hall of famers recall great coaches
A guiding principle of Collegiate athletics is that the program is, first and foremost, for the kids. It’s not about winning, although winning is a high priority and, without a doubt, incredibly sweet. It’s not about glory, although public recognition for a job well done can be very satisfying. And it’s certainly not about the coaches.
“That’s been our history,” said co-athletic director Charlie McFall, who’s been here since 1970. “We strive to have the best coaches in every sport and every level, but the focus is always on the athletes. “That started with Petey, and it will always be that way.”
Petey, of course, is Petey Jacobs, the patron saint of Collegiate athletics who directed the boys’ program from its birth in 1960 until he retired in 1981 and whose spirit remains very much with us today.
A true gentleman and a highly successful coach of baseball and basketball, he emphasized fair play and loyalty and never saw a contradiction between competitive spirit and sportsmanship.
Above all, he felt that the real value of athletics was the lessons young people could learn and apply to their lives outside the arena, and he constantly impressed upon his young protégés as much by example as in words their sacred responsibility to teach those lessons quietly, humbly, and without fanfare.
That said, tomorrow afternoon six athletes and four teams will be inducted into the Collegiate athletic hall of fame, and a common theme among the honorees is their gratitude for the influence of the men and women who challenged, encouraged, nurtured, and mentored them to achieve heights that they might otherwise not have attained.
What follows are thoughts from several of them:
David Gieg, the goalkeeper on the 1990 boys’ soccer team, on Charlie Blair, who has directed the program for 25 years.
The coaching was exceptional. Coach Blair definitely pushed us hard, but we considered him a friend. Everybody respected him, and more than anything, we totally bought into his philosophy and knew that what he told us would work.
Nancy Sadler George, class of ‘65, on Mary Grubbs, her field hockey, basketball, and tennis coach:
I remember hanging out in her office in the gym. She was always relaxed, really nice, and a very good coach. I even remember that she loved peanut butter and banana sandwiches. She was one of my mentors. When this (her selection to the hall of fame) finally registered, my regret was that Mrs. Grubbs wasn’t alive to see it.
David Shannon, class of ‘82 and one of the most accomplished track athletes in Collegiate history, on Jim Hickey.
Coach Hickey was fair and had a strong work ethic. He recognized that we were kids, but he also knew how to coach our personal best out of each of us.
Hylah Boyd Ballowe, point guard on the 1989-90 girls’ basketball team, on Lou Flanagan.
We had some great athletes that Mr. Flanagan was able to mold into a good basketball team. He was a very good coach of fundamentals. He made us run wind sprints until we were very tired, but he was still somebody you could talk to. We had a ball.
Leighton Klevana, goalie on the 1987 boys’ lacrosse team, on Mike Thompson.
Coach Thompson pulled together a lot of guys who had played a long time, some since 5th grade. He motivated us and got us to focus, and that allowed each of us to perform to the best of our abilities.
He got us to work as a team, and one of the reasons no one beat us was that we were focused on one goal.
George Whitley, quarterback on the 1970 football team, on the legendary Grover Jones who died in 1985.
He was larger than life back then, and he’s larger than life today. He was the classic, old school, bone-on-bone coach. There wasn’t a lot of razzle-dazzle. He just inspired his players to be tough. We all grew up a lot playing for him.
