Steven G. Porter, a beloved physical education teacher and coach who spent decades shaping student athletes in the Mohawk Valley, died Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Wynn Hospital following a brief illness. He was 67.
Porter was born September 13, 1959, in Waterville, Maine, to Reginald and Marie Louise Gagne Porter.
His family moved to Boonville, New York, in 1963, where he grew up and graduated from Adirondack Central School in 1977. As a boy, he served as a ballboy for the Adirondack football and basketball teams, an early introduction to a life built around sports and mentorship.
Porter later returned to Maine to attend the University of Maine, where he earned a master’s degree in physical education and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
He then came back to Boonville, beginning his coaching career as an assistant for the Adirondack varsity football team and as a coach for Legion Baseball.
A Winning Record at West Canada Valley
In 1984, Porter joined West Canada Valley Central School as a physical education teacher, a position he would hold until retiring in 2015. Over the years, he coached football, basketball, boys swimming, and baseball at both the modified and varsity levels.
His most celebrated achievements came on the basketball court, where he led the boys varsity team for 26 years. Porter racked up 406 wins against just 158 losses, including several undefeated 20 and 0 seasons.
His teams captured 13 league championships, three Section III titles, and two New York State Regional titles, with Final Four appearances in 1995 to 1996 and 2007 to 2008. In 2014, he was inducted into the Section III Boys Basketball Hall of Fame.
His baseball program also thrived, winning five league championships and two Section III titles, and he served as an assistant coach on the 1997 to 1998 football team that won the state championship.
Devoted Fan and Family Man
Off the field, Porter was a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins, and the New England Patriots, along with Syracuse Orange football and basketball.
He is survived by his companion, Carol Lacomb, of Remsen, his son Tyler Porter, and numerous relatives and close friends.
In keeping with his wishes, no formal services will be held. A Celebration of Life is planned for October 11 at 1 p.m. at Patty Jean’s Country Restaurant in Newport, New York, where family and friends will gather to honor his lasting legacy in Mohawk Valley athletics.
