Donald J. Bassett
Class of 1958
Honorary Inductee, Soccer/Basketball/Baseball
 
Education
Bachelor of Science in Education – Oneonta
 
Athletic Bio
Captain of Soccer Team, 1956 & 1957
Earned Six Varsity Letters
Soccer (3 yrs.) – Basketball (2 yrs.) – Baseball (3 yrs.)
Junior Varsity Basketball Coach, 1957-58
 
Professional Bio
Fifth grade teacher at South Colonie Elementary School (33 years)
High School Coach (25 years)
Central Catholic High School Basketball Coach (1968-1984)
Numerous Coach of the Year Awards
Multiple Dioseacean Championships and Big Ten titles
Professional Basketball Career as a Coach
Collegiate Basketball Career at St. Rose and currently at the University of Albany
Inducted into Central Catholic, SUNY Cobleskill and Capital District Halls of Fame
 
Personal Reflections
The honor of being selected to the Oneonta Hall of Fame has given me the opportunity to look back 60 years to when I entered the school. I could tell you how great an athlete I was and what great accomplishments I had because how many people remember what happened 60 years ago at Oneonta.  I can remember but some of the details are foggy.
 
Fr. George Phillips, who was a priest in my church in Troy, got me started in 2nd grade playing basketball. I lived across the street from the gym and spent many hours there. When it came time for me to decide on a college he was chaplain of Newman Club at Oneonta and was stationed at St. Mary's Church. I was planning on going to a Phys. Ed. school and he advised me to go to Oneonta and take education. He knew I wanted to become a coach and thought teaching would provide me with that opportunity.
 
My entrance was put on hold when I was not accepted at the school. I played four sports in high school and studying was not my favorite thing. Coach Hal Chase was involved in the process and suggested that I go to a 2-year school and get good marks and transfer after a year. I attended Cobleskill Tech and worked on getting good grades while running X-Country and playing varsity basketball. My grades were so good that I was accepted at Oneonta after one semester.
 
At the time I entered the school in January of 1955, I was going to concentrate on studies and getting ready to play basketball. I don't remember that year very well but from my sophomore year on is pretty clear.
I started the year by being approached to play soccer by Coach Hurley McLean. He said I saw you played football in high school why don't you try soccer. After watching a game, I told him I thought I could play goalie. I was inserted into a game at RPI and played a half without giving up a goal. I became the goalie for the next three years. Oddly enough a sport I had never played became my best sport while in college. I got to play in the first college victory in Oneonta soccer history when we defeated Le Moyne 3-1. We were just learning the game and as a result most games were played at our end of the field. I was given the chance to make many saves. I remember playing Orange Community College and they were the #1 two-year program in the country. We got two shots at their goal and one was a penalty kick that we scored on. The whole game was on our end of the field. They would kick it at the goal and I would kick it out and it would come back in. I remember the final score was 7-1 and I was credited with over 50 saves. I would think that is the school record. Coach McLean said after the game that I was the best goalie in the area. What a great tribute. Hartwick was the only other school in our area. I remember in my senior year we tied RPI 0-0 and it was like we won the National Championship.
 
I was elected captain in my junior and senior year, which was quite an honor. I must have the record for kissing homecoming queens. It seemed like we were everybody's homecoming game so I got to kiss the queen at midfield before the game.
 
I'm not sure how many games we won, but we were in most of them. I believe our teams built a good foundation for the future.
 
My sophomore year of basketball was a very memorable one. I played JV and we played the teams the varsity couldn't fit on their schedule. We had a great team and finished the season 12-4, which at that time was the best record for the JV in school history. We didn't have a player over 6 ft. and I played  point guard and coach Shorty Letera allowed me to run the show. I saw my stats recently. I averaged 12 point per game and was first in assists and got my share of rebounds.  Our top scorer was Cramer Harrington. Dick Vroman could really rebound, and Roger Smith could score. Jack Dubois was usually the fifth man and played the other team's top scorer. Our starting four moved to varsity the next year. I can't say I had a great season but I do remember coming off the bench and playing well in some of the games. I never knew when I was going to play or for how long. I know I was a factor in three games where I hit some shots late. I also remember our four JV guys playing together when the first team was struggling on the road and pulling out a victory after being way behind.
 
My senior year I had to make a tough decision. Coach Letera came to me and told me he was not going to coach and that I should take the job. He said he would recommend me. I didn't know how Coach Chase would feel about it as it looked like I would be the starting point guard.  Coach Letera and I convinced him that I wasn't going to be an NBA player and that I wanted to coach after graduation. I believe it was a very good decision although I have always wondered how I would have done if I had played. We played a tough schedule and I think we were 14-15. We had some big wins. That was the start of a 50+ years coaching career.
 
I played baseball for three seasons and gave it up in my senior year to umpire. I got married in November and decided I was not that important to the baseball team. I pitched and once in a while got to play outfield. At times I contributed and I was a leader. I believe my junior year we only lost one game.
 
There are a few things that stick in my mind about my 3 1/2 years. There were way more girls than boys. I believe it was 8-1.
 
When I returned from playing in Rochester I came down with the flu and they wouldn't admit me at the hospital because I was contagious. The top floor was vacant in the girl's dorm so they put me there.
 
I remember three teachers in particular, Dr. Gordon and Dr. Fink were excellent teachers who I had for most of my history courses and Dr. Whitaker who was the toughest teacher and made it difficult to pass Biology. He also went to all my soccer games and stood near the net where so he could heckle me. Dr. Fink was also my supervisor for student teaching.
 
Mr. Limecooler, who was the teacher I did student teaching with at the campus school, allowed me to take the class by myself when he had to be out for the week. He convinced the principal that they didn't need to hire a sub. That was a great week and it gave me a great deal of confidence.
 
I remember my housemate Dennis Shea who was an outstanding student and later taught at the College.
I remember City Hall, which was the favorite bar during our time and Diana's a local restaurant.
I remember Jack Dubois a real close friend getting me hired to sing at the Windsor Hotel on Sat. during the Jam sessions.
I remember the Evening Inn where we went to dance on Thursday when the girls could stay out until 10 o'clock.
I remember singing in the Men's Double Quartet after being recruited by Mrs. Hubbard.
I remember having to go downtown to the Armory for basketball practice every day.
I remember many great guys who were teammates over my 3 1/2 years.
 
I could go on and on but I will spare you and say that I am very thankful to Fr. George Phillips for talking me in to attending Oneonta. It was the right decision.
 
After 33 years of teaching 5th grade and 58 years of coaching at every level, I can say Oneonta provided me with the foundation.
 
Bassett, along with five former student athletes will be part of the 17^th SUNY Oneonta Athletics Hall of Fame class to be inducted on Saturday, Sep. 12.  This year's class will bring the number of inductees to 129 individuals including nine honorary inductees.  The induction will take place in the Dewar Arena of the Alumni Field House and will begin at noon.  The induction is free and open to the public.