Causing a racquet for half a century
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Professor Emeritus Jack Fairs (Kinesiology) has taken his love of coaching to a whole new level with the Mustangs squash team, one of the most successful teams in Canadian university sports history.
said if you want to be happy in life to "find something you love to do and get
someone to pay you to do it."
Jack Fairs, BSc'46, LLD'05, did just that in 1947 and hasn't looked back since. As one of the founding fathers of Western's physical education department (now Kinesiology), he has remained a role model for teachers, coaches, students and countless others for more than half a century.
After earning his Honors Chemistry degree from Western in 1946, Fairs attended Columbia University for Physical Education in 1947. A few short months later, Fairs was back at Western where he began his teaching and coaching career.
"We were all coaching in those days," recalls Fairs. "I taught graduate, undergraduate and coached (basketball and football) as well. That's unheard of today."
Looking far shy of his 82 years, Fairs has long retired from the classroom (1988), but not from his love of coaching - in particular men's squash. A win at McGill University in February gave the Mustangs a record of 33 OUA team titles - 23 of those consecutive. The team also
boasts 22 singles titles and countless
other accolades over the last few decades, solidifying them as the most
triumphant team in Western history.
The only common denominator throughout this dynasty has been Fairs,
but he is the first to deflect praise to
the athletes.
"Success like that, in any sports, is related to talent and working hard. We've been successful over the years
because we've been able to attract talent," says Fairs, who received an Honorary Degree from Western last spring.
"They come for the program. Athletes
are looking for opportunity and we can provide that. The ingredients for our success are cut and dry." Continent-wide,
their current success has rocketed the team to a #5 ranking in the National Collegiate Athletic Association poll, placing them among top Ivy League schools such as Princeton, Dartmouth,
Harvard and Cornell. Fairs and his wife Peggy, BA'59, spend many weekends driving the team to these schools.
"People often ask me, 'Why are you still coaching?' My answer is typically, 'because I love it'," says Fairs. "Coaching has brought fulfillment and enjoyment to my life. If you enjoy something, it's very difficult to give it up."
Listing Fairs' achievements over the past half century is perhaps made easier by naming what he hasn't been honoured for. With numerous Coach of the Year
honours, Special Achievement and Coaching Service Awards, not to mention induction into five Halls of Fame (Western, London, Chatham, Canadian Squash and Ontario Squash), you would think he's done it all.
Modest to a fault, Fairs says his enjoyment of coaching remains a source
of energy and enthusiasm. "Right now I feel great. I still have lots of enthusiasm for what we're doing," he says. "Coaching and teaching is something I've always knew I wanted to do, ever since high school. Staying with the coaching has allowed me to stay involved with what I love. I enjoy the team involvement and watching players develop as athletes. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing athletes achieve their goals."
On campus most days, Fairs enjoys going to the courts day after day, calling
it a "positive addiction." Fairs is in no hurry to pass on the reins but Peggy has
other ideas.
"She says 'Jack you're not coaching after 90'," he says. "I always joke with her and say in the collective agreement at Western it says that anybody who coaches after age 90 gets to travel with a
nurse. She says 'no nurse is going to travel with you'. We have fun with that one."
No coach in the history of Canadian university athletics has dominated a
sport like he has and Fairs personifies what Western stands for - devotion,
loyalty, pride and commitment.
"One of my great joys in coaching
is seeing Western players develop their
abilities to pursue their vocational goals,"
he says. "My job as a coach is not only to
assist athletes optimize their potential on
the field of play, but to help them develop
in the broadest possible manner."
someone to pay you to do it."
Jack Fairs, BSc'46, LLD'05, did just that in 1947 and hasn't looked back since. As one of the founding fathers of Western's physical education department (now Kinesiology), he has remained a role model for teachers, coaches, students and countless others for more than half a century.
After earning his Honors Chemistry degree from Western in 1946, Fairs attended Columbia University for Physical Education in 1947. A few short months later, Fairs was back at Western where he began his teaching and coaching career.
"We were all coaching in those days," recalls Fairs. "I taught graduate, undergraduate and coached (basketball and football) as well. That's unheard of today."
Looking far shy of his 82 years, Fairs has long retired from the classroom (1988), but not from his love of coaching - in particular men's squash. A win at McGill University in February gave the Mustangs a record of 33 OUA team titles - 23 of those consecutive. The team also
boasts 22 singles titles and countless
other accolades over the last few decades, solidifying them as the most
triumphant team in Western history.
The only common denominator throughout this dynasty has been Fairs,
but he is the first to deflect praise to
the athletes.
"Success like that, in any sports, is related to talent and working hard. We've been successful over the years
because we've been able to attract talent," says Fairs, who received an Honorary Degree from Western last spring.
"They come for the program. Athletes
are looking for opportunity and we can provide that. The ingredients for our success are cut and dry." Continent-wide,
their current success has rocketed the team to a #5 ranking in the National Collegiate Athletic Association poll, placing them among top Ivy League schools such as Princeton, Dartmouth,
Harvard and Cornell. Fairs and his wife Peggy, BA'59, spend many weekends driving the team to these schools.
"People often ask me, 'Why are you still coaching?' My answer is typically, 'because I love it'," says Fairs. "Coaching has brought fulfillment and enjoyment to my life. If you enjoy something, it's very difficult to give it up."
Listing Fairs' achievements over the past half century is perhaps made easier by naming what he hasn't been honoured for. With numerous Coach of the Year
honours, Special Achievement and Coaching Service Awards, not to mention induction into five Halls of Fame (Western, London, Chatham, Canadian Squash and Ontario Squash), you would think he's done it all.
Modest to a fault, Fairs says his enjoyment of coaching remains a source
of energy and enthusiasm. "Right now I feel great. I still have lots of enthusiasm for what we're doing," he says. "Coaching and teaching is something I've always knew I wanted to do, ever since high school. Staying with the coaching has allowed me to stay involved with what I love. I enjoy the team involvement and watching players develop as athletes. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing athletes achieve their goals."
On campus most days, Fairs enjoys going to the courts day after day, calling
it a "positive addiction." Fairs is in no hurry to pass on the reins but Peggy has
other ideas.
"She says 'Jack you're not coaching after 90'," he says. "I always joke with her and say in the collective agreement at Western it says that anybody who coaches after age 90 gets to travel with a
nurse. She says 'no nurse is going to travel with you'. We have fun with that one."
No coach in the history of Canadian university athletics has dominated a
sport like he has and Fairs personifies what Western stands for - devotion,
loyalty, pride and commitment.
"One of my great joys in coaching
is seeing Western players develop their
abilities to pursue their vocational goals,"
he says. "My job as a coach is not only to
assist athletes optimize their potential on
the field of play, but to help them develop
in the broadest possible manner."
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