NEW PALTZ – — The men’s basketball program at SUNY New Paltz enters a new era with Doug Pasquerella beginning his first season as the team’s head coach. Pasquerella was instrumental in the success at conference-rival Cortland, where he spent the last seven years as an assistant coach under Tom Spanbauer. During that time, he helped guide the Red Dragons to an impressive 129-69 record and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back trips to the “sweet 16” in 1999 and 2000.
Pasquerella inherits a program that went 3-22 a year ago and has won just nine of its last 49 games. Despite their recent struggles, the Hawks are only four years removed from an ECAC Championship. The first-year head coach will look to a roster that features nine returnees and seven newcomers to begin the journey back to prominence.
“The quality of individual in our program at the this time is one that will help us restore the success that was established at New Paltz in the late 90’s,” said Pasquerella. “Our energy and expectations are high and we’re looking forward to a successful season.”
The Hawks begin the 2002-03 season with little or no expectations from their league peers. SUNY New Paltz was picked to finish last in the 11-team league in the pre-season coaches poll.
The Hawks returns four players who saw significant playing time in the backcourt last season. Senior Ben Davey (Andover, NJ), the team’s top returning scorer, averaged 12.2 points per game and hit 36 percent from three-point range to go along with a team-best 2.4 assists per game. Senior Danny Goldberg (New Rochelle, NY), junior Dom Fornabaio (Wappingers Falls, NY), who pitched in 6.3 and 5.6 points per game respectively, and sophomore Birchell Glenn (Rosedale, NY) should also give coach Pasquerella several options at the guard position.
The backcourt has also been strengthened by the addition of Matt Daudier (South Floral Park, NY), a transfer from U-Maine Fort Kent, and Joseph Bell (Albany, NY), a transfer from Hudson Valley Community College.
Up front, SUNY New Paltz has five players that are 6-4 or taller. Steve Ott (New Paltz, NY), a 6-6 junior, was third on the team in scoring (8.2 ppg.) and second in rebounding (7.6 rpg.). Senior Steve Tobitsch (New Canaan, CT) and sophomores Mike Cutler (Amherst, MA), Peter Ferenz (Huntington, NY) and Jonathan Towles (Jamaica, NY) round a physical group that should make the Hawks tough inside.
“Despite the pre-season rankings, we feel that we can contend for one of the eight spots in the SUNYAC tournament,” said Pasquerella. “If you have an opportunity to compete for the conference championship in February, anything can happen.”
In addition to the 16 conference games, the Hawks non-league schedule features two games with NYU and home dates against William Paterson and Rowan.
SUNY New Paltz opens the 2002-03 season in the Aircast Tip-Off Classic against the host Rutgers-Newark in Newark, NJ. The Hawks will open their conference season at home against Fredonia on December 6.
