Al Eford Obituary, BL Basketball Assistant Coach Al Eford has died

Al Eford Obituary, Death – Al Eford Jr., a native of Harlem who coached for 36 years and had a total of 67 years of experience, passed suddenly at his home on Sunday morning due to cancer. According to a personal friend and Riverside Hawks Coach, Derm Player, Eford was currently getting hospice care. From New York City to Baltimore, Coach Eford, a monster on the court, has had a significant impact on the lives of a great number of players, both on and off the court. Back in January, Eford posted a message on his Facebook page in which he discussed his lengthy profession as a coach. Twenty years ago, I took to Facebook to express my gratitude to the numerous mentors and leaders who had shaped my life.

This is my 36th year coaching at the collegiate, high school, grassroots, or Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) level, depending on who you ask. That is a topic that can be discussed at another time, lol. Let me begin by expressing my gratitude once more and asking that you all kindly remind me if I have overlooked someone. The three years that First Rev. Ed Visscher served as LuHi were among the most memorable of his career. I would want to thank Coach Sam for teaching me how to play in the biddies and midget ball leagues. Ernie Morris also from Wagner center midgets. Howie Evans is a Wagner life and serves as an example to others. He instructed me on how to present myself and how to dress.

Eford expressed his gratitude to the New York City coaches who had a significant impact on his development and named a few of the programs that he participated in. The head coach concluded his message by expressing gratitude to the person who holds the most significant place in his heart: his father. “Thank you very much, my generation was extremely fortunate. Thanks’ dad I hope we did you proud.”

The seasoned coach got his start in the coaching profession at Manhattan Center High School and AAU Riverside Church. There, he mentored future NBA players such of Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Erick Barkley, and Rafer Alston. Together with player Lenny Cooke, he won the CHSAA Junior Varsity Championship while attending LaSalle Academy in New York. Additionally, he coached AAU Team Durant and Concordia Prep in Maryland.

On the collegiate level, he was a coach at the following institutions: Fairfield University (1999-2001), St. Paul College CIAA (2001-2003), and Howard University (2003-2004). At Regional Lewis High School in Maryland from 2004-2007, Boca Rotan High School in Florida from 2007-2008, Carver Vo Tech High School in Maryland from 2008-2014, and the Friends School in Maryland from 2008-present (2014-2017). After spending seven years as a professional player in Europe, Mexico, and South America, he played for the University of Wyoming from 1974 until 1977.

Al Eford Obituary, Death – Al Eford Jr., a native of Harlem who coached for 36 years and had a total of 67 years of experience, passed suddenly at his home on Sunday morning due to cancer. According to a personal friend and Riverside Hawks Coach, Derm Player, Eford was currently getting hospice care. From…