St. Clair College is mourning the passing of a former women's basketball coach and professor.
John Martel died last Friday at the age of 82.
In addition to being a professor at the college for 25 years, Martel was also the head coach of the women's basketball team.
He took over as head coach in 1974, the second year of the women's basketball program at St. Clair. His best year was in 1975-76 when St. Clair was undefeated in the regular season and won silver at the championships. He returned to coaching in 1986-87, leading the team to a fourth-place finish in the province. His record is still the third-best in the regular season of any coach in women's basketball history at the college.
Martel continued to give back as late as this year when he volunteered at St. Clair championship events.
There was a service for Martel on Tuesday morning at Families First Funeral Home on Dougall Avenue.