Sharing the spotlight with Dad
Former player and assistant is introduced as the 18th head coach in program history
Carmen Maciariello wipes a tear from the cheek of his 2-year-old daughter, Reese, while he speaks to the press after he was introduced as the new head coach for the Siena College men’s basketball team Tuesday at the Times Union Center in Albany. Maciariello replaces Jamion Christian, who left the Loudonville school for George Washington University in Washington.
Carmen Maciariello walked into the Siena men’s basketball locker room last Thursday and broke the surprising news to his players that head coach Jamion Christian was leaving after one season for George Washington.
It wasn’t easy for anyone in the room, including Maciariello, an assistant in his first year back at his alma mater.
“Awkward for me,” Maciariello said. “I didn’t know I was going to have to do that. But I just told the guys, hey, nothing changes. We’re here to win a championship. No matter if I’m your head coach or not, or your interim head coach at the time, hey, we’re going to make sure you get better today because you don’t want to waste a day.”
Most of the team gathered for a much happier occasion on Tuesday, when Maciariello was introduced as the 18th head coach in program history at a news conference in the Times Union Center atrium.
Maciariello, also a Shenendehowa graduate, was promoted to interim head coach after
Christian departed, and then had the interim tag removed after just four days.
It’s his first head coaching job after 11 years as an assistant. He also began his career as Siena’s director of basketball operations in 2005-06. That job paid only $3,000.
He’ll make considerably more under his four-year head coaching contract. While the salary wasn’t disclosed, a source said it’s in the neighborhood of what Christian was earning before going to George Washington.
Coincidentally, Maciariello left George Washingtontocometosienaayear ago with the hope he would someday succeed Christian as head coach. It just came sooner than anyone expected.
“Last year, when Carm was brought on staff, that’s what was exciting about it,
(that in) three or four years we’d be here,” Siena athletic director John D’argenio said. “Obviously, it was a little bit quicker.”
D’argenio, Siena president Br. F. Edward Coughlin and the administration decided on Maciariello to become the first school alumnus and Capital Region native to lead the program since 1982.
“I felt I’ve been ready, and I’m excited that I get my opportunity here at home,” Maciariello said. “I thank Brother Ed and John and the Board of Trustees, everyone involved with Siena basketball, for giving me this opportunity.”
Maciariello, 40, had his wife, Laura, 2-year-old daughter, Reese, and other family in attendance.
Maciariello will attempt to carry on the work of Christian, who led the Saints to a 17-16 record despite being picked last in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
“I think we have a lot
of great pieces,” he said. “We have great kids, great student-athletes and they have just bought in from the beginning . ... Let’s talk big picture. We want to have sustainable success andwewanttobeableto compete and win MAAC championships every year. That’s what it’s about.”
Maciariello received good news when sophomore guard Don Carey and graduate forward Elijah Burns of Troy decided to stay with the program rather than transfer.
“It’s just a family community here,” said Carey, a Maryland native who had strong ties to Christian. “I like Carm. I trust Carm, so it was a pretty easy decision.”
“It’s great,” Burns said. “We’re all excited as a team to compete for Coach Carm. He’s going to do a great job.”
Siena is still awaiting word from freshman guard Jalen Pickett, the MAAC Rookie of the Year, and freshman forward Sloan Seymour of
Shaker.
Pickett didn’t attend the news conference. Maciariello and Carey said Pickett is home sick in Rochester. Maciariello said Pickett “doesn’t want to go anywhere,” but his mother, Gwen, still wants to talk to Maciariello about his plan.
Seymour, who set Siena’s freshman 3-point record, said he still wants to talk to his parents about his future. It was unclear whether he might follow Christian to George Washington.
If Siena hadn’t kept Maciariello, the Saints might have had to start over from scratch, but D’argenio said that wasn’t the biggest reason for promoting him.
“The important thing is, we recognized we had the person right there,” D’argenio said. “Between wanting to keep good continuity and having the person right there, it became a pretty easy decision.”