Bill Scanlon, Union's head basketball coach for the past twenty-three years, resigned after the season.
Bob Montana, the assistant basketball coach for thirteen seasons, will take over as head coach. Scanlon will become director of intramural, recreation, and physical education and will also coach the men's and women's tennis teams.
“After twenty-six years of coaching basketball at Union, I feel that for personal and professional reasons it is time to resign to pursue other opportunities,” Scanlon said. “In recent years I have found that the frustrations and disappointments have outweighed those special rewards and excitement that I've always experienced while coaching at Union.”
Montana, a graduate of the State University of New York College at Brockport, has been involved with the Adirondack Region's Open Division men's
basketball team in the Empire State Games and coached the team to a bronze medal in 1994. He will be the team's head coach again this year.
Athletic Director Richard Sakala said the College is “fortunate to have a seasoned coach like Bob take over. I'm sure he will do what is necessary to continue the proud tradition of academic and athletic excellence that was established by Bill Scanlon.”
Scanlon coached the junior varsity team for three years before taking over as head coach. His varsity record at Union was 313-257, and he took his team to ten postseason tournaments. Twice he was named “Regional Coach of the Year.”
“Union owes Bill a great deal of thanks for the dedication, excellence, and pride that he has brought to the basketball program,” Sakala said.