05NOV12_Basketball_Feature_06:15SEP08_Hamptonia_Text_Draft_07.qxd
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7:33 AM
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Draft 6 (05NOV12)
The 1989 NEPSAC Champions: FRONT (L–R) Todd Boyle, Walter Devenne; MIDDLE (L–R) Michael Stewart, Eric Ward, Dan Petrocelli, Bill O’Connell, Phil Glenn, Manager S. Bryant; BACK (L–R) Mark Tilton, Whit Lesure, James Wilson, Cedric Seymour, Ed Cooley, Jose Ocasio, Jason Suzor, Sean Etmon.
How is the new job different? It’s a lot different. This job is a little more corporate in terms of the demand on your time in terms of trying to build your brand. You do that at Fairfield, but it’s a little more magnified in Providence where you are one of the only shows in town with respect to entertainment and sport. So those are the things we deal with. You grew up in Providence, so how is it being back? It’s a dream. Growing up here and being a Friar fan and always wanting to go to a game, trying to get a ticket to a game, and sneaking into games, it’s truly a dream come true for me, and I feel honored that I’m part of something here. And I’m honored that I’m even the Head Basketball Coach. This place is truly home for me and a place where I fit. Did you always know that you wanted to coach? I wanted to be in a leadership position and obviously I started out in teaching. I always
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say I like teaching, but love coaching. It’s a different level of teaching. Your classroom is now the basketball court. Your classroom is now the locker room. Instead of having 28-30 students per class, you have 14 you have to monitor for the rest of their life, because I want to be a part of their life. Once you have players, what is the key in building team? First and foremost I want someone who fits at Providence College and wants to be here. It’s like marriage; you don’t want to marry someone who has doubts. You want to marry someone who knows you’re his or her partner for life. And I want someone who is characterbased. And with that in mind, somebody who is talented enough to be here. Then you look for the intangibles. What are the intangibles that help you build a program? Pride, integrity, character, and guys who want to graduate. That’s who I want here.
What was it like to speak to the graduating class? I reflected with Billy my assistant coach on the way home about how New Hampton gives many young men and women the opportunity to change their lives, to continue their education, to grow up, to shape their life and give them a college experience. Then there are people you met like Mark Tilton, who is a central figure, and to have teammates come back… I grew up there. I was only there for nine months, but I always feel like I’m connected to the School. What are your memories from your basketball career at New Hampton? Winning the NEPSAC Championship at BU and beating St. Thomas More. I remember the Fork Union Tournament, driving all the way there together, and then we had to sleep on the floor of the locker room. It was really important as far as cultivating relationships with our players and staff. r
NEW HAMPTON SCHOOL
New Hampton School Fall 2012 Hamptonia magazine. Finished