SUNY Sullivan Searching for Coaches: May 2021

SUNY SULLIVAN SEARCHING FOR COACHES
Wrestling, Cross Country, Track & Field Openings
by John Conway
LOCH SHELDRAKE, May 2021—On the heels of a national search for a new women’s basketball coach which ended in March with the hiring of Monticello native Ben Newberg, SUNY Sullivan is looking to fill additional coaching vacancies.
Chris DePew, Director of Athletics & Recreation at Sullivan says the school is hoping to hire a men’s wrestling coach as well as coaches for men’s and women’s track & field and cross country.
“We plan to have those positions filled very soon so they can start work on building a recruitment class for the fall of ’21,” Mr. DePew said.
Former Monticello High School standout Anthony Ng had been the Generals’ wrestling coach for the past five years, and Ashley Weintraub had headed up both men’s and women’s cross country and track & field.
Mr. DePew said Ms. Weintraub decided to step down from her role coaching the four teams she headed up in order to resume her own studies.
Of Mr. Ng, Mr. DePew said, “Anthony did good work for us and we wish him the very best in the future, but we have decided to go in a different direction with our wrestling program.”
Mr. Ng said he was totally surprised when informed by letter of the decision not to renew his contract.
“It sincerely saddens me upon reflection,” he said of the decision. “The period of time I spent at Sullivan, recruiting and coaching, which resulted in numerous recruitments with tremendous potential and actual achievements, including the school’s first All-American wrestler (Jhavon Innocent in 2019) and first NJCAA national team ranking, to have it all come to an end with this non-meritorious conclusion.”
Mr. Ng said his plans for the immediate future are incomplete, but he might pursue his PhD in sports psychology.
“I firmly believe everything happens for a reason,” he said.
SUNY Sullivan cancelled its entire spring sports schedule due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, and Mr. DePew says the plan now is to return to regular sports scheduling starting in the fall.
“We have set our focus on the 2021-‘22 school year and all of our coaches have been working hard to recruit a class for the fall,” he said. “In many instances, we also have to re-recruit our current athletes due to being away for the year.”