Albany, NY — Russell Sage College's Department of Athletics has announced the selection of Nick Pontari (Troy, NY/Troy) as the first head coach for the newly added baseball team. Pontari, a 2016 graduate of Brockport State, joins the Gator staff after serving the past season as an assistant coach on the Cornell University baseball this past year.
"I have to extend a huge thank you to Sandy and everyone, who was a part of the search committee," noted Pontari. He added, "The process was an amazing experience, and I am extremely excited to begin as the first Head Baseball Coach at Russell Sage College. I can't wait to begin this fall, and most importantly, start to find young men and prepare them to be members of society, who contribute in a positive way by getting a great education and a positive and competitive baseball experience at Russell Sage College."
Russell Sage College, an NCAA Division III institution, competes as a member of the Empire 8 conference and will commence varsity baseball play during the 2021-2022 academic year. The Gator baseball team will open their first varsity campaign in the spring of 2022.
"I am thrilled to announce that Nick has accepted our offer to become the first-ever baseball coach at Russell Sage College," commented Director of Athletics Sandy Augstein-Collins. She added, "Nick presented himself as an outstanding candidate throughout the interview process. I am beyond excited to bring Coach Pontari back home to the Troy area and look forward to the growth of the baseball program under his tutelage. Nick will hit the ground running with his recruiting contacts as he begins recruiting members of our first baseball team."
"Growing up in the 518, specifically Troy, NY, and having the opportunity to come home and find student-athletes, who can become involved and make a positive impact on the community I grew up in is a dream come true," added Pontari. "The opportunity to bring kids to Russell Sage College for our inaugural season, and compete for an Empire 8 Championship right away will be an experience our program will never forget."
Pontari arrives at Russell Sage after one season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Cornell University baseball team. While the Big Red's 2020 season was truncated to nine games because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pontari played a big role in preparation for the season after his appointment to the position during the previous fall.
Prior to his time at Cornell, he served four seasons as a member of the coaching staff at his alma mater, The College at Brockport. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach of the Golden Eagles for the 2019 seasons, having served the previous three years as an assistant coach. At the time of his move to Cornell, he had taken over daily operations of Brockport's pitching staff. He also held roles in assisting with recruiting operations and working with the team's catchers.
Pontari has a bachelor's of science in physical education from Brockport in 2016, having transferred to the school from Fulton-Montgomery Community College via Hudson Valley Community College. In his senior season at Brockport, Pontari led the pitching staff with 15 appearances as a reliever, which tied him for seventh all-time in single-season appearances in the Golden Eagles record book. A senior caption of the 2015 squad, he compiled 16 strikeouts, while allowing only three walks in 19.1 innings of work and had a pair of saves to his credit. He had previously helped Hudson Valley Community College advance to the regional finals. Scholastically, his 2009 American Legion team won the New York State Championship and he was a First Team All-Big Ten player as a senior at Troy High School. An accomplished student-athlete, Pontari also earned a Masters of Education degree from Brockport in May of 2018 and was a member of the faculty at Brockport State, responsible for teaching as a member of the Kinesiology, Physical Education, Sport Management Department for the Golden Eagles as well in 2019.
Active in his community, Pontari has also volunteered at the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged, while also attending and presenting at the NYS AHPERD Conferences. He also volunteered for the Golden Eagles' "Swim and Gym" programs assisting children with special needs, as well as participating with the Blindfolded Gymnastics Events for awareness for children with visual impairments, during his time as a student-athlete.
"I first have to thank Justin Beach, Ory Mee, and all of the assistant-coaches that I have had the opportunity to play for and work with at SUNY Brockport over my playing career and first four seasons as an assistant coach/associate head coach," remarked Pontari. "Next, a huge Thank You to Dan Pepicelli and the Cornell coaching staff for allowing me to be a part of their program, giving me amazing opportunities to learn as well as coach their student-athletes last season. Finally, all of the players that I have had the opportunity to work with and build relationships with, each and every single moment has helped shape and prepare me for the Head Coaching position at Russell Sage College, and to these people, I am forever grateful."
