When the legendary coach Jack Curran passed away in mid-March, two men tried diligently to replace the long-tenured coach.

But these two would agree that there is no replacing Jack Curran, but instead just continuing the traditions he started at Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood.

Those two men, interim baseball coach Brad Lyons and interim basketball coach Mike McCleary, have officially been named the head coaches for their respective sports.

Each took over this season following the passing of Curran. Curran coached for much of the basketball season, but McCleary, Curran’s assistant coach for the past 15 years and also the school’s athletic director, led the team late in the season and in the playoffs. Even with his new responsibility, McCleary will remain as the school’s athletic director.

As for Lyons, he had been an assistant baseball coach under Curran for the previous two seasons.

“He’s (Curran) irreplaceable for what he did for this school and for what he’s done for the community,” Lyons said. “You don’t replace someone like that. You don’t try to fill his shoes.”

The Tablet and Currents will have more information once it becomes available.