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A Coach From the Old School
Some of us played our high school sports for coaches like John Flynn and Shorty Flynn. Maybe you played for Barry Branon or Al Pajonas. And there were coaches on the outskirts of Plattsburgh like Tony Papero and John Hamilton. One thing about all these coaches was that they were no-nonsense guys.
Oh, they would have their little moments of levity, but, for the most part, their coaching styles were based on teaching the fundamentals and discipline. If you played on their teams, you respected the coach and tried your best not to screw up.
If you did something against the coach's rules, the end of the bench was way down there, almost to the locker room. You knew better than to talk back to the coach or do anything to embarrass your team or your school. If you got into the coach's doghouse, you might never get out!
I'm not saying that such coaching styles were 100% right. And I'm not saying there is anything wrong with today's coaches, but I miss coaches from that old school. Probably because that's what I grew up with. That's why I was so happy to meet Joe Loudis, the boys varsity basketball coach at Mechanicville Central School.
His team played at the Plattsburgh State Field House last Saturday in the Class C Regional Finals game against Ticonderoga Central. Watching him coach and watching his team play was a joy to behold. He was fiery, clapping his hands in encouragement, shouting instructions incessantly to his players, all the while clutching a red towel tightly in his hand.
His stocky build reminded me of how Goose and I might look in another ten years. Goose pointed out to me that he looked like Rollie Massimino, the former coach of Villanova University. And I agreed. He was full of the fundamental instructions that our coaches used to yell at us. "Move the ball!" and "Use the backboard!" and "Run the offense!" and "Move your feet!"
He paced back and forth, chewing gum and obviously enjoying every second of the game. Even when one of his players became upset with an official's call, Coach Loudis noticed. "Be quiet!" he barked at his player. The player heard.
Much later in the game, the same player showed too much emotion again. Coach Loudis didn't like it. "Shut up!" he shouted. I think the player knew that the next move would be to the end of the bench.
At another point in the game Coach Loudis pulled one of his starters, and as the player returned to the sidelines, he reminded the player, "If you don't want to play, you sit!" Now where have I heard that before? Was it in 1965?
Mechanicville isn't Joe Loudis' first coaching job. He coached at Cohoes High School, where he was a business teacher for 35 years, from 1965-1988. He took the coaching job at Mechanicville in 1993 and, with a year off here and there, he's still on the sidelines.
A few years back he missed a year due to open heart surgery. He has rebounded nicely, giving all of us with heart ailments encouragement that life doesn't end with heart surgery. I know when I have my open heart surgery, I'm going to put a call into Coach Loudis, just for one of his pep talks.
Oh, one other thing. I couldn't help but notice that all the Mechanicville players had short haircuts. One even had an old-style flat-top just like I used to wear. I think if Goose and I could go back to high school and play one more game, we'd like to play for Joe Loudis. He just seems like he's from the old school. And that's our kind of coach!
Comments
Foxy,
I would say although Gerald Burdo never coached above little league as far as I know he ranks at the top of my list. I had a 7th grade basketball coach that wasn't bad either but his name escapes me.
(Foxy's note: Yes, Gerald Burdo was one of the top Little League coaches ever. He is still living in Plattsburgh and doing well. As for your 7th grade basketball coach -- give it a little more thought! LOL)
Posted by: hr | April 1, 2008 8:21 PM
Hi Foxy:
George Kimball, John Flynn and Barry Branon were great coaches. So was Ernie DeGutis who coached Plattsburgh High School to its first Section VII basketball championship in 35 years in 1957 as well as four consecutive championships in track and field 1953 to 1957 and great football teams in 1955 and 1956. Coach DeGutis was a very smart coach and a strict disciplinarian. He had such great athletes as Ron Wood, Ara Asadourian, Gary Finney, Bob Heins, Barry Keysor, and Billy Benson and Jimmy Lapierre as sophomores.
(Foxy's note: Great to hear from you, Rick! -- Rick Tuttle is a Plattsburgh High School Athletic Hall of Famer, now living in California.)
Posted by: Rick Tuttle | March 22, 2008 4:40 AM
Foxy: Can you or someone out in Sports Land tell me how the Seniors are chosen to play in the "Senior Basketball Games" whether it be the boys or girls games?? I thought if you are a Senior then you could participate. But, maybe the times and also the rules have changed--Just wondering--Thanks, Judy
(Foxy's note: Judy, several years back the name of the game was changed from Seniors Game to Exceptional Seniors Game. I think each team is allowed a maximum number of players (maybe 3). I think the players are selected by each school's coach. Maybe someone more in the know can comment.)
Posted by: Judy | March 19, 2008 4:38 PM
Hi Foxy,
I recall George Kimball visiting our house a few times when I was growing up. My parents always held him in high regard.
I think you could add Mal Cutaiar to your list of old school coaches. He coached the JV Girls at PHS and treated us like ATHLETES. He also instilled SELF-discipline and taught us to be students of the game. He always said that if you could out-think your opponent chances are you would beat them.
To my knowledge Coach Cutaiar is the only person to coach a brother and sister in the same sport; my brother had him as a coach a couple of years after I did.
(Foxy's note: Yes, indeed, Lisa Z, there have been several coaches since my high school days who would fall under the Old School label. Mal Cutaiar, Mike Flynn, John Nicotera, Bill Mitchell in Moriah, to name a few. Thanks for your comments!)
Posted by: Lisa Z. | March 16, 2008 6:14 PM
The great commonality of the Old School Coaches is that they instilled respect. Respect your opponent, respect yourself, respect the officials, respect the coach, respect your teammates, respect your school....
The great ones made sure it wasn't just about winning but also about how you won. Nothing fancy, always fundamental, nothing that made an individual stand out, always the team.
Discipline was a good word not a bad one. Parents were seen but not heard. Certainly the parents, and the school board did not decide who played and who did not.
Hard to coach this way these days. Somebody will have their feelings hurt, maybe they will become depressed if told the truth or taken to task for their shortcomings. Probably will have to be a meeting with the athletic director, followed by some kind of apology from the coach to the kid, team, parents, student body for asking an athlete to be responsible for something that they did. Maybe even a lawyer and psycholgist will be present to make sure the child's self esteem can be properly boosted.
Always nice to hear that a few Old School Coaches still are out there.
(Foxy's note: Points well-taken, rubble. Thanks!)
Posted by: rubble | March 16, 2008 10:17 AM
Foxy I think we've all been very lucky to have had some of the best coaching anyone could ask for ...and we know they certainly didn't do it for the money! Being a tad younger than yourself, I never got to play for some of the greats you mentioned but I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to play for some terrific people,
...Gary Butler, Bob Carr, Bill Lepage, Roger Malarkey, Lefty Wilson, Al Billups, Bill Penders, John Carpenter, John Terry, Art Cardany, Fuzzy Fesette, Mike Flynn, John Nicotera, Ray Holmes were top notch and a privilege to play for.!
(Foxy's note: Nice to see the return of The Carver. You list some good ones here. Thanks!)
Posted by: The Carver | March 15, 2008 9:47 AM
By the way Foxy. Just a quick note. Bruce, Rick, & Skip went to a baseball game at Coastal Federal Field in Myrtle Beach with Wick. Later they went out for Karoke. Wick had league bowling on Monday night. He's a 160+ bowler and only bowled 111-131-158. The guys from Plattsburgh have to take it easy on Wick. Just letting you keep tabs on the guys from Plattsburgh..............
George
Posted by: Stetz | March 14, 2008 6:43 PM
Thanks Foxy - I remember Coach Kimball with the wig!!!!!!!
Posted by: Stetz | March 14, 2008 3:36 PM
Foxy, Maybe some of the old timers will remember Coach George Freeman from the early 60's. Coach Freeman put the boys at Saranac through their paces, a coach could just about say anything to you and you took it, if you missed a foul shot or lay-up out you came--sit for a minute and think, you wouldn't miss the next time--those were the good old days--------
Posted by: Judy | March 14, 2008 3:34 PM
Foxy:
You're 100% correct about Joe Loudis. Joe formerly taught and coached at my high school (not Mechanicville). In my four years in high school we won 4 Section II, Class B titles. He is a disciple of the legendary Richard "Doc" Sauers at Albany State. His practices were rough (at least an hour a day spent on defense) but we were successful.
It should also be noted that Joe was a gifted baseball player in his day. He was on the Schenectady Little League team that won the Little League World Series in the 60's (There's a book entitled, "Destiny's Darlings" that catches up with members of that LL team years later). He was also an accomplished fast pitch softball player.
Just a little more info. on someone I hold in high regard.
(Foxy's note: Vin, thanks for the background info on Coach Loudis.)
Posted by: vin scully | March 14, 2008 2:16 PM
George Kimball PHS 1961, remember him? Ten years of coaching in the early 60's. Overall at PHS thru 4 years he coached with a 68-14 record. Some ball players that played for him were Benson, Nephew, Bernstein, Wilkins, Patnode, Rowlson, Lapiere, Stetz and Defayette. Just to mention a few of the names. Thanks Fox.
(Foxy's note: Yes, George, I remember George Kimball. He was quite a coach and, in a way, I was jealous of the PHS guys who had a coach who would even dress up in a wig at pep rallies! He wasn't on my coaches list because he just seemed so much more "down to earth" than the other coaches.)
Posted by: George Stetz | March 14, 2008 1:11 PM
Foxy; I was coached by Al Pajonas and admired coach John Flynn and Barry Branon. I think Plattsburgh was very fortunate and lucky to have three of best coaches in the area. They coached with determination, dedication, passion and integrity. These coaches from the old school with vision and dedication saved and changed countless lives in Plattsburgh. Thanks coach Al Pajonas! Lenny
Posted by: Lenny Smallacombe | March 14, 2008 9:34 AM