Unatego boys basketball coach Knight to step down after season

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February 21, 2012

By Dean Russin Sports Editor The Daily Star Tue Feb 21, 2012, 02:30 AM EST

ONEONTA _ Unatego coach Jim Knight said Saturday the 2011-12 boys basketball season will be his last with the Spartans.

"I'm retiring from my job as teacher's aide at Unatego," said Knight, who led the Spartans to a 43-39 victory over Sidney in the Midstate Athletic Conference championship game Saturday at Oneonta State. The victory marked Unatego's first conference championship since 1984, when the school was affiliated with the Susquenango Association.

"I'm going to miss it, that's for sure," Knight continued. "The camaraderie with the other coaches is just great. We know each other's stuff and we battle every night. It's fun to prepare for them and scout them, but it's a long season. It's a lot of miles and people don't realize that; they just don't. But this (MAC title) makes it all worth it. This is really a special group, and if I'm going out, this is the group to go out on."

Knight has coached Unatego for seven seasons, leading the Spartans to back-to-back appearances in the MAC final. Last season, Knight's team fell, 48-36, to Sidney in the MAC title game.

Unatego is 17-1 this season, losing only to Chenango Valley of the Southern Tier Athletic Conference 57-47, on Jan. 5. The Spartans are seeded second for the Section Four Class C Tournament and will host a first-round game against No. 15 Greene on Tuesday.

"We played softball together, we played golf at the same golf course, so I know Jim personally," Sidney coach Mike Brazee said. "I'm happy for him and this is a good way to go out."

Unatego assistant athletic director Matt Hafele said the school must wait until Knight files an official resignation letter before opening a formal search for his replacement.

Hafele also said Unatego is still without an athletic director. Bill May resigned from the position Feb. 1 to become the director of tennis at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla. May became Unatego's AD two years ago, during a seven-year run as the men's and women's tennis at Oneonta State.

Dean Russin can be reached at drussin@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 215.