Prior to the men’s basketball Saturday afternoon game against Farmingdale State College, the college honored longtime Head Coach Chuck McBreen with a ceremony naming their Bradley Center court after him. McBreen, the first full-time head coach in Ramapo’s history, has been at the helm of Ramapo’s basketball program for 14 years.
The pregame ceremony was filled with emotion as McBreen was joined at the podium by his mother and wife, as well as Ramapo’s President Cindy Jebb and Vice President Chris Romano. Also in attendance were much of McBreen’s extended family, his pastor, former coaches and players.
Coach McBreen’s tenure at Ramapo has seen five New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championships, nine NCAA tournament appearances — including one final four appearance — and three Eastern Conference Athletic Conference championship appearances. During his time at Ramapo, McBreen has totaled a .622 regular season winning percentage.
For those who have played under McBreen, his influence has been felt far beyond the basketball court. “McBreen is a huge advocate for resilience, accountability, and discipline,” senior guard Justin Bladen said in an interview with The Ramapo News. “He is just as invested into the well being of his players as he is into basketball.”
Another player who has felt McBreen’s influence is senior captain and four-year starter Peter Gorman. “McBreen’s high standards challenged me to develop not just as an athlete but as a leader who takes responsibility and supports my teammates,” Gorman said in an interview. “His belief in me, even during tough practices and games, instilled confidence and fueled my determination to excel,” he continued.
During the ceremony, Romano took a moment to ask any former players or coaches to stand up if they had played under McBreen, a moment that was met with a long applause as nearly half the audience stood up.
“He is not only shaping better basketball players, but better young men,” Bladen said. “His influence will stay with me long after the final buzzer of the season.”
For both Bladen and Gorman, the word that comes up most when describing playing for McBreen is discipline. The two emphasize the toughness McBreen instills in all his practices that lead to the team’s success on and off the court.
“[He] is the toughest coach I’ve ever played for,” Bladen said. “He’s not tough because of his yelling or his hard coaching style, but because of the unwavering standard he holds for himself, his players, and the entire program.”
Gorman added on, saying “His relentless dedication to discipline, hard work, and integrity pushed me beyond my limits, teaching me the importance of resilience and commitment.”
Following the ceremony, the Roadrunners went on to put on a dominant 67-48 win against the Farmingdale Rams, which saw senior center Jordan Myers cross the 1000 career point mark. Myers led the team with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Bladen and Gorman were tied for second on the team with nine points each.
Ramapo now stands at 2-0 on the young season, and will head up to Springfield, MA this weekend to take part in the Hampton Inn Holiday Classic. At the tournament, Ramapo will face off against Colby College in the first round.
Following the tournament, the Roadrunners will begin their NJAC schedule for the season with a game against New Jersey City University on Nov. 26. Ramapo will play in one more non-conference game against Sarah Lawrence College on Dec. 1 before taking part in 17 straight NJAC matchups to end their season.
wjackso2@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
