By Ben Eskin
1891: It was invented by physical education teacher James Naismith and played with soccer balls and peach baskets. This is how basketball, a game invented right here in Springfield, Massachusetts, began. For Western New England University head basketball coach Collin Tabb, the sport has always been deep-rooted in the family.
“I had three or four uncles who were coaching when I was growing up. From as early as six years old, I loved competing with my cousins and my brother,” Tabb said.
Throughout his childhood, Tabb began to fall in love with the sport. The decision to play in college was an easy choice, and he ended up at Trinity College in Connecticut, playing under head coach Stan Ogrodnik. When looking back on his collegiate days, Tabb calls Coach Ogrodnik one of his biggest inspirations.
“He was a tremendous person who helped me love the game at this level. Stan was always so passionate about representing and loving his players,” Tabb stated.
The years at Trinity were memorable, and following graduation, Tabb played overseas for several years.
“I felt like I couldn’t step away from the game,” he said.
Understanding his playing days were coming to an end, Tabb began looking for careers within the sport. Logically, coaching made the most sense in his mind. Following in the footsteps of his uncles and his older brother, Tabb started as an assistant coach at Rhode Island College in 2003. Following this brief stint with the Anchormen, a job opened at Brandeis University, where Tabb was an assistant coach for three years, leading the team to the elite eight in his third season. This was when the road began to change slightly for Coach Tabb. For the next seven years, Tabb oversaw a basketball event business called Basketbull, named after his grandfather, who was nicknamed “the bull.” The company specialized in running the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) tournaments, camps, and clinics while working closely with the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
“I was torn, the decision was incredibly hard to make. Stepping away from coaching wasn’t easy, but I wanted to give this opportunity a try. I missed coaching immediately,” Tabb said.
Everyone faces obstacles along the way, and getting back into coaching was something that Coach Tabb found quite challenging.
“You’ve been out of the game for so long, trying to come back and find opportunities isn’t always easy,” he mentioned.
Tabb was an intriguing candidate because of his strong network of connections. Through AAU, high school basketball, and previous collegiate success, the decision was made to hire Tabb in August of 2015, replacing Mike Theulen, who coached the Golden Bears on two separate occasions. The challenge was far from over, as Tabb was now tasked with changing the perception of the program.
“I am so thankful that the Western New England athletic department saw value in hiring me. The program had struggled for a while, and I needed people who were willing to buy in, guys who wanted to be difference makers, on and off the court,” Tabb said.
Coaches at every level are unique; no two are the same. Coach Tabb likes to keep it simple, making clear what he values.
“I want every one of my players to know I care about them, as a basketball player and a human being. They should enjoy these years and take advantage of the time they spend with one another,” Tabb explained.
Tabb demands respect and realizes the work that needs to be put in by everyone involved.
“I need a certain level of intensity and commitment to achieve what we want to. It is much bigger than one person or one individual effort. You’re never going to feel deserving of success if you don’t put the effort in,” he said.
The hire was without a doubt a program changer for Western New England, as Coach Tabb led the Golden Bears to a twenty-one-win season a year ago, the most in a season since 2006, in addition to the program’s first appearance in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) championship game. Tabb was named CCC Coach of the Year, but he is quick to deflect these individual accolades. He credits Sean, his older brother, with leading the way.
“He has such a great basketball mind and is so passionate about the game. I try to emulate what he has done in his coaching career,” he explained.
When his time here is done, Coach Tabb wants to know he has left a mark on the program, but more specifically, the lives of his players.
“I want to be able to look back and say I impacted a lot of lives in a positive way. I want to challenge guys to get the most out of themselves as possible,” he said.
With the 2023-2024 season right around the corner, the Golden Bears are ready to back up their memorable season and have the perfect man in charge to do it.
