Frank Mickens, Who Turned Boys and Girls High School Around, Is Mourned

It was a defining moment in Ruth Lovelace’s life: the unexpected announcement over the public address system at the Brooklyn high school where she taught, saying that she had been chosen coach of the boys’ varsity basketball team — the first female coach of a boys’ team in the Public Schools Athletic League.

Frank Mickens with students at Boys and Girls High School in 1993.

A former coach himself, Mr. Mickens invited controversy when he named Ms. Lovelace, a physical education teacher, as the boys’ basketball coach. “Frank didn’t care,” Mr. Macchiarola said. “Frank wanted the best. That was quite extraordinary for someone who was supposed to be a jock — they’re not supposed to think that way.”