Sachem alum and former Sachem North varsity men’s lacrosse coach Rich Petillo has joined the coaching staff as an assistant at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y.
Petillo was most recently the head boy’s lacrosse coach at Harborfields High School on Long Island.
He is also the owner of Nor’Easter Lax, which helps organize lacrosse leagues for men and women as well as a summer camp for K-8 and a high school recruiting showcase.
He was a football and lacrosse player at Sachem and Hofstra University, where he was also a captain at both institutions.
Petillo is one of a number of Sachem alums to join the college coaching ranks. Chris Panos is an assistant at Tampa, while Jason Fautas is the head coach at Walsh, Joe Amplo is the head coach at Marquette and Brian Brecht is the head coach at Rutgers.
He said Hartwick coach Bill Bjorness offered him the third coaching spot on his staff last September and it was something he couldn’t refuse.
“It was something I always wanted to do,” he said.
It helps that his son Evan is a freshman at Hartwick and another son Cody transferred to the school in December from Rutgers. Both are Sachem North alums.
“Coaching college guys is a big change,” he said, “the kids get it faster, which makes the job easier.”
Hartwick is putting in a new offensive system, which is forcing coaches and players to learn. Couple that with a speedy and talented roster and it has Petillo excited to embark on a college coaching gig.
“We hope to reestablish ourselves in the Empire 8 division and ultimately bring Hartwick back into the National conversation,” Petillo said.
The Hawks lineup has been packed with former Sachem talent in recent years. The 2014 includes alums Fred Golini, Cody Ciolino, as well as Cody and Evan Petillo.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro