VERMONT SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Papineau in 1922 (Photo Courtesy SMC Athletics)

Multi-sport athlete/coach/administrator

Swanton/Richford/St. Albans (Franklin County)

Saint Michael’s College

2025 Historical Inductee

After being a three-sport standout captain and athlete (ice hockey, football and tennis) at St. Michael's College in the 1920s, Leo Papineau went on to compile an incredible coaching record of 670-216-9 across five sports over 27 years at three Franklin County high schools. He also was a longtime athletics administrator and was a state-wide recognized basketball official.

He graduated from Saint Michael’s in 1924 where he was a two-year ice hockey captain, also captaining the football and tennis teams for one season. He led the Purple Knights hockey squad- then on outdoor ice- to two unbeaten seasons including the 1924 state title with a hat-trick against UVM.

Papineau is best known for his 38 years of coaching basketball at St. Albans High School, BFA St. Albans and Richford High especially his 27 years at the helm of the girl’s teams. He had a career girl’s hoop record of 368-95-5 with his teams twice qualifying for the New England championship. 

He was a strong advocate of girl’s sports in that era, lobbying hard for a state tournament. In 1927 St. Albans High dropped girl’s basketball but once the new Bellows Free Academy opened in 1930, Papineau resuscitated the girl’s program that another legend Doc Comi led to prominence in the 40s through the 60s.

He coached boys' basketball (182-81) for 11 years in St. Albans and at Richford.  He also coached boys' hockey (17-7-1) at BFA for four years, winning at least one state title.  Papineau also directed baseball (67-28) at Richford for 10 years and boys' tennis (36-5-3) at BFA for eight years. 

Papineau also was recognized as one of the best basketball officials and was a high-ranking amateur tennis player in Vermont.  He taught multiple classes, including History, Latin, French and Physical Education before he went on to become a school principal and eventually a superintendent retiring in 1964 from the Franklin Northeast School District. 

Several summers he also was the business manager for the baseball St. Albans Giants of the successful and popular collegiate Northern League in the late ‘30s. He was instrumental in the building of the Coote Field first base bleachers and helped sign many of the players including future major leaguers Snuffy Stirnweiss and Al Campanis.

Papineau is the third BFA St. Albans boys hockey coach to be inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame joining Bill Beaney and Toby Duculon. All three led BFA to state titles. 

Papineau died in 1985. He and his wife had no children and efforts are underway by the VSHOF to find any remaining relatives.   

Special thanks to Saint Michael’s College Athletic Communications Director Josh Kessler of Colchester for the historic research on Leo Papineau’s career.