LEAVING A LASTING IMPACT: FORMER ATHLETES, COACHES TALK ABOUT HOW COACH D PLAYED A ROLE IN THEIR LIVES (2022-05-27)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
Throughout his life Mike D’Aloisio was always giving credit to everyone else.

He is the winningest football coach in Elmira area history, and he credited every win to the players on the team, not to himself.

D’Aloisio was such a big part of Notre Dame that former basketball coach Bill Hopkins says that to him he is Notre Dame.

He was fond of saying “You can never say the wrong thing when you are giving credit to someone else.”

It’s a saying that Mackenzie Maloney remembered her coach telling her a thousand times. And, it’s a saying that Maloney’s dad, Mike Maloney, still tells the Notre Dame softball players to this day.

For his whole life D’Aloisio followed that saying and gave credit to someone else. Now, as people reflect on his life it’s a chance for everyone else to give that credit to Coach D.

Another Coach D saying, that Notre Dame athletic director Max Young brought up is “You will have three names in this world, the name you are given, the name you make for yourself, and the name you will leave.”

Few will ever leave a greater name than what D’Aloisio left behind, a name that when people speak it they think of kindness, a good heart and true friendship.
 
Whether it’s a former player, a colleague, a rival, or just someone in the community, everyone seems to have stories about Coach D.

There were so many people’s lives that Mike D’Aloisio impacted over the years, and it seems fitting to let those people tell their memories in their words.

Here are more than 20 former athletes, coaches and members of the community telling their stories of Mike D’Aloisio. The thing that makes Coach D so special is that for every one of these stories, there are a thousand more people with a story just like it.
 
BOB KELLY
Waverly, girls’ basketball coach. Former player, colleague and rival coach
My first encounter with Coach D occurred in September of 1976.  I as a freshman at Notre Dame High School and he was in his first year of teaching. He was my PE teacher during my time at ND. He was a lot of fun.  He would later become my JV basketball coach.  As a coach, he was very demanding. A coach that expected the most from his players, anything less was unacceptable.  I admired that part of him and would eventually employ that into my coaching philosophy.  He had a great rapport with his players, students, and colleagues.

In the early 2000s, when I was hired to coach the varsity girls basketball team at Notre Dame our relationship changed. It was no longer teacher/student or coach/player.  We became colleagues. We spent a lot of time together in the same gym.  Back in those days, gym space was limited. 

ND has one gym.  We also had bingo and casino nights that required gym use.  As a result, teams would often share the gym during practice times.  Varsity Boys and Girls would often split the gym together.  I would be a foolish individual if I did not take advantage of that situation. 

I would often glance down to see what he was doing with this or that.  I can recall one time, my team would periodically run into an opponent that would throw a junk defense at us such as a triangle and 2.  I recall asking Coach D, "what do you have offensively to attack a triangle and 2".  He went to his office, grabbed a yellow pad and drew out this offense and said, "try this".  I still have that offense in my playbook. That same season both the boys and girls teams would travel to the NYS final four playoffs. 

A couple years after I left my coaching position at Notre Dame to take the same position at Waverly we would meet on the court as opposing coaches.  I can honestly say, I did not enjoy that very much in that I respected him so much and it was tough going against him.  But we both had jobs to do and that's what we did.  We competed and with him on the other sideline, I knew it required my best preparation. At the end of the game, there was nothing but respect, handshakes and a hug. He was a friend that I could always confide in, trust and had the confidence that the advice he gives would be well received. 

Some of my favorite times happened when I coached golf at Waverly and we had matches versus ND.  Those few hours that we spent, riding in the golf cart and him telling stories.  Wow, they were special.  He was a great storyteller!  He would cover a variety of decades, topics and so on.  To say there were many laughs is an understatement.

Another part of him that I have to mention is Jayne, his wife of more than 30 years.  My 3 daughters and I use to do team training at New York Sport and Fitness before covid.  Jayne was part of that team and we often formed a group as we rotated from station to station. She would always keep us in the loop as to how Mike was feeling.  Let me tell you, she is one heck of a person.  So strong, supportive and Mike's constant/lifetime companion; Champions! I would often email or text him to see how he was doing and oftentimes, Jayne would have to relay the messages back to me.  I will certainly miss him but I will often think of him.  Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; friendship leaves memories no one can steal.  Rest in peace D!

BRIAN MILLER
Athens girls’ basketball coach, former Waverly girls’ coach
Coach D has touched the lives of hundreds of athletes over the years. He was an outstanding coach and a role model. He not only was influential on the kids he coached, he was a great role model for other athletes and  coaches. I learned a lot by watching him coach in games with his interaction with all the athletes, coaches and officials. Every time I saw him, he made time to ask me how I was doing in coaching and personal life. Coach D will be missed by many folks in this area, but will all remember  the  lasting impact he had on this area in many aspects of life.  
Corning football, boys’ basketball, softball coach; former Notre Dame player under Coach D
I was Fortunate and Privileged for 54 years to have Mikey D as a Coach, Mentor and Close Family Friend. He Touched So Many People with his Humor, Wit, Ability to Inspire and Motivate. His Pre and Post Game Talks were second to none. His Legacy will Live Forever. My Thoughts and Prayers go out to his wife Jayne, his family, friends, Notre Dame Community and those who were Lucky enough to be a Part of  Coach's circle near and far. The outpouring of Love on Social Media has been Incredible.

MAX YOUNG
Notre Dame athletic director
Over the past 8 years, I have been at Elmira Notre Dame, I have witnessed Coach D act not just as my mentor but as a mentor to everyone he encountered.

Coach D told me that although he and his wife Jayne did not have children, the students of Notre Dame became his children. One of Coach D’s many children, Joel Stephen’s, I could tell changed his life in many ways. Coach D taught the 5 C’s to everyone. Although his ability to draw up plays were tremendous, it was his ability to teach character that separates Coach D from others.

Coach D made his team a family while teaching Christianity, Courage, Character, Commitment, and Compassion. Coach would have one on one conversation that would change the lives of his athletes and take his teams to the Joel monument to pray.

Coach D would write hand written letters to players from other schools to let them know that he thought they were good athletes that showed high character. Coach D cared much more about the person than the wins.

Coach D classic sayings “When you give credit to others, you can never say anything wrong.” “You will have three names in this world, the name you are given, the name you make for yourself, and the name you will leave.”

 In his speeches, many times he would cry. His tears never showed weakness, but the strength of his heart. The Notre Dame community will deeply miss Coach D’s leadership, his heart, his unique ability to build character, and his friendship.


MIKE JOHNSTON SR.
Friend, colleague, current Notre Dame football coach
Mike Johnston Sr. has spent as much time with Coach D as amaybe anyone as he was the football coach at Notre Dame before D’Aloisio and also he took over as the current coach now.

Johnston Sr. was also the varsity basketball coach years ago at Notre Dame with D’Aloisio as the JV coach.

“Just heartbroken, really. Just loved the guy, we spent had to be close to 50 years together in different ways from Notre Dame HS pays ed teacher he was my JV basketball coach for a number of years and then he took over football, when I turned it over to him, we played fast pitch softball together for years, we played touch football together for years, that was anything but touch. When you have Dana Carpenter on your team you aren’t playing touch very much A lot of good memories

Funny story that I tell a lot, he’s always giving me the business about how come you don’t listen to me when he was the JV coach. How come you don’t listen during the game, but when we go out to eat I say give me this and you say ditto. I say Mike you know your food and he’d joke I don’t know basketball. Just so many fun times together. Just happy that when we talked back in 15 or 16 (2015-16) about getting back together he said I was just telling Jayne I’ve got to call you and I called him first and said is there any way I can help out and he said absolutely. Brought back together so many times. We think of times when he was just starting at Notre Dame and he would come over to the house and take our kids to the playground and farm and just a great guy. Just someone that everyone looks up to. So faith filled and was always about doing something for others which is why it’s so difficult for me to figure out why the Lord needed him right now, because he was still doing things for other people. The Joel Stephens he spoke there, he spoke at the referees get together at the end of the season he came back to Homecoming at our place and it meant so much for the kids that hadn’t played for him, we had 3 or 4 who were on the team for him as freshman. To have him come back and give the pregame talk it meant everything for our kids.

He was certainly very dedicated to the offensive side of the ball. He would say now watch this Mike I am going to run this play just to set up this next play I’m going to call. He’d run something and people would think that’s what they are going to do and he’d blow your mind and do something that was like where would that come from. He’d tell guys on the field I want you to go x y z and the other guys z y x and the kids understood it, I didn’t. But, he taught concepts. He was very open about how he saw things. I never coached with anyone that had the creativity he had. He utilized his personal to the fullest. Just his relationship skills with anyone. The officials, the line crew, the opponent, he just had respect for people that he lived every day.

Today I was down at New York Sport and Fitness working out and Jack Morrison who was back at Notre Dame back in the day and had two kids go to Notre Dame and we talked about coach, and he was like I really didn’t like you when I was at ND and I was there but now I understand what you were trying to do. That’s why I tell my kids you have to play for coach D’Aloisio because he’s going to teach you things you will utilize later in life.

Our son Mike got to play for him and he refers to him and the concepts he taught him. He has the greatest respect for coach and he’s always great for the mentors that he had growing up in high school and beyond high school.

And Mike Bennett was on that 1990 team that was so successful, I had him as a sophomore he played his junior and senior year for mike. Just so many people that are coaching in other areas of the state as well that he has coached. It’s just so much more than the coaching piece, it’s being a good human being and trying to do for others. He just exemplified that at the very best. He had the best respect for his players, coaches, officials and even the opponents. He was always a gentleman before and after.”


JIMMY MCCAULEY
Elmira football coach
Going to those end of the year award ceremonies the Ernie Davis/Joel Stephens awards and listening to him speak. I went to Southside my roommate at Cortland in college had played for Caoch D so I knew some how he was in high school I never really interacted with him too much, kind of listening to him speak at those award ceremonies you could kind of tell a lot by how a person could control a crowd, when coach D spoke you stopped eating, you stopped talking and you listened to Coach D. He was a good storyteller you could tell how good of a coach he was by how he tells his stories and controls a crowd.

He’s been around for quite some time and really did it at a very successful manner and you talk to any coach around here and if you get to talking about any of the good ones they are going to talk about Coach D for sure.

My roommate in college we both played football at Cortland I came from Southside and he was from Notre Dame our freshman year we shared quite a few stories, definitely stories of Coach D my roommate played football and basketball for him, you get to know him pretty well with those stories that were shared between us were really a neat way of connecting but now you kind of reflect back and you realize how impactful he was to those guys that he coached and even for me. I never played for him, but man I’m not joking listening to him speak was really captivating for me early in my coaching career
One thing I will always take form him he spoke to me afterwards you could tell he always spoke from the heart, everything was truthful and that always stuck with me.

I haven’t been coaching as long as him but it’s gosh darn hard winning one week let alone the number of games Coach D has, he has been around a long time and he’s done it at a high level. The players that have come through his program have much respect for him, that’s what you want as a coach, do it the fight way get kids on the same page but make them good husbands, fathers in community and I think coach d did a nice job with that.

JASON MILLER
Waverly football coach, former player under Coach D
Early on in my career he certainly was way more established. The one thing about him, his longevity is certainly noteworthy he’s one of the leaders in wins in New York State. Obviously he’s very competitive. Off the field he was an incredibly compassionate person. What he did with the Joel Stephens awards really impacted a lot of kids. We have been fortunate, Waverly has I think 5 Joel Stephens award winners, I know the personal impact it’s had on those kids being recognized. I’m very grateful to coach D not only starting the award and legacy award but acknowledging kids who were great people off the field, a lot like himself.

You get to impact a lot of kids, I know there are a lot of people today that are thinking about what impact Coach D had on your life. More than the 200 something wins he had, I can tell you that is the last thing people are thinking about today it’s more about what he was able to do during a very important part of their life and what he was able to continue To do as adults. Sad day, I found out right after it happened, I have a close friend who works at Notre Dame and she let me know. He was my first high school coach I played there in 9th and 10th grade, just a great guy, sad to see what that disease can do to you.

That was early in his career, he was tough, he was demanding he just simply made you a better player and the one thing that Coach D did as far as Xs and Os he was really good. The challenge of coaching against him he found multiple ways to get his athletes the balll, as talented as ND is over the course of time the times they weren’t ultra talented they were competitive because he was creative and finding ways to win with what he had. He was not only a good coach, he was really good at motivating players, his ability to talk to his teams, even though I wasn’t privy to that for too long those teams were always motivated to play. They were always prepared XS and os wise and they were always highly motivated to play.

We always talked, he always asked about players that he had competed against, what this kid is doing, it extended way beyond football. That’s really the important part. Especially the kids he had more of a personal connection to through Joel Stephens. He loved to stop at Sopranos, I loved to stop at Sopranos, that’s where I saw him a lot, he would ask about those kids or even my own kids. He was that kind of person, he was always concerned about people he somehow had a connection to even those who didn’t play for him.

BILL HOPKINS
Former Notre Dame boys’ basketball, baseball coach
He used to travel to the Golden Valley Basketball camp in Sidney, N.Y. and he didn’t work at the camp, but he would come up, Mike Johnston Sr. was working the camp and Mike would drive up from Elmira probably breaking every law possible to get there as fast as he can, he just had this wit, he made you laugh, brought tears to your eye.

He was coaching the girls and I was coaching the guys and we shared a lot of insights and thoughts. Not necessarily the x’s and o’s but relationships. He always referred to the two of us as dinosaurs. We shared a lot of commonalities with our ways with our manners and most importantly with our relationships with the players. That was something that has always stuck with me and has been an ingredient of coaching that Mike and I just totally agreed upon, you can’t be successful without building relationships with your players. You learn how to trust them and they trust you and Mike and I talked about that a lot during our time at Notre Dame. I was saddened, just shocked when I heard the news. He was a legend, a great human being filled with life and love and I”m going to miss him.

He made you laugh he always had a wit about him, a one liner, he just made you smile that is a special quality in any human being and we all were very fortunate to touch base with Mike and it was a very, very enjoyable time for me personally and I’m sure for everybody else to.

Another thing that him and I shared that desire to win. If a loss occurs and we can look at our players and see they have given everything they have then that’s acceptable. Didn’t particularly care for the loss, that’s the one thing about Notre Dame kids boys and girls they competed liked crazy, we want our guys to compete, never give up and give great effort you get those three ingredients you have yourself a champion.

In my eyes when you say Notre Dame you immediately think of Mike. I think he is Notre Dame. He is the legend of Notre Dame. He was an outstanding man, an outstanding example, an outstanding role model, a guidance counselor, kids would come to him and speak to him and he always had some insight to share. He was a vice principal at Notre Dame for a number of years there before he retired, anytime he interacted with a kid it was always a positive experience for the kid. Mike always had great relationships with the kids, his players, his students and he in my eyes was Notre Dame, he was it.

He always thought of others, it was the players who won, the players who gave great effort, it wasn’t about him he was the recipient of the players performances. Someone else he tried to give the credit too.”


MACKENZIE MALONEY
Former girls’ basketball player for Coach D at ND
I would say things that stand out to me the most about Coach D he was a person who could rip you a new one in the locker room because he cared about you as a player, but then he’d turn around and give you a big hug and be your best friend in a minute. That just speaks about how much he cares about his players, because a coach that gets after you and on you cares about you

He was the same way about how you were as a person, he emphasized working hard on the court and carrying everything you learn on the court with you and bringing that kindness that he honestly instilled with everybody he met.

Absolutely Coach D and I had a great relationship we still do. I pray and I talk to him and I know he’s in a great place and I know he’ll always be looking out for me.

Everyone I have ever come into contact with who has known Coach D has had good things to say about him and that speaks to his character. One of my favorite quotes from coach D is you can never say the wrong thing when you are giving credit to someone else. Something I try and keep in mind and carry myself the way he did.

I think coach D did a great job of keeping in touch and keeping tabs on anyone he’s ever coached and taught, he’s like family to all of us, It’s a lot more special relationship than some random coach you have, he’s a mentor and a role model in so many ways. I have a sweat band that says No. 24 that he gave to all of us, to remind us to be like Joel Stephens and now every time I look at it I think about how him and Joel are together and looking down on us and watching us now when I see it I think be like coach D.

One of the big awards that we had at Notre Dame was the 5 C award which was named for Joel Stephens. Those characteristics were something I always saw in Coach D. He made it his life mission to carry on the legacy of Joel Stephens and his love and his kindness and his character and coach D did that and more and myself and many other players can attest that they want to carry on his legacy as well. He may not be with us anymore but his spirit and character will live with us forever.


KYLE ERICKSON
Edison football coach
Coach D was just a genuine person. Before games, he would ask how family was or if I had an injured player, he would always ask how they were. He always showed an interest in all the players.

The first time I ever got to talk to Coach, I was a freshman from EFA at the Southern Tier Offensive Line camp at Notre Dame. On the first day I was having issues with my helmet. He came to me, checked my helmet and took me to his equipment room and fit with me with a helmet from his school. He told me to use it for the rest of the camp. I was a player from another school, but he treated me like one of his own. This has had a lasting effect on me as a player and someone I have looked up to as a coach.

KEVIN HILLMAN
Horseheads football coach
I mean if we want to talk coaching, then man’s record and accomplishments speak for themselves.

There is no question he’s one of the best coaches of all time in this area and quite frankly the state. But those who know him, played for him know that’s not what made him so special. It was coach D the person.

The positive impact he had on his players and this community transcends the world of athletics. He made those around him not just a better players but more importantly better people. That is the true mark of a great coach. I feel so fortunate that we had the opportunity to have Coach D come speak to our team last year. Coach Malnoske set it up and I’m so glad he did.

Our kids had the opportunity to hear from coach D himself and I know it is a memory they’ll never forget…I know I won’t.

DONALD SNYDER
Former Notre Dame football player
Coach was one of the most intense and passionate people I have ever met. He was an amazing coach on and off the field. I learned just as much about life as I did football.

While attending Notre Dame and playing football for Mike. I just turned 40 years old and I still think about some of the things he said in the locker room before games as well as during his half time speeches. Mr. D ALWAYS put everyone else first. He always thought about everyone else. We lost a good one. I will never forget him.

MATT HAMMOND
Former football and basketball player for D’Aloisio
I played for Coach D for football and basketball. He was very instrumental in my life when I was younger and made me the man I am today cause of him teaching me, pushing me and steering me in the right direction. I would visit with him everytime I came home from college in his office.

I remember the time coming home from a basketball trip to Canada, he was all about wanting to stop at this restaurant in Mount Morris because they had great fried chicken. He would always know of the places with great food.. I thought of the time he came to see me play at Hofstra for one of my college games. I remember when he got my butt back to school when he found me down in Wellsburg trying to skip school. I remember he kept me on path for college when I thought I knew best, like I'd rather be hunting my senior year. I was out hunting and he sent my dad out to find me and to give him a call cause I was not at tryouts for basketball, he said " college coaches like to see you can play other sports and I will see ya at next practice "

I had a great ride in high school playing for him and will never forget the 1998 football season, my senior year. It ranks up there right beside the two best years in college when we were traveling across the country and battling deep in the playoffs. I never would have made it to college to play football if it was not for Coach D. It seemed like he knew everyone, with coaches coming to see me from all over the country. I remember he told me shake the college coaches hands with a firm strong handshake and that was the best way to present myself when being introduced to them and talking with them. He taught me a lot about not giving up and not quitting and to just put my head down and push harder when things got tough. He introduced me and my teammates at Notre Dame to Joel Stephens and was able to see his life and struggles on a more personal level. Mike D'Aloisio was more than just a great coach to me, he was a mentor, friend and a great man.

MIKE MECK
Former football and basketball player for Coach D
I had the greatest pleasure knowing Coach D and his family before I played football and basketball for him in my high school years.

Coach D was a coach who held each player to a high standard. The standards are more of who Coach D was as a person. His inspirational pep talks before games was something we all looked forward too. In the locker room sat a white board and on the top in big letters it said Keys to Success, and under it were points we needed to follow to win our game. ie.... "Dont tell me how rocky the sea is just bring the damn ship home". Still to this day I follow some of the keys to success in my life.

Coach D wasn't just a Coach for your team or organization he was a life Coach for everyone who knew him. He is an inspiration to this entire community and his legacy will be talked about for years to come. Coach D thank you from the bottom of my heart, That ship is home until we meet again

ANNIE DANIELS
Member of the community
I was a ICU nurse many years ago when a terrible car accident critically injured a 3 of Coach Ds players. You would have thought they were his own children. Mike visited every day, sat by there besides, told them inspirational stories, he always talked hope and positivity to the boys. I have never forgotten his, compassion, dedication and genuine love for his boys.

JULIE COON
Former swim coach at Notre Dame
I had the pleasure of coaching in the same season as Coach D. I remember my first coaches meeting with him. I sat down and he said "ah a new face at the table!" I introduced myself as the new varsity swim coach. Every meeting or gathering after that we always had such pleasant conversation and he was a wonderful supporter of the girls swim program at ND.

It was evident just in this interaction how contagious his personality and positive attitude were, and although I never saw him coach personally, the way the program carried itself spoke volumes.

LAURA FERRIS
Member of the community, Former EFA athlete
I was a high school athlete in the late 90s and Joel Stephens was my hero. I went to EFA but obviously crossed paths many times with Coach D. Fast forward years later, my daughter, Payton Littlefield, was in fifth grade and for a school project, she chose to read Coach D’s book on Joel (Stephens).

She enjoyed it so much that we ended up contacting Coach D and sharing what his book meant to Payton. She changed her uniform number to 24. Coach D and Payton developed a special friendship, he even had her school picture on his fridge. Payton and her little brother raised money for the Joel Stephens Fund and made a donation at his annual golf tournament.

As the years went on and Payton began participating in HS school sports, we heard from Coach D often, especially as ND and Edison were sports rivals. He attended a few games and would pass along messages to Payton to do well, but not too well against his beloved ND. Coach D had such an impact on athletes, even ones he didn’t coach. He was so proud that Joel’s story was reaching kids 20+ years later. And because of Coach D, it will continue to reach young athletes for years to come.

STEVE WEBER
Former Notre Dame athletic director, softball and girls’ soccer coach, longtime friend of Coach D
We worked together for over 30 years, we worked together there, coached together. He was one of my best friend. I learned an awful lot about coaching with him. We didn’t coach the same teams or anything, but just being able to go in each day, bounce ideas off him, get this thoughts and see the way he would do things. A lot of the success I’ve been able to achieve can be attributed to him.

I think he always looked at the people on his team as kids first and athletes second.

Obviously Notre Dame was extremely important to him, he spent a majority of his life at Notre Dame, and even when he was retired he spent nearly every day at Notre Dame, going to the monument area and going around the school.

Everything he went through with Joel really impacted his life quite a bit, you could tell that.

We remained friends after he retired, we were on the phone weekly, or bi weekly since he retired. I think as difficult as everything was, as positive as he could stay going through this says a lot about him. As far as experiences we had hundreds and hundreds of things, we would sit on the phone, the last time I talked to him was a couple days before he went into the hospital and we talked about things we did 15-20 years ago and we’d sit on the phone and just laugh. I told him years ago we were very close and I told him I thought of him as my brother and right until the end I felt that way.

That’s just the way he was. It would be funny every year he would tell people in school my team is going to be .500 and I’d say you won’t be mad if you are and he’d say of course I will. What I say and what I think are two different things.

I learned a lot from him about coaching. I learned a lot from him being the athletic director, he’s the one that recommended me for that position when he stepped down, I owe an awful lot to him.

He was very proud of everything his teams accomplished but he was the first one to say he got to work with some talented kids. At the same time lots of coaches get opportunities to work with talented kids and they don’t achieve what he achieved. He was very good at what he did, that’s for sure and he worked very hard at it. If you want to be successful, I think the biggest thing he taught me when I started coaching there, he would always say if you want to be successful surround yourself with good people and you’ll be successful. That was one of the biggest things I got from him.

ANDY WICHTOWSKI
Former Notre Dame football player under Coach D
I can’t put into words how much he has taught me, not just about football, but about being a good person. I’ve been listening to his advice, lessons and stories since I was in elementary school as a water boy on his sidelines, and I took to heart every word he said. I am the man I am today because of Coach D.

MARY FOSTER
Former girls’ basketball player under D’Aloisio
I am very saddened to hear of the loss. Coach D left an immense impact on everyone that had the privilege of knowing him— he taught me so much about life and how to treat others, even as my coach in his brief two years as the varsity girls basketball coach. He made everyone feel important and gave them a sense of responsibility to make their mark on the world by being kind to others.

I, like many other athletes playing under him, was going through a very tough time at home during the athletic season— I lost my father to cancer— and everyday Coach D checked in on me and prayed for my family, which is something he did for anyone that needed it. It meant the world to me and is something that I always will cherish when I think of Coach D. We will all deeply miss Coach D, but I am grateful that we can look at his life and all the knowledge and wisdom he shared with us to help us in our own lives.

ERIC BUKOWINSKI
Notre Dame senior, player under Coach D in his final season as coach
Coach D was a special person to me, he was a great mentor as I went through the early stages of high school and taught me how to become not only a better football player but a better person, it means a whole lot. Hearing that he passed really saddened me knowing the impact he had on many peoples lives just how he made an impact in mine.

DARIUS GARVIN
Football player under Coach D at Notre Dame
My greatest memories of coach D were during my first two years at ND, when coach would be standing at the corner by the office greeting each and every individual that walked through the door in the morning. His infectious smile was a great way to start the day, and was almost always followed up with a joke. He wasn’t standing there because he wanted to yell at us for being late, but because he truly cared about everyone in the school and wanted them to know that he was available if you ever needed anything.

This is what I took advantage of more than anything. There were countless times I would go to his office just to talk about life and how I can become a better person. His door was always open. - I was fortunate enough to have played for coach D for two years before injuries cut my football career short. His passion for the game was second to none. The pregame speeches would motive us in ways many had never experienced before. We used to leave the locker room crying from the stories coach passed on to us, I’m sure he still has about 1000 more he’s never told. Coach will certainly be missed, but his legacy will continue to live on forever.

TERRY DAY
Former sports director at WETM-TV, former girls’ basketball coach at Edison
I covered Mike and his teams as sports director at WETM-TV from 1983-99. We also coached against each other for several years when I was at Edison and he took over the girls’ basketball program at Notre Dame.

Whether it was during my media career, coaching against him during that phase of my life, or just seeing him anywhere, in any situation, Mike D’Aloisio was one of the most genuine, honest, generous and decent people I have ever known.

He was my friend and a true mentor and I am far from alone in this regard. His legacy will live on forever in all the lives he touched. It was an honor and privilege to share time with Mikey D.

MIKE MALONEY
Current Notre Dame softball coach, former athlete under Coach D, former assistant basketball coach for Coach D
Back then he was very excitable, very excitable, but man was he motivated. That’s the number one thing, you weren’t afraid of the mistakes, you just didn’t want to let him down. You weren’t scared because you would make a mistake, you were excited to perform for him because he would tell you how great you were doing.

I have been around for a while, I would come do the scoreboard from time and time for games, we would text back and forth, but once we started coaching together we were together every day. The stories go on forever.

He was demanding and when you didn’t perform he would let you know immediately, but when you performed he was the first to give you the accolades that you deserved.

It was amazing, my daughter (Mackenzie Maloney) to this day thinks he’s one of the best, if not the best coach she’s ever played for. When he passed I had to make that call and she was very disappointed. But, Mike has been close our family, he was close to my parents, close to my brother, who played here, close to my cousins.

I will take that a step further, he didn’t just want to win, he hated to lose.  He prepared to the enth degree to be ready for any combination any permutation  that could happen in a game. It may only happen one play, one time the whole year but the team was prepared for it. He was ready for anything, he was a constant planner. I learned a ton from him when I coached.

We are 2022 he showed me stuff he had written up for 2001, 2002, 2003, he still had all kinds of things hand written, he was an incredible planner. People say if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. There are certain things that he said that stick with me all the time.

I said it at the beginning of the season to my team, I said you’ll never say the wrong thing when you are complementing other people. I learned that from Mike without a doubt. I learned a ton from Mike, not about sports, but about life.
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IN TOP PHOTO: Mike D’Aloisio talks to the Horseheads football team before a game this past fall. . . PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES AND PROIDED PHOTOS