Leading off today: There's so much coaching news out there at the moment that I hardly know where to begin, but this seems as good a place as any ...
Streeten steps aside: Bob Streeten, who was a head lacrosse coach in Corning for the last 29 seasons, told The Leader he is removing his name from consideration to be reappointed for next season.
Streeten, who coached Corning East for 27 seasons and the consolidated district program the past two springs, posted a record of 544-102 -- placing his fifth in state history for wins -- and collected a 1990 state championship. His teams were 27-7 in 2011-12, with five setbacks coming to the powerful Ithaca squad.
“I certainly could have stayed and done the whole interview process, but I would much rather be the controller of my destiny,” Streeten told the paper. “I think that this is probably the fairest to the program and to the kids. Regardless of how the interview committee decided, there would have been one side going one way and the other side going the other way. Now, I’ve taken that option off the table.”
Streeten said that he will continue teaching history in the district.
There have been rumblings of unrest coming out of Corning recently, with some parents and players apparently taking issue with Streeten's no-nonsense approach. If that's behind Streeten's departure, then shame on the instigators -- they loved his winning ways for 27 years at East and apparently can't stand the fact that an excellent Ithaca program is ln the Hawks' way now in Class A.
Economic casualties: Add two very successful coaches to the list of teachers caught up in downsizing as budget woes and dwindling enrollment continue to create staffing cuts.
Wayland-Cohocton boys basketball coach Bob Skoczylas has been told his position as a physical education teacher has been cut from the 2012-13 budget, leaving him job-hunting after eight years at the school.
The Golden Eagles were a modest 79-72 record in his seven seasons, but that doesn't begin to tell the real story under Skoczylas, who also coached modified football and modified baseball. Wayland-Cohocton went 48-18 over last three years, including 20-3 last winter en route to the team's first Section 5 championship in 17 years.
The Golden Eagles won sportsmanship awards the past two seasons and made the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award list the last six years.
Elsewhere, Monsignor Farrell track and field coach Tom Cuffe told The Advance he was informed that his job is being cut due to low enrollment at the Staten Island school. He learned the news from principal Msgr. Edmund Whalen last week.
“I was caught totally unaware," Cuffe told The Advance. "I was really shocked. I’ve been a loyal servant to the school for 14 years. Obviously, I’m upset. My commitment to Farrell has been pretty incredible. This caught me totally by surprise.”
School officials declined Cuffe's offer to remain in the coaching role.
Cuffe built the St. Joseph by-the-Sea track program into a power from 1989-98, ending Farrell’s 29-year winning streak in the Staten Island indoor championship in 1997. He moved to Farrell, his alma mater, in November 1998. His teams there won three Catholic Intersectional state championships and five consecutive Mayor’s Cup crowns beginning in 2004.
More moves: I hope to be back Thursday with details on a Section 3 move which should send dominoes tumbling in the coaching and AD ranks. I know the move happened Tuesday, but I need to sort out a couple of pieces of seemingly contradictory information.
Quite the honor: Chaminade wrestling coach George Dlugolonski received the lifetime achievement award last month at the Nassau County Sports Commission's 17th
