Larry Lahey, a
teacher and coach at John McGregor Secondary School
from 1967 to 1998, for a total of 31 years, most
notably with the senior boys basketball team. He was an
outstanding coach and innovator who established and
improved the McGregor program. His enthusiasm led
other coaches in various sports throughout Kent County to
follow his example. Over the years, Kent County teams,
particularly basketball and volleyball, became well-known
throughout the province for their ability, their
competitive nature, and their sportsmanship.
- Coaching Highlights
- Senior Panthers reached Kent County tide game 29
of 30 years, winning 18 of them; they won 10 SWOSSAA
and 4 OFSAA championships
- Kent County championship teams he coached were
track and field 3 times, midget boys basketball 3
times, boys gymnastic 5 times, and junior girls
basketball once
- Senior basketball teams never failed to have at
least 1 player as a first team all star
- JMSS has won more OFSAA basketball titles (boys
and girls combined) than any other school in Ontario
and no other city has won more such titles than
Chatham
- Coaching
Firsts for Chatham Schools
- to increase practice time and games played in a
season in order to become more competitive with
other communities
- to begin summer basketball leagues and summer
camps to improve the skills of boys and girls of all
ages. first to win an OFSAA basketball
championship (1974-75)
- to play preliminary games to the Detroit Pistons
(1983)
- to defeat Essex County in SWOSSAA boys basketball
(1968-69
- only school to defeat Windsor's best for a SWOSSAA
championship (1974-75 & 3 other times after
that)
- only school to finish first in the London Free
Press Poll of top teams in the area (1977-78 with an
additional two times)
- to be invited to a university sponsored Christmas
high school tournament (University of Western
Ontario 1968-69)
- to win a university sponsored tournament
(University of Waterloo 1972-73 followed by an
additional one)
- only one to win the prestigious Toronto Jarvis
Tournament (1976-77)
- Hall of Excellence
- Larry was the guest of honor at the 2008 HOF
Induction Ceremony.
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