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February 25, 2003
  Articles on this page: • Fred Lafave: Still teaching the basics
Fred Lafave: Still teaching the basics LENOX -- Not much has changed in Fred Lafave's time at Lenox High School. No longer will you find the longtime head coach garbed in the red plaid polyester suit and jet black mop-top haircut he wore in the early 1970s. His hair is more salt-and-pepper these days and he's moved onto a sweater and pair of slacks. But the same fundamentals he taught over 40 years ago are still being instilled in today’s players. Discipline, dedication and sacrifice have been stressed since 1962, when Lafave took over the boys' basketball program at Lenox. Since then, that combination has produced two state titles, five sectional titles and a slew of county laurels between the boys’ and girls’ programs. Being dedicated and disciplined helped Lafave reach a milestone not believed to have been duplicated by a coach in Massachusetts. Last year, the 66-year old head coach was on the bench for his 1,000th game, a 69-49 victory over Mount Everett. "I think it's an accomplishment, and it proves that you’re crazy enough to stick around," said Lafave. Including this season, Lafave has now coached in 1,027 games, and owns a 571-456 (.556) lifetime record. His record with the boys' squad, which he coached from 1962 until 1998 is 402-345. Lafave took over the girls’ program in 1988 and coached until 1992. He returned in 1995 and is still currently coaching the girls. His record is 169-111. Lafave is one of the few coaches in the commonwealth to have won a state title as both a boys' and girls’ coach, taking the boys to the promise land in 1974 and the girls in 1992. But for a guy who has coached in so many basketball games, Lafave really doesn't gain much pleasure from it. "I don't enjoy game nights," Lafave said. "A lot of coaches live for game night, and they are jumping and screaming, but game night is for the kids’ enjoyment. Winning and losing is important, but what’s more important is teaching the kids. That’s what I like to do."
While coaching in over 1,000 basketball games may be an astonishing statistic, many people don't know that Lafave was also the head coach of Lenox’s baseball team for 17 seasons. He said one of his proudest moments came in 1971 when he coached both the basketball and baseball teams to Western Massachusetts titles. "I've always said that I wish I had a nickel for every mile I’ve driven on a bus for athletics," Lafave joked. Over the years, the time spent on basketball courts and baseball diamonds has been staggering. But it's been nothing compared to the time he’s spent in the classroom. Lafave retired in 1998 after 36 years of teaching middle school science. He made his way to Lenox after being given an offer he simply couldn't refuse. When Lafave graduated from North Adams State College (now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts), he was given a teaching position at a North Adams middle school. But he decided to interview for a position in Lenox, and the school system offered to pay him his $4,500 base salary plus an extra $500 dollars to coach junior varsity basketball and be an assistant on the varsity baseball team. It's safe to say both parties have been pleased with the decision. Although coaching both the boys and girls simultaneously created long days and even longer nights, Lafave never skimped on either program. "When I was playing, he coached both the boys and girls and he was in the gym for six hours a day," said Keala Mills, who played for three seasons under Lafave. "And no matter what, he gave 100 percent to both teams. He set certain hours for the guys and certain hours for the girls. He's just a dedicated person and a great guy." But Lafave is paid his dues at the end of the year. "The rewarding thing is when the kids realize what you did for them, and they are so grateful," he said. "They recognize what you did, and they keep coming back and give you hugs. That's when you know they really mean it." Lafave's preparation for a game is unmatched. It’s not uncommon to find the Millionaires and their head coach practicing in the gymnasium on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and for three hours a day during the week. And while he's has been described as one of the better Xs and Os coaches in the league, fundamentals are essential to the success of Lafave’s teams.
"He loves to teach the kids fundamentals, passing, shot selections and the mechanics of shooting," said Nicole Patella, Lafave's daughter and assistant coach. "He’s always teaching something. He still loves to see the girls run the play or do the little things that make the difference and see it work. Those are the things that make him happy." It's Lafave’s belief that dedication and sacrifice will make a good athlete a good basketball player. As a player for Williamstown High School (now Mount Greylock) in the mid 1950s, Lafave became the school’s first 1,000-point scorer by spending his summers with a ball and a hoop. He is still the school’s all-time leading scorer and ranks 25th on the county’s all-time list with 1,100 career points. He's drilled that same mindset into certain players who have come through the Lenox basketball programs. Samantha Herrick -- the county’s all-time leading scorer -- Eric Taylor, Bill Lahart and Mills are just a few of the names who have had that same desire to succeed on the court under Lafave. "If you shoot 250 free throws a day you'll be a great free-throw shooter, but it’s boring," Lafave said. "I don’t care what it is, teaching science, teaching baseball, teaching basketball, if you want to help a kid you have to teach them discipline." Lafave is enjoying one of his better seasons. The Millionaires stand at 10-5 and are a serious threat to win the Division 3 Western Mass. title, which would be yet another feather in the coach's cap. Although his blood pressure is strong and his heart is ticking as well as it was in 1962, Lafave knows his coaching days can't last forever. If you were to ask him, however, when he’ll call it quits, you’d be hard pressed to get a straight answer. "I'll just get up one morning and I don’t want to go to practice," Lafave said. "The day that I don’t want to go into the gymnasium is the day I’ll hang it up. "Or if they don't want to hire me," he continued with a smile. "But I think I could find another coaching job somewhere."  RETURN TO TOP |
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