Courtest of Inside Lacrosse
While talking to folks for this morning's story on Jack McGetrick, we asked around for some thoughts from former players on his Hartford squads. Brian Carcaterra passed that on to Frank Branca, who shot a line out to some of his former Hawks teammates. Then the emails poured in. Rather than trim them down to handy little soundbites, we're going to run those emails in their entirety.
(We also had much more from our conversations with Jack Emmer, Dave Urick, Tom Mariano, Phil Buttafuoco and McGetrick himself, but since those were over the phone and not fully for publication, we're just using those for quotes rather than fully publishing.) McGetrick made it clear that he wasn't out for self-promotion, but it says a lot that men who haven't played for him in years were so willing to drop everything and talk about the affect he had on their lives when the call went out.
These have been edited for grammar and spelling in places, but are otherwise uncut.
Rory Doucette
Rory played lacrosse at Tufts University in Massachusetts and now works at Adrenaline Lacrosse. He is also Jack McGetrick's nephew
I'm sure one of them will write it, but you should ask the Hartford guys about how he would race the team in a 3 mile run every year, and didn't lose for about a dozen years until some cross country guy edged him by a few seconds, great story.
Jack has always been a role model for me. It was when I was about 8 years old, in my backyard in Merrick, Long Island, he first put a stick in my hands. I was accepted into college with the help of lacrosse, I was able to get a masters degree for free because of lacrosse, and I currently work for a lacrosse company, so you can say that looking back, it was certainly a day that helped shape the rest of my life.
My first memories of Uncle Jack was him coming down every few months to our house to stay a few nights for a local camp or convention and or our annual Christmas eve party. He would always bring us a new stick or some gear and when he was done with camp for the day he would come back to our house, get his daily workout in, then hangout with the boys (I have four younger brothers). He was always looking to have a good time, whether it meant a day at the beach, or teaching me how to face off in the backyard, I thoroughly enjoyed all the time spent with him.
McGetrick had great success in the late 1990's at the University
of Hartford, despite being part-time (Hartford Athletics)Jack has
always been as selfless as anyone I have ever come across. Once,
when I was in fifth grade, he was down for a weekend and promised
me he would come to my basketball game. In an absolute downpour the
night before, he was off for a daily run. After some time went by,
we were wondering where he was. We received a phone call about an
hour or so after he left from the Nassau County Medical Center ER -
on his jog he had been run over by a passing car. After a few dozen
stitches to the side of his head and neck, he was released and told
to stay in bed. He came directly to my basketball game and I
remember shooting a free throw and looking over to the sidelines
and there he was, stitches and all, rooting for me, looking like
Frankenstein. Didn't care about the stitches, didn't care to be in
bed, all he was looking to do was make my day, and he did.
As I got older, he became a mentor and helped me out with recruiting and steered me in the right direction. He would call every week or so during my high school years just to chat and keep in touch. We stayed close as I went through that summer of camps, most of which he would find me at just to keep an eye out to make sure I was alright. The recruiting process eventually led me to Tufts University.
During my years there, we talked all the time. The talks would always start with lax updates and x's and o's, but they would more often than not end up in a life chat. The life chats, always with some lesson behind them, are what I have always valued him for.
When my mother called me and gave me the news of his sickness, I was driving along the highway and pulled to the side, so confused. How could someone so strong, a guy in such great health, a guy who would take the shirt off his back for anyone, get cancer? I sat there and cried. Not knowing what else to do I called Jack. You would have thought I was the one who was sick. He told me he was fine, not to worry, and within about five minutes he was telling me about how his team at Bellarmine was shaping up. That's the Jack I have known for my entire life. The optimist.
His attitude has not changed one bit since he got the news that day. Every time I talk with him, I hang up the phone feeling better about the situation. I saw him at an Adrenaline recruiting event in LA this past November, and he had just come off his chemo treatment the day before travelling, what was the first thing he wanted to know? Where is the gym? He didn't care to be sick, had no time to feel weak, instead went out and seized the day, just as he had every other day before that.
He has all the attributes I hope to find in myself one day. Words on a paper cant accurately give anyone an impression of BlackJack. Outside of my father, he has been the man I look up to the most in life, an absolute role model, a caring uncle, and one of my best friends. This world needs more people like Jack, it would be a better place for everyone.
Nick Defino
Nick is a former player at the University of Hartford and was selected to the NCAA Leadership Conference for the 1997-'98 school year
I think I am speak for anyone who played lacrosse for Jack McGetrick, (now or in the past) when I say that no one matches his heart, work-ethic, passion, and appreciation for his players.
Jack sold high-school players on the opportunity that was in front of them at University of Hartford during the recruiting process. He also was gifted & creative enough to find talent in JUCO programs and Canada, giving young players a second chance at the D1 level. McGetrick had a vision of where he could take the University's program. He did not disappoint anyone, taking the team to a national ranking twice (in 1997 & 2000). The program had never had a national ranking prior to Jack. No one worked harder than he did, understanding match-ups, watching countless hours of tape, and getting his team ready for each game.
He has taken his talents now to Bellarmine - All I can say is - Watch Out!
When the coach of the team runs the IRON MAN in his 40s and 50s, his team can never question why they are running that extra lap, suicide, or weight training. Jack's players adored him in college, I met some of them at Bellarmine and I can tell they feel the same way. He is a great coach, an idol, a father-like figure, and a friend. And...I will never forget when he was doing push-ups before games, because he was just as amped up as his players were. He was not happy that he wasn't suiting up anymore.
Jack will beat this fight with cancer!
Bryan Bendig
Bryan Bendig is another former Hartford player, who was the 1999 America East Scholar Athlete of the Year for men's lacrosse. He currently works for deBeer Lacrosse
Hopefully I am not to late to add some things about Blackjack. When I think of Blackjack two things come to mind, determination and work ethic. Blackjack led by example at Hartford.
He was coaching there part time and teaching in Somers, CT (a 30 min drive to campus). We would all be stretching on the field and hear his truck come screaching into the parking lot just in time. he would run inside and drop off any paperwork to administration and be out on the field in seconds like he had been there all along. Out of his pocket would come wrinkled pieces of paper that had his detailed plan for the day that he most likely wrote up while his classes were playing basketball or something.
He didn't let the fact that he was a part time coach at a Division I university stop him from building a great program. He worked all hours of the day and night and did whatever he had to do to get a win. He was determined not to be second best. He knew the only way to win was to outwork the competitor, he tried to do that every day. His determination and work ethic is something I have seen in very few people.
However, you can work as hard as you want but when it came down to it his family came first. I realized this when I was interviewing for a few jobs right after I graduated. I had no place to stay so Blackjack let me crash at his house for a few days. When I would arrive to his place, Lisa would say, "they are downstairs." I would go down there and see Blackjack in one of two places. He would either be sitting on the bench in between sets while his two boys were at their desks doing their homework or he would be on his stationary ten speed pedalling away while he was watching some film.
No matter what he was working hard to improve his body, his mind and he was always there if his kids needed help. At the end of the day, when all the work was done, it was Jack and the family winding down the day each night to a movie. We all know him as a lacrosse guy but he was much more than that, he was a family man first.
When I saw Blackjack throughout the summer at the events and whatnot he always told me, " Bryan, I feel great, I am still benching my weight, I am going to beat this!" When a man you admire tells you this you have no doubt in your mind that it will happen. Blackjack is a special person and I hope the lacrosse community rallies to help him out in any way possible.
Brian La Mastro
Brian La Mastro is another McGetrick pupil who is one of the most decarated players in UH History (Hartford Athletics)Brian La Mastro also played under McGetrick at the University of Hartford. He is the all-time career record holder in goals (140), assists (129) and points (269) as well as the single-season record holder in poings (84) and assists (52) for the Hawks
I think Nick Defino it the nail right on the head with his e-mail. I just wanted to add that Jack was The National coach of the year in ‘97. A great honor for any coach but, Jack was able to gain this honor while he was only part time at the University of Hartford! He would teach high school then rush to the University to coach us. At night he would ride his bike for hours while watching game tape.
Thank you for putting this front and center. With people helping like I'm sure they will Jack will beat this!
Brian La Mastro
Keith Larit
Keith also played at Hartford under McGetrick. He is second all-time at the school in ground balls with 287
First, a big thanks to IL for running this story.
Jack, or Blackjack as we have called him for years, is not just a coach but a great all around person. In sports we sometimes only judge a person/coach solely by wins and losses. Based on this metric, Blackjack has done a great job over the years, coaching at Hartford on a part time basis with limited resources and at a start up program at Bellarmine in Kentucky. Beyond wins and losses though are what a coach passes on to player as a life teacher and mentor. Blackjack teaches the people around him how to win in life and leads by example. He preaches tenacity, desire and most of all heart, and displays these traits in whatever he is doing, such as running marathons, iron men competitions, coaching his players or being a father, husband and friend.
This morning is a great example of the regards we all have for Blackjack. Carc sends your email to Frank, he passes it on to 3 players, all of whom Blackjack coached 10 years ago, and we all drop everything to share our thoughts with you. As Brian and Nick have noted, Blackjack is not just a coach but a lifelong friend and mentor.
Thanks again, and Happy New Year
Keith Larit