Farewell to Don Crummell

Don Crummell was asked to take over as the girls basketball coach at Roosevelt in 1989 by athletic director Harvey Palmore. Crummell was told to stay at the helm until the Rough Riders could find another coach. Well, 21 years later, Crummell still has the job.

"I never thought it would be that long," Crummell said. "Girls basketball wasn't that popular at the time,"

Crummell is retiring and coached his last game at Roosevelt on Tuesday night in a 58-37 loss to Division in the Nassau Class A quarterfinals. Crummell will work in the community to help develop the basketball skills of girls from grades two through six.

Crummell finished with 283 wins at Roosevelt. He won a Long Island championship in 1994 and the team was the runner-up in the state final. He led Roosevelt to county championships in 1989, 1990 and 1994 and won nine conference championships.  

Crummell coached football at Roosevelt in 1978 and was the head coach from 1985-89.