According to the Advance/SILive.com, Susan Wagner varsity softball head coach Marco Altieri, who led the Falcons team to unprecedented success over his 18-year stint, has made the decision to resign.
The bad news is that.
The 53-year-old Altieri has agreed to take over as head coach of Wagner’s boys volleyball team, which is wonderful news for Falcons fans. Jackie Roloph, who took Heather Aliotta’s place as temporary head coach the previous season, is replaced by Altieri.
On the diamond, Altieri’s longtime assistant and right-hand man with the softball club, Tim McAuliffe, will assume the role of head coach.
In the meantime, Altieri will keep up his 23-year tenure as coach of the Falcons girls’ volleyball team. While the boys’ volleyball campaign begins in the spring, the girls’ volleyball season begins in the fall. This year’s first boys’ game for SW is scheduled for March 18.
Altieri’s decision to leave his position as softball coach was obviously not made lightly. Three prior times in the past, he had the chance to join the boys’ volleyball team, but for some reason, the timing was never perfect.
He felt it was time to act when opportunity No. 4 just came along.
Altieri acknowledged that saying farewell is difficult. I’ve always wanted to coach the boys’ volleyball team, but it’s not because I dislike coaching softball. It’s really no secret, and after three previous chances, I simply felt that this time was the best course of action for my family and me.
If done correctly, teaching softball requires a significant amount of work, but I have thoroughly loved it. However, I always knew that this was the ideal moment for my career and that I would accept the boys volleyball position if it became available.
Altieri started his softball coaching career at SW as the head coach of the junior varsity team from 1999 to 2002. In 2004, he returned to the JV as head coach after spending a season helping out former varsity head coach Jon Manuelian in 2003.
But a year later, he was promoted to head coach of the varsity, and he had a very successful career leading the Falcons to an overall record of 301-129 in 18 seasons. SW has made it to the city championship game four times, reached the PSAL semifinals a staggering twelve times, won one PSAL top-tier city title (2017), and qualified for the playoffs each season since 2007.
On May 30, 2015, during a PSAL playoff game at the College of Staten Island, Erica Olsen crosses the plate with the winning run, and Susan Wagner head coach Marco Altieri begins the celebration. (The Advance of Staten Island)Advance of Staten Island
“We’re thrilled to have Marco on our team and to have him coach as many sports as he has over the years,” said Scott McBratney, athletic director at SW. He didn’t make this decision lightly, and as a school, we have supported it.
Although he has always wanted to coach volleyball, there hasn’t always been a chance to do so. Nevertheless, he has enjoyed coaching the softball team for as long as he has. You always want to improve a program by the time you leave, and I have no doubt that coach Altieri has done just that. With the softball squad, he has established an incredible program and a recurring powerhouse.
Altieri stated, “I’m going to miss a lot of things with softball, like the games, the girls, and the coaches.” There is a lot to be said for the friendship that softball coaches have. I adore the sport; it’s similar to a game of chess.
Although I enjoy the folks that will make up our team this season and have made many friends along the road, I knew this day would arrive. The team will be fine, but it’s never a good moment to depart. They won’t skip a beat, in my opinion.
Altieri stated that he had a set of expectations for his student-athletes regardless of the sport he teaches, and softball was no exception.
Altieri, who is the proud parent of twins Katie and Marco with his wife Dotty, said, “I truly care about these kids and wanted it to feel like family.” For me, grades were always the most crucial factor, and they could never be compromised. I want my children to be good players, good teammates, and good students, and all of my softball teams throughout the years have demonstrated that.
The boys’ volleyball program at SW is gaining a seasoned senior coach who has guided the girls’ team to numerous accomplishments, including a 2012 PSAL city title and more than 300 career wins. The Advance Sportsman of the Year from 2013 is eager to get started at his new position.
“It’s a new challenge,” he remarked. I’m pretty excited about it, and we’ll see what we can accomplish with it. The volleyball matches for males and girls are not the same. I’ve watched the current team play, and I think they’re a good bunch of players that I’m going to enjoy myself a lot. It’s a more powerful game on the boys’ side.
Marco puts a lot of effort into being well-liked by every squad he leads, McBratney continued. He never stops studying every game, and he keeps attending coaching seminars to pick up new skills. He never takes anything for granted.
He always prepares so the children are ready.
Stories by
Charlie De Biase
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