Seton Hill is mourning the loss of men’s basketball coach Connor Laverty.
The 25-year-old second-year assistant died Friday after a battle with lymphoma.
Griffins head coach Ben Wilkins said Laverty combated the illness through five rounds of chemotherapy, but contracted hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a systematic inflammatory syndrome. The rare immune deficiency, in which white blood cells begin to attack organs, usually occurs in children.
Laverty had not been with the team all season as he underwent treatment.
“Connor was an amazing young man,” Wilkins said in a university news release. “He had a huge heart and high character. He loved being part of a team and helping in any way he could. Connor always had a positive attitude and impacted our program immensely as a coach and mentor.
“He had a high basketball IQ, the ability to relate to our players and a strong work ethic.”
Laverty was a standout player at Ocean City High School (N.J.) and Division III Widener, scoring 1,000 career points at both places.
Connor was a special young man. He brought positive energy combined with a bright basketball mind to our program. There are no good words for losing someone so young. Our thoughts and prayers are with Connor’s family. https://t.co/3Bh74sRTee
— Ben Wilkins (@CoachBenWilkins) January 15, 2024
“Although he was only with Griffin Athletics for a short time, he played a key role in changing the culture of our men’s basketball team,” Seton Hill athletic director Chris Snyder said. “Connor’s positive energy and outlook on basketball and life was contagious, and he will be greatly missed.”
Laverty also coached at Widener from 2020-22.
“Connor was not just a talented athlete, he was a beloved teammate, coach and, above all, an amazing person,” Widener men’s basketball coach Chris Carideo told The Press of Atlantic City. “His positivity and warm heart touched the lives of all who knew him. I can still hear him yelling, ‘Let’s go, yo,’ to the team when they were lacking effort or execution. It wasn’t the words as much as how he would say it that made it special.”
A talented 3-point shooter, Laverty was the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Player of the Year in 2019-20 and received all-region accolades.
Widener draped Laverty’s No. 21 jersey over an empty chair on the team sideline during a recent game.
Widener Athletic is sad to announce the passing of one of our own. Rest easy Connor, we will miss you ????????
— Widener Athletics (@WidenerSports) January 14, 2024
In spirit at the @WidenerMBB vs Alvernia game on Saturday afternoonhttps://t.co/oQcGoPzReK
He also coached the East Coast Power Basketball Program 13-U team out of King of Prussia.
“Connor’s legacy and his spirit will always be with the Seton Hill program,” Wilkins said.
Laverty’s funeral will be Thursday in Marmora, N.J.
