As H.S. Salutatorian, Pres. of his year, basketball and  baseball team captain, plus trombone player in school band – where else would our family trek to for college interviews in ’93, but Duke!

Our family was thrilled to run into Coach K. that summer, after my son had a trombone audition there. He couldn’t have been more personable, posing for pictures with our applying son AND his excitable little brother in the Orlando Magic tee shirt, taking the time out to speak personably with both boys.  Hey, we were St. John’s season tickets holders – but we knew CLASS when we saw it.

So…my son didn’t make Duke.  He made Colgate – where he played in the Pep Band, became best friends with this Adonal Foyle kid, and ended up working for the University ever since his junior summer at college and continues to this day.  Adonal danced at his wedding, working up as good a sweat as he does at any basketball practice.  And I, a 54 yr. old L.I. mom, still goes to MSG and cheers on Coach K. no matter WHO he’s playing – because he’s a not only a great coach, but a good, kind, principled man that I want my boys to always remember and admire. And they do.

Story Shared by: Chris Chiarello
Long Island, N.Y.