There is no doubt that hockey remains king in Canada, but basketball is becoming a closer second than it ever has been before. The amount of elite players coming from the north increases every year, as does the interest, marketing and brand value of the countries only NBA team. The Toronto Raptors. One pf the key faces, not just of the NBA but most things basketball in the media across Canada is Raptors analyst Jack Armstrong.
The New York native and Fordham University alum is currently in his 12th year as the voice of the Toronto Raptors and other basketball related programs for TSN and NBA TV Canada on television and on the Raptors radio network. One of the most personable and outgoing faces in and around athletics of any kind, we caught up with Jack to talk about his time in The Bronx and how he got on air with what is now one of the NBA’s fastest-growing franchises.
What are some of the highlights of being the voice of the Raptors, both on TV and radio across Canada?
My biggest highlight in my time in Toronto has been to watch the game grow so rapidly in fan interest, support and TV Ratings. Back to Back Years with the # 1 Pick in the NBA Draft. Canada is now # 2 in the NBA with players represented in the league. I feel very fortunate to have played a small part in the development of the passion that folks have now towards Hoops. It’s neat to have the Canadian players in the NBA and NCAA come up to me and say that they’ve grown up watching and listening to me talk about the sport that they love. The best is yet to come for both the Raptors and the growth of the sport in Canada.
What were your fondest memories of Fordham; first as a student and then as an assistant coach?
My fondest memories of Fordham are the wonderful people that I got to meet while I was both a student (BA-History / MA-Communications) and then as a Coach. So many things come to mind but what brings the biggest smile to my face is reflecting on so many fellow classmates, Faculty, Staff & the Jesuits that I had the pleasure to get to know in my time there. For a poor kid from Brooklyn whose parents immigrated to the United States from Ireland, being part of the Fordham community was a huge step for me and it’s had such a profound impact on my life & career. I always said to my Players when I coached in College that the 4 Years of College strongly impacted how you did the next 40 years. Fordham has played a huge part in my life and helped shape my character as a Man. Sure I got a great education there but more importantly I always felt I was at a place that truly cared about the type of person I became. To me that’s the essence of a Jesuit education. I’m a lucky guy–Fordham instilled some terrific life lessons in me.
You had the rare opportunity to be the JV men’s basketball coach while on staff, what was that like?
I was very fortunate that Tom Penders wanted me to coach the JV program as well as act as one of his Assistant Coaches. He strongly felt that I had potential as a Coach and it was very important to ‘be your own boss’ each day and develop your own style and head coaching philosophy. Tom had never been an Asst. Coach in his career and felt it was a huge difference between being the guy giving suggestions and having to be that guy making the hard decisions. I had been a High School Coach at Nazareth HS in Brooklyn for 2 years as well as Coaching CYO for 3 years in Brooklyn at my Parish (St. Brendan’s) so Tom saw that I had a little ‘stage presence’ to do it and it was really helpful to me at a young age to help me grow. The guys I got to Coach were only a few years younger than me yet they were awesome to Coach and many have become lifetime friends. Lots of Laughs.
Who are some of the people who have had the biggest influence on you personally and professionally?
Needless to say, Tom Penders gave me my shot at Fordham so he would be # 1 on that List. Most people don’t know this but after I worked for him for two years I was interviewing for other Ass’t Coaching jobs and he decided to put me on Basketball Scholarship with the 15th scholarship slot at the time and not recruit another player. Fordham didn’t have money at that time for a Graduate Ass’t so he used a Player Scholarship to keep me at Fordham and it allowed me to get my Masters Degree. I’m forever thankful that he saw potential in me and made such a great sacrifice to keep me on staff there. When Tom left, Nick Macarchuk was an awesome guy to work for. Outstanding Coach and 1st Class person who I have tons of respect for. Lots of times a new Coach comes in and you’re out–he was smart enough to see that I had a terrific relationship with the players and all of the in’s and out’s of Fordham. It worked out really well. He was very helpful to me getting me on board with the folks at Niagara based upon his relationships in Buffalo from his time at Canisius. Frank McLaughlin was a calm and steadying person to always turn to for advice, wisdom and perspective having been a successful Ass’t Coach at Fordham & Notre Dame and as Head Coach at Harvard and then as Athletic Director at Fordham. He was always able to give you some good insights on life and your career path. At Niagara, I had a phenomenal experience there for 10 years and our late trainer, Ray Kist was like a Father Figure to me in my early days at Niagara. He fixed me up with my wife, Dena who was the Women’s Head Soccer Coach & Ass’t Women’s Basketball Coach @ Niagara. Here I am happily married for 21 + years with 3 boys and I’m the luckiest person on earth. Ray was the guy that pushed us both to spend some time together. Frank Layden (Former Head Coach, GM & President of the Utah Jazz) is a Niagara alum as well as Former Head Coach there and he’s had an amazing impact on my career both as a Coach and not in my 17 years in the NBA as a Broadcaster. People see a guy with tons of charisma and an amazing sense of humor and that’s true but I see a guy who is totally grounded and has a great life perspective and top notch values. He’s been an amazing role model for me.
With all that being said, my hero is my Mom (Mary Armstrong). My Dad died of a Heart Attack at Age 48 when I was 7 years old and the youngest of 4 boys and she did an amazing job of raising us and instilling the proper ‘Moral/Ethical Compass’ within us that has carried us through the up’s and down’s of life. I talk to her each day (she still lives in NYC) and I can’t thank here enough for all the sacrifices that he made for me and my 3 older brothers.
You have a very active family as well, how are you able to balance work and home life?
Balance is a very important factor in the job I have now. I travel quite a bit and the demands on my time are pretty extensive yet I always live by the Philosophy that ‘The Money & the Job don’t Love you back’. Somehow/Someway you do the best job each day that you can to be the best Husband and Father that you can possibly be. Have I been perfect–far from it but I’ve tried like crazy to do the best I can. My oldest sons, Kevin is at Loyola University-Chicago, Brian is at Vanderbilt, and Tim is in high school and will be gone soon enough. They grow up fast and you try to play as big a part in their lives as you possibly can during their formative years because once their off to College it’s a little different dynamic. We have lots of fun yet we try to be as demanding and hold them accountable for their actions. Never easy in this day and age–it’s a battle but you fight it every day.
Since moving on from Fordham you have had an amazing run first as head coach at Niagara and now as an on-air personality in Toronto, do you miss coaching and teaching at all?
I’ve been very fortunate to work with the Raptors as a Broadcaster these past 17 years as well as for TSN TV & Radio. Folks ask me if I miss Coaching every day and I always say the same thing. I’ve gone from idiot (Coach) to expert (Analyst)–What a Scam!! It’s been a fun ride and have thought on a number of occasions that I’d get back in it yet this job has been so enjoyable that when push comes to shove–I elect to enjoy a much better quality of life–plus I’m undefeated the past 18 years. What a Country!! I’m around Players, Coaches, Executives, Scouts, Agents, Owners and Referees every day so I get my Basketball fix yet I don’t have the headaches associated with the business. I’ll take that any day of the week.
Who are the people you follow/read on a regular basis?
I wouldn’t say I have one particular person I like to read each day. I read everything I can get my hands on about Sports, History & Politics that happens to interest me. During the season, it’s a little harder to get into reading books so I read tons of magazines to keep myself well-versed. I read Bill Polian’s (Bronx Native) book about his incredible career as a 6 time NFL Executive of the Year with the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers & Indianapolis Colts. Bill and I became great friends when he and his family were in Buffalo and I was the Coach at Niagara. He’s a huge Hoops fan and I’m a longtime Buffalo Bills season Ticket Holder. One of these years we’ll make the Playoffs.
If there is one bit of advice you like to share with alumni, or student-athletes and coaches, what is it?
My advice to Alumni is do everything you can to help young Fordham students and alumni get ahead. Mentoring, Job Search–whatever it is. So much of the focus is on giving money to the school which is needed and important yet being able to lend a helping hand to current students and young alums is the greatest gift we can give carry on the tradition. Pay it forward. For Coaches–it’s a special place that has it’s values in order and won’t compromise Academics for Athletic success. I admire and respect that. We don’t sell out and sell our souls for W’s. Lastly for students, I go back to the 4 Years impacts how you do the next 40 Years.. You’re at an amazing place–take advantage of all the talented people there and swing for the fences. Most importantly, in the Jesuit Tradition, be a ‘Man or Women for Others’. You’ll never go wrong doing that.
