TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. — From the moment he laces his shoes to the second he takes a shot, Will Beilein can still hear the words of his high school coach in his head.
But Tuesday night, he learned the memory of those words is all he has left.
St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute announced Tuesday that Beilein’s former basketball coach Gabe Michael, the current varsity head coach at the school, died unexpectedly at the age of 43. His cause of death is still unknown.
“I just immediately started breaking down crying,” Beilein said. “I didn’t really believe it at first. I knew he had some struggles back, and he made it through, and I thought he was all good.”
Michael, or as his players called him, Coach Gabe, was a caring coach and mentor, known for his contagious positivity.
“Last month, he texted me some funny thing I did in high school about me being a 2K player, made myself a card and just laughed it off, cracked some jokes with him,” Beilein said. “It’s crazy.”
Michael led the Marauders for the past five seasons and ended a decade-long drought in 2021 when the team hoisted the Manhattan Cup. But it’s the lessons he shared off the court that left a lasting impact.
Another former players of his took to Instagram, writing: “You changed my life; taught me so many things off the basketball court. You taught me how to be accountable, how to be a leader. You held me to my highest standards.”
The school released a statement on the coach’s death as well.
“He was a role model, mentor, confidant, and friend to many, and he will be sorely missed by the entire SJCI school community,” said Christopher Fulco, SJCI President. “Gabe was more than just a coach; he was an older brother to our athletes and would do anything to ensure their success as players and as men.”
“Gabe cared as much about building men of character and integrity as he did about winning,” said Brian Anken, SJCI Athletic Director. “He was a champion of the entire St. Joe’s athletic department and will be deeply missed.”
While Beilein knows he’ll never have his coach on the sidelines again or even there in the stands during his college games at NCCC, he knows his words and lessons will always be with him.