.
Coach Corey amassed over 150 wins during his 10 years of coaching.
He was
named MVL "C" division Coach of the Year 4 times and was
Vermont's Nominee
for National Federation Coach of the year in 2000. Coach Corey had
a strong
passion for basketball and was known as a coach who took care of his
players. |
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L. Leonard Drew January 10, 1930-February 14, 2001
Levi Leonard “Lenny” Drew was born on January 10,
1930 in Hanover New Hampshire. He attended school in Bradford Vermont
where he was a star athlete. He graduated from Bradford Academy
in 1948 and pursued his life long dream of attending the University
of Notre Dame. Lenny attended Notre Dame University from where
he was awarded a B.S. in Physical Education in 1952 and M.A. in
Education in 1955. Between earning his degrees he served a stint
as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Lenny returned to Vermont
in 1955 where he accepted a teaching and coaching position at illiamstown
High School. While at Williamstown
he coached cross-country, basketball and baseball, and led the
basketball team to a record of 49-18. After 3 years at Williamstown
Lenny left to accept a position at Lyndon State College. At Lyndon
State College he was a three-sport varsity coach and served as
Director of Athletics and Physical Education from 1958-62.
Len guided the athletic program as Lyndon expanded upon its three
sports offering. While coaching soccer, basketball, and baseball,
he added skiing and track and field to the intercollegiate program.
Under his direction, Lyndon also became an active member of the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Lenny left Lyndon
in 1962 to take a position at St. Johnsbury Academy, where he would
spend the next six years. While at the
Academy, he compiled some impressive basketball and golf coaching
records and noteworthy honors. His basketball coaching record while
at St. Johnsbury was 60-58. In 1968 he moved to Montpelier to accept
his final coaching and teaching position. He coached basketball
at Montpelier High School from 1968 until his retirement after
the 1990-1991 season. While at Montpelier
he compiled a record of 274-217. His overall basketball record
was 419-341, covering Williamstown High School, Lyndon State College,
St. Johnsbury Academy, and finally Montpelier High School. Of the
31 High School boys basketball teams he coached, 25 qualified for
the State Tournament. Two teams played for the State Title,
seven were semifinalists and eight made it to the quarterfinals.
He won three basketball League Coach of the year awards and won
four league titles. Of all his accomplishments he was most proud
of the following: In 1970 he was named Vermont Coaches Association “Coach of
the Year”, and in 1988 was named the Vermont Boys Basketball
Coaches Association “Coach of the Year”. Lenny was
also a past President of Vermont Coaches Association and was the
founder and past President of Vermont Boys Basketball Coaches Association.
He was also a member of the Basketball Committee of the Vermont
Headmasters Association. During he free time, he was the co-director
of the Vermont State Elks ”Hoop Shoot” Foul Shooting
Contest.
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Edward J. Hockenbury "Coach Hock"--June 5, 1942-September
26, 1996
Ed Hockenbury will long be remembered as one of the finest college
coaches in
Vermont basketball history. The all-time winnings coach at Norwich
University,
Hockenbury led the Cadets at the only two NCAA Tournament appearances
in their
history. Following his 17 years at Norwich, Hockenbury enjoyed two
years as the
assistant coach at Middlebury, working with his dear friend, Head
Coach Russ Reilly.
He then moved on to Vermont Technical College, where he guided the
men's team to
a national tournament appearance in only his second season at helm.
He also coached
baseball at both Norwich and VTC. Prior to coaching in Vermont, Hockenbury
was an assistant basketball coach at Georgetown, West Point, and Villanova.
Hockenbury grew up the youngest of seven children in Philadelphia.
An outstanding
all around athlete, he particularly excelled in baseball and basketball.
After playing high
school ball at Cardinal Dougherty, Hockenbury attended the Naval Academy
Prep School,
before being lured off to Boston College on a basketball scholarship
offered by NBA legend,
and BC coach at the time, Bob Cousy. Hockenbury played for four years
under Cousy at BC,
led them to the NIT Tournament, and captained the Eagles as a senior.
Hockenbury was
also the catcher on the baseball team at BC for two years, and threw
the javelin
for the track team. His talents on the basketball court, as well as
his all around athletic
ability, led to his enshrinement in the Boston College Hall of Fame
in 1996.
Hockenbury passed away in 1996 after a courageous two-year battle
against brain cancer.
He is remembered not only as a great coach, but more importantly,
as a wonderful friend
and family man who always had a big smile and a kind word for everyone.
While his
coaching positions in Vermont were at the college level, Hockenbury
was a friend and a
valuable asset to Vermont high school basketball coaches. He was always
willing to
share his knowledge, and his appearances at coaching clinics and camps
were a valuable
resource. No one loved the game more than "Hock," and his
presence in our coaching
community is greatly missed. |
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Dean W. Houghton Jan. 28, 1926 - Sept. 2, 1997
A long time coach and principal. Dean had a tremendous influence on
basketball in
Vermont. He started out as a physical education teacher at Poultney
High School
1952-1962. He coached basketball 1952-65, basketball 1952-65 and football
1952-1975 at Poultney. He was Basketball State Championships in 1962,
1963
and 1965. He was also Vermont coach of the yea in 1963 and 1968. In
1967
he received the Ralph LaPonte award for outstanding contribution to
Vermont sports.
When Dean stopped coaching he still was deeply involved in basketball
and
high school athletics. He served from 1962-1990 in the Vermont Head
Master's
Association (Vermont Principals Association). For 28 years Dean was
on the
V.P.A. Basketball Committee and was responsible for much of the basketballs'
growth in popularity. He was the principal of Mill River form 1975-1990.
Received the VT Principal of the year award in 1980 and in 1994 he
received
the Marble Valley League Lifetime contributions award. Dean was one
of the few
administrators who was not only deeply involved in administrating
athletics but
also cared greatly about the coaches and students involved in the
game. |
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Lou Seier 1949-2008
Lou Seier was the girls varsity basketball coach at Black River High School from 2004-2008, before that he coached J.V. boys basketball at Black River and junior high boys at Black River. Lou also coached many years of AAU Basketball with boys and girls. Lou had a passion for the game and the players he coached over the years; he considered the girls his second family. Lou was from the Philadelphia area where he attended school and college. Coach Seier was a loving family man and a wonderful husband to his wife and best friend Wendy, he was the father of two wonderful kids, a daughter and a son. He loved his children very much and was always talking about them. Lou was a coach and a family man who loved both his basketball family and his blood family. |
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