Lyndon Institute Director of Athletics Eric Berry (second from left) is photographed here with current varsity girls basketball team captains Ary Parker (far left), Brooke'lyn Robinson (second from right), and Molly Smith (far right) at an all-school assembly on the LI campus honoring coach Berry's 200 wins as head coach of LI's varsity girls basketball team, and his 300 all-time career wins.

On Tuesday, February 13th, 2024, LI Director of Athletics and coach of the LI Girls Varsity Basketball team Eric Berry was honored at an all-school assembly for his impressive winning career as a head coach. Last Tuesday, February 6th, the Girls Varsity Basketball team beat Harwood. That victory gave Coach Berry his 200th win as a coach at LI. This was quickly followed by a victory over Montpelier on February 8th, giving him his 201st win. With his 99 wins as a head coach at Lyndon State College (now Vermont State University - Lyndon), he now has 300 career wins as a basketball coach. Congratulations, Coach Berry, and good luck to you and the Girls Varsity Basketball team in the postseason playoffs!

Below is a speech written and presented by Assistant Director of Athletics Rob Heath at the assembly: 

Legendary college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski once said “ My hunger is not for success, it is for excellence.  Because when you attain excellence, success just naturally follows.”

Lyndon Institute Girls Basketball Coach, Eric Berry, is probably fuming right now that I quoted a coach from Duke  rather than his beloved Indiana University.  But some solace can be taken in that Krzyzweski played for the longtime Indiana Coach Bobby Knight at ARMY.  He was also an Assistant Coach under Knight at Indiana, before returning to ARMY as a Head Coach and finally to Duke.

I chose this quote because I know of no one, at least locally, who has hungered more for excellence on the basketball court than Coach Berry; and yes, success has followed.  He has demanded it of himself, his players, and on more than one occasion from the officials…..  Apparently, they are still a work in progress…..

As a player at LI, Coach Berry was a General on the floor at point guard.  Holding himself, and teammates, to an unbelievable  standard on the court in pursuit of excellence.  He still holds Lyndon Institute records for both Assists (209 assists in the 84-85 season and only men’s player at LI to go over 200 in a season) and Steals in a season (114 steals in the 84-85 season).  Records he has held for almost 40 years.  Feel free to do the math……   
Coach Berry had a Hall of Fame playing career as a guard for Lyndon State College, now Vermont State University at Lyndon.  At LSC not only did he collect steals and handout  assists, but he developed into a scorer as well.  In his Senior Year, Coach Berry scored 38 points in one game and more than 500 points in the season.  In two separate seasons he went on to win the Michael Tessier Award for the player who exemplifies heart, hustle, and the desire to win.  In his senior year he was voted the most valuable player on his team. 

Berry became the Men’s Basketball Coach at LSC from 2000 -2006, and had 99 victories at LSC.  During the 2000- 2001 season he led Lyndon State to its first trip to the National Tournament, and every team he coached at LSC advanced to the semifinals or finals of the Sunrise Conference Tournament.   In 2005 Coach Berry was named Coach of the Year for that Conference.  His 99 victories at LSC are part of the reason we are honoring Coach Berry today.

Last Tuesday, February 6 , 2024, the girls basketball team beat Harwood.  That victory gave Coach Berry his 200 win as a coach at LI,  the victory over Montpelier on February 8 gave him his 201 win.  With his 99 wins at LSC, he now has 300 career wins as a basketball coach.     In his tenure at LI, the girls basketball team has become a perennial powerhouse.  As of the 2022-23 season they have been to the Barre Auditorium, 4 times in 11 seasons ( meaning they were the one of the final 4 teams standing in the Division 2 tournament).  Perhaps they should rename the Aud, the B.E.R.R.Y,  rather than the B.A.R.R.E,  Auditorium…..

Coach Berry was named the Vermont Division 2 Coach of the Year in 2021 - 2022.  

In 2016-17 he was at the helm when the girls team won their first State Championship under modern 5 person rules.

The day before the championship game, a few of  the team members questioned Coach Berry “if he really believed they would beat the number 1 ranked team in the State, Mill River.”  Coach Berry said calmly and confidently.  “  I have a game plan for them,  and as long as you play the way we are capable of playing,  they cannot beat us.  It is not a matter of if we win, the only question is by how much”. 

The next night, they beat Mill River 40-15.  The fewest points allowed by one team in Vermont State Championship Game history, in any division, girls or boys teams.  That game was also the fewest amount of points allowed in ANY Championship game, regardless of division,  in the entire Nation that year.  The next two fewest points  allowed were 19 and 18.  The team finished the season with a school record for wins in the season (21).   Although I am sure, knowing Coach Berry, the 3 losses that year are what still keep him up at night…… 

Excellence personified.

Before Coach Berry comes up to receive his award recognizing his 200 LI wins and 300 career wins, you need to be aware of one other record he holds at LI. 

A quote attributed to Teddy Roosevelt is fitting for the way Coach Berry leads his team. Despite his gruff appearance at practice or on the sidelines, he is really a coach that will do anything for his players.  The quote is, “ People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”  Coach Berry cares a lot….  The other record he holds at LI is for the highest career percentage of tears shed at the senior nights for his team, he ranks #1 at 100% of all senior nights.  This year will be no different, I’m sure.

If I know Coach Berry, and I have for over 50 years, he is already choked up.   Coach Jim Valvano said in his Famous “Never Give Up “ Speech , that everyone should do three things everyday.  One is to laugh.  The second thing is to think, and spend some time in thought.  And number three is to cry, to have your emotions moved to tears.  If you can do those three things you have had a full day, “a heck of a day.”

We are going to see if we can get some waterworks going this morning for Coach Berry.  The members of the LI Girls 2017 State Champion Basketball team have some words, thoughts, and congratulations they would like to share with their coach, and your coach, our coach….. Coach Berry.

At this time the Captains from the 2023-24 Girls Basketball Team would like Coach Berry to come down front to accept the award recognizing his 200+ LI wins and 300+ career wins.

Please give Coach Berry a big GO VIKES ovation for this career accomplishment.