New Paltz Men's Basketball Announces Head Coaching Change
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The Department of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation at the State University of New York at New Paltz announces that current head men's basketball coach Michael Rejniak has elected to step down from his position and will assume another role within the department, announced on Friday.
"Mike is a tremendous citizen of the campus community who has and continues to give his best on behalf of the student-athletes and the campus," stated Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation Stuart Robinson. "I'd like to thank Mike for his passion and commitment to the New Paltz men's basketball program."
To replace Rejniak will be Keith Kenney '99 '10g, a former New Paltz student-athlete and current Assistant Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation.
"Having known Keith from his days as a student-athlete and as a colleague, I'm confident that Keith will do an excellent job heading the program," explained Robinson.
Kenney becomes the first alum to head the men's basketball program in the team's history, dating back to 1948.
"I'm overwhelmingly excited to take on the challenge of heading the program that I was a part of as a student-athlete," Kenney explained. "I want to thank Stu for the opportunity. I love New Paltz and the program and I am happy to be a part of it. I can't wait to start working with the guys."
A two-time First-Team All-State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) selection, Kenney received the department's esteemed Floyd Patterson Male Athlete of the Year Award following the 1998-99 campaign. Kenney has the fifth-highest career scoring average in SUNYAC play history and compiled 927 career points in less than two seasons at New Paltz after transferring from SUNY Cobleskill.
Prior to New Paltz, Kenney played from 1995-97 at SUNY Cobleskill, gaining All-America recognition and graduating as the school's all-time leading scorer. He is also a member of the Cobleskill Athletic Hall of Fame.
Kenney also served the department as a volunteer Assistant Men's Basketball Coach New Paltz for three seasons from 2003-2006. He played professional basketball in 2007-08 and worked as a System Engineer for four years at Infineon Technologies prior to New Paltz.
Kenney, a Middletown, N.Y. native, attended Pine Bush High School where he was selected as a First-Team Times-Herald Record All Star his senior year, leading Section IX in scoring and gaining All-State Class AA honors.
Kenney earned his bachelor's degree in Business Management from New Paltz in 1999 and a Master of Science in Education-School Leadership in 2010. He is also a USA Basketball Gold Licensed Coach, AAU Coach, Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) member and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) member.
