School doesn’t retain coaches

University had investigated concerns within program during the past season

SUNY Adirondack won’t retain its softball coaching staff following a season that included a school investigation into “concerns” within the program.

Head coach Jack Celeste, who led the program since 2016, and assistant coaches Brittney Sprague and Jack Pelton are no longer listed on the team’s web page.

“SUNY Adirondack made the decision to move in a different direction and, at the conclusion of the softball season, the current part-time coaching staff was not renewed for next year,” Rhonda Triller, director of marketing and communications, said in an email. “The college does not comment further on personnel decisions.”

The Timberwolves went 8-13 this season.

A SUNY Adirondack player who asked not to be identified said the team was notified by an email that didn’t give a reason why the coaches won’t be back.

Celeste couldn’t be reached for comment.

However, the player said there was tension between the coaches and the four players on the roster from Corinth. The coaches made disparaging comments about the Corinth players’ talent and work ethic, according to the player, who said the situation came to a head during a practice in April.

Players complained to the school, which led to the investigation, according to the player.

SUNY Adirondack postponed dou

bleheaders against Herkimer College on April 17 and 18. Two practices were canceled and another was run by athletic director Zach Schwan without the coaches present.

The season resumed after that with the coaching staff in charge. But either Schwan or assistant athletic director Julie Clark was present at every practice and game, the player said.

“The ADS handled the situation very well,” the player said. “I think they definitely had the players’ best interests in mind throughout the whole thing. The ADS do care about the program a lot, which kept me continuing to play and (with) a positive attitude even when I was very frustrated with the coaches. The ADS also sacrificed a lot of their time to be at our practices and games, which shows how much they cared about the program.”