The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the sporting community in Grand Bahama are still in mourning over the death of legendary basketball, soccer and Special Olympics coach Terry Wildgoose.

Wildgoose, 65, passed away on Wednesday. He leaves to mourn his wife, Carla Wildgoose, children Anissa Musgrove, Nicole Henfield and DaJohn Wildgoose as well as grandchildren Anthony, Adam and Aiden Musgrove, Madison Roberts, McKenzie Henfield and Winner Wildgoose.

Many of the persons whom Wildgoose coached expressed their gratitude and extended condolences to his family.

Among the list were Dencil ‘Inch McQuire’ Swain, Charles ‘Softy’ Robins, Dereck ‘Bookie’ Nesbitt, Basil ‘the Kid’ Sands, RH Culmer, David Morley, Humphrey Smith, Philip WIliams, Richard ‘Dick’ Brown, James Culmer, Ronnie McKenzie, Kenneth Smith, George Saunders, Drexel Martin, Simon Lewis, Lukie Stuart, Allison Pinder, Bennett Davis, Sharon ‘the General’ Storr, Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee.

Bookie Nesbitt, one of the top players in the country and a long-time friend, said Wildgoose was not just an excellent basketball coach, but he was in baseball, soccer and Special Olympics and was active in junkanoo.

“He and I were very close because although he was my coach, we were not that far apart in age,” Nesbitt said. “We went on several national teams and he coached me on the Island Lobster team.

“For me, in particular, and the whole basketball community in Grand Bahama, it’s a tremendous loss.”

As a coach, Nesbitt said Wildgoose knew just how to communicate with all of his players and that was how he got the best out of them.

“We played against each other coming up in junior league, but once we got together at the senior level, we were inseparable,” Nesbitt said. “He will sorely be missed because he was always willing to help whenever needed.”

Robins, a former player, coach and president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, said he first got to know Wildgoose when he played for St Augustine’s College.

“When I first went to Grand Bahama, I was playing for the Glenda’s Guns and after the team broke up, Wildgoose was coaching a junior team in the National Championships and when I heard he was going to form the Island Lobsters A team, I asked him if I could play with him,” Robins said.

“He thought I was joking and coming from Aquinas College and beating up on SAC, he thought I didn’t want to play with him. But I was serious and we made it happen.”

Robins considered Wildgoose to be a very stern coach who was very disciplined. Coming from the Kentucky Colonels under coach Martin Lundy, Robins said Wildgoose’s style of coaching best suited him.

“He felt the team he put together could have won the national title over any team that came from Nassau, including the Colonels,” Robins said. “That’s how I got involved with him.

“The Island Lobsters was the first local senior team to win the national title over the Kentucky Colonels. That was his move to success. He was then chosen to coach the men’s national team under coach Godfrey ‘Gully’ Rolle. That was his claim to fame because it was impossible for any team to beat the Colonels.”

Robins said Wildgoose will surely be missed because he was a father figure to so many young men in Grand Bahama.

Maurice Tynes, the former clerk of the House of Assembly, said he and Wildgoose first hooked up as coaches when he first went to Grand Bahama in the mid 70s. “I knew him when he was attending SAC because I was living close to the school and I always went there and watched him play and the Big Red Machine play,” Tynes said.

“So when I went to Grand Bahama, I met him and we agreed to put a team together. We got a sponsor and put together an A and B team. I turned the B team to him and he learned very quickly. So we spent some time together.”

When he was returning to Grand Bahama, Tynes said he left the teams in Wildgoose’s hands. However, he formed a new team called the Island Lobsters, which became the pride and joy of Grand Bahama.

“He eventually became a coach on the men’s national team and he did very well there as well,” Tynes said. “He was very good for basketball in Freeport and in New Providence.”

In a statement from the Lobsters Basketball Players Club, it said that, for four decades, Wildgoose guided many boys into becoming responsible young men in Grand Bahama and in the Bahamas free of charge. “Our coach loved and cared about each player and today we are brothers and a family because of a giant of a man who was committed to the cause,” the release said.

“Coach Goose was father for all of us and thought his players life lesson through basketball that guide them through life today. Those of us who remain we can use the time of his legacy to improve and complete our legacy and the meaning of life.”

Wildgoose, according to the team, helped to mentor so many young men who became Apostles, Bishops, Pastors, Ministers and Deacons as well as businessmen.

As an Alumni of St Augustine College, a member of the Christ the King Anglican family and a junkanooer, Island Lobster members said Wildgoose treasured and share with everyone about his findings.

“Traveling to and from Bimini assisting with the game of basketball and coaching in the Grand Bahama Basketball Association up to his passing, coach Wildgoose began to spend time with his Pastor Apostle Gilbert Rolle as he gave his life to Christ.

“We are all extremely proud to have had coach Wildgoose as a father and friend,” they aid. “We are sadden on the passing of our coach and extend our condolences to his wife Carla, children Anissa, Nicole, DaJohn, and grandchildren.

“We will make our recommendations to celebrate and honor coach Terry Wildgoose.”

Obie Wilchcombe, a former Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini, said he remember when Wildgoose won Grand Bahama’s first National Basketball Championship in the late 1980’s over the Kentucky Colonels out of New Providence.

“Wildgoose coached his Island Lobsters to a thrilling Sunday afternoon victory over the legendary Kentucky Colonels in game five of a five-game series resulting in one of the biggest celebrations ever on Grand Bahama,” he said.

“A trend of almost two decades had been broken and we were happy. Terry Wildgoose dedicated his life to using the vehicle of sport to drive honor and dignity among our youth, making boys men and contributors to our society.”

Wilchcombe said he also remembered how Wildgoose sacrificed beyond measure to better a people he so deeply cared about.

“He believed all people are important, and each deserve an opportunity,” he said. “Hundred would pack into the YMCA gymnasium to watch his team, that included the greats, Derrick” Bookie” Nesbitt, Charlie” Softly “Robins and Dencil “Inch Mcquire” Swain. They were under his leadership and it was reflected by their preparation, discipline, and togetherness.

“Terry made Grand Bahama proud. We cherish his contribution and must find the appropriate way and tribute to remind all that Terry Wildgoose walked this way.”