WINDSOR — Longtime Mount Abraham Union High School girls’ basketball coach Connie LaRose was inducted into the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame on March 15 during the VBCA Annual North-South Senior All-Star Games held at Windsor High School.
On the same day, LaRose’s peers chose her as the Vermont Girls’ Division 2 Coach of the Year.
In honoring her, the VBCA noted LaRose’s varsity coaching career has spanned 25 years. She started at Beeman Academy (1966-1967) in New Haven, and then went to Bristol High School (1967-1968) before spending the past 23 years at Mount Abraham.
Her career record to date is 377-174, including three D-II championships, six second-place finishes, and four additional final-four appearances. Her teams have reached the D-II final four in Barre 13 times during her 23 years at Mount Abraham.
During her career at Mount Abraham, LaRose has been chosen by her peers as the D-2 Coach of the Year five times and Lake Division Coach of the Year six times. She has also coached the Vermont Twin-State girls’ team six times.
The VBCA also noted that LaRose has served on the Vermont Principals’ Association’s basketball committee for many years and has been the president and/or been on the executive board of the Vermont Coaches Association since she started coaching at Mount Abraham.
In honoring LaRose, the VBCA stated that she would be the first person to say her success is dependent on the commitment of her athletes with the support of their parents.
The high school basketball season is November to March, six days per week, but there is an AAU season from March to June, team camp in Maine for a long weekend in June and summer league in July. LaRose recently estimated the number of games this year’s senior class has played since they entered the seventh grade at 375. That class made four appearances in the D-II final, with the last two resulting in championships.
The VBCA press release concluded:
“Connie’s career can best be summed up as many years of hard work and the dedication, love and passion for the game of basketball. She is very deserving of this prestigious recognition by her peers.”