The Tablet . Sports | Diocese of Brooklyn

That is how long Jack Curran has been coaching basketball and baseball at Archbishop Molloy High School.

And the St. John’s University graduate – he majored in English – has no intention of retiring.

How has Jack, who no longer teaches physical education as he did when first hired by the Marist Brothers’ school in Briarwood, survived in a profession that has changed so much over the years?

“Brother Wilfrid Mary (now deceased) was our first coach. I was a counselor at Clair Bee’s (former LIU coach and a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame) when I read in a newspaper that Lou Carnesecca was leaving Molloy to go to St. John’s University as Joe Lapchick’s assistant.

“Clair told me to apply for the position. I did and I was hired at a salary of $4,000 to coach and teach physical education.”

Before continuing, let me point out that prior to Molloy, Brother Wilfrid was one of my teachers – and a tough one to all who ever had him – at St. Agnes H.S., Manhattan.

Prior to making teaching and coaching his life’s work, Curran worked for Johns Manville.

“On weekends I would go to Camp All America which Clair operated at New York Military Academy (Cornwall on Hudson),” continued Jack.

Upon being hired at Molloy, Curran made it a point to the principal that he was an English major.

“To which he replied to me, ‘We don’t hire degrees, we hire people,’” recalled Curran.

And Jack turned out to be good at all he did at Molloy. This in spite of losing six basketball games by a single point in his first season.

Proof positive is the fact that the Stanners have won 22 New York City CHSAA titles – 17 in baseball and five in basketball – from the 1960s through the ’90s.

“I enjoy every day,” Curran added. “Molloy is like home to me. I enjoy the kids and they still respond to me…even though they must think I am 150 years old.

“The last 10 years I have had to adjust my goals, but, as I stated, I still enjoy what I do.”

Switching topics, Jack went back to his early days of coaching when he met some of the legendary men of that era.

“I recall John (Jacko) Crane being at Cathedral Prep (Brooklyn) for 49 years,” said Curran.

“And Herb Hess was 41 years at St. John’s Prep where he coached football, baseball and basketball until the school closed.”

Editor’s Note: St. John’s Prep was located in Brooklyn then and later reopened in its current location in Astoria.

“That meant more practices,” offered Jack, “and those practices really prepared you for what I called the exams.”

Is there any chance of the Bronx native (Our Lady of Angels parish) retiring?
“I will be here until they kick me out,” was the response.

Judging by the response at the 50th anniversary celebration held in the gymnasium two weeks ago that is certainly not going to happen in the near future.

“We beat St. Francis Prep (45-41) that night,” smiled Jack. “It was a big reunion.

“Basketball and baseball players who now are living in San Francisco, the Carolinas and Florida were there and we had a great time.

“I was very happy and will remain that way as long as they have my next party 50 years from now.”

Fontbonne’s Senior Swimmers, front row, from left, are: Kristen McMaster, Samantha Motley, Suzy Caputo, Trisha Scherpf, Jane Taikina, Alexis Liscandrella, Catherine Muldoon, Ali Pasarelli and Melissa DeMarco.

Fontbonne Hall’s Bonnie swimmers showed a commanding presence at the GCHSAA girls’ swimming championships at the Nassau County Aquatics Center. Tallying 417.5 pts., the girls from Bay Ridge took a commanding lead over fellow Brooklyn rivals, Bishop Kearney and St. Saviour’s, and held on to it, placing them fourth overall out of 10 teams.

The hard work, determination and depth of the team are a few of the many attributing factors to its success. The team came off its dual meet season with a tie against tough competitor St. Joseph By the Sea of Staten Island. “It was a great meet and a great outcome to end in a tie, it’s a very rare thing,” said head coach Laura Shea Delin. “It put the team in great spirits for the championships since Sea defeated both St. Saviour’s and Bishop Kearney earlier on in the dual meet season.”

The Bonnies made a very strong presence on day one qualifiers with at least three to four members of the team returning for day two in each of the eight individual events. “We placed extremely well in all races, I was seeing times drop drastically by more than half the team, which got more of the team in for day two and edged out the opportunity for other Brooklyn teams.”

Sophomore powerhouses Alexa Morrissey and Elaina Anastasio had outstanding performances. Both placed comfortably in the top eight in their individual events and swam supportive roles in the 200 Medley Relay and 200 Freestyle Relay events, which were additional gold medal finishes. They clinched fourth place overall for us in the 100 breaststroke, which was a highly competitive race this year. “It was nice to come out above the team you tied during the dual meet season. It gives a form of closure — that we had a little more punch,” said Coach Joe Verponi who has been a coach with the FHA team for 38 years.

Michelle Powers, FHA junior and two-time MVP of the team finished sixth in the 100 backstroke and ninth in the 50 Freestyle, adding to the point total. Michelle also was a major player in the 200 Medley Relay and the 200 Freestyle Relay.

The Fontbonne team said farewell to nine graduating seniors. The group was a good core to the team and will be missed. The next year’s team will look forward to remaining in the A division, one of only two Brooklyn schools to be in the top division.