IN HIGH ESTEEM
Former UConn standout Scott Burrell honored with Saint Francis Award
SOUTHINGTON — As far as Howie Dickenman is concerned, Scott Burrell is the greatest all-around athlete Connecticut has ever produced.
Dickenman, an assistant coach at UConn while Burrell was balancing a standout basketball career with a minor-league baseball career in the Blue Jays’ organization, remembered talking to major league baseball scout Ted Lekas about
Burrell years ago.
“There are about five guys who could be the next Dwight Gooden,” Lekas told Dickenman. “Burrell is one of them.”
Burrell wound up choosing basketball as his sport, and an eight-year NBA career and world championship ring with the Chicago Bulls confirmed that it was the right choice.
On Tuesday night at Aqua Turf Club, Burrell was honored for something more than just his athletic career. Burrell was presented with the Saint Francis Award, presented annually by the Franciscan Life Center to someone who exemplifies commitment and dedication to athletics, family, community and church.
“It definitely means a lot,” Burrell said. “It means I’m doing good things off the court and, I guess, in society and the community. I want to continue that, my dad did that, and I want to pass his legacy on and keep getting better and keep helping everybody else get a chance a succeed.”
It’s been a tough year for Burrell. A 7-18 record in his seventh season as Southern Connecticut State’s men’s basketball coach was soon followed by far worse news: Burrell’s father Sam, a sports stalwart in the New Haven area for most of his 89 years, passed away.
“It’s been a long year and a tough one for me, for sure,” Burrell admitted.
But the Franciscan Life Center has always been a
place for Burrell to find happiness. He’s visited the Meriden-based facility several times, most recently a couple of weeks ago, when he brought along his wife, Jeane Coakley, and his young daughters, Cora and Coakley.
“It’s a wonderful place,” Burrell said. “All the Sisters are wonderful people. It’s fun to sit down and reflect and talk to them and get comfortable with them and learn more.”
On his most recent visit, his daughters were particularly enamored by the chickens and goats that live on the center’s farm.
Burrell, the only college athlete ever to be drafted in the first round of both the NBA and MLB drafts, appreciates hearing people like Dickenman extol his athletic prowess.
“It’s great to hear,” Burrell said. “I’m glad I was able to make an impact at UConn. I hope people enjoyed watching me. I enjoyed my four years there. It was fun. There was nothing better than playing in the Big East back then.”
But the Saint Francis Award means even more, since it’s about more than just athletics.
“That’s what’s nice about it, it’s about the person,” Burrell said. “Obviously, your athletic ability helped you get here. But, it’s also what you do off the court.”
Among the other honorees on Tuesday were Platt girls basketball coach Tina Gonyea (Saint Clare
Award); University of Saint Joseph president Dr. Rhona Fee ( Jim Calhoun Community Service Award); National Association of Basketball coaches senior director of communications Rick Leddy (Dean of Sport Award; Grand Master, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre Cardinal Fernando Filoni (Mother
Shaun Appreciation Award); and Special Olympics Connecticut athletes.
Calhoun, Quinnipiac men’s and women’s basketball coaches Baker Dunleavy and Trish Fabbri, UConn men’s assistant Tom Moore and former New York Giants and SCSU head football coach Kevin Gilbride were among those in attendance.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Calhoun announced that next year’s Saint Francis Award recipient will be recently retired, Hall of Fame Duke men’s basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski.