Post by nashvillestag on Jul 29, 2021 23:15:21 GMT -5
Special award this is for a basketball lifer who has certainly worked extremely hard in every job he has had along the way. Great guy too as I'm sure most who know him well would testify. And from a Fairfield perspective, yes there were some down years when he was in charge, but just the fact that he was able to get the team and program their first two MAAC Championships and NCAA appearances will always be remembered by a lot of people I would think. So congratulations Mitch. You certainly deserve this recognition!
Mitch will always be known in my book as a People Person. He has had some success along the way, but as a person, he is one of the nicest guys. I am tying to remember if Mitch had a Nickname.
Mitch will always be known in my book as a People Person. He has had some success along the way, but as a person, he is one of the nicest guys. I am tying to remember if Mitch had a Nickname.
Post by reindeerfan on Jul 31, 2021 10:46:55 GMT -5
Well big congratulations to Mitch. With Mitch we had the best of times and the worst of times. But despite some difficult times I look back at the Mitch era fondly. Mitch's brought us to two consecutive MAAC championships. I was fortunate enough to be in the meadowlands as a student for all those games and to get celebrate an extremely unlikely 1987 championship with a comeback win over Iona. Mitch remains the only Stag Coach to make two NCAA tournaments and those championships will always be fondly remembered.
Mitch Buonaguro was the head coach at Fairfield University from 1985 to 1991. During his first season, he coached the Stags to its first MAAC Championship, first berth in NCAA Tournament where the Stags faced the Illinois Fighting Illini in the First Round; and ended the year with a 24–7 record, the most wins in school history. As a result, his MAAC coaching peers recognized him as the 1985–86 MAAC Coach of the Year. The following season, Buonaguro coached Fairfield through an injured-plaqued season to mount an improbable run to its second consecutive MAAC Championship and to earn its second consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament where the Stags faced the top-seeded and eventual national champion Indiana Hoosiers in the First Round.
Post by nashvillestag on Jul 31, 2021 18:19:12 GMT -5
That's a great article you have posted 73. Basketball "lifer" as I call him or "junkie" as the writer states, either description is most apt. And that leads me to a quick and true story about the time Mitch happened to come into McDonald's at the Circle in Fairfield, joined me for breakfast when he saw me there, and of course we started chatting up the NCAA Tournament which was in full swing at the time. And for some reason a person standing nearby waiting to order overheard us and insisted upon butting into our conversation with his opinions about the event. But the funniest thing about it was when the guy tried to rebut a point both Mitch and myself were trying to make by asking us "if we knew anything about college basketball?" The questioner BTW was not a bad guy even though he was kinda interrupting. But anyway I think I remember answering back that we both had a "little" bit of interest and knowledge, especially the other gentleman (meaning Mitch, who just laughed at my response). So to this day I always chuckle when I think of this guy questioning the knowledge of not me but rather a guy who has spent a lifetime in the game as a coach and respected person among his peers. And now to add him to the New York State HOF in the sport makes me laugh even more as I think back to that day at McDonald's.
Congratulations to Mitch Buonaguro, who will receive the Barry Kramer Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame this Sunday.
Coach Mitch led the Stags to back-to-back #MAACHoops Championships in 1986 and 1987!
Pete Gillen @gillenhoops Mitch Buonaguro received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Upstate New York Basketball Hall Of Fame this past Sunday. Mitch is a great Coach and he certainly deserved this honor. We had a tremendous evening. Over 225 people at this event. Fun!
Pete Gillen @gillenhoops I'm the real Pete Gillen. Brooklyn born basketball lover. Former college coach. Current analyst for CBS Sports Network.
