Ewing, NJ ... When watching how particular athletes play a sport, it becomes apparent there are certain attributes you just can't teach. Hustle, aggression, and selflessness can be preached, but those are innate character traits that are difficult to instill in another.

Senior Steve Siracusa (New Providence, NJ/Providence) is an example of a player who possesses those intangibles. But after he plays his final game for The College of New Jersey men's basketball team this Wednesday night, he will take on a new battle in trying to pass on what he has learned and impart those same qualities he so admirably embodies.

The 6' 3” forward will follow in the footsteps of his parents and pursue the teaching profession. His father, Steve, and his mother, Nancy, are both career educators, and Siracusa will take his blue-collar approach to the scholastic stage and look to continue his work ethic under the title of teacher and coach.

“There are so many things that I've learned that have helped develop my character and how I function in everyday life,” noted Siracusa, a health and exercise science major who is currently student-teaching at Robbinsville High School. “Time management and organization skills are a just a few things, but I've learned much more through my experiences playing sports.”

To teach and coach, one must first learn and Siracusa has digested plenty of lessons through his experiences in athletics. Some of that knowledge derives from the rewarding experiences that competitive sports offer, while other teaching points are endured through painstaking lessons that filter through the athletic arena.

An enlightening experience occurred this past summer after Siracusa was selected to play for the USA Athletes International Basketball Team. He was awarded a scholarship based on leadership, athletic ability, and scholastic standing to travel with a group of hand-picked Division III basketball players to the West Indies to participate in annual goodwill competition.

While the excitement of playing with a select group in Barbados was obvious, the culture and children's basketball clinics he conducted had the greatest impact on Siracusa. He enjoyed working with the kids, but it also taught him to be grateful for the standard of living back home.

“It was a very different country and culture and gave me a better understanding of how fortunate we are here,” Siracusa explained. “It's a beautiful country, but some of the things we take for granted are not at their finger-tips. It gave me a fresh outlook when I returned and how to be more appreciative.”

Other lessons learned through playing were more difficult to bear. Siracusa, who played football, baseball, and basketball through high school, was sidelined his sophomore year when he dislocated his knee cap. He also suffered a knee injury during his first season at TCNJ. Those physical hardships brought to light how quickly the landscape of a season can change and the opportunity to play something you enjoy can swiftly be snatched from you in an instant. As he stated, “You have to take advantage of every opportunity you have to play because each day could potentially be your last.”

Perhaps the greatest source of education will emerge from this past season. Every character trait, emotion, and level of sanity was put to the test as the Lions basketball team struggled through one of their most trying seasons in program history. After starting out 3-7 against a challenging, early-season schedule, TCNJ came out on the losing end in its next 13 contests.

“The first thing I learned is how much I hate losing,” noted Siracusa, who ranks second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference in rebounding at 8.8 per game. “I've been fortunate enough to be on a lot of winning teams and have never gone through anything this. I don't think any of us have.”

It was a frustrating stretch to say the least, but what was equally exasperating was the ever-evasive question as to why? While some slumps can be easily identified, there was no simple diagnosis for what plagued the Lions. As the clock expired each game with another unfavorable result, a sense of disbelief began to permeate through the roster and coaching staff. Eventually, that disbelief evolved into a lack of belief and much like the weather outside Packer Hall, there was a snowball effect.

“What's been so difficult is that we worked hard, we stayed together, and we were capable of doing so much more, but at the end of the game, the scoreboard wouldn't reflect that,” Siracusa said. “The players and the coaches worked their tails off, but we just couldn't seem to pinpoint what was wrong. The chemistry of the team was great in practice and it was great in the locker room. I'm proud of the fact there were no fights and no finger-pointing. We were a cohesive unit entering every game. It's just that there seemed to be times in each of those games when we got out of sync.”

It appeared to be heading in that same direction this past Saturday against Valley Christian Forge College. The Patriots came into the game with a 24-5 record and led by 14 points midway through the first half. But much like how mystifying the previous 13 games had been, everything suddenly clicked for TCNJ as they exploded to outscore Valley Forge by 36 points over the final 30 minutes to win 81-59.
The season is still fresh to Siracusa, and he still has one more game. But as time passes, his final year of playing may prepare him more for coaching and teaching than any other. Any coach will tell you that practice plans, in-game coaching, and post-game speeches are easy when you're winning. It's when things go awry are when coaching becomes a more complex challenge.

“One of the most important lessons I learned this year is to focus on the little things rather than concerning yourself with the end result,” he reflected. “If you take care of things you control, it will take care of the results.

“My biggest hope is that the struggles we experienced this year will be a source of motivation for my teammates next year. If they have success next year as a result of what we've gone through, I know that would make me feel good.”

That is the type of attitude that will make Siracusa a valuable asset in the classroom and on the sidelines. Rather than wallow in self-pity through a rough senior season, he views it as an opportunity for others to improve and yield future success. That's the sign of a good teacher and coach.

But before he gets there, he's got one more game. It's senior night against Rowan University, and for 40 more minutes, Siracusa can push the lesson plans and clipboard aside and play ball.