St. F.X. to honour retiring coach Konchalski
In what was supposed to be Steve Konchaski's swan song season, St. Francis Xavier University will still get to honour the legendary men's basketball head coach this month.
St. F.X. director of athletics Leo Macpherson announced a variety of initiatives to honour Coach K, who will retire March 31 after 46 years of service.
“X-men basketball wouldn't be what it is today without his presence, his influence and everything he did for our sport and university,” Macpherson said in a news release. “Often the word legend is used with little thought, but in the case of Steve Konchalski, it seems inadequate to describe his wonderful contributions at
St. F.X. for the past 46 years.”
The X-men, which were supposed to host the Final 8 Canadian university basketball championship this month before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out U Sports competition this season, will host an exhibition game against the Acadia Axemen on Saturday at the St. F.X. Amelia Saputo Centre.
The game will mark Konchalski's 1,495th and final career game behind the bench. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, a limited number of spectators (by invitation only) will be permitted inside the gymnasium. Fans, alumni and supporters can tune in to a live webcast on www.austv. ca. The inaugural presentation of the Coach K Challenge trophy will be held following the game.
During his tenure at St. F.X., Konchalski captured three national championships and nine AUS conference titles.
The 2001 U Sports coach of the year and a six-time AUS coach of the year honouree recorded 918 career wins and led the X-men to 18 U Sports championship appearances.
Each day this month, St. F.X. Athletics will release a congratulatory message from an X-men basketball alumnus or featured guest on its social media channels.
On Thursday evening, as part of its ongoing X Connects series, the St. F.X. Alumni Association will host X Connects with Coach K. X-men football quarterback Bailey Wasdal will sit down with Konchalski to discuss his 46-year coaching career.