J-T Athletic Director, area coaches share memories of coach Tom Price
JASPER — Tom Price was a great basketball coach.
Price, who tragically passed away on Sunday evening in a car accident, coached the Jasper-Troupsburg Wildcats for 25 years and accrued over 300 wins, won a sectional championship and even made a NYS Finals Appearance while being named Section V Coach of the Year on four separate occasions.
He consistently took one of the smallest schools in Section V and perennially made them one of the most feared teams come playoff time.
“When I heard my initial reaction was shock, and then it turned to thoughts about how long I have known him and what he brought to the area for athletics. I had known him since we played sports against each other in high school,” said Arkport/Canaseraga head coach Steve Sleight. “The area doesn't always get the recognition it deserves for having tremendous basketball coaches, and I always thought Tom was one of the best in our area and Section V as a whole. He always got the best out of his teams and players. Even though every year he said ‘we won't have much’, he always had teams and players that you get the best from every time they played.”
The proof is in the numbers. A 1984 Jasper graduate, Price coached baseball and basketball at J-T. He won a sectional title in 1998 and was named Section V Coach of the Year in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2019, compiling 345 wins over his distinguished career.
“He could take the weirdest grouping of ragamuffin boys and you wouldn’t think they could get up and down the floor with a basketball, but by the time sectionals rolled around, J-T was always a contender because he made them into something,” said J-T Athletic Director Jean Green. “He could create that family sense in them and that team sense, and it was always a special time of year because of that.”
And while his on-court achievements speak for themselves, that will not be his true legacy.
The wins and losses will certainly be discussed, but he will be remembered far more for the person he was, and the impact that he had on those around him.
“His philosophy always was it’s great that these kids want to play basketball, and I’ll teach them how to play basketball, but his goal was always to make those kids better people for having been on this team,” said Green. “I learned a lot from Tom, as we always do with our friends.”
Green also talked about how his players felt about him and how much he consistently impacted their lives.
“I called a meeting (Monday), and got a word out to this year’s basketball team — both JV and Varsity, as well as the varsity baseball team because they had a week of practice under their belt with Tom. I called all of them into the gym if they wanted to come. They didn’t have to come. But I looked up, and every single kid that was on a team with him this year — they all came. They didn’t have to come, but they all did,” said Green. “There were tears, and the only thing I made sure to say was that Coach Price believed in every single one of you kids, and you were all incredible special to him. If he pushed you hard, he knew that you had it in you. He had an innate ability to recognize what each individual kid needed.”
She also spoke of a man who certainly wanted to win, but cared far more about the kids not only on his own team, but of all those within Steuben County.
“I was his friend. I was a fan in the stands. Then I became Athletic Director and saw the inside part of it. He wanted good competition and he wanted to win, but even if he knew we couldn’t win, he always pushed the kids. He would have conversations with opposing coaches during the game, right in the middle of the game. It was such an amicable thing, and I think it worked because of how respected he was because of the values that he had, and the type of man that he was,” said Green. “Until I became athletic director, I don’t think I realized just how much of a family that group of basketball coaches is. They really do want each other to succeed. Tom always knew all the kids from Avoca, Bradford, Canaseraga and so on — he always knew their successes. He was really in it for the kids, and his effect was far-reaching.”
Fellow coaches react
Throughout the rest of Steuben County, the loss of a great coach has deeply saddened all those who knew him. And while the other coaches will certainly miss seeing him on the sidelines, they all expressed a sadness for having lost a good friend.
“I will miss him and the conversations along with the insight he gave about the area, and about more than athletics. He will truly be missed. Our league and county will not be the same going forward,” said Sleight.
“I was shocked along with everyone else to hear of his passing yesterday. I have known Tom for many years. Several years ago I was Tom’s JV coach at Jasper-Troupsburg. We talked on the phone quite often,” said Canisteo-Greenwood coach Brad Hoyt. “The conversations could be anything from basketball, Baseball, to the Dean Martin roasts. Tom had a great sense of humor and I will definitely miss his phone calls. It’s a sad day for everyone.”
“I was completely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Coach Price. He was a well-respected coach in Steuben County and whether having a conversation with him before or after a game — or outside the gym — it's always a pleasure to talk about basketball or any topic at all,” said Alfred-Almond head coach Brian Marlatt. “I was fortunate to more recently have a chance to talk to him last Saturday in Rochester. My thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family, especially his children.”
And unsurprisingly, some of his biggest supporters and friends were his biggest opponents over the last few seasons. And they talked about how much of a friend Tom truly was.
“The world lost an amazing man, coach and father today. When I first started coaching at the varsity level there was one man who took me under his wing, who would answer any questions, who if I doubted something I was doing would set me straight and tell me to go with my guy. He was an obvious mentor but he also became my friend. He became so important to me that I wanted to be just like him,” said Bradford head coach Mark LaBarr via Facebook. “I am so sorry that his family has to go through any of this. He was a great man.”
“Tom and I got to be pretty close these last few years. There were many nights our conversations started with basketball but always ended with talking about family or life in general. As early as Friday, Tom was going to come over and help me dissect tape on my upcoming western regional game,” said Avoca head coach Mike Stowe. “He was a great coach that I loved to compete against but more importantly he was a great father, family man and friend. I personally am going to miss Coach Price — but I’m really going to miss my friend.”
And while the world will undoubtedly remember Price as a great mentor, friend and coach, his greatest achievement was his five children, who will now carry on his legacy for many years to come.
“The conversations were always positive with Tom, and you could start a conversation with one thing, but it would always end up turning to something different and more meaningful,” said Green. “He built a family here, and he has five wonderful kids. They are just amazing people — and that is his greatest legacy.”
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March 19, 2020 at 04:00AM
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A lasting legacy: Community remembers J-Ts Tom Price - Hornell Evening Tribune
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