NE10 Founding Father Andy Laska Left a Lasting Mark at Assumption

Posted: Mar 19, 2021

The first athletic director in the history of Assumption University, Andy Laska’s impact on the school cannot fully be measured. He transformed a school and athletic department over this 30-year tenure as the athletic director, establishing a legacy that won’t be forgotten.

Current Assumption Director of Athletics Christine Lowthert was effusive in her praise of Laska. “Through his decades of service to the Assumption, the NE10 and most importantly, countless student-athletes, Andy Laska shall forever be a revered member of our community. Years after his service at Assumption, we continue to realize his influence, which is witnessed in the dedication of our coaches to student-athletes’ athletic and academic success.”

Though Assumption was only a member of the NE10 for Laska’s final six years as athletic director, his impact in helping to create the conference and bring together these eight schools for a common goal is illustrated by his induction into the NE10 Hall of Fame as a “Founding Father.”

A Holy Cross graduate and teammate of Bob Cousy, Laska came to Assumption in 1951, where he served as the head men’s basketball from 1951-67, compiling a 224-92 record, reaching the NCAA Tournament ten times and winning one NCAA Regional Championship. He took over as athletic director in 1956 and soon after helped Assumption transition from NAIA to NCAA membership. Decades after his 1967 retirement from coaching basketball, alumni and fans would still talk glowingly of the man who led the men’s basketball team to great success and also had the University’s gym named in his honor.

In addition to his work as a basketball coach, Laska served as the school’s golf coach from 1969 until his retirement in 1986. His greatest success on the links came in 1986 as the Greyhounds placed second in the NE10 Championship. That team was led by Frank Vana Jr., who would go on to play in the NCAA National Championships and become one of the top amateur golfers in Massachusetts.

Laska was also instrumental in starting all of the women’s athletic programs at Assumption, a school which was an all-male institution until 1969. Field hockey, basketball, cross country, tennis and volleyball were all added during his tenure as athletic director, and all immediately competed in the NE10 once the conference sponsored each sport. Laska’s dedication to increasing athletic opportunities for women is still today at Assumption, as the school now has 13 women’s varsity sports and three women have held the title of Athletic Director.

In addition to his many accomplishments in the arena of basketball, Laska was also well known throughout the city of Worcester for his involvement with a number of organizations, including the Worcester Chamber of Commerce and the Boys & Girls Club. For more than a decade, he and his longtime friend Dee Rowe ran a basketball camp at Worcester Academy and then at Assumption.

Laska, who was named an honorary Assumption alum in the late 1960’s, passed away in early 2019. He and his late wife Ruth had five children, Michael, Donna, Diane '76, Kim '81 and Andrew, and many grandchildren.

Andy Laska Links of Note:

ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.