Coach P Enters The Hall of Fame

Olympia Sports Camp has just started a program they are calling" Coach of the Week" to highlight some of the great coaches who come to Olympia every summer. Great idea!

Let me introduce you to the Coach of the Half Century: John Petrushchak

Coach P was posthumously inducted into the Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame this summer, recognizing his contributions and success in leading George Harvey and Runnymede Collegiates over this 30 year teaching and coaching career, including four OFSAA titles. But those of a certain vintage remember the impact he had on hundreds of others, and a generation of coaches, in his years at Olympia Sports Camp.

In her induction speech Debbie Petrushchak spoke about her father’s lasting influence on young people, describing him as a steady presence during difficult times. She also spoke of the community of friendships that grew through his coaching career, many of which have carried on long after his passing in May of 2022. Players spoke of Coach P's humour, but more so about his caring for them as people, not just players. He often would give kids a week's worth of TTC tickets to make sure they got to and from school. He also installed a vending machine at Runnymede more than 40 years ago — stocked and managed by players and staff — to help subsidize team trips.  

The journey of Coach P is chronicled in A Hero's' Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp in a chapter called Meet the Mentors. Coach P was a mentor for hundreds of his players throughout the years but he too mentored young coaches, of which I was one.  I owe him a debt of gratitude for the confidence in the process that he taught me. Put in the work and success will follow. This notion is more than 30 years after he gave of his time to help me grow as a coach. I was honoured to interview my mentor and friend for the book. I'm honoured also to share a few excerpts from his Hero's Journey:

" While Dave Grace talks reverently about the entire original Olympia coaching staff, a particular smile comes to his face when he talks about John Petrushchak. Coach P, as he is known, is one of the most successful coaches in the history of Ontario ( and Canada) but it was more his larger than life personality that made him a must for Coach Grace to get to Olympia when things started off in 1974. There are literally hundreds of former Runnymede and George Harvey Collegiate students who consider Coach P a good friend because when he coached, he cared. That sharing and giving of energy to others that Coach P showed throughout his career is something Dave Grace wanted at Olympia."

" For Coach P through the years it was the people who brought him back to Olympia. Lots of laughter and lots of good times. Coaching six hours a day may seem a lot, but there was so much down time in between sessions. There may be a mid-morning nap after a late night in the coach's lounge and there'd be afternoon tennis before hitting the lake for a quick swim afterwards." The coach's lounge was where the fun for many would go to another level. Lot's of fun and memories, but it's with reverence that Coach P reflects.

" I think  the coach's lounge was where Dave thanked us for the day, but also was where he allowed and encouraged us to grow a bond. I always noticed that Dave would come up to mingle but didn't stay too long. I always thought that he didn't want to get in our way of having a good time and sharing our experience with each other."

The legacy of a hero is often measured by the impact on others. The cliche about Coach P is that he had four daughters and hundreds of young men who were like sons to him. But he did have four daughters. When Coach P came to our session as week 9 headliner he always started by talking about his four beautiful daughters. He had so much pride in his words about them. I remember his words clearly.  I also know that his pride in his children taught me the love and dedication I would have  for  my own children when Nicole and Daniel came along. Now, all four of his daughters regard their late father with deep reverence and model their personal and professional lives along the lessons taught them by "Johnny" 

In my interview with coach P, the last time I saw him alive, be was brought to tears once when reflecting on 30 years.This tells a lot about the man. I can still see him tearing up, with Debbie right beside him.

" I was at camp and there was a call from Toronto. A player of mine, Sean Kelly, was riding his bike and was hit by a car. The mother wanted us to come home. He was on life support and she felt if he heard me say something he might respond. He didn't. She asked me to do the eulogy," Coach P chokes up, "I started the eulogy and a few minutes in I sort of looked at the coffin and that was it. I broke down and couldn't continue.  The church was packed and the director of education was there.  A few days later he sent me a note saying he was glad that I taught in the board."

Coach P concludes, " Its amazing how we impact kids and how they impact us."

The true definition of mentorship coming from a true mentor.

Thanks Coach P, and congrats on the induction to the Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame. YOUr daughters, and all of Olympia, are proud.

The summer of 2026 registration is open!

Have an idea or direction for a blog entry? Email me at coachdools71@gmail.com and lets talk possibilities. Have you bought this amazing collection of Hero's Journeys yet? 

A Hero’s Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp chronicles the people that make up the history of Olympia, but it does far more than that. It serves as an inspirational guidebook for readers to become the hero of their own path. In order to do this the book examines the history of the land on which the camp has been built, from its indigenous origins to the European settlement process of the 1800’s. and the use of the land by the Royal Norwegian Air Force during WWll. The book is built on a collection of stories related to mentorship, sports psychology, and community building. This book honours the 50-year history of the camp while giving us all a window into seeing a deeper level of understanding of the world and our place in it.

Books Available at: 

-  Tuck and Pro at Olympia ( ask about the coach's deal)

 - Amazon and Indigo.ca

-  Indigo, Burlington Brant Street location.

- The Different Drummer Book Store on Locust Street in Burlington\

- Cedar Canoe Books on Main St in Huntsville

- Etransfer me $30 and I'll drive it to your house ! 

- available online at aherosjourney.ca

- audiobook version is available at Audible, Amazon, and iTunes 

If you would like us to come to your town for a book event or get copies into your favourite bookstore , email me at coachdools71@gmail.com. We travel well.