Lewis D’Antoni makes a speech during Saturday morning’s commencement proceedings at Concord University. His alma mater presented him an honorary doctor of humanities degree during the ceremony.
ATHENS, W.Va. — Lewis D’Antoni received his second degree from Concord University on Saturday, 77 years after his first.
At age 100, the Mullens resident and award-winning coach was honored by his alma mater with an honorary doctor of humanities degree at Concord’s morning commencement ceremony at the Carter Center in Athens.
He congratulated the graduates of 2014 from the podium, noting, “I know that you are anxious to receive your diplomas. Seventy-seven years ago, I was in the same situation, waiting to receive my diploma.”
“I would like to tell each graduate that the world is waiting for you, so I say to you, go after them. … I want to wish you the best of health and a happy life.”
After his 1937 graduation from Concord, he began a 35-season teaching and coaching career that included 450 wins and the state basketball championship while at Mullens High School in 1955.
He was named to receive the first High School Coach of the Year award that year from the West Virginia Sports Writers Association, and is a member of the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
In his late 90s, became an author, publishing his memoir, “The Coach’s Coach.”
At Concord, he was captain of both the football and basketball teams and was president of the freshman class…
