2008 Woodie Awards
A coach's journey: left imprint at CSC
From Castleton to Division-I Basketball
Matt Linden
Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: Sports
|
But before Van Gundy led Castleton to consecutive trips to the NAIA tournament in 1984 and '85, Matt Kilcullen left an imprint on the school's basketball program.
Kilcullen, 53, spent three seasons at the helm for the Spartans and recruited most of the players that would lead Van Gundy's tourney teams.
A standout basketball player out of Lehman College in New York, the Bronx-native jumped right into the coaching business after graduating. Lucky for him, his first job was only a walk away.
"When a friend of mine told me the grammar school team right next to us needed a coach, I said 'what the heck, I'll give it a shot'," he said. "I found out that I really enjoyed putting a group of individuals together and working with them to become successful."
All roads start in Castleton
While painting an athletic director's house in Doylestown, Penn., the then-24-year-old assistant at Delaware Valley College received a phone call from a friend, who was able to get Kilcullen an interview for Castleton's coaching vacancy.
"Whenever you remember your first head coaching job, you remember the people that made it happen," he said. "I loved living up in Vermont and really enjoyed my time there."
Kilcullen compiled a 28-48 record at Castleton and improved the team's record each year. In his third and final season, he set a then-single-season record for wins with 14, which was surpassed by Van Gundy's 26 two years later.
One moment that has stuck in Kilcullen's mind was Castleton winning the Paul Bunyan tournament at Husson College and the long bus ride back.
"As a young coach, it gave me a great thrill to be able to go on somebody's home court and win two games when nobody expected you to win and take home the championship," he said. "But it takes us eight hours to get home from Maine in a blinding snow storm. We won the tournament and were very happy, and we get a very slow ride back."
He left Castleton before the 1983 season to work at Siena College as an assistant under John Griffin, who was the youngest head coach in NCAA history at age 25.
"The assistants' job opened up at Siena in Division I, which is the level you inspire to be at," Kilcullen said. "But I thought that I left Castleton State College in pretty good hands because two years later they went 26-1 with the guys we recruited and went to the national tournament."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Maureen Terry DeForge, Class of '87
posted 3/07/07 @ 1:24 PM EST
From one who'd been at Castleton for more than four years, who could forget Matt?! Mr. Fun & Excitement. For goodness sakes, he got the ball rolling! Is he in the Hall of Fame yet? Let's put him there! He put in a lot more energy to his presence at CSC than just being the basketball coach. (Continued…)
Don Cuerdon '81
posted 3/15/07 @ 4:18 PM EST
Although I was a student trainer, runner and x-c skier primarily, I remember Matt. He was rooming with my advisor, John Cottone. Matt was a great coach, but an even better recruiter. (Continued…)
Bryan DeLoatch, Class of '85
posted 3/19/07 @ 7:22 PM EST
Reading this article brought back great memories. Coach Kilcullen was a great recruiter. He challeged us to make a path never before traveled at Castleton State College. (Continued…)
Post a Comment