ATHLETICS
PHOTO: PETER OLESKEVICH
Attending the renaming ceremony on Sept. 30: Suzie Aberdeen Waits (Stu Aberdeen’s daughter); Lynn Aberdeen (Stu’s wife); Mike Aberdeen (Stu’s son); Brek Waits (Stu’s grandson); Frank Waits (Suzie’s husband); Miles Waits (Stu’s grandson); and Linda Aberdeen (Stu’s daughter).
Acadia announces Stu Aberdeen Court
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t’s a fitting tribute to a man who could virtually walk on water when it came to boosting the basketball cause in Atlantic Canada. Acadia University paid tribute to a late former coaching great in renaming its War Memorial Gymnasium’s hardwood Stu Aberdeen Court after the charismatic legend. The official ceremony took place Friday, September 30, 2016 during the return of the Stu Aberdeen Challenge in Wolfville. Members of the Aberdeen family traveled from the United States to Wolfville for the ceremony, including his wife Lynn. Aberdeen himself died of a heart attack in June 1979. “Words cannot say what naming of the court in Stu’s honour has meant to my family and me,” Lynn said “It is also in honour of his players who played the games and their accomplishments. The camaraderie of players coming together with one another and sharing their stories made the last 50 years disappear.” She added that they loved their eight years in Wolfville and at Acadia. “It was safe, smelled like apple pie because of the orchard that came down the hill stopping near the hospital. We never locked our doors, walked everywhere, knew our neighbors like family, and players came over often just to play with our children or relax.”
STORIED CAREER Aberdeen turned a struggling program into a consistent conference champion and a national champion during his storied eight-year run. “Coach Aberdeen commanded a lot of respect and created a basketball culture that holds true 50 years later,” said Kevin Duffie (’09), current coach of the Acadia men’s basketball team. “He made it a basketball school and established a winning tradition. He elevated the game and was a legendary recruiter. It’s a rich history and culture we are proud to be a part of and carry on.” Aberdeen took his Axemen to six conference championships, five Maritime titles and a national championship in 1964-65, compiling an overall record of 122-50 between 1958 and 1966. Traces of his legacy remain in the region. Steve Konchalski (’66), long-time coach of the St. Francis Xavier men’s basketball squad, was a prized Aberdeen recruit.
“Friday night (Sept. 30) was one of the special nights of my coaching career,” Konchalski said. “To be playing my alma mater in the game when Acadia’s court was named in honour of my coach, 50 years after we both left Acadia, meant a lot and stirred up some great memories — and to have Lynn Aberdeen and the whole family there was very emotional. Coach Aberdeen changed the direction of my life when he recruited me to come to Canada as a 17-year-old, and for that I will be forever grateful.” Konchalski was one of a number of Aberdeen’s hoop disciples who went on to preach Aberdeen style-basketball as coaches. Others who went on to coach after playing for Aberdeen include Andy Kranack (’65), Richie Spears (’64), Ian MacMillan (’69) and Brian Heaney (’69).
HUGE IMPACT Heaney was another Aberdeen recruit out of Rockaway Beach, New York. “Coach Aberdeen had a huge impact on those who played for him, as a person and an athlete,” said Heaney, who, along with Konchalski, were part of the national championship Acadia team. Heaney also went on to coach, capturing a national championship at the helm of the men’s program at Saint Mary’s. “As a person, Stu Aberdeen could inspire people to recognize how much potential they have in life and how, as an athlete, through the application of fundamental execution, physical conditioning, discipline, teamwork and talent, that competing at the national championship level and winning that championship for Acadia was attainable.” Aberdeen, a native of Lewiston, N.Y., near Niagara Falls, left Acadia for an assistant coaching position at the University of Tennessee. He was head coach at Marshall University when he died suddenly of a heart attack while on a family vacation. He was in his early forties. Frank Davis (’59), a Yarmouth native now living in Halifax, was centre and captain of the Axemen the year Aberdeen arrived. Aberdeen left a strong impression on the rugged post player. “He really broke open basketball in the Atlantic Provinces,” Davis said. “It was his level of intensity and he was always positive.” Reprinted courtesy of The Chronicle Herald
ACADIA BULLETIN Fall 2016
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