Kenney replaces Rejniak as SUNY New Paltz coach
SUNY New Paltz had made a change at head coach of its men’s basketball team with the announcement Friday that Michael Rejniak has elected to step down after six seasons and Hawk alum Keith Kenney has taken the post.
Kenney is the current Assistant Director of Athletics, Wellness and Recreation at New Paltz.
Rejniak will remain with the college, assuming another role within the department. He was 43-107 in his six years at the helm. The Hawks went 1-23 last season, the worst campaign in the pro-
gram’s 69-year history.
“Mike is a tremendous citizen of the campus community who has and continues to give his best on behalf of the student-athletes and the campus,” Athletics Director Stuart Robinson said. “I*’d like to thank Mike for his passion and commitment to the New Paltz men’s basketball program.”
Kenney, a Pine Bush High graduate, transferred from Cobleskill in 1997 and scored 927 points in less than two seasons at New Paltz. He was a first-team State University of New York Athletic Conference All-Star both seasons with the Hawks. He was honored with the Floyd Patterson Male Athlete of the Year Award for 1998-99.
The Hawks made the SUNYAC tournament both seasons Kenney was with the team. New Paltz was the ECAC Division III tournament champions in his senior year.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from New Paltz ‘99 and a master’s in EducationSchool Leadership in 2010. He served as a volunteer assistant men’s basketball coach with the Hawks under Doug Pasquerella from 2003-06.
“I’m overwhelmingly excited to take on the challenge of heading the program that I was a part of as a student-athlete,” said Kenney, who becomes the first alum to coach the men’s team.
“I want to thank Stu for the opportunity. I love New Paltz and the program and I am happy to be a part of it. I can’t wait to start working with the guys.”
“Having known Keith from his days as a studentathlete and as a colleague, I’m confident that Keith will do an excellent job heading the program,” Robinson said.