Masopust worked in high school for 32 years, left legacy of laughter and camaraderie – plus an original basketball defense
Lodi is the type of place that seeps into your soul — and your dialect — forever.
William “Billy” Masopust was part of the fabric of Lodi for generations of athletes at Lodi High School. Thursday night, in between a basketball doubleheader with rival Garfield, at about 7 p.m., the Lodi basketball court will be formally dedicated for Masopust, who died in March 2014 at age 65.
“He lived a life dedicated to young people and coaching,” said Lodi athletic director Pat Tirico. “It wasn’t always about winning for him. It was about the commitment. He taught me that. He would say the X’s and O’s are the easy part. Coaching is about getting the kids to play for you.”
Masopust, or Coach M, had that way of reaching young athletes in Lodi. He was as connected to the town as Route 46, teaching at the school for 32 years, and working with the football and baseball programs.
It’s debatable, but girls basketball might have been his true love. He took over a program that had gone winless in its first year, and directed it for the next 23, winning three league titles and a state championship in 1987.
Those were glorious times in Lodi.
“He had offseason training, sure, but he was more into the camaraderie with his team, always going out to have pizza together, socially getting everyone involved,” said Tirico. “You learned to treat the person next to you the same way you want to be treated.”
“Billy always preached the same thing, and it’s the same thing Pat preaches: Family,” said Bruce Masopust, Bill’s younger brother. “Billy thought of the kids as his family. He never married, never had kids, so he treated them like he would have his own.”
For all his contributions, the idea of naming the court for Masopust seemed logical. His autograph was stenciled onto the court over the summer when the surface was refinished.
Current Rams girls basketball coach Joe Romeo plans on having his team wear special shirts in warmups Thursday in tribute to Masopust. On the back is an inscription made up of Masopust quotes: “The goal isn’t to live forever, but to create something that will. What you gave, created, contributed and who you impacted has defined your legacy forever.”
“He was the kindest guy you could ever meet,” said Romeo. “He could always put a smile on your face. He wanted to know about everything in your life, get to know you on a personal level, so he could have a close relationship with you.”
The issue when it comes to people like Masopust is how to make him resonate with the student-athlete of today. The ceremony will be a big part. Bruce will speak. Tirico, too, and Romeo will present a plaque. Romeo also plans to talk to the girls before the game about Masopust’s accomplishments.
And of course there are a legion of stories to tell about Masopust’s vitality and connections. Tirico remembers being in Sussex County scouting a game and afterward looking for a place to eat together. Masopust asked Tirico what he was in the mood for and Tirico said Chinese food.
“Turn right,” Masopust replied.
He was right, of course. Tirico remembers that the Chinese was OK.
Bruce said that the “seat belt” rule briefly enforced for high school coaches, meaning they had to stay seated on the bench, was directly aimed at his brother.
And then there was the Rams’ special “triangle and two” defense. As the story goes, Masopust, upset by the officials, directed his girls to come out of the halftime locker room – or maybe after a timeout, stories vary – and drop three girls back on defense while one shadowed each official.
“Supposedly he told the girls to cover the one that’s hurting you the most,” laughed Tirico.
“He got T’ed up for that one,” said Bruce, also recounting the tale.
The night promises to be emotional. Just the fact that it’s Lodi-Garfield gives it meaning. Honoring a true original like Masopust just adds to it.
“The way I like to describe Billy and I is that we bleed orange and blue,” said Bruce. “What that means to us is we would do anything for the students and the residents in this family we call Lodi.”
