Doherty Talks Dandy Dozen

Tom Doherty—known for his long, storied career as a teacher, coach, and athletic director in Pearl River and his “Go Pirates” rallying cry — is the chief editor and publisher of a weekly high school sports ranking system.

The “Dandy Dozen” of the best high school teams in Rockland County now reaches 500 devotees each week.

Patch spoke with Doherty, who retired in 2003, and still resides in Park Ridge, N.J. The Patch reached Doherty and his family following his return from vacation, and after he had attended a fund-raiser for former Clarkstown swimming coach Keith Furey, who passed away at 48 following a two-year battle with cancer.

PATCH: Just how did the concept for the “Dandy Dozen” come about?

TD: Well, it was not an original idea. I got it from MSG Varsity. I’m a huge follower, and they had been doing a top 10 on Long Island, and you’re talking about a lot of teams. It is a tremendous undertaking. I thought it was a neat idea, and I had the time. We have 11 schools in the county. My whole thing is to promote interest and discussion: it was needed. It’s kind of neat to see some of your stuff up there (in the media).

PATCH: When did you first start the ranking system in Rockland?

TD: It started in the fall of 2009 after the season. I did another after the winter season, and the final one in the spring. But for this school year, 2010-11, I did it weekly. I’ll also be addressing some topics this summer, and start up again week in the fall.

PATCH: What are some of the topics you will be addressing before the fall?

TD: (Almost apologetically) Well, I actually fell behind on my schedule, because of the vacation, and my son’s wedding (Brendan Doherty and Katie Redden of Rivervale, N.J., tie the knot on July 29). But that’s the beauty of this thing; I can set my own deadlines! But coming up, we’ll decide who is the Mount Rushmore of all-time Rockland coaches? What were the greatest achievements in Rockland scholastic sports history? And we have a few other ideas.

PATCH: How has the response been to the rankings?

TD: The feedback has been wonderful, it’s been mostly favorable. There are now 500 people on my list who receive the rankings on a weekly basis. It’s a lot, but at least it gives me something to do. It is what it is.

PATCH: Who might we consider your biggest fan?

TD: Well, how do I put this, and not in a bad way. My greatest critic, my best contributor, is probably Dave McNally, the boys lacrosse coach in Suffern. He’s also on the football staff. He says I’m biased to track and field. He’s firmly convinced I’m biased, and I tell him to check the facts. The facts don’t lie; it’s a friendly byplay.

PATCH: What sort of criteria do you use in ranking the teams, and do you receive any input?

TD: If you notice, my rankings come out on Thursday or Friday. Most of the state rankings come out on Wednesday, and Neil Kerr and John Moriello do a great job. I think it’s important how you do at the state level, how your program stacks up against others in the state. I rely on Dick Yerg (longtime retired sports writer, a member of the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame) and Jamie Kempton of Nanuet (famed collegiate runner, also a member of the Hall of Fame) for some of their insight. I fully respect their knowledge.

PATCH: Where did you attend high school?

TD: I went to Bishop Reilly in Queens. We competed in the Catholic HS league. I ran track, but when we moved up here (Rockland), I really fell in love with high school sports. I was fascinated by the coverage in those days. It’s not like that today, and that’s why I enjoy doing the rankings, if only to drum up interest and discussion. I enjoy doing it, and am glad people are reading it.

PATCH: How about your involvement with Pearl River?

TD: It’s funny, because many people think I live there, but I’ve lived in Park Ridge for 39 years. Pearl River is a great community, I love it. I break down my time there in thirds: one-third as athletic director (1982 until his retirement, mainly due to health issues); one-third teaching and coaching boys cross country and track and field; and one-third teaching, starting as a student-teacher in 1969, and being fortunate enough to be hired in 1970.

PATCH: In retirement, besides the “Dandy Dozen,” what keeps you busy?

TD: I have always been involved in track, and cross country, working with Ralph Coleman, announcing meets. I’m also the unofficial voice of all indoor and outdoor meets at West Point, for the men and women.

PATCH: How long do you expect to keep the “Dandy Dozen” going?

TD: Well, like I said, I have the time. I have four adult children, and I’ve always loved high school sports. I’m still psyched up about doing it. I guess I’ll keep at it until it becomes a pain in the neck. There were 267 varsity teams that competed last year, so I think I have enough material to work with.

For those who missed it, here is Doherty’s “Definitive Dandy Double-Dozen” of the best teams in Rockland County for the 2010-11 school year:

1: Tappan Zee boys swimming (7-1); coach Dan Rafferty. The Dutchmen won the state title with a record-breaking performance, scoring 92 points, with four all-Americans and three state champions.

2: North Rockland girls cross country (8-1); coach Brian Diglio. The Red Raiders were third in the state meet, losing only to the nation’s top-ranked team, Fayetteville-Manlius, and third-rated Saratoga Springs.

3: Pearl River girls cross country (9-0); coach Dan Doherty. The Lady Pirates were second in the state after winning a Section 1 championship, going unbeaten in league and dual meets.

4: Suffern boys ice hockey (21-3-1); coach Rob Schelling. The Mounties were ranked No. 3 in the state, making the Final Four after winning a Section 1 title.

5: North Rockland girls soccer (20-3); coach Jen Czumak. The Red Raiders made the state Final Four after winning Section 1 and Class AA titles.

6: North Rockland boys cross country (9-0); coach Barry Baloga. The Red Raiders finished second in Section 1, but won the Rockland County crown.

7: Pearl River boys cross country (7-2); coach Mike Kiernan. The Pirates placed fifth in the state after winning a Section 1 championship, and placing second in the county meet.

8: Tappan Zee girls cross country (7-2); coach Pat Driscoll. The Dutchies were sixth in the state meet, after capturing the Section 1 title.

9: Pearl River girls lacrosse (16-5-1); coach Laurie Mayernik. The Lady Pirates were Section 1 and state regional champions.

10: Pearl River softball (24-2); coach Mike Carlacci: The Pirates ranked fifth in the state, won a Section 1 title, and made the state Final Four.

11: North Rockland boys spring track (4-0); coach Gene Dall: The Red Raiders won a Section 1 title, and captured the Rockland Country crown by a whopping 96 points.

12: Suffern boys volleyball (11-1); coach Kim Cleary: The Mounties were Section 1 champions, and advanced to the state Final Four.

13: North Rockland girls spring track (4-0); coach Brian Diglio: The Red Raiders were county and Section 1 champions.

14: North Rockland boys winter track (no dual record); coach Gene Dall: The Section 1 and county champs were ranked No. 6 in the state.

15: Suffern girls winter track (no dual record); coach Joe Biddy: The Mounties won county and Section 1 crowns, and were ranked No. 9 in the state.

16: North Rockland girls bowling (147-0); coach Joan Nelson: The Red Raiders placed sixth at the state tournament, after capturing a Section 1 title.

17:  Clarkstown boys bowling (124-23); coach Jeff Gartner: The team placed ninth at the state tournament after reigning supreme in Section 1.

18: Tappan Zee baseball (16-10); coach Mark Stanford: The Dutchmen earned a No. 7 rank in the state, following a Section 1 championship and making the state regional semifinals.

19: Albertus Magnus boys basketball (18-5); coach Pat McFadden: The Falcons won the Section 1 crown, made the state regional Final Four, and earned a No. 9 rank statewide.

20: Pearl River girls spring track (5-0); coach Dan Doherty: The Pirates won league and Section 1 titles, and ranked third in the state.

21: Pearl River girls winter track (no dual record); coach Dan Doherty: The Pirates were league and Section 1 champions.

22: Nanuet wrestling (12-5); coach Carmine Serra: The Golden Knights were league and sectional champs, and earned honorable mention status in the state.

23: Pearl River girls basketball (20-2); coach Lorraine Moylan: The Lady Pirates were ranked No. 12 in the state, after being defeated in the Section 1 title game (Pearl River lost an opportunity to play in the county championship game by a coin toss, and were co-league champs).

24, tie:  Nanuet girls cross country (6-3); coach Sheri Dempsey: Were ranked No. 3 in the state, placed second in Section 1, third in the league, and fourth in the county.

24, tie.:  Suffern girls lacrosse (16-5); coach John Callanan: The Mounties were a Section 1 finalist, and went unbeaten as league champions.

(Ed note: In his new role as rankings chairman, Doherty’s refrain is now “Go Rockland County Sports! For comments, suggestions, omissions, criticisms, witticisms, email tommydoherty@optonline.net.