Shenendehowa High School

Christopher Culnan, Director Athletics & Physical Education 970 Route 146 Clifton Park, NY 12065-3688 Telephone (518) 881-0390 Fax (518) 881-0399 Email: culnchri@shenet.org

June 14, 2012 **PRESS RELEASE** JIM CARRESE STEPS DOWN AS SHENS HEAD BASEBALL COACH Jim Carrese, Shenendehowas long time head baseball coach, will be stepping down effective June 15, 2012 after 22 years. Coach Carrese has decided to step away from the baseball program for personal and family reasons. Coach Carrese has been the head baseball coach at Shenendehowa since 1991. His overall record is 349-163 (.682), including a 237-95 (.714) record in the Suburban Council. Coach Carrese guided the Plainsmen to Section II Championships in 1994 and 1996 as well as Regional Championships in those same years. The 1996 Shenendehowa baseball team was a New York State Public High School Class A Finalist. Under Coach Carrese, Shenendehowas varsity baseball team has won 16 Suburban Council division championships, participated in five Section II championship games and qualified for the playoffs in 17 of 22 years. Since 1991, this program has produced 83 student-athletes who have participated in baseball at the intercollegiate level and nine players have signed professional contracts. In 2011, the Shenendehowa varsity baseball team earned the prestigious NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete award as the top performing academic baseball team in New York State. Jim Carrese, Shenendehowa Head Baseball Coach: My retirement from the baseball program is simply about my desire to focus my attention on the greater priority in my life which is my family and my ten year old son`s travel baseball team. After 22 seasons I believe the words Shenendehowa Baseball have a tremendous significance in NYS and Section Two Baseball. I am deeply indebted to all the families, players, athletic directors and coaches that I have had the opportunity to work with these past 34 years as a public high school coach. I am especially thankful for the dedication and tireless work ethic of the current Shenendehowa Baseball staff. Most importantly I am most grateful for the support of my family, specifically my wife Jacqueline, who has allowed the little boy from Ballston Lake, NY to pursue his lifelong dream of being a coach. Chris Culnan, Director of Athletics and Physical Education, Shenendehowa Central School District: All of us at Shen are very appreciative of Jims efforts with the baseball program for the past 22 years. His commitment to develop true student-athletes has always been his first priority. All of us at Shenendehowa want to thank Jim for his years of service to the baseball program and understand his reasons for stepping away.
A search for a new baseball coach will begin immediately.