East Islip Bowling coach Harold Cooley – who won 27 league titles, 13 county championships and three state titles – was remembered by his former students and parents as a great coach and friend.

He passed away last month at the age of 66 from a stroke – leaving the community shocked and devastated.

Natalie Maverich, a senior bowler, called Coach Cooley a “father figure” who taught well beyond the pins.

“He really showed care and loving and support,” she said.

Filling Coach Cooley’s shoes will be just about impossible. But family-friend Rob Scanoney is going to give it a shot. He's 26 years old and comes from a proud bowling tradition.

“I come from a history of bowling coaches. My father was a bowling coach, my godfather was a bowling coach, my grandfather was a bowling coach,” he told News 12. “I just wanted to be there to help the kids with this kind of hardship…I knew that I had to do something.”