Coach Eric Eaton Loves St. Michael's College Basketball!
- Jon Hart
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Coach Eric Eaton (@Coach_EE_), now in his seventh season as the head basketball coach at St. Michael’s College in Vermont, led the Purple Knights to the Sweet Sixteen in 2023-24, their best finish in 23 years. Days before his team's regular season tip-off, Coach Eaton took a few moments to discuss what he loves.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
Let's rewind a little. Describe the magic of the recent Sweet Sixteen run? How special was it?
COACH ERIC EATON:
The 23-24 season was amazing and had so many special moments. We had a great group of guys who genuinely cared about each other and had a collective drive to win. They rallied around raising the level and the standards of the program, and they did exactly that. The response and support we had on campus and in the community was tremendous. There was a true college basketball atmosphere in our gym, and it was so much fun to play in front of our professors, friends, and family. It’s a season I’ll never forget.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
More recently, you upset the neighboring D1 Vermont Catamounts (UVM) in a preseason game. Preseason or not, that W must've been extra sweet. How much contact do the two programs have?
COACH ERIC EATON:
It was a great night for our program and school to beat one of the winningest mid majors in the country. UVM Basketball has been elite for 20 years, and it’s been fun to watch when I was at D1 and now across town at Saint Michael’s. I’m good friends with Coach Becker and his staff and I have the utmost respect for them. I think it’s a great game for the state and the basketball fans in the area.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
Just this year, you played a few games in Montreal. How did that go?
COACH ERIC EATON:
The games in Montreal were great for us. We played against some tough, well coached teams and were fortunate to win all four games. It gave us a chance to start practicing early and to get a window into what we can be. It’s also a beautiful city to visit with amazing food and culture.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
How much if any NIL is there in D2 college basketball? Has it arrived?
COACH ERIC EATON:
NIL is already at the D2 level with many schools having their own collectives. It is undoubtedly going to continue to impact our level for years to come. It’s a change in CBB that we as coaches need to adapt to or get left behind.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
In this day and age, do coaches still visit recruits at their homes or is it mostly Zoom visits?
COACH ERIC EATON:
I think coaches still do home visits if they have the budget and time. It’s a very personal way to inform an athlete about their school and program and allows a family to see a personal side of a coach and their staff. Zoom meetings definitely have added a high level of accessibility, but I still prefer the personal connection and interaction of face to face visits.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
What's your "living room" pitch to a recruit? Why should they choose St. Michael's College?
COACH ERIC EATON:
The short answer: Saint Michael’s is a wonderful school with a challenging educational experience. It’s a true community where professors, advisors and staff sincerely care about our students’ success as people. We take great pride in our basketball program being a “players program.” We expect a high level of accountability amongst our guys. We do our best to push them to find out how hard they can work and how great they can be, and we want them to carry that work ethic with them when they graduate.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
In your coaching journey, you've been an assistant at a few places (Iona, Quinnipiac,Albany, Holy Cross). Who were your main coaching mentors? Who shaped Coach Eric Eaton?
COACH ERIC EATON:
The first coach who impacted me as a player was my high school JV coach at Doherty HS, Ed Capstick. He was tough and expected a lot. He taught me to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I played for the legend, Tom Blackburn at Worcester Academy. Coach Blackburn showed me how to handle myself with class and how to push myself to that next level. As a coach, my first D1 job was with Ralph Willard at Holy Cross, who gave me the tools to create the foundation of who I am as a coach. He preached organization, urgency and forward thinking. He asked you to think like a head coach while learning to be a great assistant. Will Brown at UAlbany and Tom Moore at Quinnipiac allowed me to be myself and to have a voice within the programs they led. They allowed me to really grow and build a trust level with them. Tim Cluess at Iona had a huge impact on me. His passion, toughness and relentlessness is so infectious. He re-energized me and helped me take a big step toward being a head coach. Nobody was happier for me when I got the job here at SMC. Finally, is my close friend, Sean Doherty. Sean is one of the kindest and most loyal people I have ever known. He also isn’t afraid to tell you the truth when you need to hear it. Sean was instrumental in my journey as a coach, and I wouldn’t be here without him.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
Your sons (Evan and Owen) are going through the college basketball recruiting process right now. What's it like to be on the other end, a parent, not a coach?
COACH ERIC EATON:
It’s interesting to see the other side of recruiting as a parent. I’m fortunate to be able to offer them “inside” info into the process and I’m proud of how they’ve handled everything in a challenging time for high school kids to get recruited. To their credit, they’ve worked very hard on their games and in the weightroom, and I think their best basketball is ahead of them.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
If I didn't mention this, I would be remiss. Sadly, St. Michael's alum and ardent supporter Rich Tarrant Senior, a former Hall of Fame Purple Knight basketball player, passed away somewhat recently. Is the team doing anything special to honor Mr. Tarrant this season?
COACH ERIC EATON:
Mr. Tarrant was a titan in the state of Vermont and his impact here will be felt for generations. He was very kind to me, and I really appreciated his love for SMC and our Basketball Program. We honored him on campus a few weeks back.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
So, if someone's planning a trip up to northern Vermont, what spots should be on their itinerary?
COACH ERIC EATON:
Obviously, a Saint Michael’s basketball game is a must stop. Downtown Burlington has a lot of great spots for food, shopping and a beverage any time of year. In the summer, I enjoy the lake where there are some great spots right on the water. If you’re looking for a good lunch grab a sandwich from our friend Tom at Jersey Mike’s (South Burlington). I’m all about the Philly steak or chicken. The Windjammer is a good spot for a pre or postgame beverage. And the best ice cream around is at the Village Scoop.
STADIUM JOURNEY:
What can fans expect attending a St. Michael's College basketball game?
COACH ERIC EATON:
You’ll see a team that plays very hard and with passion. We take great pride in the name across our chest. You’ll also see a very high level of college basketball in the NE10. It’s a great league with some very talented players and excellent coaching.
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