A night for healing

Published 12:00 am Saturday, December 12, 2009

By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Wednesday marked a night of further healing for the East St. John community as it honored Troy Giordano, its coach of 13 years who passed away seven months ago in a Kenner automobile accident.

The school held a ceremony before the Lady Wildcats game with Thibodaux to celebrate Giordano’s life.

Athletic director Larry Dauterive, girls head coach Jackson Manuel, former Ladycat Erin Keller and Giordano’s wife, Heather, spoke to all in attendance about the impact the coach had on all around him.

“Besides Mako and Montana (his children), you all were the light of his life,” Heather Giordano said while speaking to the crowd. “I know you all feel a void in your lives, too. But hold your heads up high … it’s what he would have wanted.”

Manuel, who is in his first season as Ladycats head coach after succeeding Coach Giordano, pointed to what his predecessor had done in building one of the premier girls basketball programs in the state.

“God says that a good man is one who leaves a legacy for his children and his children’s children. And just look at the legacy this man has left here before us,” Manuel said.

That legacy was one that few can match. Giordano took his teams to two state semifinal appearances and never presided over a team that won less than 23 games. He coached nine district champions in 13 years and finished with a record of 391-105, including a 124-14 mark at home.

Despite all those wins, Giordano was fond of saying he had “never won a basketball game” for his team, instead deflecting the praise to his players.

One of those players was Keller, who is one of 20 players Giordano helped secure a college scholarship. Keller attended Mercer University in Macon, Ga., after graduating from ESJ and played for three years.

Keller, who transferred to Valdosta State to finish her career after suffering a season-ending injury as a senior, said that she learned much from her former coach.

“We got into it all the time,” said Keller. “But at the end of the day, I knew he always had my back. He taught me so much about life and basketball. The ups and downs we went through helped me become the person I am today.”

Heather Giordano said that was just her husband’s way.

“If anyone believed in tough love and knew how to execute it, Troy did,” she said.

After the ceremony, she said she was touched, and even a little surprised, at the feelings shown toward her husband Wednesday.

“He had that gruff exterior, and I didn’t know if many people could see past it,” she said. “To see how many lives he’s touched and to see how much everyone cares … it’s just hard to put into words what it means.”

Wayne Giordano, Troy’s father, echoed those sentiments.

“I’m speechless, to tell you the truth,” he said. “I knew how much he loved this place. As much as he loved it, I guess I just didn’t realize how much it was reciprocated.”

But in some ways, the night was bittersweet. Wednesday’s ceremony was supposed to be the official dedication of East St. John’s gym in the name of the Ladycats’ former coach. But an objection at the Dec. 3 schoolboard meeting derailed the plan for now, tabling it until further review.

“We all know what this was supposed to be,” said Dauterive to those in attendance. “We promise we will do our due diligence to get this done as soon as possible.”

Wayne Giordano said he hopes to return soon to see the banner symbolizing the gym dedication unveiled.

“I hope to be back here to see the banner dropped for sure,” he said.

Heather Giordano said that she felt Giordano’s former players were being hurt by the situation.

“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but I just believe it’s something she should have said sooner,” she said. “Not everyone liked Troy, and I understand that. But it doesn’t make him a bad person, and it doesn’t mean that these girls shouldn’t be able to honor him in the way that they want to.”

She also revealed she had saved one last bit of praise from the coach himself to deliver. She did just that when she spoke to the team earlier in the day.

“He always downplayed expectations,” she said.

“But two days before he died, he told me that this was the team he felt could go all the way.

“In 13 years, he never told me that before. I hope they have success.”