Heading into last season, Bill Shaw thought he would continue coaching in Section VI, like he has for over four decades. Nearly six months later, Shaw wishes he still was.
Shaw was fired from coaching girls basketball at Williamsville North in January in what remains as a court case in litigation. And while he is suing the Williamsville Central School District for wrongful termination, Shaw is returning to the bench this season with a new team.
Earlier this month, Shaw was approved as an assistant head coach for the women’s basketball program at Genesee, joining the staff of second-year head coach Jeff Parizek, who most recently coached at Kendall until two years ago as part of a two-decade campaign. While he and Parizek haven’t yet discussed the official responsibilities of his role, Shaw plans to provide his 43 years of coaching expertise with the Cougars.
“Do whatever I can to help kids in any situation that we’re in,” Shaw, 67, said. “There are things that I’m very good at, practice is one of them, and that will be something. And, I’m sure I’ll have a big role in designing the practices. Looking at the efficiencies of every player has deficiencies. And in trying to rectify those and make them better basketball players.”
As the case against the district remains in litigation, Shaw could not provide details of his firing, which he described as parental complaints. However, Williamsville Central School District superintendent Dr. Darren J. Brown-Hall has not responded to calls from the Gazette.
Shaw wanted to go out on his own terms with the Spartans, where they advanced to the Class AA state final four in 2016 and won three ECIC championships since 2014, along with clinching 13 sectional championships, three Far West regional titles, a state title in 1995 and 449 games in 22 seasons with Lockport and previously coached Starpoint boys basketball in the early 1980s. But Shaw said it is a different time compared to when he was coaching 10 to 20 years ago.
“I describe it as a district that would rather listen to a parent’s complaint then understand what a coach’s role is and what they do and how they do their job,” Shaw said. “I’ve been doing this for 43 years, I mean, a tiger doesn’t change his stripes. I mean, if that was my MO and that was something where I insulted kids or whatever, I wouldn’t be coaching for 43 years, if that were the case.”
Shaw and Parizek developed a 20-plus year relationship long before the upcoming team-up at Genesee. The two faced each other when Shaw’s Lockport team hosted Parizek’s Aquinas team during the Lions holiday tournament and then again when Buffalo faced Rochester in the BCANY tournaments.
The opening on Parizek’s staff came when last year’s associate head coach, Jack Rosati, wanted to step back and enjoy retirement after 38 years coaching at the high school and college level. But Parizek is looking forward to having Shaw’s versatile knowledge of the game on his staff.
“I view Bill as like a co-head coach with me, or associate coach is the new term, I think they like to use of college level,” Parizek said. “When you have two people very qualified and experienced that you don’t really see a rank. … Both are experienced head coaches and then we can work together, obviously, four eyes are better than to enhance to make this program and the kids have a great experience and a competitive program.”
The opportunity with Genesee also puts Shaw in a position he hasn’t been in over the course of his career. It’s his first assistant coaching role since coaching in the Empire State Summer Games, which were last held in 2008.
“This might open the door for a head coaching job at a college level, I don’t know,” Shaw said. “I think I have a lot of years left in me to continue coaching. And, I think I have a lot to offer.”