Hartwick Community Honors the Life and Legacy of “The Coach”
Hundreds of alumni, friends and family filled Lambros Arena, and hundreds more joined online, on Sunday, Oct. 12, to celebrate the life of Nicholas “Nick” Lambros ’59 P’02, P’02, PM’03.
Held in the arena that bears his name, the Celebration of Life reflected the passion, humor and heart of a man whose influence on Hartwick athletics spanned more than 60 years. The theme, Live Like Nick, echoed throughout the afternoon, an invitation to honor his legacy by living with the same loyalty, generosity and love he showed to others.
President James Mullen opened the ceremony by reflecting on Lambros’s enduring impact. “Nick Lambros embodied all that is good in our tradition,” Mullen said. “No one ever loved this place more and no one ever contributed more to its mission of inspiring young people to achieve heights they never thought possible.”
Lambros’s connection to Hartwick ran deep. As a student-athlete, alumnus and longtime coach, he poured his energy and wisdom into generations of student-athletes. Over 21 seasons as men’s basketball coach, he guided the Hawks to national recognition, compiling a 353–191 record and earning NCAA Coach of the Year honors in 1979 and 1988. He also coached baseball and golf, and his own athletic résumé included four varsity seasons in basketball and baseball, a tryout with the Los Angeles Dodgers, three City Tennis Championships and an Oneonta Country Club golf title.
Timothy McGraw ’88, who graduated as Hartwick’s all-time leading scorer in men’s basketball and was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995, shared what it meant to play for him.
“Every one of his players knew he loved us like we were his own. He guided us, believed in us and stood by us in ways that shaped who we are both on and off the court. And we loved him back.”
Timothy McGraw ’88
