O’Connell not planning to stop at 600 victories

St. Andrew’s coach has Scots on track for return to state.

John O’Connell expected to stay at St. Andrew’s for two years when he took over the Scots’ boys basketball program.

More than three decades l a t e r, t he ve t e r a n c o a c h hasn’t budged.

Instead of returning to New York, where he coached collegiately at Columbia Universit y, O’Connell stayed back to build St. Andrew’s into a state power on the basketball court.

Tuesday, he won his 600th career game, a 65-58 thriller over Fort Lauderdale-Calvary Christian Academy on the road. St. Andrew’s trailed 15-1 in the first quarter before rallying.

“It was a really exciting g a me , ” s a i d O’C o n n e l l , whose career record stands at 600-243. “Calvary Christian is one of the best teams in the state, in any class.”

The top-ranked Scots, who improved to 21-1 with the win, could see the No. 2 Eagles again in the postseason. Both teams compete in Class 5A, and could meet potentially in the regional quarterfinals or semifinals.

If St . Andrew’s c an get through regionals and qualify for the state tournament, it would be O’Connell’s fourth trip there during his 32 seasons.

The Scots advanced to the state championship game in 1995, 2006 and 2013, but did not win a title.

“I’ve always said if I get there once a decade, I’ll keep going,” he joked.

His players have made it hard to leave.

O’C onnell, who also i s an associate athletic director at the school, said he keeps returning to the court because he looks forward to working with a new group of student-athletes.

“I wanted to see the kids through, and then one year ran into the next,” he said. “It just kind of happened. T h e re ’s a l ways t h e n ext group of kids.”

St. Andrew’s athletic director Crai g Ashley prai s ed O’Connell on Wednesday for his devotion to his players and the school.

“Not only is he a well-respected and talented coach, but a wonderful mentor to his players and to the students that he has impacted over his 32 years at Saint Andrew’s,” Ashley said.