LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Stony Brook University Men's
Basketball Coach Steve Pikiell upon the occasion of being named the 2010
America East Conference Coach of the Year

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize those individuals within our midst who have contributed great-
ly to the quality of our lives by providing exceptional leadership and
commitment to our youth; and
WHEREAS, It is acknowledged that athletic competition enhances the
moral and physical development of the young people of this State,
preparing them for the future by instilling in them the value of team-
work, encouraging a standard of healthy living, imparting a desire for
success and developing a sense of fair play and competition; and,
further, that excellence and success in competitive sports can be
achieved only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, all
of which actions are nurtured by dedicated coaching; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late Stony Brook University Men's Basketball Coach Steve Pikiell upon
the occasion of being named the 2010 America East Conference Coach of
the Year; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Coach Steve Pikiell is being recognized as the
All-Met Coach of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Worthy of these meritorious honors, Coach Steve Pikiell guid-
ed the Stony Brook Seawolves to their first America East regular season
title in 2009-2010; and
WHEREAS, In his fifth season at the helm of the Stony Brook Seawolves,
Coach Steve Pikiell led his team to a record-breaking 2009-2010 season;
they set Division I program records for overall wins (22) and conference
wins (13) and won 10 straight games to clinch the school's first America
East Conference regular season title; in addition, Stony Brook Universi-
ty earned its first ever Division I postseason berth, hosting the
University of Illinois in the first round of the 2010 National Invita-
tion Tournament; and
WHEREAS, Coach Steve Pikiell, the 2010 Sporting News America East
Coach of the Year, has led Stony Brook to its first back-to-back winning
seasons since advancing to Division I; and
WHEREAS, The Stony Brook Seawolves were dominant in their second
season in the newly renovated Pritchard Gymnasium, winning 12 of their
13 home games including all eight conference contests; Stony Brook sold
out its final four games at Pritchard, a program first, and a standing
room only crowd of 4,423 attended their National Invitation Tournament
game against Illinois at Stony Brook Arena on March 17, 2010; and
WHEREAS, A Bristol, Connecticut native and a 1990 graduate of the
University of Connecticut, Steve Pikiell was a point guard, two-year
captain and four-year letterwinner for the Huskies from 1987-1991; UConn
won its first Big East title and advanced to the "Elite Eight" and
"Sweet 16" during the two years that he captained the Huskies; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Coach Steve Pikiell has clearly made a contribution
to the spirit of excellence which is a tradition at Stony Brook Univer-
sity; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Stony Brook University Men's Basketball Coach Steve Pikiell
upon the occasion of being named the 2010 America East Conference Coach
of the Year; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Coach Steve Pikiell.