St. John's Alumnus Jack Curran
- Thread starter jerseyshorejohnny
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DieHard Johnny
Member
God bless coach jack ! met him many times at shea when I was working for the mets true throwback w class
JackofVirginia
Active member
That story is exactly why I sent my three boys to his basketball camp in Poughkeepsie.
You are on the mark Bobre. I went to Molloy and knew Kenny Smith. I don't ever remember him even considering St John's. I did meet Terry Holland who was working Curran to bring Smith to Virginia which didn't work out because Smith went to UNC. If I remember right he wanted to go away but Curran never spoke well of his alma mater (St John's). I heard there was some bitterness about Louie (another Stanner) not giving him the inside to a job. Not sure if it was SJU when Louie went to NBA (Nets) or not. Some of my older fellow Stanners might better remember the details. I can tell you Curran never spoke well of St John's. Curran was always an old school power broker but god help you if you didn't go where he wanted. I can say the HS coaches had much more involvement (I think than today) in recruiting and much more of a say of where you ended up.
beast of the east
Active member
I've only met Curran once, during an open house about a dozen years ago (the first year Molloy was co-ed). I approached him in a friendly way, and mentioned that we had a common friend, who was at Holy Cross. Instead of a friendly reply, he snapped, "Well, why don't you send her to Holy Cross?".
Of course Curran also poached a top player from Holy Cross at the last minute. The kid went on to UCONN - I forget his name. The kid had gone to Holy Cross summer bball camp for 5-6 years, and wanted to go to Cross. Curran got in his head, and promised to put him on varsity and start him as a freshman, a no-no in Holy Cross' book. At the very last day of camp in 8th grade the kid approached the HC coach, Jim Kerr, and asked, "Coach, when I go to Cross, will you put me on varsity and start me freshman year?" When Kerr replied, "If I do that, what do I tell the kids that have been waiting two years to play varsity?" The kid said okay, but then went to Molloy. Kind of classless on Curran's part.
Why was it classless? Years before that, a kid who could really play ball from Rosedale wanted to go to Cross in the worst way. Academically, he didn't get in, and even when the bball coach approached administration, the refused to budge. Out of concern for the kid, the coach (Kerr) called Curran, and said "I have a gift for you. This kid can really play, but he can't get into Cross. Curran testily said, "If he can't get into Cross, what makes you think he can get into Molloy?" Kerr snapped back, "Listen Jack, we both know you can get any kid you want into Molloy, so cut the crap. This kid can play." Molloy took him, and he was a centerpiece of the great Gooch-Rigsby-Hill team that won the city championship. And he was gift wrapped to Molloy by the coach of Cross, who has a ton of class.
Some of you may remember that a ton of years ago, Molloy baseball was locked in an extra inning game for the city champiosnhip against St. Michaels. The problem - it was the day of graduation for St. Michael's and seniors had to leave for commencement. The coach approached the umps and Curran, and asked that the game be suspended to be resumed when Molloy wanted. Curran's response - you leave and the game's over. St. Michael's took the high ground, and said the kids had to get to graduation. In earshot of everyone, Curran yelled to his catcher, "Gino, go get the trophies."
Legendary coach, incredible run. Even those he crossed say he's an okay guy, but also a cranky guy to always didn't do the right thing. He never married, and lived his entire life in an apartment with his mom. It gives credence to his so called war against Carnesecca and St. John's.
I know he has a legion of followers, but I'm never impressed with these type of coaches.
Of course Curran also poached a top player from Holy Cross at the last minute. The kid went on to UCONN - I forget his name. The kid had gone to Holy Cross summer bball camp for 5-6 years, and wanted to go to Cross. Curran got in his head, and promised to put him on varsity and start him as a freshman, a no-no in Holy Cross' book. At the very last day of camp in 8th grade the kid approached the HC coach, Jim Kerr, and asked, "Coach, when I go to Cross, will you put me on varsity and start me freshman year?" When Kerr replied, "If I do that, what do I tell the kids that have been waiting two years to play varsity?" The kid said okay, but then went to Molloy. Kind of classless on Curran's part.
Why was it classless? Years before that, a kid who could really play ball from Rosedale wanted to go to Cross in the worst way. Academically, he didn't get in, and even when the bball coach approached administration, the refused to budge. Out of concern for the kid, the coach (Kerr) called Curran, and said "I have a gift for you. This kid can really play, but he can't get into Cross. Curran testily said, "If he can't get into Cross, what makes you think he can get into Molloy?" Kerr snapped back, "Listen Jack, we both know you can get any kid you want into Molloy, so cut the crap. This kid can play." Molloy took him, and he was a centerpiece of the great Gooch-Rigsby-Hill team that won the city championship. And he was gift wrapped to Molloy by the coach of Cross, who has a ton of class.
Some of you may remember that a ton of years ago, Molloy baseball was locked in an extra inning game for the city champiosnhip against St. Michaels. The problem - it was the day of graduation for St. Michael's and seniors had to leave for commencement. The coach approached the umps and Curran, and asked that the game be suspended to be resumed when Molloy wanted. Curran's response - you leave and the game's over. St. Michael's took the high ground, and said the kids had to get to graduation. In earshot of everyone, Curran yelled to his catcher, "Gino, go get the trophies."
Legendary coach, incredible run. Even those he crossed say he's an okay guy, but also a cranky guy to always didn't do the right thing. He never married, and lived his entire life in an apartment with his mom. It gives credence to his so called war against Carnesecca and St. John's.
I know he has a legion of followers, but I'm never impressed with these type of coaches.
Comments on Curran are all accurate, at least from Molloy's rivals in the CHSAA. The guy would leave his starters in the fourth quarter even when up by 40. Any players STJ got from Molloy came in spite of Curran, not because him. Going back 40-50 years, I can only recall Rudy Bogad, Kevin Cluess, Kevin Raftery and Werdann going to STJ straight from Molloy. The rumor back in the seventies was that he felt slighted that Louie got the STJ job instead of him and/or he was angry that Frank Mulzoff was hired over him in 1970. Mixed reviews on the guy, and don't forget he recommended Norm Roberts.
DieHard Johnny
Member
Next time Anyone sees Coach Curran ask him why he did not push his kids towards Jamaica?
I heard he did not like the way Louie treated one of his kids who transferred dont remember the name?
I still cant believe he thought Norm was BigEast Head coach
So what he never was Married ? Not everyone wants to be Ball & Chained lol alot of woman hate sports loving men.
He lived with his mom who was a sick widow to take care of her & turned down college HC jobs.{thats a honorable son}
beast of the east
Active member
My fault for inferring nything negative about marital status. Probably if anything shows how little he has in his life besides coachign Molloy.