varsity news
DURHAM LORDS NEWS RELEASE
Monday, May 2, 2011
Countdown to the OCAA Hall of Fame
On May 4th, the Ontario Colleges Athletics Association will open it’s doors for the class of 2011. Included on the elite list of inductees is Durham College all-time greats Vaso Vujanovic and Mario Bruno.
Leading into the induction ceremony which is set to take place at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto, www.durhamlords.com will be taking a look back at the 28 representatives from Durham College who are already in the OCAA Hall of Fame. The OCAA Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments within collegiate sports in Ontario. Honoured members include athletes, coaches and builders of the association.
Today we will look at the COACHES representing Durham College in the OCAA Hall of Fame.
TED HARRISON – Inducted on April 29, 2009
Edward 'Ted' Harrison began what would become a long association with Durham College as both a student-athlete, coach and advisor in 1971.
A valuable member of the Basketball team in 1971-72 and 1972-73 he led the Lords in scoring each year while being named Most Valuable Player his second season. Ted completed a successful collegiate career by being named Athlete of the Year in 1972-73.
After graduating, he stepped into the men's basketball coaching ranks beginning in 1975. During a six-year span he had numerous successful seasons including capturing the OCAA East Division title in 1978-79. Taking a well-deserved break from coaching in 1981, Ted later returned in 1984 to record two of his most successful seasons as coach when the Lords won back-to-back OCAA silver medals.
Actively involved in the college through basketball camps, the alumni association and as a basketball advisor, Ted remained with the college in a volunteer capacity for seven years before heading west to pursue an employment and a coaching opportunity in Calgary. His College coaching continued in Alberta for more than a decade. His contribution, dedication and loyalty to Durham College and the OCAA spanned over 20 years.
STAN MARCHUT – Inducted on April 29, 2009
Stan Marchut began his involvement at Durham College as the Head Coach of the Women's Volleyball Program in 1984. The long-time varsity coach, recently completed his 24th season as the Lords head Coach in Women's Volleyball. While at Durham College, he amassed an amazing record 357 career college victories in OCAA Women's Volleyball.
In that time period, spanning 24 years, the DC Women's Volleyball program has never missed the play-offs and has failed to qualify for the OCAA Championships only once. His Lords teams have qualified for the OCAA Championships 20 times and have qualified for Nationals four times. A shining moment occurred in 1986 when the team won Bronze at the CCAA Nationals in Vancouver, BC.
Stan has been recognized six times as the OCAA Coach of the Year and in 1994 received the CCAA Career Coaching Excellence Award.
His devotion to the game over the years and dedication to the improvement of Durham College student-athletes has always been present and it has led to the Lords developing a Nationally Ranked program. As of Stan's induction day, he sits as the winningest coach in OCAA Women's Volleyball history.
GERRY PETTIT – Inducted on May 2, 2007
Gerald “Gerry” Pettit was born in Toronto and began his career as an administrator at Durham College in November of 1969. During his lengthy career at Durham, he spent just as many years as a coach of Durham’s Hockey and Golf programs. Gerry was the first ever coach of Durham’s Men’s basketball program that began in 1969 and with a combination of a professional and first class presence in whichever sport he coached, Pettit guided numerous teams throughout the years to team and individual successes.
An outstanding golfer himself, it was in his 23 years as the Head Coach of the Golf program that Pettit enjoyed his greatest success. Led by back-to-back gold medal golf championships in 1988 and 1989, his teams also won four bronze team medals, one silver team medal. Only three times in his 23 years did his teams not finish as one of the top 10 teams in the province. Having the chance to coach many fine young golfers, including four time OCAA champion Ryan Hughes, ranks high in Gerry’s most memorable moments. He retired from the College officially in 1993 as the director of admissions and has remained active in the Durham Athletic programs as a casual advisor, fan and friend. Gerry was honoured with an inducted into the Durham College Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
RICHARD SNOWDEN – Inducted on April 30, 2003
Richard Snowden began his career at Durham College as an administrator in 1971. During his lengthy career at Durham he spent many years as coach of the women’s fastball and curling teams. In all, he guided teams to seven OCAA Championships including three in men’s curling (1972-73, 1994-95, 1995-96) one in women's curling (1982-83) and three in women's fastball (1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85).
Snowden holds the distinction of coaching Durham College's first ever OCAA champion team, leading the 1972-73 men's curling team to gold. He also coached teams to 12 silver and bronze medals, making for a total of nineteen medals during his career.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
