Konieczny pg 9 7-26-12
- Details
- Category: Past Issues
Konieczny
succeeds Divine
as Putnam AD
By Ron P. Coderre
Richard Konieczny has been appointed as the athletic director for Putnam High School, according to word out of the school released on July 17.
Konieczny, whose name isn’t familiar to many in the Antique City, brings more than three decades of experience in athletics and administration to the position. He spent 31 years as physical education teacher in E. Hampton, Mass. During six of those years, Konieczny served as the school’s athletic director. According to Putnam High School, he also has experience teaching and coaching on the collegiate, amateur and high school levels.
The new director of athletics in Clipperland has degrees from Dean Junior College, UMass at Amherst and Springfield College. He holds a master’s degree in administration of athletics and bachelor’s degrees in physical education and science.
In taking over the position, Konieczny follows in the footsteps of Pat Divine, who retired at the end of the 2012 school year. In the history of athletics at Putnam High School, George W. St. Marie Jr. was the benchmark, serving in the athletic director position for 41 years. He was succeeded by Tony Falzarano, who relinquished the position to Bob Demars. Demars was followed by Christopher Coderre, who currently serves as director of Athletics at Woodstock Academy. Prior to Divine, Joe Morris held the position on an interim basis.
Konieczny is no stranger to Putnam High School athletics. He’s served as the Clippers varsity softball program and the girls’ soccer team for the past two years. His coaching resume includes coaching soccer at Western New England College and the Berkshire Industries Semi-Professional Soccer league. He’s also coached girls’ basketball at Amherst College and East Hampton High School.
Konieczny is a member of the Dean College Athletic Hall of Fame, inducted as a member of the 1961 soccer team.