STONE RIDGE, N.Y. — SUNY Ulster continues to have trouble fielding teams as the women’s soccer, cross-country and track and field programs have been discontinued for the 2023-24 season.
The school also announced that men’s basketball coach and assistant athletic director Marques McKinney has resigned to take an assistant basketball coaching position at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, which is located closer to his home.
A search is in progress for a new men’s basketball head coach for the upcoming season.
The men’s basketball team finished with a 3-13 mark last season.
Women’s soccer coach Gerardo Martinez resigned as coach following a successful season a year ago. The Senators had a 6-5-1 record and qualified for the regionals for the first time.
Martinez joined SUNY Ulster in 2019 and was asked to build a program that had been dormant since 2009. He fielded a team in 2021 that had a 3-6 record.
When contacted by the Freeman, Martinez declined comment.
Jenn Zell, SUNY Ulster’s chief of staff and secretary to the Board of Trustees, said a search will start to replace Martinez “so we can recruit players for competition for our women’s soccer program going forward. The program for fall 2023 competition was under-enrolled.”
Zell also said cross-country and track and field were discontinued and announced the retirement of longtime coach John Lombardo.
“We are proud of the work and contributions Coach Lombardo made to develop our student-athletes over the years and wish him well in his retirement,” Zell said.
Zell also announced the hiring of a new part-time athletic director, Rebecca Scherer, two weeks ago and the hiring of Rachel Columbo as the new women’s volleyball coach on Sept. 1. Columbo replaced Glenn Warnock, who accepted the head coaching position at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Scherer has served in administrative roles with Ulster County BOCES and in physical education and health teaching roles for the Onteora School District, Silver Valley Unified and East Ramapo.
“Throughout her career, Rebecca has coached boys and girls modified, JV and varsity teams ranging from basketball, soccer, softball, ski team, tennis and volleyball,” Zell said. “A student-athlete who competed in women’s soccer and outdoor track and field at SUNY Delhi, Rebecca knows first-hand the support student-athletes need to be successful in college.”
Scherer earned a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree from Canisius College.
Matt Brennie resigned last year as SUNY Ulster’s assistant dean of students and athletic director. He took a position at Vassar College in athletics.
“In reviewing the roles and responsibilities for the athletic director position, it is currently a part-time position,” Zell said.
Zell said she expected golf and wrestling to continue as sports this year and women’s basketball to return after a two-year absence under new coach Jaleel Taylor.
SUNY Ulster is still searching for a new baseball coach after the season was canceled last year.
“Our search is in progress for a baseball coach, so we can work toward fall 2023 recruitment for spring 2024 competition,” Zell said.