By Chris Brady, Milton Standard-Journal, Thursday, March 6, 2008*
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.—Lycoming College head coach Don Friday points to three things he wants from his players and coaches when it comes to life on and off the hardwood: Work hard, do it the right way and do it with class.
With those three principles anchoring his program, Friday has excelled in his five seasons at Lycoming College, having earned his second Commonwealth Conference Coach of the Year honor at the conclusion of this regular season, one in which Friday led the Warriors to the league’s regular-season title.
Friday, who spent nine years as an assistant under Bucknell coach Pat Flannery, also claimed the CC Coach of the Year honor after the 2004-05 season, that in just his second season in Williamsport.
“I’m honored,” he said of receiving the recognition. “It means a lot to me.”
The Warriors just missed a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament when they fell to Widener in the tournament championship game last weekend, but Friday will have all but two players back next season and he’s already looking ahead.
“We’re trying to work as hard as we can to achieve beyond our success,” he said. “We’re saying good-bye to two good seniors, but we’re already laying the groundwork for next season.”
That foundation includes a pair of all-league selections that will be back in Williamsport next season in sophomore guard Eric Anthony (14.4 ppg) and junior forward Greg Sye (11.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg).
Union County ties:
Friday, who calls Mifflinburg home, first landed on the sideline after his graduation from Lebanon Valley College in 1990 when he joined the Dutchmen staff, which at the time was headed by Flannery. It was at Lebanon Valley that Flannery and his staff led the Dutchmen to the 1994 NCAA Division III National Championship.
The next season, Flannery was hired at his alma mater, Bucknell, and Friday, too, made the move to the Lewisburg-based school. Friday still keeps in close contact with his mentor and credits Flannery with instilling the core principles that guide him in his coaching today.
“He showed me the right way to do things,” said Friday. “I can’t tell you how many nights we spent in those offices at Davis Gym... In this profession, everybody is so competitive. We work until we feel we have the edge. We don’t work by a clock. We work until we feel we’ve finished the job. That’s something I learned from coach (Flannery).”
When Friday was tabbed as coach of the year, Flannery was one of the first ones to leave a voice mail congratulating him on the honor.
“Those things go a long way,” said Friday of the call from his mentor.
Respect is earned, not given:
Friday recruited much of the talent that contributed to the recent string of success the Bison basketball program has enjoyed. Today, Friday is recruiter, head coach and scout at Division-III Lycoming, and he enjoys wearing the many hats.
“It’s all about staying the course,” he said. “There’s not a day that goes by, whether it’s during the season or the off-season, that basketball doesn’t take some part of the day. I love that. I love this job. I love my profession.”
Recruiting players to join his program is part of the job and one he takes very seriously.
“A lot of people try to sell a school on the basketball experience, without truly earning their stripes,” said Friday. “You have to earn that respect from the family.It’s a privilege having someone’s kid come to play for you. Respect is earned, it’s not given.”
An eye for local talent:
Another source of pride with Friday is his ability to bring local talent to the hardwood of Lamade Gymnasium. Currently, Friday’s roster includes three Central Susquehanna Conference veterans in Mifflinburg’s Ethan Lee, and Loyalsock’s Will Kelly and Billy Goodell.
“We really take pride in trying to keep our top local talent,” said Friday. “A kid like Ethan Lee, he’s a (4.0) student and he works so hard in the gym.”
The success of Friday’s program has been achieved through that kind of hard work — work by the coaches and the kids.
“The kids work hard for me and they work hard on their own,” said Friday. “We want our kids to take those lessons — work hard, do it the right way and do it with class — and apply them on the court and in their lives beyond basketball.”
Notes: Friday is 83-49 in five seasons at Lycoming. The Warriors finished this season at 17-10 and wrapped league play at 7-3. Lyco put together a
7-1 mark down the stretch before falling to Widener in the conference championship game.
*Story used by permission of Milton Standard-Journal and Chris Brady
