Hugs were in greater supply than jump shots on Saturday at Hill Gym. With former women’s basketball players and coaches slowly collecting and reuniting in the gym, it was a time to celebrate.
It was Gary Fifield Day in Gorham.
Held as part of a Little East double-header with Keene State, the day honored the legendary coach who stepped down earlier this semester to focus on administrative duties.
Starting with remarks from both President Selma Botman and Athletic Director Al Bean, the day was chocked full of memories and anecdotes of Fifield as a coach, teacher and mentor.
“I think we all know about Coach’s record, but what is less immediately measurable are the contributions he’s made over the last 21 years,” Botman said of the 13-time LEC Coach of the Year. “Coach Fifield will always be remembered as coach extraordinaire, but I’d rather remember him as a teacher and mentor.”
Standing in the center named for the late Richard “Doc” Costello, Bean added to the high praise saying that “if this is the house that Costello built, it is very clear that Gary built the second floor.”
Fifield established himself as one of the best coaches in the nation. During his tenure at the university he compiled an incredible 541-86 record while guiding his Lady Huskies to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Fifield addressed the crowd and thanked numerous people including former players, coaches, the administration, the fans and family. Always evoking the word “we,” Fifield acknowledged the accomplishments of his program but added that he’s not retired.
“People congratulate me on retirement, but I haven’t really retired,” he said. “I’m doing some administrative things and trying to bring prominence to some of our other programs.”
After Fifield was presented a plaque commemorating the day and his former team held on for 61-47 victory over rivals Keene State, a reception was held in a packed Alumni Reception Hall overlooking Hill Gymnasium.
At the reception former players and colleagues gave remarks and shared anecdotes about Fifield’s impact on their lives and the university.
Bean read a handwritten letter from Costello’s wife Melissa that thanked Fifield for his contributions, and assured the coach that her late husband would be proud of all that he has done.
Fifield also received a congratulatory letter from Casey Jones, former Boston Celtics player and coach, who Fifield worked with at a basketball camp at Norwich University.
Former player and assistant coach Lori Towle told of her initial interest in USM, which stemmed from a basketball camp she attended with Fifield at a very early age. Towle said it was this interaction that led her to transfer from Bowdoin College adding that Fifield “taught us life skills you can’t learn in a classroom,” like the importance of preparation.
Long-time colleague, baseball coach Ed Flaherty, illustrated Fifield’s competitiveness by sharing a story of a golf trip in the 1990’s. Fifield broke his foot on the second hole but continued for the remainder of the round and beat Flaherty.
“In coaching terms, Gary’s a grinder,” Flaherty said. “You watch this guy from outside and say ‘this guy does it right.'”
Shannon Kynoch, a 2008 graduate of USM and assistant coach at St. Michael’s College, remembered her coach’s impact off the hardwood.
‘Behind the foot-stomping, arms-flailing, choice-word-using coach, he was instrumental in my success,” Kynoch said.
A relieved Mike McDevitt, Fifield’s successor, joked: “There’s enough pressure following in the footsteps of a legend, but to play Keene State on Gary Fifield day [is something else].”
Bean and former players also presented Fifield with gifts ranging from dinner at the Eastland Park Hotel to a basketball signed by all former players present.
Perhaps the greatest example of Fifield’s impact has been the success of his former players. With no less than five of them coaching at the collegiate level, Fifield has seen the women he’s coached go onto become nurses, teachers and even CEOs.
Fifield fondly remembered a recent email from Angel Elderkin who played for him in the 90’s. Elderkin is now the assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of Virginia and spent her earlier coaching days under the tutelage of Pat Summit at the University of Tennessee.
“That’s what has meant the most to me, where they [they players] are going,” Fifield said in closing. “It has been a great day. I’ll certainly remember it for the rest of my life.”