Kelly LaChance ’89 and Christine (C.C.) Coughlin Burke ’93 Inducted, Berkshire County Basketball Hall of Fame

LaChance and Coughlin Burke standing with awardees, holding awards

Kelly LaChance and Christine C.C. Coughlin Burke have been inducted into the Class of 2020 Berkshire County Basketball Hall of Fame.

LaChance graduated from Lenox Memorial High School in 1985. She was named the All-Berkshire and All-Western Massachusetts starting center. She was also a part of three South Division titles, three Western Mass. Championships and a 67-game winning streak.

After high school, LaChance served as a two-year captain of the Westfield Owls, and helped the Owls win the 1987 Division III National Championship. She scored 18 points in the title game against Salem State. She graduated with 810 career points, 544 rebounds, and the still-standing school record with 163 blocked shots.

LaChance earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Westfield State in 1989. She has worked in the veterinary field for 30 years.

Coughlin played basketball for the Generals before graduating from Pittsfield High School in 1988. The team made four straight Western Mass. Division I finals with Coughlin at guard, winning the sectional and reaching the state title game her junior year. Her teammates referred to her as their defensive stopper and top distributor on offense. Her infectious personality was credited with keeping PHS together during those long playoff runs.

After graduation, Coughlin played basketball for two years at Westfield State before an injury prematurely ended her career. She was consistently among the scoring and assist leaders in MASCAC and was named Most Outstanding Contributor in 1990. In '92, she was a recipient of the Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges for student leaders in academic and extracurricular activities.

Coughlin earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from Westfield in 1993. For 25 years, she served as vice president of finance and administration for Berkshire Housing Services Inc. and Berkshire Housing Development Corporation.