Vince Medici Now Hudson Valley's Winningest Men's Basketball Coach

CONTACT: Jeff Foley (518) 629-8085 or (518) 210-4161

FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Wednesday, January 30, 2002
http://www.hvcc.edu

Vince Medici captured his 130th career victory on Tuesday, Jan. 29, breaking Dan Zytko's record for wins as a men's basketball head coach at Hudson Valley Community College. Hytko compiled a 129-68 record from 1981 to 1989.

Now in his seventh season, Medici is 130-65 overall. He's won 66.7 percent of his contests.

"Given the way that Vince Medici conducts himself on the court, the way he demands that his players conduct themselves, and the high level of discipline and education that he instills in his players, it was just a matter of time before he broke the record," said Drew Marrochello, Hudson Valley's director of athletics. "Hundreds of student-athletes have benefited greatly from his teaching abilities."

Win No. 130 was a classic. On Tuesday, Hudson Valley used a 12-5 run over the final 3:37 to down Mountain Valley Conference rival SUNY Cobleskill, 71-68. Guard Jeremy Schneible secured the victory by drilling a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left.

"Coach called the play and I was wide open," Schneible said.

Medici, who lives in Malta, has led the Vikings to the NJCAA Division III Region III tournament in each of his first six years. Hudson Valley has won at least 20 games and reached the tournament's championship in each of the last three seasons. The Vikings qualified for the national championship tournament in 1998-99, and Medici has twice been named Mountain Valley Conference Coach of the Year.

In addition to coaching at Hudson Valley, Medici teaches physical education at Greenwich Elementary School.

In the 2000-01 academic year, Hudson Valley's athletic teams combined to win 72 percent of their contests. The ice hockey team won the NJCAA championship, the baseball team earned a berth in the NJCAA World Series and the football team won the Region III title. The women's basketball team earned a No. 1 national ranking and turned in a 24-3 record while the men's hoop squad competed in the Region III championship game. Additionally, two Vikings earned Region III Player-of-the-Year status, 20 were named All-Region III performers, and 10 were honored with All-American status.