Friday, May 18, 2012: Van Erk leaving state office for top Section 8 post

   Leading off today: Nina Van Erk is stepping down after 12 years in charge of the NYSPHSAA and will become executive director of Section 8 effective Sept. 1, Newsday reported Friday.

   She replaces Todd Heimer, Section 8 executive director for 18 years until his death from a heart attack Feb. 7.

   Van Erk, who grew up in Manhasset and attended St. Mary's High School, was executive director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and was the president of the National Federation in 2010-11. She spent 35 years as an administrator, teacher and coach in Section I before moving into the state office.

   "After I decided that I was going to retire from the state association, I was asked if I was interested in the Section VIII job," Van Erk told the paper. "I thought, 'What a nice way to continue to provide opportunities for student athletes.' It's probably the only position I haven't held. I'm thrilled about getting back to the day-to-day operation of interscholastic athletics and continuing the good work that Todd Heimer has done."

   More woes for ex-coach: Fired Gates Chili boys basketball coach Monte Nowden, already charged with rape this winter, was arrested again Thursday for allegedly violating an order of protection.

   WHAM-TV reported Gates police stopped Monte Nowden at 1:45 p.m. for making an unlawful stop in his vehicle. He was with a teenage girl; police say she is the same girl for whom the order of protection was issued.

   Police had arrested Nowden in February for allegedly engaging in sex acts with a high school student at a local movie theater. A day before the latest arrest, Nowden's lawyer produced notarized documents indicating the girl now says she made up the story and felt pressured into telling police she had sex with the coach.

   Nowden, a Section 5 football hall of fame inductee who was fired as basketball coach after his initial arrest, was charged Thursday with criminal contempt. He pled not guilty and bail was set at $100,000, the TV station reported.

   Canarsie coach sacked: Retired physical education teacher and dean of students Mike Camardese is out after a 194-100 mark and four PSAL championships as the football coach at Canarsie, New York media reported.

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   Camardese said he was given an unsatisfactory rating and informed by AD Dale Wilson that he was being let go. Wilson initially told The New York Daily News that Camardese was still the coach and offered to speak about the situation in person. When a reporter arrived at the school, however, Wilson declined to speak, the paper reported.

   Department of Education spokeswoman Marge Feinberg said she would not comment on personnel matters.

   The New York Post reported the job opening has been posted, but a replacement has yet to be named. JV coach Joseph Brown is running spring practices.

   “It’s a terrible day for New York City football,” said Tottenville coach Jim Munson. “Mike is one of the good guys.”

   Camardese, 56, said he’d been battling administrators since Canarsie was divided into a multi-school campus three years ago. He told The Daily News the school had curtailed his practice time and refused to retain several of his unpaid assistants.