Basketball Scotland Loses A Good friend

Most recently, Stevie’s enthusiasm, drive and commitment to the sport made him the perfect candidate for the Head of Basketball role at basketballscotland. During his time with us, Stevie demonstrated his passionate belief that we could work as a team to create better opportunities for everyone involved in the game in Scotland. He was a fantastic addition to our team and will be greatly missed by all of his colleagues.

The basketballscotland staff and Board Members wish to extend our most sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to his wife Shirley-Anne, his children Sophia, Lemoni and Holden and to all of Stevie’s family and friends. Our thoughts are with you all at this extremely difficult time.

Stevie Duff 1968-2012

– Stevie was the one of the first male players to play in the United States in 1985, when this was rarely, if ever done. He played there for two years before a serious knee injury curtailed his time, but continues to have friends there to this day.

– He played for Scotland at the u19 European championships when aged just 15, which made him 4 years younger than his team mates. But for injury, Stevie would have undoubtedly gone on to become one of the country’s best players.

– Stevie coached for six years at City of Edinburgh Basketball Club before setting up East Lothian Peregrines, who for a while were a top team in the Scottish National League. To this day, they have a flourishing youth setup.

– Stevie was often referred to in many public forums as a “legendary basketball coach”, leaving a lasting basketball legacy in the East Lothian area with both the Peregrines and Scotland’s most active wheelchair basketball club, Lothian Phoenix.

– In a professional capacity, Stevie left a career in teaching English to pursue a career in sports development. 10 years at East Lothian Council culminated in the senior position of Principal Officer.

– Beyond his involvement in East Lothian, Stevie had been Chairperson of the Scottish Wheelchair Development Group and also a member of the Great Britain coaching staff at the Paralympics in Beijing 2006.

– Stevie operated for many years as a Coach Tutor and also acted as a Mentor for many young and aspiring coaches of basketball and wheelchair basketball.

– Stevie was a role model to all the young players that he encountered, whether they aspired to play for Great Britain or play in the Local League. What mattered to Stevie was that they played a sport and they played as a team.

– Stevie was an example to all who met him through his honesty, decency and integrity.

– A father to three lovely children, and loving husband of Shirley-Anne.

Story from Basketball-Scotland.com