The passing of a legend
Charlie Sorrells, Sentinel Sports EditorArticle Photos
FAIRMONT - News of his departure numbed the collective senses, rendering the Fairmont athletic community feeling a bit empty.
Thomas "Tom" Mahoney, Fairmont High School's renowned football coach and athletic director, died Sunday at the age of 81 at Fairmont Medical Center in this southern Minnesota town.
Despite surviving open-heart bypass surgery prior to the start of his 39th and final season along the prep sideline in the fall of 1989, the legendary mentor eventually lost his battle with congestive heart disease.
"Words cannot express the sense of loss and sadness that his family and friends are feeling at this moment," said current Fairmont High School activities administrator Randy Soma, a former gridiron standout under Mahoney's tutelage in the late 1980s. "Our school district, the city of Fairmont and the entire state mourn the passing of such a great man."
Mahoney's greatness, however, extended beyond his incredible compilation of 256 prep football victories, including a staggering 31-game winning streak that spanned 1967-69.
"Playing the game is not always about winning, but I sure don't like losing very much," was a favorite quote by Mahoney, who also proved a cornerstone in the North Central Conference college football ranks by serving as an official for 25 years.
The Cardinals' great motivator also contributed a helping hand to literally laying the foundation for the hallowed ground that was renamed Mahoney Field in his honor during the fall of 1992.
"I gave our players the choice of cutting and laying sod on what was the new field back then (early 1970s) or holding a regular practice. I don't think that they knew exactly what they were getting themselves into," Mahoney reflected with a laugh during a 2007 interview. "The sod from old Martin Park, where the mall is today, was donated and we had to move it to the new location.
"Our defensive players cut the sod, the coaching staff hauled it in trucks, and the offensive players laid the sod."
The former University of Minnesota Golden Gopher football player not only developed a family atmosphere among his plethora of talent-laden players, including NFL special teams coach Jerry Rosburg, during his 34-year tenure in Fairmont, but earned the respect of his coaching peers at all levels throughout the country.
In fact, Mahoney, who was the winningest high school football coach in Minnesota at the time of his official retirement in the spring of 1990, proved a distinguished recipient of a rare football autographed by two of the college ranks' most successful mentors - St. John's John Gagliardi and the late great Eddie Robinson of Grambling.
Despite earning enough honors from the Minnesota State High School League, the University of Minnesota and countless Halls of Fame to line the walls of his study and then some, Mahoney never set his sights on individual glory.
His unselfish attitude, record-setting success on the field and innovations to the prep game - such as helping re-introduce the annual Minnesota All-Star Football Game and establishing the current playoff system in the 1970s - made Mahoney a living legend.
"I can't take too much credit for the program's success as I was blessed with dedicated assistant coaches throughout the years," Mahoney said during a 2007 interview. "I'm also very proud of all the players I coached. They worked hard and sacrificed a lot of things in order to be part of the team and that means a lot.
"I think I always understood that every kid is out there because they want to be, and it was our job to make the game fun for them and help them achieve their goals."
Mahoney, however, also assisted southern Minnesota high school student-athletes in their pursuit of college scholarships while serving as a MSHSL sectional representative during his so-called "retirement years."
More importantly, Thomas Mahoney served as a great role model for the next generation of promising coaches, including his own grandson, current Fairmont head varsity football coach Mat Mahoney.
"I enjoy our conversations about the game and coaching philosophies, although I think he (Mat) likes to pass too much," Thomas Mahoney said with a laugh during Mat's first year at the Cardinals' football helm in the fall of 2007. "He has a great mind for football, but more importantly, he has the insight to teach the players what really matters - life skills."
Exactly. Memorable words from an unforgettable man and Minnesota prep coaching legend.
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Hulberg73
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08-04-08 1:39 PM
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Coach Mahoney served this community with honor and style! He truly had the "best interest" of ALL the athletes no matter what sport they participated in. I know in my case, he was very helpful during my recruitment by the various colleges that wanted me to play for their schools, and for getting the necessary surgery for my ankle before my senior year! Rest In Peace Coach!
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