'They're doing a great job': Worcester native Eric Eaton has St. Michael's men's basketball off to best start in 23 years

By Jennifer Toland

Eric Eaton's truck was in the shop Tuesday morning, and the St. Michael's College men's basketball coach was at home and waiting - eagerly - for one of his assistants to pick him up for the short drive to the Colchester, Vermont, campus for practice at the Ross Sports Center gym.

"I'm champing at the bit to get in there," Eaton said in a phone interview. "That's the way this team makes me feel every day. They're exciting to coach."

Eaton, who grew up in Worcester and starred at Doherty High and Worcester Academy, is similarly shining in his first head coaching position.

At 11-2, St. Michael's is off to its best start since 2000-01, and the Purple Knights occupy the top spot in the Northeast-10 Conference at 7-0.

"I've got great kids," said Eaton, who is in his fifth season at St. Michael's. "They're doing a great job."

In 2019, Eaton took over a St. Michael's program that reached the NCAA Division 2 Sweet 16 in 2001, but finished above .500 just three times in the next 18 years. The Purple Knights won seven games in Eaton's first season, eight in 2021-22, and 11 last year.

St. Michael's opened this season with a loss to Bloomfield before reeling off seven straight victories, including a one-point triumph over then-No. 19 Pace, and the Purple Knights take a four-game winning streak into Wednesday's game against Bentley.

"It's been very similar to a lot of other people's process when you build a program," Eaton said. "You go and recruit the guys that fit you and the guys that do what it is you want done. For me, it's really guys who are good people, guys who have toughness, and guys who have a competitive fire. Obviously, they are talented players, but the skill set and all that other stuff takes care of itself when you do it, when you get the right guys, when they fit you and you coach them."

Before St. Michael's, Eaton had a very successful 23-year run as an assistant coach, including four stints at the Division 1 level, beginning at Holy Cross under Ralph Willard in 2000, and at Albany, Quinnipiac and Iona. In his four seasons at HC, Eaton helped the Crusaders to three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Willard's sense of urgency, organization and attention to detail, as well as former Quinnipiac coach and Millbury native Tom Moore's toughness and intensity influenced Eaton's coaching style.

"But when you become a head coach," Eaton said, "you've got to roll with it. You have to figure out what works for you, and what doesn't work for you. It's trial and error like any other job."

Eaton also was an assistant at Assumption, Anna Maria and UMass-Dartmouth, his alma mater.

St. Michael's plays at NE-10 foe Assumption at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

As it is every season, the game will be a special homecoming for Eaton, who, as a kid, used to sneak into Laska Gym for pickup games and "to get dunked on by (Assumption Hall of Famer) Drew Adderly," Eaton said with a laugh. He expects 30-40 family members and friends to be at Saturday's game. Eaton's wife Alexis (Leacu) is a 2001 Assumption graduate.

The Eatons' twin sons, Evan and Owen, who were born when Eric was an Albany assistant, are high school juniors and the starting backcourt for Rice Memorial, a Vermont power that is the only undefeated team in the state.

Evan and Owen, who were freshmen on Rice's 2021-22 state championship team, each scored 20 points in Monday's victory.

"It's fun," the very proud Eaton said, "just trying to be a dad for a few nights a week."