Coach William J. Held
Coach Bill Held led the Sailors to 17 consecutive winning seasons in Lacrosse and Basketball. He initiated the lacrosse program in 1978. Seven of his lacrosse teams were ranked among the top five of the Sunpapers High School Polls.
A win in the 1985 AIS Lacrosse Championship against Roland Park is counted among Bill's coaching credits as he led teams in four championship games. He also coached in four East-West High School All-Star Games. Bill's Sailor lacrosse teams produced eight High School All-Americans. He is known for establishing team mottos such as, “Winners make it happen and losers let it happen,” and “Wining isn’t everything but wanting to is.”
His contributions to the Sailor lacrosse program were not exclusive to coaching. Through his financial contribution, the field under the players’ cleats was created out of a sloping hill that once existed in front of Mount de Sales Academy. The field was named in memory of Richard Held, Bill’s late father. An engraved stone stands today marking “Held Memorial Drive” in memory of both of Bill’s parents, Richard and Mitzi Held.
Bill is credited with the creation of the Summer Lacrosse Camp at Mount de Sales and the institution of the Annual Friendship Tournament. He took great pride in how his teams dressed and presented themselves. Although they were known to be aggressive and tough on the field, Held insisted that his players to represent the Catholic Tradition of Mount de Sales.
From 1992-2000 Bill Held and Mike Tirocchi P’88 ’92 coached the Varsity basketball team. In 1994, Bill was named “Coach of the Year” for the Catholic Girls’ League. Mike also joined the lacrosse coaching staff in 1993. Over three seasons from 1993-1995 the dynamic duo led the Sailor lacrosse program to a 54-4 record.
After 17 years of coaching, Bill retired from coaching lacrosse in 1995, only to join his daughter, Jenny ’89, as her assistant coach at Mount St. Mary’s College. Bill and Jenny led their Division I team to a victory in the 1997 MAAC Championships. In 2004 Bill returned to Held Memorial Field as the assistant JV lacrosse coach and helped the Sailors complete a 10-1-1 season.
Sadly, Bill has struggled with Diabetes for several years and suffered two strokes shortly after the ’04 season. Suffering from severe Aphasia and Apraxia, Bill had difficulty speaking but never gave up, living by his own motto, “Practice to play, play to win.” Since enrolling in the Speech Therapy Program at Loyola College, Bill has regained about 80% of his speech. He and his wife, Luba, Catonsville residents, live an active life and stay busy with the activities of nine grandchildren. Bill continues to share his love of coaching and passion for athletics by helping to coach his granddaughter’s basketball team.
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A win in the 1985 AIS Lacrosse Championship against Roland Park is counted among Bill's coaching credits as he led teams in four championship games. He also coached in four East-West High School All-Star Games. Bill's Sailor lacrosse teams produced eight High School All-Americans. He is known for establishing team mottos such as, “Winners make it happen and losers let it happen,” and “Wining isn’t everything but wanting to is.”
His contributions to the Sailor lacrosse program were not exclusive to coaching. Through his financial contribution, the field under the players’ cleats was created out of a sloping hill that once existed in front of Mount de Sales Academy. The field was named in memory of Richard Held, Bill’s late father. An engraved stone stands today marking “Held Memorial Drive” in memory of both of Bill’s parents, Richard and Mitzi Held.
Bill is credited with the creation of the Summer Lacrosse Camp at Mount de Sales and the institution of the Annual Friendship Tournament. He took great pride in how his teams dressed and presented themselves. Although they were known to be aggressive and tough on the field, Held insisted that his players to represent the Catholic Tradition of Mount de Sales.
From 1992-2000 Bill Held and Mike Tirocchi P’88 ’92 coached the Varsity basketball team. In 1994, Bill was named “Coach of the Year” for the Catholic Girls’ League. Mike also joined the lacrosse coaching staff in 1993. Over three seasons from 1993-1995 the dynamic duo led the Sailor lacrosse program to a 54-4 record.
After 17 years of coaching, Bill retired from coaching lacrosse in 1995, only to join his daughter, Jenny ’89, as her assistant coach at Mount St. Mary’s College. Bill and Jenny led their Division I team to a victory in the 1997 MAAC Championships. In 2004 Bill returned to Held Memorial Field as the assistant JV lacrosse coach and helped the Sailors complete a 10-1-1 season.
Sadly, Bill has struggled with Diabetes for several years and suffered two strokes shortly after the ’04 season. Suffering from severe Aphasia and Apraxia, Bill had difficulty speaking but never gave up, living by his own motto, “Practice to play, play to win.” Since enrolling in the Speech Therapy Program at Loyola College, Bill has regained about 80% of his speech. He and his wife, Luba, Catonsville residents, live an active life and stay busy with the activities of nine grandchildren. Bill continues to share his love of coaching and passion for athletics by helping to coach his granddaughter’s basketball team.
Mount de Sales Academy
Academic Excellence in the Catholic Tradition
