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He's one of high school lacrosse's iconic coaches. For more than two decades, Kirk Ventiquattro has built the Carthage Comets into a state powerhouse. But the control he has on the field was taken away off of it. At the age of 52, he was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. But as our Brian Dwyer reports in the first of a three part special, Coach V, as he's known, doesn't know the meaning of the word ‘quit.’

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CARTHAGE, N.Y. -- The sign inside his office says it all. 45 minutes before face off, Kirk Ventiquattro and the Carthage Comets take every step.

"I come to work every day. I work hard and I coach with passion," said Kirk Ventiquattro, Carthage Lacrosse Head Coach.

And on this night, Parent Night, answering this question will be the biggest step.

Kirk Ventiquattro's legacy is like few others. 24 years, 380 plus wins, three state championship games, and numerous Frontier League titles. Coaching stars: Powells, Coffmans, Grimm...even his two sons.

"Coach V for most of us has been, you know, like our idol since we were five years old. Lacrosse is all we know up here," said Nicholas Ames, senior attackman.

They say preparation breeds success. But how does one prepare for something you can never see coming?

Last year at a camp across the country in Oregon, an out of the blue phone call from a doctor left Coach V blindsided. That pain he'd been feeling in his stomach for quite some time was prostate cancer, and it was stage four. He was facing a 30 percent survival rate, maybe never coaching again.

"When I found out, I took a little bit of time, maybe more than a little bit of time to shed a lot of tears and worry about the wrong things. Finally one day I walked into my office and I looked around and saw all the things on the wall of accomplishments that teams have done and my own personal accomplishments and I said to myself, 'you've been selfish. You really haven't done all of this for somebody else.' So I made a commitment right then and there to my family and to any kids that I'd coach from that point on, I'm coaching for them. I'm living for my family," said Coach Ventiquattro.

After being diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer, Carthage Comet head lacrosse coach Kirk Ventiquattro gained a new perspective on life. He put his family and his players first. In the second part of a three part series, our Brian Dwyer has the story of Coach V's continued recovery and how he used those lessons to help the whole Carthage lacrosse family cope with more tragedy.

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CARTHAGE, N.Y. -- The long journey began, step by step. Surgery last August removed his prostate. Forty radiation sessions at Sloan Kettering in New York City followed. And the new man, with a new look on life, knew he was about to pull off a monumental upset.

"Right now, I believe because of my faith as a Christian that I'm already healed. Now my mission has convinced my doctors of that," said Carthage lacrosse head coach Kirk Ventiquarttro.

In January, his Prostate Specific Antigen test came back undetectable, but he awaits a test in June to see if the cancer returned. He refuses to regress. Instead taking another step, this one, back on the field.

"He's just like last year. He's all over us, which is a good thing," said Junior defenseman Taylor Morgan.

It's a comeback that Taylor Morgan needed to experience maybe more than anyone. The very week his coach was leaving the treatment center, his father was moving in.

Mike Morgan, a soldier with 18 years on Fort Drum, with three tours overseas,
has esophageal cancer.

"Taylor looks at me the same way. 'Hey, my dad's going to recover. Coach V recovered,’" Mike Morgan said.

"I don't get to see my parents that often. I only get to see them like twice on the weekends. My grandparents have helped out a lot coming out to watch me and my sister," Taylor Morgan said.

This is where the 'new' coach made his biggest impact of the season. Ventiquatto has taken the Morgans, both Taylor and Mike, under his wing. Helping Taylor when his parents are gone and being there with Mike as he learned what would lie ahead.

"It eased my mind, tremendously. Once I got down there, saw the hospital and saw the Hope Lodge knowing I could possibly get in there, which I did, the release of pressure that you don't have to worry about other things, just worry about getting better, came upon me quickly," Mike Morgan said.

But we all know bad news comes in threes. Around the same time, a former player, Travis Ames, cousin of current attackman Nick Ames, was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 26. Ames' number 9 and the initials M.M., Mike Morgan, now adorn the team helmet.

"We play lacrosse, but in the grand scheme of things, it's just one big support group for Coach V, Mr. Morgan and my cousin Travis," Nicholas Ames said.

"What I decided to do in that office one day and by living this out loud, I think is having a positive effect. I want to do something great, something really, really important with whatever time God gives me left,” Ventiquattro said.

And he and his team are on that path. As they prepare for General Brown, the focus is answering that question, taking that step.

"Nine months ago, I chose to come back for this reason. For this feeling. The chance to compete and put it on the line. I gotta ask you again boys, what's your legacy going to be?"

As a coach, Kirk Ventiquattro is no stranger to the power of motivational speeches, but a year ago, he never thought his words would ever mean as much as they do today. It's now about much more than just lacrosse. As our Brian Dwyer reports in the 3rd and final part of his series, Coach V is using his battle against stage 4 prostate cancer and his message of hope as an example for others.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, N.Y. -- As his Carthage Comets lacrosse team was about to take the field, Kirk Ventiquattro's words were clear: win. But the message was about more than a game.

Ventiquattro is no stranger to cancer. Colon cancer took his father 16 years ago, and that's when Coach V said he made his first of several mistakes.

Ventiquattro said, “I made a conscious decision right then and there not to get involved with the American Cancer Society. Not to get involved with Relay for Life. This was never going to affect me again, I had my turn. I was dead wrong."

Carthage got off to a hot start. Jumping out to a 3-nothing lead over General Brown. They looked unstoppable. Kirk Ventiquattro felt unstoppable. So much so he ignored his own health.

All men should be tested for prostate Cancer at the age of 40. He said he should have known better, when you drop your guard.

Ventiquattro said, “I had this disease, doctors estimate, for two to three years and that was a mistake on my part. I feel like I let myself down, but more importantly I let down my family. It was a month before I could look at myself in the mirror because I guess what, I put something else ahead of my family."

In lacrosse, the goalie is the last line of defense and can often make a huge save. Ventiquattro has several goalies, his doctors, his family, his team, his determination. He's still got work to do, but his PSA testing is undetectable and coach truly feels he's healed. And he's not about to make the same mistakes again.

"I could kick myself for making that conscious decision. I was wrong and I'm going to use the rest of my man years to be an advocate for the American Cancer Society, an advocate for awareness of prostate cancer and to be an advocate for my faith. That's how I'll overcome,” said Ventiquattro.

And in a way only a coach could, he's getting that message out. And the community has embraced it. The team, their families pass out these cards at games, instead of winning, you donate what you scratch. A booth at the gate sells these Coach 24 t-shirts to raise money for cancer research.

Daniel Conlin, a senior midfielder said, “Everyone knows someone that's going through cancer. Now that Coach V is going through this fight, he's a big part of this community. He's helped so many people go to college and establish their lives. So I think it's kind of giving back."

Andrew Swords, a senior defenseman said, “We're playing lacrosse, but we're playing for more than that. We're playing for Coach V. We're playing for Taylor Morgan's dad and Mr. Ames. It's more than just lacrosse this year."
"No longer am I putting myself ahead of anything. I'm putting others in front of myself. And that's the message to the kids. Care about the guy to your left and your right. That's the most important thing in your world,” said Ventiquattro.

And in a world where opponents are enemies, East Syracuse , Minoa came to Carthage in early April, a big game. But when each Spartan took the field, enemies joined forces. Every player bought a Coach 24 shirt and wore them throughout the entire pre-game.

Jon McCoy, the ES-M Head Coach said, “I had a conversation with the players at lunch time today in regards to the purpose of wearing these t-shirts. The lacrosse community, coming together with the support. It's bigger than the game."

Ventiquattro said, “What a tribute to the cause. I was so pleased and so happy. That was a lot more important to today's game and I'm always going to remember that, and our kids too."

Taylor Morgan, a junior defenseman said, “It means a lot because we're trying to spread the word and get people to donate and get people to react and realize they need to get checked out for cancer."

And react is exactly what the Comets did on Parent Night. The final home game of the year, a victory. The 2012 Carthage Comets one step closer to establishing a legacy.

Ventiquattro said, “Cancer is not a death sentence. It's not going to be for me and it doesn't have to be for them for their loved ones."

Coach V said he plans to return to coaching in 2013 and hopes to coach for many more years. For more information on the American Cancer Society, you can visit its website at www.cancer.org.