Sports 08-09-2018

50 years later, Bob DeFelice is still just a ‘coach’

By Jonathan Chang

When NBA players say “Pop,” they’re not talking about their dads; they’re talking about Gregg Popovich. When student-athletes at Bentley University say “Coach,” they’re all talking about the same person: Bob DeFelice. There’s a good reason for that.

A man whose name has become synonymous with Bentley University athletics, DeFelice has spent the last 50 years of his career as the Falcons’ head baseball coach, and 27 as its athletics director. For context, Duke’s Mike Kryzewski has spent 38 seasons with the Blue Devils, and college football’s longest tenured head coach is Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, who was hired by the university in 1999 (20 seasons).

“I’ve never been more than that, to be honest with you,” DeFelice said in his office last Monday. “Playing was the foundation, the heart and soul of how I got to where I was, and then once I started coaching, I became an extension of it.”

In a world that is constantly changing, 50 years is longer than many of the establishments around. Now 76 years old, DeFelice never expected his career at Bentley to last as long as it has.

“Oh, God, no,” DeFelice said. “Somebody asked me, ‘How fast did it go by for you?’ I have no idea.”

“It’s just something about the place,” he said of Bentley University. “I think we’re all, as coaches, fortunate to be able to be in this profession because as everything changes, the kids, I don’t think they change.”

DeFelice has made great marks at Bentley University, which in return named several facilities, including the baseball field and the ice rink, in his honor. He, however, is unwilling to receive the credit.

“EgotisticallyÑwe all have egosÑit’s great,” DeFelice said. “But in reality, come on, seriously? I wouldn’t be able to get through the door by myself.”

Besides pointing to his family and fellow staff, the veteran head coach said his greatest lesson came in 1984, when Winthrop Vikings football went 0-and-10 during the season. The Vikings had won 33 straight games between 1981 and 1983, so the drastic shift was unexpected.

“It was an eye opener for me,” said DeFelice, who helmed Vikings football for 17 years before coming to Bentley. “The support was unbelievable. It was real. … No one’s gonna be supportive when you lose all the time … [but] there was tremendous amount of loyalty and commitment to athletics.”

DeFelice’s journey began in the streets of Winthrop, where he continues to reside today. After graduating from Winthrop High School in 1959, he eventually headed to Boston College, where he studied history and helped the Eagles reach the College World Series during the first two seasons of his collegiate baseball career.

Despite his age and countless seasons spent on the field, retirement has yet to cross DeFelice’s mind. “I think the wire’s crossed,” he said. “I think I’m more intense, more competitive, more involved than I ever was.”

As for the immediate future, only one plan remains ahead: another season of baseball.

“The day that the box is in front of the altar, that’ll be my retirement,” DeFelice said.

 

From the Press Box

On Second Thought

By: Jim Lederman

Congratulations to the Winthrop High School Class of 1973, they will celebrate their 45^th class reunion on Sept. 15.

The Vikings hoop team (“The basketball capitol of the North Shore”) played in the Class B final of the Tech Tourney in the legendary Boston Garden in 1973.

Chris Tsiotos, the leading scorer of the NEC (28.5 points per game) was on the bench with mononucleosis. The Vikings lost a two-point heartbreaking loss to powerhouse Rindge Tech.

I will take a 10-yard offside penalty for leaving a few football players off my ‘family’ football list last week.

Michael Adamson, player on the 1983 Super Bowl champs. Mark and Dan Shanon were on the 2006 Super Bowl team.

Congrats to Evan Smotrich, for winning the Winthrop Golf Club junior championship. Evan will be a sophomore at Winthrop High this year.

Randy Moss caught 23 touchdown passes on the 2007 Patriots team, from Tom Brady. Moss was inducted in the 2018 NFL Hall of Fame last Friday. Coach Bill Belichick and owner Bob Kraft were at the ceremony.

Legendary Green Bay Packer Guard Jerry Kramer, waited 45-years for his induction in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Jerry played 11-years with Green Bay and played on two Super Bowl championship teams.

Red Sox, a team of dominance and destiny. Hats off to Dave Dombrowski for trading for Steve Pearce, Nathan Eovaldi and Ian Kinsler.

Sox manager should be American League Manager of the year. His emotion is tops!

Former Patriot corner back Ty Law should be named to the 2019 NFL Hall of Fame.

Who will play longer? 41-year old Tom Brady or 41-year old ZdenoChara? The Celtics need to sign guard Terry Rozier to a new contract.

Nickname of the week Ð “Dr. Doom” Ð Hall of Fame inductee Ð Robert Brazile, who earned that nickname by playing in all 147 games for the Houston Oilers.

The best late night sports show on TV Ð Sports Sunday with legendary ex-‘Big Blue’ quarterback Mike Lynch, Sunday night at 11:30 p.m. on WCVB Ð Channel 5.

Lynn English is the pre-season favorite to win the NEC South title.

The Red Sox have six games to play with the New York Yankees.

The race is over!

Let’s Go Sox!

Let the Games Begin!

 

 

Captains Big Guy

This week’s “Where Are They Now?” picture is the 1956 Winthrop junior high football team.

Co-captains Anthony Martucci (number 87) and Bobby Milne (number 75), in the last two months the “Big Guy” has had his share of health issues. In the Martucci Family tradition is to be healthy and strong. We wish the “Big Guy” a speedy recovery and all the best.

Can you find in the picture Ð Tim Brannan, Howie Conley, Jimmy Hurley, Dom Paci, Dick DePippo, Jackie Kelliher, Billy Cleary, Rich Poor, Billy Levine, Eddie Hanon, Joe Ciarcia, Ron Godfrey, John Polino, Rich DiMento, Harold Krivan, Billy Adamson, Skip Marcella, Jim Lederman, Jimmy Lawrence, Eric Bjornson, Coach Syd Williams, Coach Paul ‘Doc’ Connor, Billy McLaughlin and Ben Delvecchio.

The picture was taken in ‘The Pit’ on Hermon Street.

Circa Ð 1956 Ð 62 years ago!