Schools

Two Former Stoughton Coaches Inducted into UMass Boston/Boston State Athletic Hall of Fame

Former Stoughton High basketball coach John Douglas and former SHS hockey coach Ray O'Malley were both inducted into the UMass Boston/Boston State Athletic Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 13.

UMass Boston/Boston State held their inductions for their Athletic Hall of Fame this past Thursday and two of the inductees had ties to Stoughton.

John Douglas, Boston State class of 1971, was a longtime science teacher at and coached the SHS boys’ varsity basketball team for 25 years, retiring after the 2003-2004 season. He coached the girls’ team prior to his tenure as the SHS boys’ coach.

Douglas was inducted for his achievements with the Boston State men’s basketball team. He graduated as the fifth all-time leading scorer, and as a senior captain, led his team to the first-ever New England State College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship in 1971, averaging 16.9 points per game. 

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Ray O'Malley, Boston State class of 1971, coached hockey at Stoughton High from 1973-1975. He served as head coach at SHS from 1975-1983, coaching current varsity hockey coach Dan Mark in his junior and senior years at SHS.

O’Malley was honored for his achievements with the Boston State men’s ice hockey team. Described as “the best playmaking center” in the history of the program, he scored 89 points (30 goals, 59 assists) in just 65 career games.

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Both Douglas and O’Malley were inducted as part of the UMass Boston/Boston State Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2011 on Oct. 13 at the Campus Center Ballroom at UMass Boston.

Their bios are below. Photo in the media gallery is courtesy Dan Mark.

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John Douglas

Former Boston State Men's Basketball Head Coach and Boston Celtic great Jim Loscutoff described John "Gabby" Douglas as "an outstanding leader that set a great example and is one of the best pure shooters in Boston State history."

One of the most talented shooters in Boston State history, Douglas helped the Warriors post a 72-30 record for a .706 winning percentage over his four-year career and as a co-captain, led them to the first-ever New England State College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship in 1971.

During the title run, Douglas scored 91 playoff points over a three-game span in wins over Eastern CT State (83-78), Rhode Island College (101-90) and Salem State (86-80) to help bring home the crown. In the championship game, the forward scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to propel the Warriors to the win and an NAIA New England Regional berth.

During his first two seasons, Douglas helped the Warriors capture the 1968 and 1969 Codfish Bowl Tournament championships. He was named a co-captain of the 1968-69 freshmen team in which he led in scoring with a 20.0 ppg average. As a sophomore, he'd lead the team with a .816 free throw percentage.

Throughout his career, Douglas was recognized as the ECAC Player of the Week three times, once during each of the 1968-69, 1969-70 and 1970-71 seasons. He was tabbed an All Conference player by the NESCAC in both 1970 and 1971 after ranking second in scoring as junior with a 9.9 ppg average while leading the team in scoring his senior year with a 16.9 ppg average.

After being chosen as a Boston State College Scholar Athlete in 1971, the highlight of Douglas's career came when he was chosen as a member of the 1971 class of Outstanding College Athletes in America by coaches and athletics directors who honor America's finest student-athletes that have distinguished themselves through character, leadership, sacrifice, scholarship and perfectly disciplined will.

When Douglas graduated he was the fifth all-time leading scoring in BSC history with 983 career points.

The former captain and All-Scholastic forward at St. Columbkille's High School went on to teach science and coach varsity basketball at Stoughton High School for 34 years, compiling a 343-287 career record.

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Ray O'Malley

Raymond O'Malley has been described as the best playmaking center in Boston State College men's ice hockey history while centering one of the greatest lines in the program's era with fellow Hall of Famers Dick Leahy and Bob Russell.

O'Malley was named an All-New England skater in 1971 as well as the ECAC Player of the Week in each of his final three campaigns. He skated in 65 career games and tallied 89 points on 30 goals and 59 assists to average an impressive 1.4 points per game.

Aside from his playmaking ability, the center was considered the best face-off man in the program's history, winning 92 percent of the face-offs he took over his career. A member of the first line power play and penalty killing unit his entire career, O'Malley led the Warriors with 30 points and 21 assists in 1970-71 while also leading the team in assists with 18 in 1969-70. His 59 career helpers and eight career game-winning goals both rank third all-time in BSC history.

He was also selected to the 1970 Codfish Bowl All-Tournament team before being chosen as one of only three Division II All-Stars in New England to skate in the 1971 New England Division I All-Star game that featured future Bruins in Dave Forbes and Dave Reece.

O'Malley would go on to sign his own professional contract with the Bruins in 1971 and eventually collaborated with Bobby Orr in compiling an instructional book called "Orr on Ice."

Aside from a few high school head coaching and administrative positions, O'Malley would spend 34 years as a teacher, coach and administrator at John F. Parker Middle School in Taunton, MA before retiring.


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