Out like an Owl

After 34 years and 741 victories on the sidelines, longtime Temple coach John Chaney has announced his retirement pending the completion of his run in the NIT. Having, never reached the final four during his tenure, Chaney has done much more off the court teaching boys to be men. The game will miss his love and dedication to young people.

Lost now, the "play anyone, anywhere, anytime" attitude of non-conference scheduling that is sadly a thing of the past. So, will his patented match-up zone defense.

Last year, Chaney created controversy as he sent in a player to commit hard physical fouls resulting in a season ending injury for a St. Joe’s guard. Always classy, Chaney admitted his mistake, accepted responsibility and suspended himself for the remainder of the season. During that time many called for his resignation, and I wrote and editorial for my blog, The Junior Page. I quote from that post:

As an alum of an A-10 school, I followed the Temple program for the past fifteen years. In the early to mid-1990’s, the UMass/Temple rivalry was the story of the A-10. The games were nationally televised (on ABC, not ESPN,) we slept out in the cold for tickets. I was in attendance in 1992 for the first time UMass beat Temple...ever. We were silly. We screamed. We stomped on the bleachers seats of the ole' Curry Hicks Cage. The officials actually stopped the game momentarily as the paint was literally coming off the ceiling and falling onto the court. It is still one of the most exciting basketball games I ever witnessed.

As with any rival, I hated Temple. I hated Pepe Sanchez, Eddie Jones, Aaron McKay, Rick Brunson, and Johnny Miller. Most of all, I hated John Chaney. After all, he was the chief. I hated them, but like the Yankees to my beloved Red Sox, I loved when they came to my house. Its sports hatred, not personal hatred. I am a fan of the college game, and especially a fan of solid coaching, and there are not many coaches I respect more than John Chaney. I respect him as a coach, a person, and a teacher, not to mention how much he has done for the game of college basketball.


In 1994, John Chaney attacked then UMass Head Coach John Calipari during Caliari’s press conference following another UMass/Temple battle. I remember watching it on TV. I remember Temple leading the entire game. I remember the Minutemen clawing back. I remember the late minute shot from Mike Williams to win the game for us. I also remember John Chaney charging into the UMass press room and threatening Coach Cal yelling, “I’ll kill ya! Next time I see you, I’m gonna kick your ass!” The next day Chaney issued public apology to the his school, Calipari, our program and the fans, promptly suspending himself from coaching.

Coaching is a passionate profession. Without that passion, you will not succeed. I say that from personal experience. Sometimes that passion gets the better of you.

I am not excusing his actions, however sports offers a certain hypocrisy, in that, the violence in the arena has little repercussions. “Its just part of the game,” they say and responsibility is not taken most of the time. And, as fans we except (and accept) that.

Former Indiana legend, Bob Knight, one of the highest regarded coaches in college basketball has always been the center of controversy over the years; from his on-court temper tantrums, to throwing a chair across the court during a game, to choking a former player. Sadly, he has never once taken responsibility for his actions. He does not show remorse and would rather blame the media for his shortcomings and yet he seems to have a foul to give.

Regardless of intent, Coach Chaney’s behavior was inexcusable. His actions lead directly to the career ending injury of an opposing player. John Bryant will never have the chance to start on Senior day. He will never be able to play in the Big Dance again. He will never be able to play for his alma mater one last time, and that sadness he will feel as the last buzzer sounds will be felt on the bench and not on the court where it should be.

There is no question that Coach John Chaney is intense, but he loves his kids, his job and the game itself. The idea of Chaney even being fired for this action is ludicrous. He has given so much more to the game and his community that he has taken away. Despite his shortcomings, he has shown proper responsibility for his poor judgment and taken proper actions. In his statement, he said, "In view of all the circumstances, I believe the fair thing is for me not to coach during the Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament in Cincinnati. John Bryant is unable to play in the Tournament because of the injury he sustained last week against Temple. Neither should I be able to coach."

That shows fantastic leadership and isn’t that what teaching is all about?

Live on, John. We will miss you. Thank you.