Skip Karam, One of Massachusetts’ Greatest High School Coaches, Passes Away

Fall River coaching legend Thomas “Skip” Karam has passed away.

He had just turned 91 on January 15.

A Coaching Career That Defined Durfee Basketball

Karam helmed B.M.C. Durfee’s boys basketball team for 36 seasons, leading the Hilltoppers to 659 wins. His teams reached the state tournament in 32 of those 36 seasons, winning five state championships in seven finals appearances.

He was also the first high school coach in Massachusetts history to tally 500 wins. He was inducted into the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1988.

“If there was a Mt. Rushmore for boys hoop coaches in Massachusetts, Skippy belongs,” longtime Boston Herald high school sports editor Dan Ventura posted to social media.

Honored On and Off the Court

In December 2021, as the new Durfee High School opened and the Luke Urban Field House was renovated, the basketball court was rededicated in honor of Karam.

Karam was a 1953 graduate of Durfee and went on to Providence College. He earned his master’s degree from Bridgewater State University, then known as Bridgewater State College.

Tributes Pour In From Family and Former Players

Members of the Hilltopper community have been posting remembrances of Karam since the announcement of his passing on Sunday.

“Over the weekend, we lost the GOAT,” his grandson Ryan Medeiros posted to Facebook. “I realize that’s an acronym that gets thrown around a lot, but if you knew him, you know just how fitting it is.”

“Even in his very last days, he never lost his sarcasm or sense of humor. He had an uncanny ability to make anyone laugh and feel special,” Medeiros wrote. “The amount of lives he’s had an impact on is immeasurable, and none more than my siblings and me. I hope I made him even half as proud as he made all of us.”

“We love you and we will carry on your legacy forever. I promise to scream ‘Jesus F****** Christ’” at a referee for you whenever they miss a call,” he wrote.

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Former player Mike Herren posted a photo of him with Karam from his playing days, with the caption simply reading, “They say a picture is worth 1,000 words..RIP Coach! #WhenWeWereKings.”

Karam retired as the Hilltoppers’ head coach in 1995 but remained as Durfee’s athletic director after that. He also returned to the bench later as a volunteer assistant for the UMass Dartmouth men’s basketball team.