New England Mourns Whit Lesure
It is with heavy hearts that the New England basketball community mourns the unexpected passing of Whit Lesure, a coach, mentor, and pillar of prep school basketball whose impact will be felt for generations.
For nearly three decades, Whit was the steady hand guiding Bridgton Academy, where he took over the program in 1997 and helped shape it into one of the most respected names in the NEPSAC, and prep school basketball as a whole.
His teams competed at the highest level year after year, earning multiple championships and the admiration of players, coaches, and fans alike. His legacy was formally recognized with his induction into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, but those who knew him understand that his true impact went far beyond wins and banners.
Whit’s journey in the game began as a player at Hobart College, where he spent four years on the court while earning a degree in political science. Even then, coaching was already calling him. While still a college student, he got his first taste of teaching the game in the Framingham summer league, planting the seeds for what would become his lifelong occupation.
After graduating, Whit wasted no time stepping into leadership, landing a head coaching role at the New Hampton School, where he coached from 1982 to 1991.
During that time, he coached Pat Knight, son of legendary coach Bob Knight, a connection Whit credited as one factor in helping elevate the visibility and credibility of the prep school basketball scene during that era.
His path next led him to the collegiate ranks, including stops at the University of New Hampshire and Scottsdale Community College, before ultimately returning to prep school basketball, where his influence would be greatest.
Over the course of his career, Whit helped hundreds of young men chase and achieve their dreams of playing college basketball.
He was a trusted guide through the prep school process, someone families leaned on not just for basketball advice, but for life guidance. His coaching tree speaks volumes about his impact, with former players such as Ed Cooley (Georgetown) and Cuonzo Martin (Missouri State) going on to lead programs of their own, carrying pieces of Whit’s wisdom with them.
This past year, Bridgton Academy honored Whit in a fitting way by naming the basketball gymnasium “The Whit Lesure Court.” It is a tribute that now carries even deeper meaning as a permanent reminder of a man who gave so much of himself to the game and to the people within it.
Statement from NERR Director, Zack Sandberg: “In any discussion of prep school basketball’s greatest coaches, Whit Lesure’s name belongs at the very top. Over his remarkable career, he guided more than 300 players to college programs and countless others to professional opportunities overseas, earning widespread respect throughout the basketball community. Those who knew Whit witnessed a beautiful duality: the fierce competitor who brought intensity to every game, and the humble, generous man who made time for anyone who needed help. Over the twelve years I knew him, Whit became more than a colleague—he became a friend. Prep School Hoops owes much of its success to his support and influence. As the Bridgton community grieves this tremendous loss, I’m holding onto gratitude for the time we shared while feeling the weight of his absence.”
Whit Lesure will be remembered not just as a winning coach, but as a teacher, a mentor, and a constant presence in the lives of countless players.
His influence lives on in every gym he stepped into, every player he believed in, and every lesson he passed down. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lesure family, the Bridgton Academy community, and the prep school basketball community as a whole.