Biography

Lester "Buster" Sheary compiled an outstanding .811 winning percentage in his seven years. as head coach of the Holy Cross men's basketball team. Sheary gained All-South fullback honors at Catholic University, where he also played basketball. A native of Worcester, he returned to his hometown and coached in the high school ranks for 10 years, leading St. Peter’s to the 1936 New England Championship. Sheary became associated with the college during World War II, serving as a specialist in the Naval ROTC. His coaching career started with scouting duties for the football and basketball squads, and he was unanimously elected coach by the 1947-1948 basketball team after serving as an assistant coach in both 1946-47 and '47-'48.

He became head coach at the start of the 1948-49 season, and compiled a 155-36 record in seven seasons, and went to two NCAA tournaments and two NITs.  His 1949-50 squad had a 26-game winning streak. In 1953-1954, he led the Crusaders to a 26-2 mark and the NIT Championship. A year later Sheary left the college, but retained his duties as assistant director of athletics for the Worcester Public Schools. He passed away in 2001.