Sanford School Coach Honored with Court Naming, Endowed Fund

Longtime Sanford School men’s basketball coach Stan Waterman was honored Saturday, Sept. 24, at a special court-naming ceremony at the school’s sports center. Along with the official dedication of the basketball court in his honor, the ceremony announced the establishment of the Stan Waterman Endowed Fund for Excellence in Coaching. More than $47,000 has already been raised to endow the fund, which each year will provide a monetary award and recognition to an exceptional Sanford coach who embodies Waterman’s high moral character, dedication to the development of the whole athlete, and outstanding sportsmanship.

Friends, family members and colleagues join Stan Waterman on the newly dedicated court named in his honor. (Photo by Ted Rosenthal/Izmaddy Studios)

Sanford alumnus Shukree Tilghman (class of ’97) and Waterman embrace following Tilghman’s emotion-filled presentation. (Photo by  Ted Rosenthal/Izmaddy Studios) - Advertisement -

Over 25 years of coaching at Sanford, Waterman has led teams to six state championships and 23 DISC Conference championships. However, Waterman has truly distinguished himself by his achievements as a mentor to hundreds of young men throughout his career. “He is a coach who puts personal development and sportsmanship ahead of athletic achievement,” a statement from Sanford reads. “As a role model for young people, he works to instill the values that will help athletes achieve their full potential as adults, beyond the basketball court.”

Many of those former players were on hand for the ceremony, including Shukree Tilghman (class of ’97), Tyson Waterman (class of ’95) and Logan Herring (class of ’00), who is an assistant Sanford men’s basketball coach. Several of Waterman’s mentors and colleagues (Chip Mayo, Steve Lee, Joan Samonisky) and his daughter, Paris Waterman (class of ’07), also delivered remarks. The dedication was followed by a community tribute and reception in honor of Waterman in the new Rubin Family Theater in the Geipel Center for the Performing Arts.

*Ella Wagner is a 2009 alumna of Sanford School.