Richard Syriac, a member of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts athletics Hall of Fame, wrote this appreciation of Frank Zoltek, who was again honored this summer with the presentation of the coaching award named in his honor.

 

If you play golf , or own a set of golf clubs , there is a strong possibility that you will be approached to play in some fundraising tournaments for worthy causes during the season. Your scribe is no different and I select my events very carefully.

 

There is one invitation that I am honored to receive each year and that is one from Ed Noel and his committee (Ed and his bride Judy) to participate in "The Frankie".

 

This event is a gathering of friends , family and people who were fortunate to know Frank Zoltek , a basketball coaching and playing legend from Adams, Mass., who passed away suddenly in 2005 at age 63.

 

Frank was an outstanding baseball and basketball standout at Adams High School. After high school he rewrote the record books at North Adams State College and easily surpassed the career scoring mark in only three seasons. After graduation he began his coaching career at St. Joseph HS of North Adams and continued to mentor players at Drury High School (four Western Mass titles), MCLA and was top assistant to Harry Sheehy at Williams for years. Former members of the Eph hoop teams still check in with Susan Zoltek and Franks' two daughters Heather and Shari. The former Eph  hoop players have also  been very generous with their participation and donations to the scholarship fund in Frank's name at Drury. This year, it was held at Forest Park Country Club in Adams and a great time was had by all. The money raised will keep the Zoltek name alive and the recipients of the financial aid will benefit in his name.

 

This was the 10th year that the "The Frankie" was held and each year an area coach is presented with a Passion for Coaching Award at the dinner.  This year the coaches honored were Ron Wojcik of the Hoosac Valley High girls program and long-time youth, high school and college coach Paul "Tito" Sniezek.

 

If all the high school and college players that were fortunate to play for Frank or had their lives impacted by his teachings were in attendance another dozen golf courses would be needed. Forest Park is fortunate to have lame duck general manager Bruce Cardin in charge, and he made everyone fell like a member. A double shotgun at a nine hole venue is not easy to pull off. Cardin, a free agent, is in the middle of (at least) his 25th one-year contract with the club and we all hope he signs an extension.

 

If you have not played Forest Park you are missing out on a must play venue at the base of Mount Greylock. The course has been around since 1900. The price is right and you will be welcomed by a  nice group of people.

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The first time I met Frank Zoltek was in 1965 when he was helping NASC coach Joe Zavattaro with the Mohawk hoop team. At first look, I thought he was the team manager or school librarian. A few minutes into practice, No. 1 I realized that this guy was special. He was intense, knowledgeable , organized and I soon realized that we better pay attention to this guy. He was a fundamental guru and was very detail orientated. "Details can beat talent" he often said. There are coaches and there are teachers, Frank was "c," all of the above.

 

Later he would bring in his St Joe High School players and my first reaction was "where is the varsity?" When told that was it, I said "where are the 6-foot players?" His team would often practice after us and I watched Coach Zoltek take a bunch of undersized kids and make them into a team that other teams dreaded playing. He demanded dedication, organization and total commitment from all his players. Many of those St Joe kids were present at this year's tournament.

 

If you were taught defense by Coach Z people noticed, even NBA Hall of Famer, Julius Erving. Tom Gentile learned his hoops from Frank at St. Joe and held Dr. J to the lowest scoring game of his college career when UMASS played St. Anselm College. Gentile was only 6-1 but played the game with Zoltek passion.

 

Not all kids could play for Zoltek. You had to be willing to deal with tough love. Tom Kateley, one of the best athletes to ever play at Drury HS told me " I could not play for Zolt, but I wish my son could."

 

I taught school with Frank Zoltek, I played many rounds of golf with him at NACC where he won many club championships. We later played some hoop and softball  tournaments together and I never stopped learning from him.

 

I consider myself fortunate to have known Frank Zoltek and  blessed to call him a friend.

He was a passionate and dedicated coach but if he could list his priorities I believe they would go in this order: family, friends, basketball, trout fishing and cribbage.

 

If his grandchildren hear of his many accomplishments and wonder if they all could be true, yes kids , your grandpa was quite a guy.

 

I don't believe he has been gone for 10 years, Frank you are missed by multitudes , but not forgotten.

 

Full list of Frank A. Zoltek Passion for Coaching Award winners:

2007 - Bill Robinson

2008 - Ray Miro

2009 - Bob LeClair and Bob Rivard

2010 - Jack Racette, Holly McGovern, Paul Barrett

2011 - Ed Noel and Erika DeSanty

2012 - George Canales and Steve Phaneuf

2013 - Shawn Flaherty

2014 - Al Giorgi and Mike Larabee

2015 - Blair Dils, Hilary and Hiram Greene, Steve Messina

2016 - Paul “Tito” Sniezek and Ron Wojcik