Earlier in the week I mentioned that Luke Vaccaro was out at Scarsdale. That story appeared in today’s Journal News, along with the dominoes that accompanied it.
Like Don Hamlin, Vaccaro’s departure is significant because he’d been around a long time (15 years) and won a sectional championship (in 1998). Those weren’t enough to save his job, though. He was pushed out because of philosophical differences with the administration.
Though he’d still like to coach high school, he did not accept any offers this summer. He said he’s waiting for the right fit. In the meantime he’ll coach AAU and play with his five grandkids. And he’s agreed to help out some of his friends in the coaching fraternity during the season.
Scarsdale AD Michael Menna filled his position before retiring after the school year. Michael Blanco, the former Hastings coach, will take over. Blanco is a friend of Vaccaro’s and coaches alongside him with the Lady Knicks AAU.
Blanco had what he called a mutual parting with Hastings. As a basketball junkie, it was hard for the New Rochelle grad to coach at a small school where many of the girls are multi-sport athletes. He wanted more full-time basketball players, and he’s hoping to get that at Scarsdale.
Replacing Blanco is Joseph Keolamphu, the New Rochelle JV coach. It’s the first varsity gig for Keolamphu, a Pelham native.
12 Comments
what kind of “friend” would take a job that a “friend” was fired from.. the first quality of a good friend is loyality…I heard Blanco was not a favorite of the parents at Hastings,... I have also heard that the Lady Knicks tell thier girls that they CAN’T play summer ball with their school teams, assinine, selfish and not looking out for the girls best interest.
My daughter was asked not to play summer ball while the NCAA viewing period was still in progress and we were still playing at showcase tournaments. Her high school coach said she understood. The reasons are obvious and clearly in the best interest of the girls.
The girls H.S. coaches were doing their job there would be no need for AAU “coaches” to tell their players that they can’t play summer ball with their schoo teams.
I couldn’t get a seat at the last high school game I went to because there were so many college coaches in the stands. They have nothing to do during the high school season.
AAU “coaches” think they are important for just that reason, to have contact with college coaches, for the most part AAU coaches are not qualified to speak with college coaches when it comes to the student-athletes, they have no real working knowledge of the NCAA clearing house regulations, or financial aid standards, it is a shame that most h.s coaches only want to work with their teams from November to February. But to tell athletes that they can only play with their organization is being short sighted…. one other thing people need to be realistic, not every girl that plays AAU ball is a college player, at any level, but keep paying the AAU “coaches” and they will tell you anything you want to hear.
My daughter’s AAU coach knows all about the NCAA clearing house, my daughter’s grades and even a little bit about our financial situation. He has been a big part of my daughter’s decision making process and I pay him NOTHING. He is also far more hands-on and knowledgeable then our high school coach and I don’t say that to knock her high school coach. She does many other things and is a good teacher and mentor.
Maybe you should look around for a more experienced AAU coach.
“Blanco was not a favorite of the parents” probably means he is a good coach who doesn’t put up with their B.S.
If…. the HS coaches can’t coach and the AAU coaches can’t coach – who should be coaching? The parents? Who would be left to complain about the coaches….
@ I’m just wondering-you sound like a loser…Danger…. Drinkiing to much Kool-Aid can cause brain damage…..
Hastings will stink AGAIN lol
Scarsdale will start to stink
Briarcliff will slowly start to stink
looks like he left with their only ball, having “secreted” it under his shirt.
@Stinks that was brilliant! How long did it take you to come up with that?? What stinks is beating someone by 75 points! Now that smells!
bye ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, aaaaaah