The highschool athletic world misplaced one among its nice ambassadors early Saturday morning as legendary former Catholic Memorial soccer coach and athletic director Jim O’Connor handed away on the age of 87.
Described by many because the face of Catholic Memorial, O’Connor started the soccer program at Catholic Memorial in 1961 and served as head coach till 1979 the place he received 144 video games and a pair of Super Bowl titles in addition to a Class C title. He would later be inducted into the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1983.
He additionally served as the college’s athletic director from 1972-1992 the place he oversaw numerous championships in quite a lot of totally different sports activities. As a lot as O’Connor loved profitable applications, he demanded the college did the proper manner therefore his well-known catch phrase ‘Poise and Class’.
“He just commanded respect, he had a big booming voice and a big personality,” stated David St. Martin, who performed basketball at Catholic Memorial from 1987-1991 and presently serves as an assistant hoop coach on the faculty. “Everyone at the school just looked up to him, he expected students to behave and act the right way.”
Three years into his time as an athletic director, O’Connor took an opportunity on a younger metropolis child to take over the hockey program. Billy Hanson took this system to legendary heights, successful 608 video games and 17 state titles (13 of them within the Super 8) in his 38 years on the helm,
“Coach (O’Connor) was one of a kind, he was like a second father to me,” an emotional Hanson stated Saturday morning. “One thing about coach was that he always had your back no matter what. I screwed up a few times along the way as a youngster and coach always found a way to be there for me – he was there for everyone.”
Current boys basketball coach Denis Tobin remembers when he was employed by O’Connor as an assistant coach again in 1985. He fondly remembers the interview and what was and wasn’t stated in the course of the assembly.
“Coach had two days to hire a junior varsity coach because he found out right after Thanksgiving that Brother Crowley wasn’t going to be able to do it,” stated Tobin, who has been the pinnacle coach for the previous 22 years. “He didn’t care one bit about the wins and losses, he just cared about you representing the school. He wanted to make sure we represented the school with poise and class, which was very important to him.”
Vin Catano spent 4 many years teaching cross nation in addition to indoor and outside observe at Catholic Memorial earlier than retiring two years in the past. He fondly remembers the best way O’Connor handled everybody, no matter who they have been.
“Jim was such a great guy, always so pleasant,” Catano stated. “He treated everyone with courtesy and respect, he just had all the attributes.”
After leaving Catholic Memorial in 1992, he spent 10 years because the athletic director at Framingham. He additionally served because the MIAA Tournament Director in each soccer in addition to the Division 1 Super 8 match.
“I always remember going to the MIAA meetings before the Super Bowl and Jim was always there with his red sweater,” stated John DiBiaso, who coached at Everett for 26 years earlier than taking on at CM in 2018. “He treated every team and the players who were there with respect, just a great guy.”
The faculty renamed the soccer area in 2011 in O’Connor’s identify. He was extraordinarily grateful and humbled by the honour, the satisfaction in his voice was simply noticeable.
“I’ve had a great run at Catholic Memorial,” O’Connor advised the Herald shortly earlier than the ceremony 12 years in the past. “Coming here was the best decision I ever made, I never regretted one single day of my time here.”
Even in retirement, O’Connor was a daily presence at many Catholic Memorial occasions till latest well being woes made these appearances extra scarce. DiBiaso recalled the final time he noticed O’Connor a number of months in the past.
“He showed up at our freshman football game on a Saturday morning after the LaSalle game,” DiBiaso stated. “He sat on one of many benches along with his son and was smiling the entire time. I took him into the bubble and launched him to our gamers.
“He’s always going to be a legend at Catholic Memorial.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com