By Marley Seaman
Born in Mt. Vernon, NY, Skinner spent his last two years of high school in Malverne. His senior year, he played on a team that won its first 21 games of the season only to lose to Carle Place in the ultimate contest ‹ the Nassau County finals. He calls then Malverne head coach Ray Nerrie one of the most important figures in his basketball life.
"What he gave me was the fact that as important as basketball was, there had to be other things and other respects that came along with being a good basketball player," Skinner said. "Community, education, it was all tied together. It was not isolated, and that was extremely important to him and made it a focus for everyone who played for him."
After starring at the University of Massachusetts for three years, Skinner was drafted by the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association. The team won the ABA championship in 1975-1976. The following year, the ABA merged with the National Basketball Association and the Nets moved to New Jersey.
Skinner sees victory at any level as the result of hard work and opportunity.
"[A championship] is what you're striving for, and if you're fortunate enough to be able to do that, it's very satisfying and it doesn't come along very often," he said. It puts an exclamation point on an outstanding season."
In 1980-81, Skinner went overseas and his Joventut Barcelona team won a European League Championship.
After his short time in Europe he retired and come home. He became an assistant coach at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY before the 1982 season. From there, he moved on to the University of Rhode Island Rams. He became the head coach in 1988 and led the team for the next decade.
When coach Jim O'Brien left Boston College for Ohio State, the Eagles came calling for Skinner. He didn't shy away from the opportunity. His first three seasons in Boston were difficult, but the team has been one of the nation's best since then. In 2001, Skinner's team won a school-record 27 games. They¹ve made the NCAA tournament or the National Invitation Tournament every year since then, and 20-win seasons are becoming standard. Last year's squad won its first 20 games, rising as high as #4 in the nation. They're now a national power, and Skinner already has more wins than any coach in program history.
"It's obviously very difficult to build a program, but it¹s even more difficult at a school like BC because of the academic requirements," he said. "It's more of a testament to the young men who are willing to do that. They're competing at the highest level athletically."
When the players are allowed to rise to the occasion, he explained, "Winning just becomes a byproduct of that work ethic of the dedication and effort that they've made."
This year's Eagles are led by forwards Jared Dudley and Craig Smith, a pre-season first-team All-American. 2005-06 was Boston College¹s first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the home of perennial title contenders Duke and North Carolina. The team lost its first three games against conference opponents, but quickly adjusted to its new foes. Boston College finished the regular season in third place in the ACC, and reached the finals of the conference tournament. They enter the NCAAs as one of the hottest teams in the country, with 15 victories in their last 18 games.
So what does the coach think of their national title chances?
"I never anticipate what the success is going to be," Skinner said. "Every game that we play, I think we can win if we¹re properly prepared and if we are focused. I try not to place limits and I try not to limit myself as to what we can achieve. If you excel, then great. If you don¹t, then hopefully we work harder. I don't think you can ask any more from an individual than that."
