A court to call his own

St. Andrew's School names basketball court for longtime coach Mike Hart

BY MANUEL C. “MANNY” CORREIRA
Posted 2/17/19

Now Michael Hart has a basketball court he can call his very own.

The head coach of the boys’ basketball team at St. Andrew’s School received the ultimate tribute last Wednesday, …

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A court to call his own

St. Andrew's School names basketball court for longtime coach Mike Hart

Posted

Now Michael Hart has a basketball court he can call his very own.

The head coach of the boys’ basketball team at St. Andrew’s School received the ultimate tribute last Wednesday, when the basketball court his teams have prospered on for many years, was named in his honor. And, admittedly, the coach knew nothing about it.

“It was such a huge surprise,” he said. “I can't thank everyone enough. When I came to St. Andrew's in 1994, I was planning on getting some experience and moving on to a college job some place. But, I saw the potential of the school and believed it would be a great place to bring in some kids that enjoy playing basketball but wanted to prepare for college and life. Then, new headmaster John Martin arrived in 1996, took a chance on that vision, and I'm still here 25 years later.”

Coach Hart was truly touched by what transpired on this particular afternoon, a day when his team squared off against powerhouse Worcester Academy. The official announcement came before the game tipoff by St. Andrew’s Headmaster David Tinagero.

“However, I couldn't have done it without the support and efforts from the St. Andrew's community,” Coach Hart explained. “From the board of directors to Headmasters David Burnham, John Martin, and David Tinagero, our community has been there every step of the way. Our admissions team has given kids an opportunity to shine, and they have while becoming outstanding role models for all kids. The development group has worked tirelessly in getting the word out that St. Andrew's is a special place. At home, my immediate family, including my parents, brother and sisters, have always supported the long hours and missed family events during my time at St. Andrew's. My lovely wife Janie and kids Daylan, Jabin, and Liam have also supported my career and understand the time demands.”

Always willing to give credit where credit is due, Coach Hart mentioned some other special people who helped make his trip down memory lane so meaningful.

“One of my mentors, Mike Raffa, has guided me from day one with his wisdom, about not only basketball, but more importantly, life,” he noted. “Then, there's John O'Shea. This doesn't happen without him. He and I played college basketball together in the mid '80's and he joined our community in 1998. He and I operate as a team and share duties to help our program succeed. He deserves as much recognition as I but is very humble when talking about his contributions.

“Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank the kids. I don't think it's fair to mention a few by name because every kid we had in our program mattered. I'd just like to say that I am so very proud to have coached them and please stop by to tell us how you are doing. I love them all.”

Mike Hart’s athletic background as a player is also pretty impressive.

He played an integral part in leading the University of Maine at Ft. Kent men’s basketball team to a Northeast Conference Championship in 1987. He led the state of Maine, as well as NAIA District 5 in assists in 1988.  Michael received the selection to the NAIA District 5 All Conference Team that same year. While at UMFK, he received a leadership award in 1988 and was involved with the UMFK radio station. He graduated from UMFK in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management and elementary education. Michael coached at his alma mater, Smithfield High School, as an assistant coach for football and basketball. 

Coach Hart, who also serves as St. Andrew’s Director of Athletics, recently chalked up his 500th coaching victory, a milestone which is sure to stand for quite some time. He has won seven New England Prep School Championships and has attended many Final Fours in his 25 seasons. He has been named New England Prep School Coach of the Year a number of times, and his teams have been ranked nationally by USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and other publications.

Several of Coach Hart’s student-athletes have gone on to play professionally in the NBA and internationally. Among them are Tony Robertson, the former University of Connecticut star; Demetris Nichols, who starred at Syracuse and played pro ball with the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and Cleveland Cavaliers; Rakim Sanders, who played at Boston College and Fairfield and went overseas to play pro ball; Bonzie Colson, who played at Notre Dame, and is currently with the Milwaukee Bucks organization; Michael Carter-Williams, who went on to play at Syracuse and was the first round draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013, and Ricky Ledo, who had committed to Providence College, but was ruled academically ineligible and ended up playing overseas.

Then, there’s the Hoops with Hart Summer Basketball Camp at St. Andrew’s School, which has been one of Coach Hart’s most prized programs over the years.

In addition, Coach Hart has volunteered within his community with Special Olympics, Red Cross blood drives, YMCA young basketball clinics, and summer basketball camps. He has been extremely proud of the large number of his student-athletes who have gone on to receive college degrees in higher education.

“St. Andrew’s has meant so much to me since I’ve been here,” he has said repeatedly. “I couldn’t be happier.”

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