Gaels lose patriarch of athletic program

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006 | 12:34 p.m.

James F. Naughton, Bishop Gorman High School's first athletic director and first football, basketball and baseball coach, died Friday in Southern California. He was 78.

Naughton, who coached at the Catholic school from 1954 through 1959, was remembered as a soft-spoken yet dynamic leader who ran a fledgling program that set the foundation for future championship seasons.

District Judge John McGroarty, who was a letterman on Naughton's three squads, recalled a baseball game in 1958 that exemplified what Naughton often instilled in his players: "Do your best and let the devil take the hind most."

Bishop Gorman was one out away from its first victory over Las Vegas High in any sport, when the Wildcats' legendary multi-sport star Don Hampton came to the plate with runners on first and second. McGroarty was pitching and Naughton signaled him to walk Hampton.

After two balls, McGroarty threw a pitch too close to the plate "and Don reached out and hit it 420 feet to dead center," McGroarty said.

The ball was caught just as it was about to go over the fence, preserving Gorman's victory.

"After the game, Coach Naughton said, 'Please tell me that you didn't mean to throw it that close, son,'" McGroarty said. "He never got angry at players. He brought players along at their own skill level. He molded leaders."

Naughton, who taught health, religion, world history and physical education, left Las Vegas in 1959 to coach championship teams for 25 years in California.

James Naughton Born: Sioux Falls, S.D. Education: Graduated from the College of Emporia (Kansas); master's degree in education from Cal State Long Beach. Military: Army, served with post-World War II occupation forces in Japan. Survivors: Three sons, Richard, Sean and Kevin Naughton; a sister, Shirley; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Ed Koch can be reached at 259-4090 or at koch@lasvegassun.com.