It has been another year for the books for Mahopac High School athletics. And much of the credit for that success goes to Athletic Director Stephen Luciana.
Luciana was named Athletic Director of the Year by the New York State Section 1 Athletic Administration. The honor comes courtesy of a nomination and vote by his peers from around the state.
“I’m not one for awards, but it means a lot when your colleagues are the ones voting for it. It’s an honor to have the work that we’ve put into Mahopac and Section 1 recognized.”
Between planning and coordinating seasons full of games, weather events, equipment breakdowns, and try-outs, the job of an Athletic Director extends to almost all hours.
“We’re on 24/7. When we have weather events, we’re coordinating with other teams and rescheduling. We’re here till 9 p.m. most nights in the winter for games and we’re up at 6 a.m. in case anything happens with buses so we can take of that,” said Luciana explaining the logistics that go into a successful program. “We’re here on breaks and Saturdays for tournaments and scheduling. It is a lot but it’s very rewarding and I’ve wanted to do it since high school.”
The Athletic Director was quick to share the credit with his team and the students.
“This award is really for our department. What I do wouldn’t be possible without the help of Lynne Mongon, Brenna Lape, our coaches, and athletes. Our grounds crew and custodians do a great job hosting Section 1 events. The award is a recognition of all of the work that we all do together.”
An athletic director for more than 16 years, Luciana took over as Mahopac’s AD four years ago. He has served the Mahopac community through many successful seasons and watched dozens of students sign on to continue playing sports in college.
“Mahopac is lucky to have Steve Luciana as our Director of PE, Health, and Athletics,” said Superintendent Christina Tona. “His experience, knowledge, and dedication are assets not only to Mahopac but to the region as evidenced by this much-deserved award.”
“One of the reasons that I came here four years ago is for the support and passion this community has for athletics. It’s nice to see Mahopac recognized for the work that we put in. Hosting state events, regional and sectional championships, that’s all of us.”