This is the 11th edition of a 12-part series spotlighting the new head coaches in the region penned by D2EastHoops columnist Tim McCaffrey.
D’Youville Men’s Basketball Head Coach Earl Schunk is a teacher, coach and leader.
The 1977 Canisius graduate isn’t new to Western New York or even the Saints. It was an American icon that garnered the attention of the future 33-year mathematics and technology integration teacher.
“I loved Mickey Mantle,” said the 11th-year ‘Ville coach. “I watched him play as much as I could.”
It was the passion that Mantle showed on the baseball field that drove Schunk’s love of sports. All sports. If you have a wiffle ball game, there’s a chance you could find Schunk.
“I’m 66 and I still play fast-pitch softball,” boasted Schunk. “I like the competitive nature of things.”
Schunk coached baseball, cross-country, track and field, tennis, and softball at Grover Cleveland High School which as luck would have it is rather close to his current home at D’Youville.
“The high school was about 500 yards from the scoreboards at the college,” laughed Schunk. “Didn’t really change my commute.”
How does a long-time math teacher look at the new numbers approach to basketball?
“I was an analytics guy before they were cool,” quipped the Saints head coach. “The great thing about basketball is you have options of where to play people where in other sports they may only have one position.”
Schunk is a throwback to a bygone era where people just want to teach and coach and get players ready for life after hoops. That connection led to the floor leader being asked to be the Best Man at a former player's wedding.
Jovial and gregarious, Schunk’s positivity brings with it a new beginning in Division II for the Saints. Whether they march to the top of the ECC remains to be seen, but there will be plenty of good vibes from the Saint’s top play caller.
Perhaps someday Schunk will have a trophy from D’Youville’s foray in Division II on his own mantle.
Tim McCaffrey is an opinion and features writer for D2EastHoops. The former college athletics administrator has umpired over 1500 professional baseball games. He manages Closecallsports.com, which is dedicated to his other passion: teaching umpires how to get better! He can be reached at tpmccaffrey@gmail.com
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