Honorable service
FREEPORT — Garrie Davies is stepping out of coaching — and he's taking a prestigious award with him.
Davies, 64, is retiring after three separate stints totaling 24 years as the Freeport High boys basketball coach. He's also been named the National Federation of High Schools Mideast Section Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.
The Yellowjackets were 8-9 overall this season, finishing fifth in Section 1-AA. Freeport was 15-3 and won its section last year, when Davies returned from a five-year coaching hiatus.
Health issues forced him to resign for a year following the 2001-02 campaign, when he posted a 20-0 regular season record. Davies returned to the bench in 2003-04.
“It's more about your body of work,” said Davies, who was nominated by Freeport principal Bob Schleiden. “It's very moving to have that happen. They had a plaque at the school board meeting. It was very nice that they did that.
“It was very humbling,” he added.
“This award is about the total embodiment of his coaching work,” said Todd O'Shell, Freeport school and student events coordinator. “It's about much more than wins and losses.
“The respect a coach generates from the standpoint of being a mentor, tactician, role model. ... Garrie is very deserving of this.”
The NFHS is divided into eight sections. The Mideast Section is comprised of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington D.C., Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.
The NFHS Coaches Association's advisory board is composed of eight sectional representatives. This board selects the best candidates for each sectional award and forwards those recommendations to the national office in Indianapolis.
Davies took Freeport teams to the WPIAL playoffs 19 times in his 24 years as coach.
“He's an incredible guy,” said assistant coach Mike Beale, who will succeed Davies as head coach for the third time. “I played for Coach Davies when I was a student at Freeport and my relationship with him has matured and changed over the years.
“There's nobody more deserving than him. This is the type of man you want working with kids.”
O'Shell said the award honors Davies' dedication and commitment to the educational and athletic growth of Freeport's many student athletes who have participated in the basketball program.
Superintendent Chris DeVivo presented a certificate from NFHS at Wednesday's school board meeting commemorating his achievement.
The NFHS will recognize 360 high school coaches, covering 20 different sports, with state, sectional and national awards this year.
