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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Midwood will sorely miss retiring lacrosse coach Paul “Chick” Chakrian, founder of both the school’s boys and girls programs. His retirement will be big loss to the school and anyone involved with lacrosse in New York City, but the legendary coach says his time has come.
“It’s time to move on,” the 54-year old Chakrian said. “I don’t have the same energy I use to.”
Chakrian was the Midwood’s girls lacrosse coach since 2006, and he has stayed on as an assistant this year to aide the transition for new coach and former assistant Michael Giordano.
Chakrian, who has been coaching at different levels for 32 years, was a goalkeeper at Queens College before being an assistant coach there and at Farleigh Dickinson. He later started the boy’s program at Midwood in 1988.
The Hornets squad was only the second Public School Athletic League lacrosse team in existence, after Jamaica. Chakrian went on to win six city titles and laid the groundwork for Midwood to become the league’s most successful program well after he stepped down in 1997. He called it a monumental task from the get go.
“We didn’t have a ball or a stick,” Chakrian said.
His players, on the other hand, got something special by being around him. Chakrian not only gave them a place to play, but a chance to better their lives. He coached under the principal that you treat your players the same way you would want your own kids to be treated. The simple motto went a long way. Countless numbers of his players went on to play in college and become coaches.
Chakrian worked endless hours to teach his kids the game, offered life lessons, and spared no expense for them.
“Chick would take a lot of his own money to fund the team,” said former player Jonathan St. Jules, Class of 2002.
That meant bus money, ref fees or even money for food for kids who came from financially troubled homes. Jules said when he was a junior Chakrian paid close to a $1,000 so he could attend a sleep away lacrosse camp with his teammate that his family couldn’t afford.”
“It’s tough to find someone who has that much love for the game as well as his players,” said St. Jules, who played at Adelphi. “It’s going to be hard to replace that.”
Janae Headly, a senior on the current Midwood girls lacrosse team, said she cried when she heard Chakrian was retiring at the end of year. Giordano, who was Chakrian’s assistant for two seasons, has made some changes, but he plans on keep the essence of what Chakrian established.
“I learned a lot from him and I hope to carry the torch,” he said.
Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.