SYRACUSE — After St. John’s lost at the University of San Francisco in early December, Red Storm coach Steve Lavin knew he had a memory that would last him for the rest of his life.
At halftime of what turned to be an 81-65 loss, Lavin’s beloved father, Cappy, and many of his former Dons teammates were honored. There was Cappy, beaming at half court, flanked by two of his granddaughters. Lavin wasn’t certain his father and mentor would make the game. He had been suffering from an assortment of health issues for years.
So Lavin knew he had something to bottle in his heart.
“I’m glad he was able to rally and be here,” said Lavin. “The players really enjoyed being around him and he really enjoyed meeting them. He has a great spirit.”
Cappy Lavin, 82, died overnight Saturday into Sunday morning. Lavin left Syracuse prior to Sunday’s 3 p.m. tipoff against 9th-ranked Syracuse in the Carrier Dome to return home to San Francisco. There was a moment of silence before the game in Cappy’s honor.
Lavin spoke to assistant coach Rico Hines, who was placed in charge of the team. Hines told the St. John’s players yesterday morning after Mass and before breakfast.
“They were sad, they were really sad because Cap was one of those guys that watched every game or listened to it on the radio and those guys knew that,” Hines said about an hour before tipoff. “Our team knows how much Cap meant to him. They know he’s an emotional guy they know that coach really loved his dad. They were sad. They all said a prayer for him and [said] ‘We will try to play as hard as we can for you.”’
Lavin had a remarkable relationship with his father, a larger than life personality. He was one of the great free shooters ever to step to the foul line. When famed director Francis Ford Coppola needed a free throw instructor to teach Robin Williams, he called on Cappy Lavin.
Cappy Lavin was an educator, teaching his six children, authoring 19 books and co-founding the Bay Area Writing Project at Cal-Berkeley. Whenever Lavin talks about coaching, he always talks about being a teacher and the style and skills he learned from his father.
“Obviously he was emotional, he was emotional,” Hines said of Lavin. “I could hear it him. I wanted to give him space and just say I’m here for you pretty much. What do you really say to a person? You say, ‘I love you, Coach.”
The Red Storm (15-8 overall, 7-4 in the Big East) were prepared for a scenario like this. Lavin missed most of last season recovering from prostate cancer surgery, which his father also beat along with two complicated heart-bypass surgeries. The Johnnies, having won 6-of-7, were looking to upset Cuse (19-3, 7-2) and make the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee take notice.
“Try to execute the game plan as much as possible, but the effort is going to try to be for you, try to play for you Coach and play as hard as we can for Cap Lavin and coach,” Hines said was the message he told the players.
The St John’s basketball family knew this moment might be coming. After last Saturday’s loss at Georgetown, Lavin flew home to be with his dad. Lavin knew he would remember that as 30 of the most worthwhile hours he has ever spent.
“Coach is an emotional guy you all know that and you know how much he loved Cap, how much we all loved him,” said Hines. “Obviously he’s been battling for a while but there’s a never a time where you can prepare for the loss of somebody that you love so dearly.”