Wakefield Hall of Fame

Ellis “Sonny” Lane

Ellis ‘Sonny’ Lane, the freshman basketball coach in Stoneham, came to Wakefield High School in 1970 and began to make an impact as varsity basketball coach. Under his direction, the 1973 Wakefield Boys Varsity Team (HOF) won the Division 1 North Championship for the first time in school history. He also guided the 1982-83 Wakefield Boys Varsity Team (HOF) to a 22-2 record which captured an Eastern Massachusetts Division 2 Championship. Overall, he guided the basketball team to a 276-111 record and they became known in the 1980’s as the powerhouse team of the Middlesex League. Mr. Lane coached teams which won 12 championships, 3 Tournaments, 3 State Sectionals, 5 League and one Eastern Massachusetts title. He was voted Coach of the Year 3 times and co-coached the ninth Harry Agganis All-Star basketball game for the west. Sonny was also the Wakefield Freshman Football Coach where he amassed a record of 105-42-4.

Sonny graduated from Stoneham High School in 1961 where he was a Middlesex League All-Star in baseball and basketball his junior and senior year. He was the leading hitter in baseball and batted over .400 to earn All-Scholastic honors and also a top scorer in Middlesex League Basketball. Incredibly, after going out for football for the first time as a senior, he earned the position of starting quarterback and scored every point in a win against Lexington for Stoneham’s first win in four seasons. For a short time he played some semi-pro baseball with the Hosmer Chiefs as well as some time in the Cape Cod League. He took advantage of a four year scholarship to continue his education at Suffolk University and became captain of the baseball team. In 2003 he was inducted into Stoneham High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame and currently serves on Suffolk University’s Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

After Wakefield High School, Mr. Lane became Athletic Director in Melrose where he was Athletic Director of the Year in 2001 and recipient of the Oswalt award for teaching high ethical standards. He was inducted into Massachusetts Coaches Hall of Fame in 1991, nominated National High School Coach of the Year twice and has served as President of the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association.

Through the years Mr. Lane has stayed active in the athletic community - at one point even teaching coaching to high school coaches. In the summertime he is a basketball camp director in Bar Harbor, Maine for kids ages 7-18 with former Boston Celtic great, K.C. Jones. Updated 7/08

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