Coaches for Babylon, Sayville suspended

The head coaches of the Babylon and Sayville girls lacrosse teams have been suspended for the remainder of the 2011 season by Suffolk's public high school athletics governing body for a scheduling rules violation, but their teams will be allowed to compete in the postseason if they qualify.

An appeals committee of Section XI, Suffolk's chapter of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, suspended Babylon's Tim Harrison and Sayville's Gary Jensen from all coaching duties Thursday because their teams played more than the maximum number of games permitted for varsity lacrosse teams, officials for the schools and Section XI said.

The teams, which did not play each other, were to lose their playoff eligibility, but the appeals committee ruled to allow both to participate in the postseason, should they qualify, and suspended the head coaches for the rest of the season effective Saturday, Section XI executive director Ed Cinelli said.

The maximum number of games lacrosse teams are permitted to play was changed from 17 to 16 after the 2009 season, according to the Section XI handbook. Sayville's Jensen said he hadn't been aware of the change and, in fact, tried without success to schedule a 17th game last season, too. Babylon's Harrison would not comment on the suspension.

"The [NYSPHSAA] and Section XI have a very specific rule: if you play in excess of 16 games, you would forfeit the 17th game and you are not eligible for playoffs," Cinelli said.

Section XI scheduling rules state the maximum number of games varsity lacrosse teams can play is 16. Sayville and Babylon each played three non-league games and have 14 scheduled league games for a total of 17.

Babylon athletic director Mike DeJoseph and Sayville AD Dennis Maloney spoke on behalf of their respective programs at Thursday's hearing, Cinelli said. As terms of their suspensions, Jensen and Harrison must cease all coaching activities for the remainder of the 2011 season and are not permitted to attend games as spectators until next season, according to Cinelli.

SEE PHOTOS2011 girls lacrosse players to watch

"It's my responsibility as AD to take responsibility for any violation that takes place under my watch," Maloney said. "Unfortunately, my coach is receiving the punishment. I wish I was the one receiving the punishment. The good thing was they didn't take it out on my student-athletes."

Jensen said he informed his team of the rulings at the conclusion of its Thursday practice.

"I told them the good news [being playoff-eligible] first. They cheered, they were so happy," Jensen said. "At the end, I said, 'Here's the drawback. I'm being reprimanded for my mistake.'

"I am very happy that they decided to put the kids first and I'm glad the kids aren't going to be punished for an adult mistake," he added.

Assistant coach Adam Sznitken was named interim head coach for Sayville, which beat Bellport, 17-3, on Friday. Maloney said Sznitken is expected to be named head coach for the remainder of the season pending approval from Sayville's Board of Education as soon as later this week.

DeJoseph issued a statement to Newsday acknowledging Babylon's violation Friday afternoon.

"We claim full responsibility for the infraction and accept the consequences," DeJoseph said in a statement. "Babylon respects the leadership and governance of Section XI and the NYSPHSAA and will continue to follow the rules and regulations without exception. We want to get back to the business of playing lacrosse and request all concerned parties respect our wishes."

DeJoseph was unable to say who will replace Harrison as Babylon head coach for the remainder of the season. Harrison, who coached the Panthers in their 14-8 loss to Eastport-South Manor on Friday, declined to comment to Newsday.

Sayville's superintendent was unavailable for comment and the high school principal did not return a call from Newsday. Babylon's superintendent did not return a call and the principal declined to comment.