Stingers men’s basketball coach takes a bow after 26 seasons
Stingers head coach John Dore (left) and Director of Recreation and Athletics Patrick Boivin before Dore’s last home game. | Photo by Gregory Todaro
The 500 fans packing the Stingers gym for the game against McGill on Saturday afternoon were there for more than just basketball. Many in the crowd — former players, alumni and friends — wanted to pay tribute to Head Coach John Dore in his last home game before retirement.
Dore has held the position for the past 26 seasons, and through the course of his career has led the Stingers on 13 trips to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national championship tournament. He won the title in 1990, and placed second in 1995 and 2005. In 1991, he was named CIS Coach of the Year.
Before Saturday’s game, Patrick Boivin, Concordia’s director of Recreation and Athletics, presented Dore with a plaque to commemorate his time as the Stingers’ head coach. Fans in the gym gave Dore a standing ovation as he headed back to the bench.
The Stingers went on to beat McGill 69-61, and they’ll play Université du Québec à Montréal on February 26 before heading to Bishop’s University for the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec semifinals on Friday, March 6.
Post-game celebration
After the win, Dore found himself at a surprise event in his honour. Among the guests were friends, old colleagues and former players who came from all over Canada to attend.
Jacques Desrochers taught at St. George’s School of Montreal with Dore for two decades, and the two are part of a group of friends who have gone on annual fishing trips for the past 40 years.
Lou Silver met Dore through friends and bonded over their mutual interest in basketball. Every Sunday morning, Dore and Silver meet at the YMCA to talk about the most recent Stingers game. Silver fondly remembers a time he was in the stands at a game “and [Dore] came out at halftime and asked me what he should do in the second half, which was a complete joke. I had nothing to say — I'm only good in hindsight.”
Mike Senderak recognized the Stingers head coach in a gym and, as a basketball fan, decided to introduce himself. “We've been friends ever since,” he says. “He's the friendliest man you'll ever meet and one of the nicest people I know.”
Cheer on Dore and the Stingers men’s basketball team in the RSEQ semifinals at Bishop’s University’s W.B. Scott Arena (2600 College Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec) on March 6, 2015.