Greater Utica Sports Hall of Famers Mike Durr and Al Knapp, two of Section III's most successful boys basketball coaches, will be formally inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame on April 13, 2025, in Troy.

 

Durr, a 1977 Notre Dame High School graduate, returned to his alma mater and coached the boy's basketball team for 21 years (1994-2015) before retiring with a career record of 335-141. His Jugglers won six Section III championships and won or shared 12 Tri-Valley League titles, and he coached Notre Dame to the Class C and Class B finals of the New York State Championships in 1999 and 2000.

 

Durr, a member of Notre Dame's Brother More, CFX Hall of Fame, was inducted into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. His daughter, former Notre Dame High star and Iowa State University standout Emily Durr, joined him in the GUSHOF in 2019.

 

When Knapp, a Little Falls native, retired from coaching after 34 seasons, he left as Section III's winningest coach. He had a 539-205 career record, including 13 years at Brookfield Central (233-35) and 21 years at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill (306-150).

 

At Brookfield, Knapp's teams won seven league titles, four Section III titles, and a Class D New York State championship in 1983. At VVS, his Red Devils won 15 Tri-Valley League titles and a Section III championship in 1999.

 

Knapp was inducted into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame in 2015, and his son Scott Knapp, a former VVS and Siena College star, joined him in the GUSHOF in 2018.