COLUMNISTS

Zacchio: Albertus Magnus honors, remembers coach

The Albertus Magnus girls basketball team now 'high-fives' the court dedicated to former coach Joe McGuinness before and after each practice and game.

Mike Zacchio, mzacchio@lohud.com
  • Albertus Magnus dedicated the basketball court to former coach and athletic director Joe McGuinness.
  • Falcons girls basketball coach Pat Buckley now has the team "high-five" the coach's name before and after each game and practice.
  • McGuinness is the only basketball coach in Section 1 history to win a section title as a boys and girls coach.
Albertus Magnus formally dedicated the basketball court to former coach and athletic director Joe McGuinness on Dec. 13, 2016.

His eyes bloodshot, tears flowed from Buckley during and after the ceremony Tuesday night that named the basketball court at Albertus Magnus High School after his late colleague, Joe McGuinness, the longtime Falcons girls basketball coach who passed away last year from cancer at age 55.

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“Even while he was alive and before he was sick, we always felt it should be ‘Coach McGuinness Court,’ so it’s special that it’s happening now,” Buckley, the Falcons’ varsity girls basketball head coach, said after the ceremony. “It’s going to be great that it’s named after him because there’s an expectation level to play on that court now. You have to play with passion, and be a good person while you’re doing it.”

Albertus Magnus named the court after him as a way of preserving his memory for the generations that will follow. Buckley, who was hired by McGuinness to replace him as the varsity girls basketball head coach in 2009, has now taken it a step further.

Players and coaches of the girls basketball team now “high-five” one of the two commemorative markings that honor McGuinness following every practice and game.

“He was such a big part of our team,” Falcons tri-captain Maeve MacNeill said of McGuinness. “It’s a constant reminder of how he’s impacting us on the court.”

MacNeill said there’s a “new energy” when playing on the court.

“Everyone is excited to play on his court and really work hard for him,” she said.

Falcons tri-captain Tess Lorenz said her fondest memory of McGuinness was how he pushed the girls to work hard every day.

“He was the hardest worker I ever knew, on and off the court,” she said. “Whether it was scheduling games and practices, and then from my dad and Pat Buckley’s memories of how hard he played and how he would’ve done anything for his team, that’s going to stick with me forever.”

Buckley played on McGuinness’ first team at Albertus Magnus during his senior season in 1992-93, when the Falcons won their first-ever section title. McGuinness won a section title in his final season as the girls basketball head coach in 2008-09, becoming the only basketball coach in Section 1 history to win a title as both a boys and girls coach.

When asked what was going through his mind before lifting the paper to reveal the court’s new addition, Buckley’s emotions got the best of him.

“Other than my dad ...” he said, before holding his hand out toward McGuinness’ name and taking a lengthy pause to compose himself. “He just had such a huge impact on me as a person, and that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing.

Joe McGuinness, pictured hugging Pat Buckley, who is now the Albertus Magnus girls basketball coach, after the Albertus Magnus boys won a Section 1 championship in 1993. McGuinness will be inducted into the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame on Apr. 16, 2016.

“As the years go by, the kids now know him,” Buckley said of McGuinness. “But there’s going to be years where they don’t know him.”

Tom Anderson, Buckley’s assistant coach and another “disciple” of McGuinness, gave a 10-minute speech during the court dedication ceremony about his former coach. Anderson touched on McGuinness’ playing career at Clarkstown South, where he was “one of the premiere guards” in Rockland County, known best for his defense and “willingness to break through a brick wall if it meant it would help his team win.”

“I truly feel that Joe McGuinness is Albertus,” Anderson said. “His spirit will always live on here.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud, @LoHudGirlsHoops