Amherst assistant takes over reins at New Paltz

Mike Rejniak had been an assistant coach at Amherst since 2007. Photo by Matt Milless, d3photography.com

Mike Rejniak has been named the head men's basketball coach at the State University of New York at New Paltz, as announced Thursday by New Paltz director of athletics Stuart Robinson. Rejniak brings seven years of NCAA Division III coaching experience, having served as an assistant coach at Amherst, Plymouth State and New Jersey.

He replaces Dagan Nelson, who resigned last month.

"What made Mike stand out in an extremely talented pool of applicants was his high level of preparation," Robinson said. "He set himself apart by intimately understanding the college and its profile, and he took the time to familiarize himself with our men's basketball student-athletes. We look forward to Mike's passion and energy as he embarks upon his first season as a collegiate head coach."

With masterful knowledge of the game of basketball and with the ability to maximize talent out of each player he mentors, Rejniak has thrived coaching teams with high expectations in elite conferences. During his tenure as an assistant coach, he has had 11 former players —including four All-Americans — move on to play professionally after graduation. At Amherst, where he served as an assistant coach from 2007-11, he played an integral role in the Lord Jeffs' success during that time. As a full-time assistant coach, Rejniak was charged with recruiting, scouting, video editing, player development and on-court instruction. In four years at Amherst, the Lord Jeffs went 87-26 overall and made the Division III NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009 and 2011. In 2008, one year removed from winning the national championship, Amherst made it back to the title game, finishing the season with an overall record of 27-4 and a perfect 9-0 mark in the vaunted New England Small College Athletic Conference.

During the 2006-07 season, Rejniak served as a full-time assistant coach with Plymouth State, assisting with all aspects of the men's basketball program. As a graduate assistant coach from 2004-06 at The College of New Jersey, he coached two players that went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters, and the Lions' men's basketball staff was accorded New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Coaching Staff of the Year laurels in 2006. That season, Rejniak coached in the NJAC All-Star Game.

As a student at Springfield, he worked as an undergraduate assistant coach for the men's basketball team from 2002-04, and during the 2001-02 academic year, he served as a varsity boys' basketball assistant coach at Hampshire Regional High School.

Rejniak is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and has worked as a co- or assistant director for three different basketball camps.

"I would first off like to thank director of athletics Stuart Robinson, associate director of athletics Brian Williams and the search committee members for having the confidence in me to lead the men's basketball team here at New Paltz," Rejniak said. "I believe to be afforded the opportunity to coach basketball at such a fine institution which is so highly committed to excellence in academics and athletics comes once in a lifetime. My experiences working alongside such great mentors as Dave Hixon, John Scheinman, John Castaldo and my other former head coaches have prepared me to pave the way for a new and exciting era in Hawk basketball. I am tremendously enthusiastic and optimistic about establishing a brand of basketball that is successful both on and off the court for our student-athletes.

"Having followed the SUNYAC for years, I am eager to start coaching in such a strong conference that has shown national prominence in basketball. I am passionate about laying the foundation for a tradition of excellence at New Paltz that will thrive for years to come. Hawk basketball is ready for the next level, and I am very proud to be at the helm."

Rejniak earned his Bachelor of Science in physical education from Springfield in 2004 and obtained his Master of Education in athletic administration from The College of New Jersey in 2006.

He will make his head coaching debut at the Radisson Invitational hosted by Scranton from Nov. 18-19.