Byron takes over
at Oliver Ames
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By Justin A. Rice July 5, 2009
Don Byron is well versed on the Oliver Ames boys’ basketball program. He’s an Easton resident and his son, Michael, was a three-year starter, a career 1,000-point scorer, and a captain for the Tigers this past season.
As Michael Byron departs OA and focuses on his college basketball career at Worcester Polytech, his father will take over on the Tigers’ bench.
Don Byron, who guided the Abington boys to a 24-2 record and the Division 3 state semifinals this past winter, was named head coach at OA this past week, replacing longtime mentor Creig Muscato.
Though he coached his son through eight years of AAU ball, there will be no reunion at OA.
“He was pretty good, pretty receptive all those years,’’ the elder Byron said. “It’s a funny dynamic; sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not so good. But he was a good enough player he didn’t have to worry about favoritism.’’
Byron is just the fourth coach at OA since 1953, following Val Muscato (1953-1970), Bill Nixon (1971-1993), and Creig Muscato (1994-2009)
“Part of the tradition of this place is that there have been so few coaches over here because it’s such a good basketball situation that does not tend to open up too often,’’ Byron said. “There’s a reason for that.’’
The younger Muscato was not rehired after guiding the Tigers to a 13-8 mark this past season, which ended with an 87-76 loss to Hockomock League foe Stoughton in the Division 2 South tournament. He had been placed on administrative leave for part of the season after he was allegedly involved in an incident with an off-duty police officer during the season.
OA athletic director Jim VonEuw was Muscato’s boss for five years and said it was tough to part ways.
“Oh, definitely, I mean he can coach with anyone,’’ VonEuw said. “As far as his X’s and O’s, he’s a heck of a basketball coach. The decision was made at the end of last season to look into another direction and was the result of things I can’t discuss.’’
Byron also is having a hard time leaving his old post, where he coached for 13 years and guided the Green Wave to a magnificent season. Abington will return six of its eight top contributors from last season.
“It would’ve been nice to be able to ride that out, it was very hard to [leave],’’ said Byron, who added that his eight-year assistant Chris Beatrice would be a great replacement.
“It was two great choices. It wasn’t a typical situation in terms of that usually the well will run dry or you just want to take a different look. This was two good choices and it was a hard one to make. It was as hard a professional decision as I’ve ever had to make.
“I didn’t apply until the last minute; I was really back and forth. We started interviewing last week; sometime the week before, I started to consider it more. It was an 11th-hour decision. I didn’t want to jump in not committed.’’
Abington AD Michael DelGrosso, conceding that Byron’s successor has big shoes to fill, hopes to have a replacement hired by Sept. 1.
“I can’t say enough good things about [Byron],’’ DelGrosso said. “He’s a class act, certainly a basketball person. He knows who the kids are, who’s coming up; he tracks them. So he’s been successful because he’s done all the legwork that needs to be done to run a successful program.’’
Candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and three letters of reference to McDonough at 245 Nichols St., Norwood, MA 02062, by fax (781-440-5920), or e-mail (bmcdonough@norwood.k12.ma.us).
For more information, call 781-610-1599 or visit www.nvna.org. All proceeds benefit NVNA and Hospice, which in serving more than 20 communities on the South Shore with home care, hospice, community education, and support, provided more than $1.6 million in free and underfunded care in 2008.
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