The first win came in the consolation game of the Darien Tip-Off Tournament. Stamford Catholic star John Smyth fouled out, but Mike Robustelli scored 33 points, going 19-for-19 from the foul line, to help give Mike Walsh his first career coaching victory.
“You don’t forget the first one,” Walsh said.
Thirty years and two months later, Walsh will go for his 500th win tomorrow night when the Crusaders — now Trinity Catholic — travel to play Fairfield Ludlowe.
“It means I’ve been involved with a lot of good players and met a lot of good people and had a lot of support from my family and the school,” Walsh said. “To put it in perspective, it’s really a number and obviously I am proud of it, but a lot of good people contributed to it.”
Walsh has built over the last decade the best high school basketball program in the state. Trinity has won six FCIAC titles and been to the final seven straight times, and in eight of the past nine years. It has five state championships and reached the final seven times since 2000.
“The wins are nice and the championships are nice, but even more important is that in one way or another I’ve been able to touch a lot of student-athletes,” he said.
The 62-year-old Walsh is without a doubt one of the most polarizing sports personalities in the area. He can be brash and speaks his mind. There is a lot of jealousy because Trinity, along with St. Joseph, are private schools and thus can attract players from a wider geographical area. Walsh has taken full advantage of it.
But Walsh has never fully received the credit for being an excellent bench coach, for the loyalty he has showed his players and for helping them get into good colleges, both for basketball and academics. There is a reason Trinity has served as a pipeline for good talent because aspiring athletes know doors will be opened. And many of Walsh’s former players are now giving back, working with kids.
One of them is Rashamel Jones, whose arrival in 1991 marked the turnaround of the Crusaders’ program. He led the team to its first FCIAC title and state championship appearance, and the year after he graduated Trinity won its first CIAC crown.
“Pre-Rash there was a lot of Princeton-type offense and a lot of zones,” Walsh said. “You do what you have to do to get better. As we got better players we played a more open game. You adjust to your talent.”
While Jones went on to win a national championship at UConn, players like Earl Johnson, Dave McClure, Craig Austrie, Chris Skrelja, Mike Trimboli and Tevin Baskin followed and helped maintain the level of excellence.
Asked if he became a better coach after Jones arrived or got more acclaim as he had more talent to work with, Walsh said, “I probably worked harder pre-Rash. You did what you had to, to survive. You put in a lot of time and effort.”
Ironically, Walsh’s milestone win will come during one of the Crusaders’ weakest seasons in years. They are 7-7 and have had to deal with a lot of turmoil. They will need a late surge in the final six games just to qualify for the FCIAC Tournament.
Walsh said while this has been a frustrating winter, it has not diminished his desire to continue coaching.
“I’ll keep doing it as long as I keep enjoying it,” he said. “And I’m still enjoying it.”
Dave,
Even though Coach Walsh is having a tough year, you have to give him credit for what he has done for TC. He has spent many years at TC and had some very good teams. To get 500 wins in the FCICA, is not an easy thing to do. This is the first year that TC has not had the team, he has in the past. Coach Walsh, when it’s all said and done, you have done an outstanding job. To win the titles you have, (even with the talent you had) is not that easy. You had many great players come through your program, and became better palyers at the next level. I hope you get your 500th win tomorrow night. So, sit back coach, and injoy your very special moment, that will happen tomorrow night. Congrads on what your about to accomplish!!!!!!
Comment by Donald C — February 4th, 2010 @ 11:42 pm
Congrats to Whitey Walsh! Walsh is a legend in the Stamford Coaching Community and deserves praise for the patience he showed in his own Coaching after many many lean years where he played for 1 shot with 4 minutes to go in the Quarter. Also deserving props for his 500 wins is his long time Assistant Mr. Jack Smyth.
Again Coach wishing you the very best and congratulations on a great career with the Crusaders!
Full
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 5th, 2010 @ 1:04 pm
That 2001 FCIAC/State Champion team will always stick out in my mind. Not any bigtime names, however one of the better “teams” in recent history. Overachieved BigTime, if you recall the first #1 team in school’s history at the end of the yr.
A testament to the coaching
Comment by G — February 5th, 2010 @ 1:47 pm
I’m not a Mike Walsh fan — Never have been. I congratulate him on 500 wins……He’s Connecticut’s version of Guy Lewis at Houston in the 80’s…Lots of talent, not a whole lot of discipline or focus…BUT he has won, and his formula has been successful. Although I may disagree with his process, he deserves kudos….As a CATHOLIC School, I’m not sure if administration should feel proud of program.
Comment by Norm Treglia — February 6th, 2010 @ 12:31 am
Norm,
I applaud you for putting your name on such nonsense. Coach Walsh has never cheated a day in his life. His teams play hard and he most certainly is a disciplinarian. As a Catholic School the Administration is VERY proud of him and his teams over the years.
Coach Mike Walsh has been loyal to his school and thus the school named the court in his honor while he is still living. An amazing tribute to a wonderful man and Coaching Legend.
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 8th, 2010 @ 9:16 am
#1 — I would never accuse Walsh of cheating…He has never done anything wrong as far as I know at the HS level. I don’t think Guy Lewis broke any rules either …He simply had terrific players come in(let’s not say recruited), rolled out the ball, and let them play….Mike has done a remarkable job attracting talent to the program….That’s what he’s best at.
#2 — As far as Mike being a disciplinarian?? — Have you seen any of his timeout huddles over the past 15 years.?.Most upperclassmen playing in games spent most of timeout looking away from the coach as he set up strategy.
#3 — Regarding court being named after him…Wasn’t it Walsh/Walsh family who paid for replacing court a few years ago..Again, a very nice gesture by the family.
#4 — Everyone is entitled to have an opinion…Not everyone likes the same flavor…500 wins is quite an accomplishment…I’m just not a fan.
Comment by Norm Treglia — February 8th, 2010 @ 1:33 pm
Norm – let me respond by having some fun with this:
#1 – Walsh is a great coach but not the best looking lad on the street. Not sure how he “attracts” kids to school or what you mean by that. Perhaps he “let’s them play” and run up and down v. being a control freak ….Don’t know who Guy Lewis is perhaps you are much older than me. Not sure how he “attracts” talent on one hand but doesn’t “recruit” on the other.
#2 I know that there is a guy waving at the kids making them stay cool. With all of his Assistants perhaps it’s easier for the kids to tune out. But no I don’t believe that for one sec Coach Walsh is not a GREAT x’s and o’s Coach. You are so wrong with this.
#3. Not sure why it’s Walsh Court but I assume the Court was named after the Head Coach. And if his family paid to help out the school, another kind act of charity by them.
#4. How could you not be a fan of someone who has persevered through a whole lot of losing, stuck it out and now does a whole lot of winning ?
Have you ever had a conversation with the Head Coach ?
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 8th, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
I played for Walsh and was starter on the team that provided him with his first win. I have lived out of the area for 25 years, but each time I am able to attend an FCIAC playoff or CIAC playoff game I have stopped to chat and say hello to Coach and his staff. EACH TIME, he takes the time, even if it is five minutes prior to a HUGE game,to give me a warm hello and ask me about my family and my life. He even goes as far as to tell my three sons that I was a good player and they should be proud of me. Who does that? Talk about loyalty. You know how many players have played for him over the years? And he takes the time to do that? It’s not about basketball or baseball (I was fortunate enough to play on teams he led to the Babe Ruth World Series three times), it’s about him teaching guys about life, developing mental toughness, and competing. I was fortunate enough to go on to play baseball at the Div I level and through the years, out of all the coaches I have had, his influence has affected me the most. As a 13-year old baseball player, exposed to him for the first time, I wanted to quit his Babe Ruth team. I got some great advice and stuck it out. I wasn’t used to the intensity, the requirement to work hard, and the passion for success. Staying on that team was the best life decision I probably ever made. For the next 6 years I played baseball and high school basketball for him and captained our 1981 SCHS basketball team. For 6 years I was around him for more than half the year. We had some tough losses, won some championships,but always moved forward trying to get better and ALWAYS over achieved. He got on me at times, but I needed it. I did not realize it at the time, but he was making me a man. I am a high school baseball coach today and feel I am qualified not by what I accomplished as a player, but who I was coached by. I also have a family and like everyone else have experienced ups and downs in life. I have been prepared for those ups and downs by guys like him. So, don’t nit pick at who the hell paid for the court, why kids go to Trinity, or whether there is a lot of discipline, a little bit of discipline, or how good he is with x’s and o’s. Keep one thing in mind. 500 is the number of wins. THOUSANDS is the number of lives he has positively affected. Congrats Coach….Luv Ya. -Scotty Wos
Comment by Scotty W — February 8th, 2010 @ 4:24 pm
Scott Wos,
Well said. You are right on and thanks for sharing your memories of Coach Walsh and how he positively impacted your life. Great stuff !
Full
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 9th, 2010 @ 12:25 pm
Dear Norm Treglia,
Guy Lewis was a tremendous basketball coach who had many talented players and took him team to four or five final fours. Why are you knocking Coach Lewis? What did he ever do to you? He put Houston basketball on the map.
Comment by gman — February 9th, 2010 @ 1:41 pm