Donald Joseph McCool

Donald Joseph McCool, also known as Coach McCool, a retired high school educator and basketball coach, passed away on March 3, 2023, in Fairfax, Virginia. He was 88 years old at the time of his passing. He was surrounded by his family, friends, and his faith.

Don is survived by his sister, Nola McGillycuddy, and his four children, Julia Ann Yarbrough (Stephen), Melissa Jane McCool (Bruce), James Francis McCool (Cindy), and William Matthew McCool (Daniela), as well as 10 grandchildren, Julia, Caroline, CeCe, Finn, Henry, Fiona, Claire, Maddie, Will, and Vivi.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Francis McCool and Mary Jane McCool, his brother James Francis McCool, his wife of more than 56 years, Joy Smith McCool, and his son Michael Francis McCool.

Don was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He attended Marietta College in Ohio on a basketball scholarship, where he played point guard for the highly successful team known as the "Fire House Five." He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in petroleum engineering. After being drafted, Don served in the U.S. Army, where he played on the Fort Lee basketball team. Upon his return, Don began his teaching career at Prince George's High School, where he won his first Virginia State Basketball Championship. Don briefly left teaching to earn his master's degree at the University of Wisconsin. He returned to Virginia to continue his teaching career and was hired as the freshman coach at Hampton Sydney College. It was on a blind date after a Hampton Sydney game on Valentine's Day that Don met Joy, his beloved wife of 56 years.

Don and Joy spent the next 40 years raising their family and teaching in Fairfax County, Virginia. Don was the head basketball coach for Falls Church, West Springfield, Hayfield, and Mount Vernon High Schools. During his 27 years as head coach, he led teams to 2 State, 6 Regional, and 10 District Championships.

After retiring from Fairfax County as an accomplished and well-loved math teacher, Don worked as an assistant coach for multiple former assistant coaches and their Northern Virginian teams. Don was inducted into the Marietta College, West Springfield High School, Mount Vernon High School, and the Virginia High School Hall of Fames.

Don and Joy spent their retirement years on Lake Oconee in Georgia, in their dream lake home, entertaining family and friends and playing lots of golf. During this time, they continued their strong relationships with their basketball circle, and nothing gave them greater joy than celebrating all of their successes in life.

Don should be remembered as a man of strong Catholic faith, devoted husband, father, Papa, friend, and mentor. His humor, kindness to all, genuine love for his family and friends was contagious. His passion for competition, his work ethic, the example he set, and the way he lived his life, was an inspiration to all who spent time with him.

A funeral mass service was held at Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington, Virginia, on March 10 at 11 a.m., with a reception following at the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made in Don McCool's name to the Alzheimer's Association.