I'm impressed.
Sherman helping Chargers to greater heights
By: SCOTT WEISSMAN
07/20/2006
WOOD RIVER JUNCTION - Chariho High School head track and field coach Bill Haberek describes Arthur Sherman as "a fountain of knowledge" and "an encyclopedia of track and field."
During the past two outdoor track seasons, Sherman has volunteered as one of Haberek's assistant coaches. The former University of Rhode Island athlete has shared his many experiences and his vast intellect and has quickly become an integral member of the Charger coaching staff.
As far as Haberek is concerned, Sherman's contributions have been endless both on and off of the track.
"He's so knowledgeable and he's an amazing person and a great role model for the kids," said Haberek. "We've been so fortunate that he's been helping us. He's such an addition to the coaching staff and it's just awesome having him around. He's just Mr. Track and Field to me."
Track and field has long been an influential part of Sherman, beginning when he was a young boy growing up in Providence during the early 1930s.
Sherman fell in love with the pole vault event in the year 1934 when his older brother, Frank, initiated a local CYO sports program that was primarily run right out of the family's backyard.
The two brothers would walk to what is now the site of Rhode Island State College and cut down trees and carved the wood into poles for pole vaulting.
Sherman said the CYO sports program, which included track and field, football and basketball helped children going during and after the Great Depression. It helped Sherman and other young athletes find their calling in athletics.
"It was a nickel and dime operation, but it produced a lot of fine athletes," explained Sherman. "From that humble beginning, we just kept going through high school and after the war we went on to college."
Sherman attended high school at LaSalle Academy, where he competed in the pole vault on some very talented track and field teams.
Three weeks after graduating high school, Sherman joined the army and served for three years (1942-1945) during World War II. In 1944, the United States government instituted the GI Bill of Rights, which provided unemployment benefits, education assistance, and low interest loans for homes, farms, and small businesses to war veterans.
Sherman attended the University of Rhode Island as a freshman in the year 1946 and later graduated in 1950. During his time on the URI track and field team, Sherman thrived in the pole vault under the direction of Rhode Island legend and track coach Ed Tootell. Tootell coached track and field at the University for 30 years (1925-1955) and left a winning legacy that, to this day, still mesmerizes Sherman.
"He was a giant. Literally and physically," said Sherman of Tootell. "He was legendary. I'm writing this book about him and the more I learn about him, the more I can't believe what he was able to accomplish as an athlete and as a coach. It's unbelievable what that man achieved.
"He was one of the finest track coaches you could ever come across. He just has a legacy that's unbelievable of producing successful teams, championship teams, championship athletes, record holders and national champions and Olympians."
Sherman also left a significant mark on the URI track and field program. He was one of three pole vaulters nationwide selected to the All American track and field team in the 1950 season.
As a sophomore, Sherman qualified into the finals of the 1948 Olympic Trials in Chicago, Illinois.
In his four years there, Sherman and the Rams won three Yankee Conference championships and three New England Conference championships.
Sherman returned to URI after graduation and was hired as an assistant to track and field head coach Tom Russell. Sherman worked with Russell for seven seasons (1959-1966) and later became a physical education professor at the University.
Sherman taught a coach's preparation course for aspiring high school and college coaches, which where he met Haberek for the first time as a student.
Haberek enrolled in the course as a junior in 1971 and quickly related to Sherman's teachings.
"His course definitely turned me in that direction," said Haberek, who was leaning towards coaching prior to taking the class. "It was probably the best class I took in college."
Thirty-five years later, Haberek and Sherman are still molding track and field minds and bodies - together.
Sherman says he's enjoyed every minute working with the Chariho High boys' and girls' track teams. It has given him an opportunity to stay close to the sport he treasures and teach - two things it seems he was born to do.
"There's something that attracted me to it," said Sherman, of the pole vault. "It takes speed and strength and motivation. But there's something else that's just there. There's some attraction that always attracts you, even when you're an old man looking back, coaching kids like I'm trying to do now.
"It's still fascinating. It's just an exciting event. It's exciting to watch and it's exciting to do."
Sherman, who resides in Charlestown with his wife, has been able to coach his grandson, Kerry Donovan, who is a member of the track and field team at Chariho.
He has also helped 2006 senior Stephanie Gregory, who will be attending his alma mater in the fall and competing on the track and field team there.
"It's a great privilege to be associated with kids like that," said Sherman. "Bill does a great job and deserves a lot of credit for the successes and for what he's been able to do with these kids."
It's safe to say, the Chargers feel exactly that way about Art Sherman.
He might just be my favorite older person ever... Definitely one of my favorite coaches.