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Mt. Lebanon coach wins Wooden Award

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 5 min read
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Mt. Lebanon legend Dick Black has spent the better part of nine decades on earth doing what he has enjoyed most: coaching and teaching.

“I have been very lucky,” said the former educator and basketball coach. “It was never work.”

From 1961-1997, Black coached the boys basketball team, compiling a 620-251 record complete with one WPIAL championship. He amassed many honors and accolades but none are more cherished than his recent achievement.

Black was recently named one of the recipients of the John Wooden Legacy Award.

The recognition honors scholastic basketball coaches around the country who are educators and have achieved excellence on the floor, in the classroom and in the community. The winners also embody the characteristics and the legacy of UCLA coaching great. The criteria for this award are rooted in the ideals of education, longevity, character, service and excellence.

“This is one of the best awards that I have gotten because it is not based on wins but other things like doing the right thing as a coach,” said Black.

Black added that he didn’t particularly think that winning makes a person the best coach and that teams that get beat don’t mean that coaches aren’t doing things correctly.

“You need somebody that can instill in the players to be the best person they can be,” he said. “This is what coaching is about. To me, coaching is teaching.”

Before he started coaching and teaching, Black said he needed a “little maturity” so he enlisted in the service. He was just following family footsteps as two of his brothers battled in World War II and a brother-in-law was a pilot in the air force.

The youngest of six siblings, Black served in Germany after the war ended.

“We were there watching the Russians. Getting all the information we could on them,” he said, noting the irony of today’s Ukrainian conflict.

Upon earning his masters degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Black embarked on carving out his own legacy at Mt. Lebanon.

In addition to his spectacular win/loss record over 37 seasons, Black coached 18 section champions, four district and two state Final Four clubs.

Twice named WPIAL Coach of the Year, Black has been inducted into the Western Pennsylvania, Beaver County/Midland and Pittsburgh Basketball Club halls of fame. A PIAA COTY, he also was a four-time president of the Pennsylvania Basketball Coaches Association.

Mt. Lebanon girls basketball coach Dori Oldaker nominated Black for the distinction. A state champion as a player at Blackhawk High School, Oldaker has enjoyed her own storied coaching career at her alma mater and as well as at Mt. Lebanon.

Oldaker owns six WPIAL titles as a coach. She won two WPIAL and PIAA titles as coach of Blackhawk.

In March, she coached Lebo to the district and state finals in March. Oldaker led the Blue Devils to four previous straight state finals from 2008-2011, winning three championships.

“Dick Black is a legend, not just in Lebo but in the boys basketball fraternity,” Oldaker said.

She said that she remembered learning about Coach Black long before she arrived in Mt. Lebanon.

“I heard so many amazing stories about his positive teaching skills on the court and in the classroom,” Oldaker said.

She wondered when she would meet “this legend” and when she finally did her curiosity was rewarded.

“He is a gentle soul who loves people, basketball and teamwork,” Oldaker said.

“It was a no-brainer for me to nominate him,” she added. “It only takes a few minutes to understand why he is so deserving of this award.”

Black credits his players for the distinction.

“I didn’t have to do anything,” he said. “I had great kids and they were as coachable as you could get.”

One of his best was Bob Bennett. He played at North Carolina under the fabled Dean Smith. Bennett went on to become a lawyer and settled in Los Angeles, where he befriended Wooden.

Admittedly partial to Smith, Black said that he admired the fact that Wooden had been a coach and a high school teacher before embarking on his career with the Bruins. Black also said he owns signed copies of a couple of Wooden’s award-winning books.

“So this is a wonderful thing,” he said of the honor.

At age 90, Black continues to lead a wonderful, disciplined life. He works out everyday at the Jewish Community Center. He also plays his share of basketball.

“Basketball is the best game,” he said. “I have been lucky. My shot’s still pretty good.

“I don’t have the strength I used to have and I probably don’t have the brain power either,” he added with a chuckle. “But the fire is still there.”

Black also maintains a passion for golf and baseball. In fact after his graduation from college, he had the chance to play in the minor leagues but opted instead for his teaching career.

Black, who was a former golf coach, too, plays a round or two as much as he can.

He is saddened, however, learning the passing of good friends and acquaintances such as his former assistant Don Hobaugh or former player Wayne Porter, who was a successful dentist.

“People younger than me are dying,” he moaned. “That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”

Until his time comes, Black said, “I plan on doing what I am doing. It’s been a good life.”

Black has shared 60 of those good years with his wife Betty. The couple had their three sons, David, Doug and Deron. Black also has seven grandchildren.

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