This was many years ago now, during a conversation with the late, great Donald J. Scott, otherwise known as “Humphrey,” the No. 3 hitter among all-time characters in the 06320.

Humphrey, named after Humphrey Pennyworth in the old Joe Palooka comic strip, dropped “Wizard of Whalerville” into an otherwise nondescript conversation.

“Hump,” I asked. “Who is the Wizard of Whalerville?”

“Pennella! Pennella!” Humphrey harrumphed, with the indignation of somebody who just learned his insurance was canceled. “Pennella! What are you, stupid?”

Hump was direct, if nothing else.

He referred to Mike Pennella, among the greatest coaches in the history of New London High.

It was with profound sadness that we all learned of Mike’s recent death. He was 74.

Among his other accomplishments, the Wizard coached basketball at New London High, authoring perhaps the greatest state championship season of them all in 1975. The Whalers, who competed in the Capital District Conference — imagine battling Weaver, New Britain and other brand names every night — made their way to the state finals in Class L. And they beat Warren Harding, a basketball Rockefeller with future pro Wesley Matthews and future UConn guard Mike McKay.

It was one of the most important teams in city history. The school and city that measure themselves in state championships hadn’t won a title in a major sport in more than 20 years. The Wizard delivered.

“I only go back 65 years with him,” said Jim O’Neill, Pennella’s former assistant coach and scorer, who went on to bring New London American Legion to two World Series berths and become the athletic director at New London and Waterford High Schools.

“Same Little League team. The VFW,” O’Neill said.

Few others knew the Wizard better.

“Of all the coaches I ever learned from, Mike gave me the best advice,” O’Neill said. “You have to be who you are. You can’t take on some persona that clearly isn’t you. The kids will detect a phony right away. Mike was exactly who he was. Very disciplined. Didn’t pander to the kids. Terrific teacher and strategist. He gave a great deal of stability and passed that off to the kids.”

Now O’Neill was awash in the great old days … staying up till 6 a.m. the night they beat Harding … going to dinner at Lums with Pennella, Dave Gavitt and Mike Tranghese one night … a fishing trip to “The Race” after Pennella’s wife, Elaine, told them specifically not to go there … games at St. Thomas Aquinas against close friend Bill Reagan that O’Neill recalled as “legendary” … countless nights diagramming plays on napkins at Pizzarama … the 1974 team with Greg Winston, John Delagrange and Mark Royster that might have been better than the 1975 team … coaching Mike’s son, Tony (“Pags”) on the Legion team …

Indeed, all the things that made Pennella’s time at New London among the most magical in city sports history. From the CDC to memorable local nights against Chris McKeon (NFA) and Rich Pagliuca (St.Bernard). And through it all, Pennella, despite the success, resisted all temptation to practice self-indulgence.

“I have more respect for Mike than any coach I ever worked with,” O’Neill said. “Mike and Gil Varjas.”

Pennella’s legacy goes well beyond sports. He was a longtime administrator who affected the lives of kids in different ways than teaching the pick and roll. But his New London High isn’t what we see now. His New London High was a school searching for an identity in the 70s, not all that far removed, really, from the days Chapman Tech and Bulkeley became the new New London High. The 1975 basketball team provided a rallying point, not to mention a banner.

“It takes time to build traditions,” O’Neill said.

And yet now what school has more tradition than the one at 490 Jefferson Ave.?

The Wizard helped establish what exists today.

And why there’s the green and gold … and then there’s everything else. Sports-wise anyway.

RIP, Wizard.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro