Conversations
with Past and Present Saint Michael's Athletes
John
‘Jack’ Coffey: Class of 1957
Click here to read a short profile about John Coffey's Saint Michael's athletic career.
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Q: Why did you choose Saint Michael’s? Was it for academics, athletics or a combination of the two? A: I was working after high school to get some money. I had put on a few pounds so I was playing basketball, baseball and football with a parish team. Then this guy from Jersey City offered me a football scholarship to Saint Michael’s and drove me up to see the campus. I liked Vermont and the idea of snow, but I had also gotten an offer to play baseball in the Cleveland Indians organization. I wanted to go to college though so I chose Saint Michaels.
Q: What was the most memorable moment you had playing sports at Saint Michael’s? A: Well, I guess I would have to say the time I scored six points in overtime against the University of Vermont (in basketball). We won that game.
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Q: Being a student athlete can be quite difficult, as you have to balance schoolwork with practice and games. You played baseball, football and basketball, plus you participated in Golden Gloves boxing during basketball season. How was it juggling academics and athletics?
A: It was no problem. I lived on campus and had plenty of time, there was no real social life up here then so we pretty much stuck around Saint Michael's. We lived in wooden barracks from the Ethan Allen base and sometimes we would take a bus or walk to go downtown to the movies. We usually walked though; we did a lot of walking back then.
Q: How did you come about playing so many sports at Saint Michael’s?
A: I only came here to play football, but then I was bored during the winter so I decided to play basketball, and then the spring came around so I just decided to join the baseball team too. I liked to stay busy and enjoyed sports, so I just played.
Q: What about boxing?
A: It was during basketball season and this guy came to campus and was starting a boxing team. I had never boxed before but I said I would give it a try. It was Golden Gloves boxing so it didn’t conflict with college sports, and I ended up being the only guy on the team to win. (Coffey captured the boxing state title for the 160-pound class after knocking out his opponent 23 seconds into the first round).
Q: What did it mean to be inducted into the Saint Michael’s Athletic Hall of Fame?
A: To tell you the truth, I didn’t feel like an athlete anymore when I was inducted in 1988. In other words, I was out of shape. But it was very exciting for me and I was glad that people thought I was qualified. It is something that I will never forget.
Q: Vermont weather is different than anywhere else in the country, and it affects athletes in a much different way than most. How was it practicing/playing in those conditions? And was it a good experience or something that you dreaded?
A: It didn’t really bother me. The cold wasn’t that bad because it was a dry cold; sometimes I even wore a T-shirt around campus in the winter. But I did have a sore arm during baseball season every year because of the cold in New England. We even played Saint Lawrence one time in the snow, that was my first experience ever doing that. I also liked skiing. We would go skiing in Underhill and I went to Mt. Stowe. I wasn’t supposed to because I was on scholarship, but skiing was very exciting to me.
Q: Do you think being a Saint Michael’s athlete helped you at all in your life?
A: I think so, playing football teaches you a lot. After graduation I went into the service for four and a half years and when I came out I got married. I think athletics helped keep me healthy and in good shape. I played basketball until I was 65; I quit when I figured I had pushed it to the limit.
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