End of an era: Dawson College basketball coach Joel Tyrrell retires after 49 years

After nearly half a century spent mentoring players, basketball coach Joel Tyrrell announced his retirement from the athletic department at Dawson College.

Tyrrell started as a social sciences student in 1973, and stayed at the CEGEP until his last day on Aug. 19.

"I had the opportunity to work with some amazing coaches at this college, who inspired me to pursue the career," Tyrrell said on the school's court on Saturday.

"I felt it was time to step aside and give somebody else the opportunity."

It was in his first year with the school's team, the Dawson Blues, that he suffered a foot injury. The incident may have cut his career as a player short — but not his passion for the game.

In the same year he went on to found the Downtown Community Blues, a basketball program for boys run through Little Burgundy Sports Association. The program's goal was to be affordable and push players between the ages of 12 to 19 to excel in school. 

"If you came in with a failing grade, we put you on the sidelines until you showed improvements in the classroom," Tyrrell said. "That's something I'm a strong believer in. Academics should come first."

In 2021, the coach was inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame thanks to his commitment to young players.

Though he's leaving Dawson, he said he won't be stepping away from mentoring the Downtown Community Blues teams anytime soon.

Denburk Reid went on to become the all-time leading scorer for the Redmen at McGill University after playing with the Dawson Blues in the 1990s. Then as their assistant coach after graduating with a bachelor of economics and management in 2005.

Reid said he was inspired by Tyrrell to mentor younger players later on in his career.

"He's done a great job