Nassau County, NY - June 24, 2015 - Inductees include NFL Fullback/Greatest H.S. Athlete Jim Brown, 20-Time County Champion Field Hockey Coach Diane Chapman & NYS’s Winningest Football Coach Howard Vogts.
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today joined with Nassau County Public High School Athletic Association in announcing the establishment of a Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame (HOF) and its first class of inductees. The HOF – a privately-funded endeavor - was created to recognize, preserve and promote the heritage of interscholastic sports in Nassau County. The HOF will be temporarily located in the rotunda of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola until plans for its permanent home are finalized.
“Sports provide our young people with important lessons, personal value, leadership skills, physical activity and social interaction skills that will benefit all involved for the rest of their lives,” said County Executive Mangano. “The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame provides an avenue to honor the most gifted athletes, coaches, contest officials, administrators and related contributors while helping promote healthy competition here and strengthening interscholastic sports.”
The 2015 class is composed of 28 inductees; including nine administrators, nine coaches, six athletes, two contributors and two officials. Inductees include the likes of NFL fullback/greatest high school athlete Jim Brown, 20-time County Champion field hockey coach Diane Chapman and the winningest high school football coach in New York State, Bethpage’s Howard Vogts. These inductees have spent their lives working in, promoting and advocating to their community, students, athletes, team mates, and colleagues the importance of interscholastic sports.
An Induction Ceremony for the Nassau County High School Athletics HOF Class of 2015 will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at the Crest Hollow Country Club.
Nassau County High School Athletics HOF Induction Process:
Nominees must exemplify the high standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and moral character. Longevity, without meaningful countywide impact, does not constitute appropriate credentials for Nassau County High School Athletics HOF consideration.
The categories of athlete, coach, contest official, administrator and related contributor are included on the nomination form for expediency in understanding the primary area in which an individual is to be considered for his or her achievements in interscholastic athletics. All candidates for the Nassau County High School Athletics HOF must be at least 35 years of age prior to December 1st of the applicable year in order to be considered for induction.
Nominees for the Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame undergo a two-step process before being selected for induction. The 10 member Screening Committee determines which candidates are worthy of consideration and forwarded to the five member Selection Committee or placed in the “Hold for the Future Consideration” category. This category means a nominee may be considered again for induction for two consecutive years.
The Nassau County High School Hall of Fame will be governed by the Hall of Fame Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee consists of the Section VIII Executive Director, Nina Van Erk; Section VIII Male Vice President, Patrick Pizzarelli, CAA, Asst. Supt./Athletic Director, Lawrence Public Schools; Section VIII Female Vice President, Dawn Cerrone, Athletic Director, Garden City Public Schools; Media Representative, Carl Reuter; Sport Official Representative, Thomas O’Connor; and Nassau County Representative, Joseph Cairo. The Advisory Committee will be responsible for any changes to the Policies and Operating Procedures of the Hall of Fame.
For more information on the Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame, please call (516) 396-2488 or click here.
2015 INDUCTEE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
ADMINISTRATORS:
JOAN CASE, Brown Township (Fletcher, Ohio) - Class of 1950. In 1974, Joan was the first woman in New York State to be named Athletic Director for boys and girls – Clark Jr./Sr. High School. She was the NYSPHSAA State’s Field Hockey Coordinator from 1983 – 2000. From 1957–2000, Case coached Varsity Field Hockey at Clarke as well as Softball (1957-1987). She was inducted into the NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame in 2007.
MARIE CORRADO, The Ultimate Educator. Marie has dedicated 65 years to foster the advancement of athletics and physical education in Nassau County. During her 35 year career, she served as a teacher, coach, official and administrator. After retirement from Sewanhaka, she continued to serve on the Section VIII Executive Committee as the Ethics Committee Chairperson.
REBECCA KING, Becky worked for 30 years in the Carle Place School District as a teacher, coach and Director of Girls Athletics. A member of the Carle Place Athletics Hall of Fame, King served on the Section VIII Reorganization Committee and as also the County’s Field Hockey Coordinator.
ETHEL KLOBERG, From 1927–1945, Kloberg was the Supervisor of Physical Education in Baldwin for both the boys and girls in elementary schools and girls at the High School and from 1945–64 she was the Coordinator of Physical Education at Baldwin High School. In 1975, she because the Special Assistant to the Superintendent for Physical Education and Athletics for the District.
DR. MIRA MARTINCICH, From 1989 through 2009 Martincich was the Director of Physical Education K-12 Interscholastic Athletes and Recreation. Her endless resume includes President, Section VIII Athletic Council, Section VIII Executive Committee Member as well as a three sport official (Field Hockey, Lacrosse and Volleyball). In the 1970’s, as well as coaching Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball from 1975-1987. She’s also a member of the NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame.
MARCUS MARTONE, Glen Cove High School – Class of 1944. A great man, a great coach and a great administrator and educator. This marks the sixth Hall of Fame that Marc Martone will be inducted into. He coached Football at Sewanhaka and Carey and in 1974 his Carey Seahawks were undefeated and won the Rutgers Cup. In 1998 the football field was named in his honor – Marc Martone Field.
BERNIE O’BRIEN, Bernie O’Brien is a very special person. He started as a coach and teacher at Valley Stream South High School in 1956 and in 1959 became the school’s Athletic Director. In 1978 he became the AD for the Rockville Centre School District. In 1980 Bernie was appointed to the newly created position of Executive Director of Interscholastic Athletics for Nassau County. The NYSPHSAA Hall of Famer retired from that position in 1993.
JUDITH SALERNO, Judy Salerno was dedicated and the consummate professional physical educator. Her career began at Baldwin High School and then Salerno spent 32 years teaching in the Bellmore-Merrick District. Judy was an active member on the local and state level of the Association of Women in Physical Education in NYS. She impacted thousands of young girls who benefitted from her expertise and care. Always an advocate for Modified Athletics, Judy still serves as the State Coordinator of the Modified Committee.
DR. JAMES TOLLE, Jim Tolle’s involvement with Section VIII dates back nearly 50 years. A highly respected administrator/educator, Tolle’s commitment to education, children, community and Interscholastic Athletics speaks for itself and were second to none. He served the Uniondale, Malverne, Garden City and Roslyn School Districts. He is a past president of NYSPHSAA and a member of their Hall of Fame.
ATHLETES:
JEAN BARTHOLOMEW, Garden City Class of 1985. Jean was a 3-Sport Star. Field, Hockey, Basketball and Boys Golf. Jean scored more than 1,000 points in her Garden City High School career. In 1996, Jean was selected by Newsday’s Mike Candel as one of the 33 greatest high school athletes in Long Island history.
JIM BROWN, Manhasset High School - Class of 1953. Brown played 5 sports – Football, Lacrosse, Basketball, Track and Baseball. 1952 Thorp Awards Winner – Twice All County Football. Averaged 38 ppg. in the 1952-53 Basketball season, still a Nassau County Record. County Champ in High Jump and all metro midfielder in Lacrosse.
CARL BRAUN, Garden City High School - Class of 1945. One of the finest athletes ever produced on Long Island. Braun was All County in Basketball, Soccer and Baseball. In the 1944-45 hoops season, Braun scored a Long Island record 393 points in only 17 games. (23 ppg). A soccer goalie, Braun also tossed a no hitter in a perfect 6-0 year on the mound is GC’s 1945 County Title season.
JAY FIEDLER, A 1989 graduate of Oceanside High School, Fiedler was a football, basketball and track star receiving All Country recognition in all three sports. Starting quarterback for three years he passed for over 4,800 yards, a Nassau County record. Broke the NYS pentathlon record twice. A finalist for the Thorp Award and honored with the Roy Kessenich Memorial Award recognizing top 3 sport athlete in Nassau County.
MORLON GREENWOOD, Freeport High School graduate. Morlan never played or watched a football game until he was convinced to come out for the team as a junior. At the end of that season, after only 8 games, Syracuse offered him a full scholarship. He was All County in 1996 as well as All LI and All State. He was also a three time All County wrestler as well as a State Champ at 215 lbs.
WALLY SZCSERBIAK, Cold Spring Harbor High School – Class of 1995. Wally Szcserbiak is arguable one of the greatest High School Basketball players in Long Island history. He could flat out shoot. In his varsity career at CSH, Szczerbiak poured in 1709 points from 1993-1995. He was the Newsday and Long Island Player of the Year and First Team All-State as well as an All-American.
COACHES:
DIANE CHAPMAN, Known as “Chappy”, has compiled one of the most successful scholastic coaching records in New York State as well as the Nation. Prior to this season, Chapman had been Garden City’s Field Hockey Coach for 24 years and has won 20 County Titles, 17 Long Island Titles and 6 State Championships. In 13 years as Lacrosse Coach, her teams have won 9 Counties, 9 Long Island Championships and 8 State Titles.
TOM FLATLEY, Garden City High School – Class of 1957. Coach Flatley has coached football and lacrosse for 50 years, the last 29 years at Garden City. Prior to the 2014 season, Flatley’s football teams were 235-38-7, a winning percentage of .849. The best in Long Island history. His teams won 16 Conference Titles and 4 Long Island Championship and 4 Rutgers Cups. Flatley also was named Nassau’s Coach of the year four times.
LORRAINE HOFFMAN, Sewanhaka High School – Class of 1950. For almost 30 years, Hoffman taught Physical Education and coached Field Hockey, Basketball, Lacrosse and Gymnastics at Massapequa High School. She is a member of the Nassau County Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame. She was also instrumental in helping implement Title IX and the reorganization of Section VIII.
BUDDY KRUMENACKER, Farmingdale High School – Class of 1965. The Farmingdale High School grad’s head coaching career started at Hempstead in 1978. Krumenacker coached there for 11 years going 77-19-5 while winning 5 Conference Championships and 4 Rutgers Cups. He got the head job at his alma mater in 1993 and has capture 7 County Titles and a Long Island Title in 2001. He added another Rutgers Cup in 2007. He is a 5 time winner of the Nassau County Football Coach of the Year Award.
JASON MORGAN, Lawrence High School – Class of 1999. Jason Morgan is one of the most decorated Track & Field athletes in Nassau County history. He is a nine time State Champ in indoor and outdoor track. As a junior, he set an American Class Junior record for the 600 meters winning the race by “eight” seconds at Farmingdale State College.
TED PETERSEON, For 7 years, Ted Petersen’s Island Trees Wrestlers were literally “Bulldogs” on the mat. His young men compiled a team dual meet mark of 325-70-4. Petersen’s squads produced 20 Conference Titles, 22 individual Section VIII champs and six NYS champs. Petersen is a member of the NYS and National Wrestling Halls of Fame.
FRED SMITH, Fred Smith coached High School Football for 38 years. It started at Friends Academy in 1961 and he guided Cold Spring Harbor for two seasons. He retired in 1998 after 30 years on the sidelines for Locust Valley. He compiled a record of 202-104-15. He guided Locust Valley to three straight Nassau Conferences for 4 Championships from 1985-1987 including perfect 10-0 seasons in 1985-1987.
DON SNYDER, Simply known as “Coach” but Don Snyder was a highly respected Athletic Director and teacher as well for 42 years. This NYS Hall of Famer made his name on the sidelines. He coached Football at Farmingdale. His Dahlers were 237-93-7. Coach Snyder led his team to 15 Conference Titles and 7 times went undefeated and untied. His 1978 team went 9-0 and as unscored upon.
HOWARD VOGTS, Howard Vogts is iconic. He is New York State’s All-Time Winningest High School Football Coach with 61 wins. He founded the Bethpage Football Program in 1953 and was the head coach for 55 years winning Nassau Coach of the Year 12 times. His teams won 29 regular season league on conference championships, three Rutgers Cups and five Long Island titles. At Bethpage, the NYS Hall of Famer had the field named in his honor in 1989.
CONTRIBUTORS
DON RYAN, Hempstead High School – Class of 1961. Don Ryan is Hempstead. He is the ultimate Contributor to the history of Hempstead High School athletics. He has been Hempstead Blue and White for decades. He taught for 33 years and was the “go to” guy for states and information for Football and Basketball. “Compassionate, caring, kind and understanding,” said former Hempstead Football Coach Buddy Krumenacker, about who Don Ryan is.
JACK “JAKE” WHITE, Garden City High School Class of 1962. Was involved in Nassau County in regards to Section VIII Athletics for almost 50 years serving as the Nassau County Sports Information Director. The official stats person for County Playoff games (Football) for 30 years as well as all of the Long Island Championship Football games for 23 years. Jack authored the book “Section VIII: Nassau County Sports Book (1900-1986 Covering ALL Sports).
OFFICIALS:
ROSALIA GIOIA, Her high school officiating began in 1952 with volleyball, that lead to basketball the following year. Ro added field hockey in 1960 and is still officiating that sport today. She officiates lacrosse as well, which started in 1972. In addition to that, Gioia coached those sports at New Hyde Park Memorial High School and Great Neck.
NATHALIE SMITH, A Field Hockey, Girls Lacrosse and Volleyball official for over 4-1/2 decades. Having successful careers as a lacrosse player and collegiate coach in these three sports, she turned her passion toward officiating at the high school level in the County. She was the Section VIII Field Hockey Rules Interpreter in the 70’s and 80’s along with serving on the NAGWS Lacrosse Committee from 1981-2005. She is still officiating today.