X-Men Basketball History

StFX basketball teams have been blessed with considerable talent and equally blessed with dedicated coach's who gave freely of their time and energy to provide top flight teams to represent this university. This section would not be complete without some special mentions.

The first person to be remembered should undoubtedly be Professor J.P. Coyle, the first offical basketball coach at StFX. Although incumbent for only one year, 1923-24, it was he who coached StFX in their first intercollegiate game in which Dalhousie was the opponent. He also had the distinction of coaching the first player who scored 20 points in a single game. The man was J.A. MacDonald and I assure you, in 1923, this was quite a feat. After a season with Mr. A. Ktenas, Father Leo McKenna, the dean of all StFX coaches took over and guided for six of the next 11 seasons. During that 11 year period, on many occasions, he was obliged to fill in so it may well be said that he functioned for the whole period.

In 1930, J.L. Kenny became coach and guided the Xaverians for three seasons. At the end of the 1932 season, basketball ceased to be a varsity sport at StFX and was not revived until 1938. Even when it returned to life, there were no intercollegiate competition. During this period, Father M.E. MacLaughlin coached the team.

From 1939 to 1941, during the war years, it was again revived and Father Leo McKenna coached his last year. In 1942 Father William Fogarty assumed leadership of the team and they began to take on the championship character that they have had ever since. They won their first Nova Scotia intercollegiate championship in 1945.

Father Fogarty was obliged to relinquish the reins in 1946 and Father Frank Smith, another ex-varsity player, carried on with distinction. The team won the Nova Scotia Intercollegiate crown in 1948.

Father Fogarty returned to the blue and white team and they went out and beyond the Maritimes to take the Canadian Intermediate Championship for the first time.

The victory parade was destined to continue and the x-men went on to win the Provincial and Maritime titles 11 straight times. Four of these years, Ambrose Gilmet presided over the squad and for the following five, Athletic Director, Alex MacAdam, directed the team until John "Packy" McFarland (contributor to this piece) was appointed coach.

Complete supremacy by the Xaverians ended in 1961 when Acadia, a steadily growing power in Maritime Basketball , won both the Nova Scotia and Maritime titles. However, StFX rebounded the following year to recapture these laurels.

While it is very difficult to construct an honour role of players of the past, certainly there are some that are worthy of special mention. Ed Nash, 1930-31, was the first player to score 30 points in a single game and the first to score over 100 in one season. Lorne Whalen and Hank Propper were the stars of the 1947-48 team that started StFX on their long successful trek to Maritime honors. Rudy Pace, Joe Flaherty, Russ MacNeil and Pat Connolly did a great deal to maintain the high standard.

In 1953, Al Grassi became the first player to score 300 points. His record lasted only a year because the incomparable Frank Korbut tossed in 328 points in 1953 and 375 points in 16 games during the 1954-55 campaign. This 23.4 points per game average stands as the best in StFX basketball history.

During the 50's there were others who stood out dramatically, not the least of these were Fran Shea and Julian Richards. Just about the time it appeared that the big machine was destined to slow down, some tall men appeared on the scene. Bob Moran and Paul Davenport ran rampant for four years. Moran ended as All-Time scoring champion with 1400 points. Davenport was close behind with 1162. Other standouts were Ed Hilton, Jim Walsh, and Ernie Foshay.

The aforementioned are but a few of the "greats". Each player, each coach, each manager contributed in some measure to the great record established in basketball.

One final note. Many of the players who strengthened and starred on the StFX teams came from the Eastern United States. This University's association with the United States goes back to its very beginning. Some of its first endowments, its outstanding gifts came from Nova Scotians who had taken up residence across the border. Many of the boys coming to StFX today have definite Nova Scotian connections that influence their presence at StFX. The enrollment in the past half century of the US students has increased by only about 4% - from 8 to to 12. It is important to note that the US students were present long before StFX emerged as a power in either football or basketball.

Thanks to all those that have assisted in the compilation of this record.
John McFarland, StFX Basketball Coach, 1960-