Sutton’s New Girls Basketball Coach

Earlier this year, the news broke that long time Sutton Suzies basketball coach John Doldoorian was retiring. After several years, multiple district and state appearances, and nothing but winning seasons, replacing Coach Doldoorian would not be for the faint at heart.

Enter Craig Mahoney. Coach Mahoney is halfway through his first year as the coach of the Suzies, and the Suzies are a healthy 8-3 going into tonight’s game at Millbury (6:30 p.m. tipoff). We asked Coach Mahoney to talk about himself. He was more than willing to oblige.

Tell us about your background in basketball. I played from Youth to High School.

When did you play in high school?  I played High School Basketball from 88 to 91 (class of 1991).

Where did you play?  I grew up in Marlboro, MA, and went to Assabet Valley Regional Voc. (Drafting).  My parents didn’t have the money to send me to college so I joined the Army National as the GI Bill along with their educational and loan reimbursement assistance allowed me to attend.  I served nine years in the Guard and received my undergrad and master’s degree from Bridgewater State University (Master of Science in Cardiac Rehab).  I worked in the medical field for three years before moving to the financial sector.  I’ve been with Fidelity Investment for the last 26 years.

Where have you coached? I stated my sophomore year in college where I coached Middle School and High School offseason teams in their local YMCA travel league.  Once my wife (Lisa) and I started a family (I have four grown children: Alyssa, Brennan, Caitlyn, and Delaney) I knew I wanted to coach them. I coached them from fourth grade all the way to High School (mostly Soccer and Basketball). I also coach Soccer at BVT (two seasons) and Northbridge HS (two seasons). This past basketball season I was the assistant varsity coach for the Northbridge ladies’ team. I was the President of Northbridge Youth Soccer for nine years and was on the Northbridge Basketball board for eight years. In both sports, I help create the first Northbridge 3v3 basketball and 3v3 soccer tournaments. I’ve also coached AAU from 4^th to High School for the past 10 years.

What prompted you to apply for this position?  I always wanted to coach my own basketball program as basketball has always been my love, but I honestly didn’t want to miss anything with my children. I wanted to attend everything; It meant so much to me that I would take days off from work to ensure I didn’t miss anything. I promised myself and my children that once they all went to college that I would find my own program. I coached a few players on the current team in AAU and summers teams and have watched them over the last few years with the hopes to someday coach great players like them. When I heard of the opening for the Sutton job, I knew this was my time. I am blessed and honored when they picked me.

What is your coaching style? What are your fundamental coaching beliefs? I’m a passionate coach that always tries to concentrate on student-athlete development, accountability, and team culture. I strongly believe that success comes from consistent habits, competing hard in practice, communicating, and doing the small things right. As a coach, my focus has always been developing complete players on and off the court, leadership, emphasizing mental health, effort, defense, and unselfish play.

What are your primary goals for this year?  My primary goal for this season was to create my own culture within the basketball program and that started with getting to know the ladies, earning their trust and respect, and following through with goals and expectations.  As of today, we achieved that goal but to build a solid culture also starts with the entire basketball program, youth to HS. Sutton has had some great coaches and teams over the years and the town is known for its winning ways. That starts with getting involved with the awesome athletic boosters, communicating with other coaches and programs, and having a face and voice within the youth program. Winning is great but creating my own program and culture was my primary goal.

For the next five years?  My long-term goal for the program is to build something young ladies what to be a part of and get involved with, something they cannot wait to participant in, and winning to the point other towns and programs want to emulate. Let’s get those bleachers packed for home games with excited parents, relatives and students, cheerleaders leading the excitement, and the band making the overall environment opposing parents and teams look forward to see.

What message would you have for future players, parents, and fans?  The lady basketball program is back and full steam ahead, and we are ready to play for the town of Sutton. Come see our games as we are a prepared, hard playing team, ready to compete to the end for each and every game!  We play to win and we are doing just that! I’m so very proud of my ladies!!!