LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Gene Ventriglia upon the occasion
of his retirement after many years of distinguished service and success
as women's soccer coach at the U.S. Military Academy

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 a
commitment to excellence; and
WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports at the collegi-
ate level can be achieved only through strenuous practice, team play and
team spirit, nurtured by dedicated and outstanding coaching and strate-
gic planning; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical develop-
ment of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of
fair play and competition; and
WHEREAS, Gene Ventriglia is the only head coach in the history of the
United States Military Academy's women's soccer program; he took over
the program as a club team in 1985 and raised it to varsity status a
year later; and
WHEREAS, Coach Gene Ventriglia's Army women's soccer teams went on to
win 262 matches in 24 seasons; in 2008, he capped his coaching career
with the Black Knights with Army's second Patriot League playoff title,
featuring an overtime victory over rival Navy, and their first-ever
visit to the NCAA Division I tournament; and
WHEREAS, Speaking no English, Gene Ventriglia arrived in Poughkeepsie,
New York, from his native Italy in 1960 at the age of 15; while attend-
ing high school he supported his family by working in a pastry shop
until his graduation; and
WHEREAS, Discovering the Kingston Sport Club where he played soccer,
the sport he loved, Gene Ventriglia was recruited to play for the first
SUNY New Paltz soccer team; at New Paltz, he was named All-American
three times while leading his team to the 1965 NCAA College Division
Atlantic Coast championship; and
WHEREAS, After becoming a naturalized citizen, Gene Ventriglia played
for the United States in the 1967 Pan American games in Winnipeg; he
scored a goal in the U.S. win over Cuba during the height of the cold
war, and afterwards played professional soccer in New York City; and
WHEREAS, Gene Ventriglia became a foreign language instructor in the
Newburgh school system before moving on to New Paltz High School in
1968, where he started the boys' soccer program; during his tenure as
coach, the school won the only two league championships in its history;
and
WHEREAS, Taking over the boys' soccer program at Highland in 1982,
Gene Ventriglia led the team to one of the most successful three-year
records in Section 9 history, producing two sectional titles and a State
Class C championship in its undefeated 1984 season; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, Gene Ventriglia became a part time coach for the
West Point Women's Soccer club team; the sport was elevated to varsity
status the next year, and by 1991 the program advanced to Division I and
he became its full time coach; and
WHEREAS, For 24 seasons under Gene Ventriglia's inspired leadership,
the West Point Women's Soccer team was a pre-eminent success; it won
four regular-season titles, two playoff crowns, and participated in four
postseason tournaments; he was named the Patriot League Coach of the

Year six times, and ranks 16th in career wins among active Division I
coaches; and
WHEREAS, Coach Gene Ventriglia has done a superb job throughout his
career in guiding, molding and inspiring the U.S. Military Academy's
Women's Soccer team members toward their goals; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his outstanding coaching
career, a period of constructive involvement, Gene Ventriglia has stood
constant in dignity, good grace and humor, and has earned the respect
and admiration of his players, opponents, colleagues, family and
friends; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout his distinguished coaching career has
been his devoted wife, Donna; they are the proud parents of three chil-
dren and have five grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Gene Ventriglia intends to continue to coach soccer by help-
ing the SUNY New Paltz men's team as a volunteer; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Coach Gene Ventriglia has clearly made a contrib-
ution to the spirit of excellence which is a tradition of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Coach Gene Ventriglia upon the occasion of his retirement after
many years of distinguished service and success as women's soccer coach
at the U.S. Military Academy; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Coach Gene Ventriglia.