"There is a calmed demeanor that you get when you are around Jim
and you can see why he could connect to his players and get them to
perform to their best. The thing that struck me was, how could a
gentleman as nice as he was survive in a world like college
basketball that constantly beats you up. He treated us with
great honor and it was fantastic to be there when he got into the
big dance."
--Mike Tirico (ESPN/ABC Sports Announcer and play-by-play
announcer of the 1995 NEC Championship Game)
“There are not many memories during practice that stand
out as much as the time I totaled my car returning for practice on
a Sunday night, which made me late by 30 minutes. I explained
the reason for being late and Jim's reply was, 'That's pretty good,
very original. Give me 10 laps!' I was upset to say the
least. He didn't inquire about injuries or anything else and
so I started my laps. As with many Sunday night practices,
Jim's son Larry would come with him and circle Memorial Gym on his
bike behind the stands during practice. After two laps, I
exited the stands riding on the bike with Larry on the
handlebars. Larry and I were having a ball. I could
tell Jim and my teammates were not happy but coach didn't say a
word, although, I'm sure he was not pleased. It turned into a
"killer" practice for the team. I played with Larry the rest
of the evening and coach never said a word. The team
(especially John Novey and Steve Murphy) had some very un-Catholic
things to say to me after practice. It was a great
moment.”
--Luis Grillo (Class of 1970, current referee with the
NBA)
"Coach has always been there for me. My fondest memory of
him was playing one-on-one after practice. We would play
everyday and in three years I never beat him because he never
fouled. My arms could be red or even bleeding but coach never
fouled."
--Jack Sullivan (Class of 1957, holds Mount’s career
scoring record with 2,672 career points)
"He is a good friend, excellent coach and a remarkable
man. I remember this one time at the Mason Dixon Tournament
in 1962-63. We were playing at Catholic University in
Washington D.C. After the semifinal games there was a party
for the coaches and as we left the party together we each parted
ways and said 'see you tomorrow'. The next day Dave Maloney
asked if I had seen coach while we were having our pregame
meal. I told I hadn't seen him since last night.
As our benches faced each other I kept looking across and with
about three minutes before the game Jim finally came strolling down
to his bench. The Mount beat us in that game and afterwards I
asked him where he was all day. He said he was at the race
track and was doing so good he almost didn't make it back for the
game."
--Paul Webb (Former coach of Mount rival Randolph Macon,
coached against Jim Phelan in Mason Dixon Conference for a number
of years)
"My father thought a lot of Jim and I also think a lot of
him. He is a great example of a Philadelphia guard and he may
be a great catcher but he sure can't hit a baseball. I
remember when he hit that homerun over the left field fence.
It was only 309 feet from the plate."
--Edward F. Powers, Jr. (Father coached Jim Phelan at LaSalle
College)
"Jim was always good to the team. I remember my senior
year. He got right down on the court with us throwing his
elbows. I also remember this one time at Hampton Sydney we
were heading off the court after a win. Two guys jumped out
of the stands and were going after me. Coach stepped in the
middle and said, 'need help fellows.' They backed off right
away. Coach never catered to us and always treated us like
men. He used to tell us, 'I am not going to give you any
restrictions on your hours because it is going to show in your
school work, practice and play.”
--Sal Angelo (Class of 1955, Played on coach Phelan’s
first team at the Mount, member of the Mount Hall of
Fame)
"I was there when coach first started at the Mount. He
realized that he had a bunch of players and didn't put any major
systems in effect. He coached to the player's abilities and
it showed. He always told me that the 1955-56 team was not
the most talented team he ever had, but no team has ever played
better during a stretch then we did when we scored over 100 points
three straight going into the Mason-Dixon Classic. I think
one of the most memorable moments was when he was scrimmaging with
us. He was only about five years older but clearly the
best player on the floor. His forte was his defense.
Well I was guarding him and he looked the other way and then let a
chest pass go straight into my face. I had a bloody nose and
he said, 'you are too close to me and I could easily get around
you.' I learned to back off. He always commanded
respect from us and he got it. Besides my own dad I have
never admired somebody as much and I think his wife Dottie is as
much a part of his success as he is himself."
--Bill Stanely (Class of 1956, Played on coach Phelan’s
first team at the Mount, member of the Mount Hall of Fame
"I think coach has mellowed an all full lot from how tough he
used to be. This one time Bill Stanley threw the ball away
two times in row and coach hopped off the bench with his bow time
almost pulled off and called timeout. As we headed to the
bench Bill, who was at least a four inches taller than me, hid
behind me as we went to the bench because he thought coach was
going to kill him."
--Ed Bals (Class of 1956, Played on coach Phelan’s first
team at the Mount)
"Playing under Jim was a great four years of my life.
Coach Phelan is responsible for where I am today. He is the
most influential person in where I am today and what I am doing and
I have continued to follow him and his
success."
--Jerry Savage (Class of 1961, 35 year head coach at Loyola
college)
"I remember my final game I ever played at the Mount I scored 49
points, just two shy of Jack Sullivan's 51 single-game point's
mark. After the game coach came in to the locker room and
said, 'if you hadn't shot so bad from the free throw line you could
have had that record.' He kind of brought me back to
earth. Besides that one moment, what stands out about coach
the most is his values. There is no person that has a greater
value system. If there was anyone you would want to emulate,
he would be that person. He puts first and foremost his
family, faith and friends. He is a man of great strength and
not influenced by anyone. He makes decisions by his heart and
head. I put him and Dottie together; they just don't make
people like them anymore. He is a rock solid person with his
feet on the ground and treats everybody the same. Coach is
not just about basketball at the Mount, he is about the Mount as a
whole."
--Dave Maloney (Class of 1963, member of National Championship
team and Mount Hall of Fame)
"After playing for coach I entered the Mount's staff and finally
became the Provost, holding that position for 17 years. I
think it is a true testament to the kind of man he is that in all
those years he never once asked me about a concession about one of
his player's grades. Coach has great values and never
diverges from them or allows anybody influence to diverge him from
them. One of my best memories of coach was back in Memorial
Gym. We had a cardboard box in our locker room as a trash
can. Coach came in at halftime and was so mad he kicked right
through that box. He was dancing around trying to get that
box off his foot. None of us would laugh but it was
hilarious."
--Jack Campbell (Class of 1964, member of National Championship
team and Mount Hall of Fame, Mount St. Mary’s Provost for 17
years)
"I have a lot of respect for Jim. He practiced with us and
was the dirtiest player I ever played against. He always was
able to get an edge on others. The relationship afterwards
with coach is absolutely priceless and worth every minute I was
there."
--John Novey (Class of 1971, member of the Mount’s Hall
of Fame)
"Jim Phelan has a warm inferior and is a very family oriented
man. His children came to games and practices all the time.
They are a part of the program and were appreciated by
everybody. As a coach, he let us play and count on us to take
care of ourselves. He made each of us carry ourselves as
adults."
--Rick Kidwell (Class of 1976, became Alumni President at the
Mount)
"Jim is so supportive of his players on the court. He
fought with you to the end. I personally got my share of
technical fouls and coach always stood by me. He never
embarrassed his players. I think of coach a perfect gentleman
and he has had a very strong impact on my life after
basketball. I think one of my best memories of coach was on
the way back from a game. He drove one of the vans and the
other coach drove the other one. We were ranked high and
winning a lot of games at the time. On the way home coach got
pulled over by a state trooper for speeding. Coach got out
and talked with the trooper and when he got back in we all asked
how fast to he get you and how much. Coach looked at us and
said, 'it is pays to be No. 1.' After the state trooper
realized who he was he let coach off with just a warning."
--Steve Rossignoli (Class of 81, member of D-II Final Four
Team)
“Coach makes the Mount a real family, even after you
graduate and end your playing career. He has always taken a
genuine interest in everything and continues to ask about my family
and career. I have two really fond memories of coach.
One was from the 1980 regional game against UMBC. The place
was sold out and very loud. Steve Rassignoli got a technical
foul and Coach Phelan started yelling down the court to get the
referee's attention. When the referee finally came over Coach
said, 'what did he say.' The ref said that he told me I
stunk. Coach responded, 'you do stink.' The ref then
gave a technical foul to coach as well. The other story
involves me and Dennis Dempsey. Both of us were known to take
a lot of shots and so coach never started us. One game he
sent both of us in off the bench at the same time. Neither of
us had taken a shot and a timeout was called. As we went to
the bench coach pulled us to the side and said, 'I didn't put you
into the game to pass, SHOOT.''
--Tom Looney (Class of 1981,member of D-II Final Four
Team)
"One of my favorite stories of Coach Bowtie was at the Elizabeth City game. At the end of the game Coach drew up a play for Jimmy Rowe to catch the ball near half court and hopefully get off a shot. As we broke the huddle I said to Mike Johnson, 'before you throw the ball to Jimmy run down the baseline and I would set a pick and see if we could get a charge.' The ref gave Mike the ball and I set a pick and the man harassing him on the inbounds followed Mike and ran me over. The ref blew the whistle and called the foul. I was really excited that it had worked and was celebrating. Elizabeth City took a timeout and we came over to the bench. Coach Phelan was not really yelling but certainly trying to be forceful telling me, 'I don't know what happened BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO MAKE THE FOUL SHOTS.' I said don't worry Coach we got the call and he said, 'It doesn't do any good if you don't make the foul shots.' Coach Tom Haggerty, the assistant at the time said as we broke the huddle, 'These are in!' After the game when all the celebrating was done on the court and we as a team were in the locker room Coach Phelan comes up to me and says, 'I don't know what the hell you were doing out there but way to go, you really have ice water in your veins.'
Another story is in 1983 I had come back for my graduate year and we were playing Randolph Macon at their place. Coach put me in at the 10 minute mark of the first half. Macon was playing a zone and they were up three or four when Durell Lewis found me in the corner for a jump shot to cut the lead to one. He proceeded to find me the next four times we had the ball and we went from down three to up five in a matter of three to four minutes. As we are running off the court Coach Phelan grabs me and pulls me aside and says, 'Don't ever listen to anyone, you have Carte Blanche with me when your in.'
We played at Virginia Union in 1980 in the South Atlantic
Regions at UMBC. We were losing by about 10 with four minutes
left and I think Coach Phelan thought the game was over. I hadn't
played the whole game and he put me in with no instructions or
anything. So I just got the ball, shot and made it and then
proceeded to make the next four. We ended up losing that game
by one and afterwards coach said to me, 'I should have put you in a
minute earlier.'
--Dennis Dempsey (Class of 1981, member of D-II Final Four
Team)
"I always remember the many times that people would ask me if
coach Phelan was as calm in the locker room as he appeared in the
game. My response was always the same. 'Heecck NO!' Once
during a poor shooting first half, coach said that we couldn't hit
a bull's ass with a bass fiddle. It was hard to keep a straight
face on that one. Darryle and I love to tell that story. Boy do I
miss those locker-room days and speeches about "Sweet Water"
Clifton.
--Paul Edwards (Class of 1986, member of the Mount’s Hall
of Fame)
"I remember we were playing Randolph Macon on the road and shot
bad in the first half. When coach walked into the locker room
he was hot and mad at the team and you could hear a pin
drop. He said, 'you can't make chicken salad out of
chicken s--t'. That saying ended up catching on all around
campus that year."
--Robert Sutor (class of 1969, member of the Mount’s Hall
of Fame)
"It was truly a wonderful experience to play for him. He
always would keep his distance from his players but after we
graduated he is like a big brother. We had a very successful
two years with him. He is a gentlemen and his family is
great. I played in coaches first year at the Mount and there
were four of us from same high school. We had everyone back
from a team that won a championship in our sophomore year. Ed
Bals always jokes; if it wasn't for us coach would be a
Philadelphia Bus Driver."
--Fran Smith (Class of 1956, played on Coach Phelan’s
first team)
"There are a couple of memories about coach that really stick
out in my mind. One was practice and we ran the play
perfectly. Coach, who was chewing gum at the time, was trying
to say something and he hit bit himself giving him a bloody
mouth. He looked at us and said, 'You ran play so damn good
you made me bite my damn tongue.' One of my other favorite
memories is from practicing back in old memorial gym. While
we were on the floor Jim Deegan had his track team running on the
outside. Coach Deegan had apparently fired off the start gun
and all the city boys on our team just hit the deck, laying face
first sprawled out on the floor. Coach said what the hell you
firing a gun for in here and told him to get out of the gym during
practice. We were laughing hysterically."
--Darryle Edwards (Class of 1985, member of the Mount’s
Hall of Fame)
"As Jim's assistant coach for 12 years, I experienced many
momentous Mount basketball occasions, including thrilling
victories, tournament championships, exciting nights in Memorial
Gymnasium and a few frustrating losses. I learned a lot of
basketball from coach Phelan and sincerely enjoyed and treasure my
association with Jim and the basketball program over the past 40
years. However, the lessons of life that Jim passed on to me,
especially the dignity, class and honesty with which he interacts
with players, coaches, fans and friends, has truly influenced my
life. I sincerely wish the best for Jim and Dottie as they
enter retirement."
--Tom Ryan (Assistant Coach from 1965-1977)
"Whether we won or lost, once the game was over coach moved
on. He has the ability to take basketball very seriously, but
not himself too seriously. In all the time I have been around
basketball, I would describe Jim as "consistent." I really
have enjoyed my experience and I am really sorry to see him
retire. He will be sorely missed by me."
--Jack McLatchy (Current assistant coach for the Mount, a
consultant for 10 years prior to joining the staff in
1998)
"I have called a lot of coach Phelan's games and have a lot of
memories. One that comes to mind is back in 1995. Coach
was at a press conference the day before they played Kentucky in
the NCAA Tournament. Somebody asked coach what he thought
about the eight or nine All-Americans on Kentucky's team.
Coach replied, 'We have at least eight or nine kids on our team who
like to eat at McDonald's."
--Roy Sigler (A 16-year color commentator for Mount basketball,
former head men’s basketball coach at Boston
University)
"I have known Jim for a lot of years and played baseball for
him. I remember this one time I was heading to the plate and
we had runners on first and second. Coach Phelan told me to
move the runners up. I was going to take a good cut at the
ball to back off the fielders at the corner so I could bunt the
ball. I ended up hitting a homerun and as I came back to the
dugout instead of giving me hell coach just said, "you got to make
your breaks."
--Woody Stoner (Men’s basketball official
scorer)