In Memory
David William Hadaway
May 4, 1936 - Sep. 8, 2015
SOUTH BEND - David William Hadaway, loving husband, father and grandfather, and legendary Indiana High School basketball coach, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2015.
He will be sorely missed by his wife of 54 years, Becki, son Doug (Mary), daughters Beth (Pete) Jokich and Mindy (Chris) FitzGerald and grandchildren Jimmy, Bryan and Jack Hadaway, Anthony and Michael Jokich and John and Meghan FitzGerald.
His sense of humor was renowned and appreciated by all who knew him and he leaves many great memories for his family and friends of a life well lived. Dave was a Hoosier through and through with deep family roots in South Bend.
He grew up on his family's apple farm, which once encompassed a large part of what is now the Michiana Regional airport. Dave pursued an athletic path early in life, and, after a noteworthy career playing baseball at South Bend Central high school, he followed a childhood friend, Jim Reinebold, another Indiana coaching legend, to Mississippi College. There, Dave played baseball and basketball while earning his undergraduate degree becoming the first of his family to do so.
After returning home, he also earned a graduate degree from the University of Notre Dame. Dave embarked upon his coaching career at the former Lakeville and Greene Township high schools in the South Bend area, before accepting the "B-Team" coaching position at Adams in 1966. After an undefeated season in that role, Dave was named the head varsity coach in 1969 beginning a brilliant career in which he became the winningest coach in South Bend high school basketball history.
His crowning achievement was his induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. During his career at South Bend Adams, his teams won more Northern Indiana Conference Championships, South Bend sectionals, South Bend Holiday tournaments and had more wins than any other coach in South Bend basketball history.
Dave took great pride in the success of his players, including five of which were placed on the Indiana All-Star team and twelve of which were named to All-American teams. He was fast to attribute the success of the Adams basketball program to the many great athletes, fans and supporters of the John Adams family that played such a critical role in this magical journey.
Beyond the wins and losses on the hardwood, Dave derived the greatest joy in his career from developing his players into young men equipped with the fundamentals necessary for success in life as a whole, not just basketball. He valued each team as family and his playbook for success went beyond X's and O's. Many young men, through his tutelage, attended college through basketball scholarships that might never have attended college otherwise. Dave took great joy in knowing that in some small way he may have contributed to the many successful and happy lives of former players.
The family wishes to extend its heartfelt appreciation for the outpouring of love and condolescences received from the many people whose lives Dave touched. A service will be held Saturday, October 24, 2015, at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, 115 South Frances Street, South Bend, with visitation from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and a celebration of life service beginning at 2:00 PM. Donations may be made in Dave's name to the Cornerstone Hospice, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, Florida, 32162; and Alzheimer's Family Organization, P.O. Box 1939, New Port Richey, FL, 34656-1939.
02/22/2021 DEC
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