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PUTNAM — The Putnam Science Academy is moving quickly to find another girls’ basketball head coach after Head Coach Derek Marchione announced he is moving on junior college coaching.
Putnam Science Academy Athletic Director Tom Espinosa said: ““We now will progress towards the hiring of a new Head coach of the women’s prep basketball program. We expect to receive a lot of offers from eligible coaches and from there will look to cut the list to five before we make our final decision. We want to make a decision rather quickly so we can be as prepared as possible for the next season and also be able to reassure new players that are coming in and expecting to play for the Mustangs.”
Two years ago Putnam Science Academy elected to go co-ed and introduce women into the previously all boys prep school. With an idea to expand the school and raise attendance, a girls’ basketball program was formed with a then 25-year-old head coach from New York, Marchione.
Fast forward 2 years later after a 45-16 record, 2 National Tournament invites including a Final Four appearance this past season along with 13 of his players receiving basketball scholarships, Marchione is moving on to head coach Division 2 Junior College SUNY Sullivan.
“It’s been a great journey, I’ve been lucky to have great kids and great support for this program.” said Marchione. “Putnam Science Academy taught me a lot, it was my first time being a head coach and seeing and being a part of the recruiting process, you just learn so much.” This past season the Lady Mustangs Prep Basketball team took tremendous strides winning big games against powerhouses like Blair Academy and Worcester Academy, who at the time were ranked #1 in New England, throughout the year and earning a trip to the Independent School National Championship tournament. The Mustangs took home third place after winning on a buzzer-beater from guard Fatima Lee to beat St. Laurent.
Memorable moments for Marchione were signing days. “Every signing day we had you saw so much joy on these kids’ faces … they came to PSA and sacrificed a lot and that was always my goal was to make these kids better than before they came here.”
Espinosa said he was happy for Marchione: “We are happy and thankful for Derek and what he did the girls’ basketball program here at PSA. He built the program into a New England power in just two years along with sending over a dozen girls to college, it’s a great move for him to continue his coaching career and we wish him nothing but the best.”
After weighing out the options, Marchione decided to take the head coaching job at SUNY Sullivan after their head coach moved on to an assistant coaching job at the University of Xavier. “I accepted the head coaching job at SUNY Sullivan, it’s a state junior college in Sullivan County New York…It’s rural and has plenty of similarities to Putnam.” Marchione also added, “It’s a great step for me and I would have never had the opportunity to do that if it wasn’t for my time here at Putnam Science Academy.”
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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