Coach Macedo is the All-Time Winningest Coach in the ODAC conference.
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
Tucked in an office on the second floor of the Batten Student Center, flanked by news articles extolling the glories of sports teams past, surrounded by pieces of athletic history, jerseys from former players, plaques and trophies, sits a man by the name of David Macedo. Upon first interaction, Macedo’s greeting holds a gruff Boston accent. He gestures to take a seat in his office and immediately the accolades and history in the form of newspaper snippets lining the walls make their presence known.
Self described as “boring,” Macedo is far from it.
Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Macedo was surrounded by sports growing up. He played multiple sports throughout high school, but basketball was his calling.
After high school, Macedo played for four years at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. There he gained his first taste of Division III basketball under coach Jerry Rickrode, an experience that would shape the rest of his life.
At Wilkes University, coaching caught Macedo’s interest through coach Rickrode. “He was an outstanding, you know, coach and mentor to me, and sparked my interest in the coaching profession,” Macedo said.
After Wilkes University, Macedo eventually joined Virginia Wesleyan as an assistant coach, where only two years into the job, he would become the head coach. “I went from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania to Virginia Beach, and never looked back,” Macedo said.
“When I took the job here, I was probably a little bit of a young know-it-all, and I got humbled real quick,” Macedo said. “We probably had the youngest staff in America at the time,” he said. “We started to grow the program, build the consistency and realize what it was like playing in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference … the best conference, in my opinion, in the country.”
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
In a profession where turnover is high, Macedo has coached the Marlins for 25 years. Through those years, he’s had the unique opportunity of being able to witness the rise of the Marlins basketball program. “It’s been a great ride. I’ve absolutely loved watching the school and program grow,” Macedo said.
Two of his former players, Daryl Woodmore and Chris Teasley Jr., now competing overseas, reflect fondly on their time with coach Macedo. Under Macedo, both Woodmore and Teasley Jr. made four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. “Coach Macedo is a one of a kind type of coach. He’s passionate and intense on the court, always trying to get the best out of his players,” Woodmore said. “There’s no one better in the country at what he does and he deserves all the credit, even if he won’t accept it.”
“Coach Macedo is a passionate coach … He wants everyone that walks through those doors to become the best version of themselves,” Teasley Jr. said, adding that he is proud to have spent four years playing under him.
Macedo is committed to two things in life: the Marlins and his family. He described himself as driven, passionate and intense. “This is the ultimate grind,” Macedo said. In a profession that takes the utmost commitment, all the time, Macedo doesn’t stop.
“My first impression of coach Macedo was that he was insane. I’ve never met someone with so much purpose and confidence,” Teasley Jr. said. “He’s crazy about basketball.”
With such intense focus and drive, someone might expect Macedo to chase accolades and individual achievements. Not Macedo, not in the slightest. Coach Macedo only cares about the team. “He’s never taking credit for anything. It’s always been a ‘we before me’ approach with him,” Woodmore said.
“He never cared for the awards or the accolades, but he’s absolutely one of the best to ever do it. He embodies the word team,” Teasley Jr. said.
At Macedo’s Hall of Fame induction, senior guard for the Marlins Omari DeVeaux recounted Macedo being called up for recognition. “He’s walking with his head down, he doesn’t care about the accolades, the bright lights. Like, that’s not him at all,” he said.
Despite winning a National Championship and five ODAC championship titles as well as becoming the All-Time Winningest Coach among all ODAC basketball coaches, he doesn’t care. Each and every day he embodies a constant and consistent strive for excellence. “The way he prepares, the way he coaches, the way he recruits, the way he treats his players. He’s consistent in every way,” Woodmore said.
Macedo has had a profound impact on his players and staff. “One word for coach would be GOAT. My experience under coach Macedo and as a Marlin: life changing,” Teasley Jr. said.
Anyone who knows Macedo would let you know how much of a positive impact he has had on campus or on their life, but Macedo is wrong about one thing. He’s not boring. Not at all.
By: Eli Casey
emcasey@vwu.edu
