SPRING HILL, Fla. — The Springstead High School basketball court has been renamed after a coach who paved the way for other athletes and coaches.

“This is really tremendous, this is really unexpected,” Greg O'Connell said as he looked at his handwriting on the court. 

Coach O’Connell is a name many on the Eagles campus knows.

Matthew McGarry has been the head varsity basketball coach for the past seven years. McGarry, who is also credited for spearheading the annual Greg O'Connell Shootout, put this dedication together. 

“When this building was first built," McGarry said, "The wins were in his name, nobody else’s.” 

O'Connell said he remembers the lean times: “My first two years here, we didn’t have a gym.” 

O’Connell or Big “O” as they call him, was at the helm of the Eagles varsity basketball team from 1977 to 2000.

He retired with 366 wins and led his team to four district titles. He said he can never forget his journey as one of the most respected coaches in Eagles history. He still shares stories with all the curious young athletes of today.

“I can remember my very first win," he said. "We’re down one point with few seconds left in the game, he drives here and hits baseline drive and we win, that was my first win and that’s also when I got my first technical foul.” 

The memories on the exact court will never fade he said but rather he hopes will inspire the next athlete or next coach when they see his handwriting on the floor.

McGarry added, “I make sure that before every game they come and shake his hand before we come out to play. For us to have this court names after him, this facility, this the first facility to be named after somebody, no better person than Coach.” 

Looking down to the floor, Coach O'Connell said , “To see that like that it’s…like I said what can you say. It’s so appreciative that after all of this time someone said hey what he’s done and this kind of thing that we need to honor him that way and that’s really special, really, really special.”