Old Rochester Coach Earns Statewide Honor

Old Rochester Regional High School girls basketball coach Rick Regan has been honored as the MIAA Division 3 Girls Basketball Coach of the Year, a recognition he accepted Wednesday night during a ceremony at Holy Cross in Worcester. While Regan is grateful for the award, he’s quick to shift the spotlight away from himself.

“I’m humbled by it,” he said. “But it’s not a me award. It’s a program award.”

Regan learned about the honor back in late summer, but waited until this week’s ceremony to share the news widely. Even his own players didn’t know until the announcement became public on social media Wednesday afternoon.

A Community Effort Behind the Success

Regan credited his staff, school leadership, parents and the entire Tri-Town basketball community for the program’s growth. He said Old Rochester’s strong youth leagues play a major role in preparing players long before they reach high school.

“Those volunteer coaches are just as big of a piece. By the time the girls get to us, they have a good foundation. Hopefully we don’t do anything to screw them up,” Regan joked.

Regan also pointed to the steady support from Old Rochester’s administration, including the athletic director and principal, who help maintain a strong culture around the program.

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Carrying On a Legacy at ORR

Now entering his sixth year as varsity coach, Regan took over after longtime coach Bob Hohne, who tallied more than 650 career wins. Regan previously coached under Hohne and said much of the program’s philosophy is built on what he learned from him.

“You try to take from the coaches you work with and then put it in the blender with your own beliefs,” he said.

Looking Ahead to the New Season

Old Rochester graduated several key seniors last spring, but Regan feels confident in the mix of returning players and emerging young talent. With three senior captains and underclassmen who logged valuable minutes last season, he believes the Bulldogs are positioned for a strong season.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing what we can do,” he said.