Jack Curran Passes Away

Just heard the news.. Obviously thousands of SJU alums also are Molloy alums. An all time legend in HS basketball. Devoted to his mom, never married. Coached till the end. Amazing career. Almost fitting that he never retired.
 
Sad he. gave a lot to the game and coaching. I am sure he also rec'd. a ton of enjoyment Condolences to his family
 
I knew Jack very well. Sent my boys to his basketball camp in Poukeepsie. A very sad day for all who had the pleasure to know him. Rest in peace my friend.
 
Coach Curran.....a true role model, professional, personable, loyal and outrageously successful man. May he rest in peace! God Bless his soul.

AMHS '64
 
Not sure if this has been written here, but I heard from one of his friends that Curran had slipped on the ice on the way to mass, and broke his kneecap. Bloodied and in pain, he continued on to mass. After mass, trying to walk home, the pain, swelling, and bleeding were too much, and he sought medical attention. he was known for his strong faith, and apparently even a broken kneecap couldn't deter him from mass.
 
New york Daily News:

Last Interview With A Legend:


http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high-school/score-interview-jack-curran-article-1.1290752
Click to expand...

Jack Curran was a CHSAA legend, and a hero to stanner grads. He was the feared nemesis for Holy Cross, Reilly/SFP, CTK or Mater Christ/STP grads. He and Holy Cross' Bill O'Meara had some great battles in the sixties and seventies, and while Molloy probably had the edge, it was a great rivalry, and the gyms were always packed. I think the only time they met for city title, the game was played at SJU in front of 6000 fans. I recall the game was played on a monday or tuesday afternoon, because of a big snowstorm over the weekend. Cross won a very close game, and almost all the starters were major division one recruits. Cross had Schaeffer and Lyons - SJU, Kevin Stacom - Providence - played on final four team with Ernie D, and George Groom, who played at Fairfield.Molloy had Winters and Joyce - S. Carolina, Brian Adrian - Davidson, and I think their center went to Georgetown. Bob Carver, I believe had already graduated, and was playing for Frank McGuire, at S. Carolina. The level of talent in the CHSAA, in that era, was unrivaled. Great memories.
 
New york Daily News:

Last Interview With A Legend:


http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high-school/score-interview-jack-curran-article-1.1290752
Click to expand...

Jack Curran was a CHSAA legend, and a hero to stanner grads. He was the feared nemesis for Holy Cross, Reilly/SFP, CTK or Mater Christ/STP grads. He and Holy Cross' Bill O'Meara had some great battles in the sixties and seventies, and while Molloy probably had the edge, it was a great rivalry, and the gyms were always packed. I think the only time they met for city title, the game was played at SJU in front of 6000 fans. I recall the game was played on a monday or tuesday afternoon, because of a big snowstorm over the weekend. Cross won a very close game, and almost all the starters were major division one recruits. Cross had Schaeffer and Lyons - SJU, Kevin Stacom - Providence - played on final four team with Ernie D, and George Groom, who played at Fairfield.Molloy had Winters and Joyce - S. Carolina, Brian Adrian - Davidson, and I think their center went to Georgetown. Bob Carver, I believe had already graduated, and was playing for Frank McGuire, at S. Carolina. The level of talent in the CHSAA, in that era, was unrivaled. Great memories.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your recollection of that game. I know very little about that Holy Cross/Molloy title game, except I was told that George Groom hit his first 3 shots early, and then was pulled and didn't return to the game. He fumed over it, but O'Meara and Kerr yanked him because he wasn't covering the corner well in a zone defense.
 
My only specific memory of play in the game was the undersized Cross point guard, Jackie Breen, was able to break Molloy's full-court press. He was the main reason HC prevailed. You had to be very talented and very prepared to beat Molloy in those days. If you could't beat that press, old Jack would beat you by 30-40 points.
 
I remember him on the Baseball field when by team Mt St Michael coached by another legend Howie Smith would play Molloy in some great games.
 
New york Daily News:

Last Interview With A Legend:


http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high-school/score-interview-jack-curran-article-1.1290752
Click to expand...

Jack Curran was a CHSAA legend, and a hero to stanner grads. He was the feared nemesis for Holy Cross, Reilly/SFP, CTK or Mater Christ/STP grads. He and Holy Cross' Bill O'Meara had some great battles in the sixties and seventies, and while Molloy probably had the edge, it was a great rivalry, and the gyms were always packed. I think the only time they met for city title, the game was played at SJU in front of 6000 fans. I recall the game was played on a monday or tuesday afternoon, because of a big snowstorm over the weekend. Cross won a very close game, and almost all the starters were major division one recruits. Cross had Schaeffer and Lyons - SJU, Kevin Stacom - Providence - played on final four team with Ernie D, and George Groom, who played at Fairfield.Molloy had Winters and Joyce - S. Carolina, Brian Adrian - Davidson, and I think their center went to Georgetown. Bob Carver, I believe had already graduated, and was playing for Frank McGuire, at S. Carolina. The level of talent in the CHSAA, in that era, was unrivaled. Great memories.
Click to expand...

Molloy was Cross' second biggest rival after Prep. Always great games.
 
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