Legendary Durfee basketball coach Thomas “Skip” Karam has died

A legendary Fall River coach and athletic director has passed away.

According to Fall River Public Schools, Thomas “Skip” Karam has died.

Karam had a 36-year career that left a lasting mark on the Durfee basketball program, a school he graduated from in 1953. He amassed 659 wins, achieving an impressive 85% winning percentage, and led the Hilltoppers to five state championships, reaching seven state title games and making 32 postseason tournament appearances.

He was inducted into the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1988-89, after becoming the first Massachusetts coach to reach 500 wins, and also earned a place in the New England Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

The basketball court at Durfee was re-dedicated as the Thomas “Skip” Karam Basketball Court in 2021, and the annual Skip Karam Holiday Tournament continues to honor his legacy.

The Durfee High School Alumni Association honored Karam with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2025.