From oil rig to coaching gig, Cabucio at home on Apponequet bench

March 11, 2016

By John Johnson, Globe Correspondent

Jim Cabucio worked on offshore oil rigs off the coast of Scotland for nearly a decade. At the time, the idea of a career in education, and coaching, was a bit farfetched.

But upon his return to the US at age 30, he switched gears and has never looked back.

For the past 25 years, Cabucio has been a math teacher, and boys’ basketball coach at his alma mater, Apponequet Regional in Lakeville. He has also served as athletic director for five years. After spending 12- to 18 hour days on oil rigs, Cabucio decided to coach to extend his day past the mid-afternoon school closing time.

On Tuesday night, Cabucio guided his Apponequet squad to a 53-49 upset over top-seeded Rockland in the Division 3 South semifinals. The Lakers advanced to Saturday’s sectional final.

A 1982 graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Cabucio lives in Freetown with his wife Anne. They have two grown children, Laura and Joshua.

“You’d be surprised at the number of Mass. Maritime grads who branch off into other industries because the education is so broad and can be applied in so many ways,” said the 58-year-old Cabucio. “I never envisioned that I’d be coaching and teaching.”

He certainly has the athletic acumen. In 2014, Academy’s athletic hall of fame, recognizing a career in which he set the program record for pitching wins (27), a mark that still stands. He was a member of the 1982 team that won both the MASCAC and ECAC New England championships. His final career win came in a 6-5 win over Bates in the ECAC title game.

“No question the best memory was the last game my senior class played in 1982 to win the ECAC title on our home field,” said Cabucio. “That year we were MASCAC champs for the first time, and then there was a 33-year gap until last year when they won.

“The Hall of Fame was a nice ceremony. It was great to see some of the guys. I hadn’t seen some of them since the day we walked off the field that day.”

His best season might have been his junior campaign, when Cabucio posted a 7-1 record with 2.38 ERA. In 246 career wins, he compiled 2.62 ERA.

“I was lucky, I played under Bob Corradi, who just retired last year,” said Cabucio. “We had some tremendous players back then, and as a pitcher I benefitted from that.”