SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Todd Cetnar and Duriel Price will join the Union men's basketball coaching staff for the 2005-06 season.
Cetnar played at the University at Albany after an outstanding career at Amsterdam High School. He began his coaching career last season at Plymouth State, where the Panthers were 19-10 for the 2004-05 campaign. Cetnar also played professionally for the Albany Wildcats in the USBL and the TV Tigers in the British Basketball League. At Albany, Cetnar became only the second player in school history to record over 1,000 points, 350 assists and 150 steals. He was named to the NCAA Division I All-Independent First Team following his senior season, in which he averaged 16.1 points and 4.2 assists per game. Cetnar shot 39% in three-point attempts during his college career, 1997-2001.
“Todd combines a good feel for the game of basketball with a great passion to continue to grow as a teacher and coach,” commented Head Coach Bob Montana. “I am confident that the work ethic he exhibited as a player and this past year as an assistant at Plymouth State will have a positive impact on the players in our program.”
Price begins his coaching career at Union. He served as a co-captain at West Virginia during the Mountaineers' 24-11 season this past winter. West Virginia defeated a school-record eight ranked teams during the season that featured an NCAA Elite Eight Appearance. Price played in 11 games for the Mountaineers last season, and the walk-on guard competed in 26 games during his career. He was named to the a Big East Academic All-Star Team. Price played high school basketball at Hutchinson Tech in Buffalo and averaged 24 points, six assists and four rebounds as a senior.
“As a co-captain of an 'Elite Eight' team and a member of the Big East All-Academic team, Duriel is a proven winner,” Montana said. “He will be able to teach not only the skills of the game but also the discipline necessary to achieve success at a high level.”
Union's 2004-05 season many highlights to go along with the 17 victories. The Dutchmen won the Liberty League title, and also opened a new home in the Viniar Center. The seventh consecutive winning season continued in the NCAA tournament, with a victory at Gwynedd-Mercy before the season ended against eventual Final Four participant Rochester.
