Coach gets a new start

This was no ordinary Joe standing in the rough on the

par-4, 16th hole at Fox Hill in Calverton yesterday afternoon. This was Joe

Cuozzo, the Hall of Fame coach from Ward Melville High School who amassed 699

boys lacrosse victories in 38 years.

While contemplating his next shot on Fox Hills' toughest hole, Cuozzo

answered his cell phone to address a more exciting challenge: recently becoming

Mount Sinai's new varsity coach.

"I am absolutely pumped," said Cuozzo, who led Ward Melville to seven state

titles and 22 Suffolk championships. "I'm psyched. I still wanted to coach and

I appreciate this opportunity because they could have gone with a younger guy.

I'm bringing the Division I mentality to a Division II school and trying to

raise their level of play."

Cuozzo, 68, co-coached Ward Melville last year with Mike Hoppey and left

the school with a career record of 699-73.

"It wasn't an ideal situation last year, but it was OK," said Cuozzo, who

retired from teaching in June 2005. "It was time to walk away from Ward

Melville and let Hoppey work alone. It's his gig now and I wish him the best."

Cuozzo isn't exactly taking over a program in need of rebuilding. Mount

Sinai finished 14-4 and was the Suffolk Class C runner-up last year. He

replaces Jason Sanders, who was not rehired after one year. The Mustangs have a

strong youth program, a new turf field and enough experience to make a title

run again in 2007.

"We're ecstatic about the addition of Joe Cuozzo to the Mount Sinai

coaching staff," district athletic director Scott Reh said. "He's a lacrosse

legend with great networking ability at the college level and he brings a ton

of knowledge and experience to our student-athletes. He is a proven winner and

brings instant credibility to our program."

Cuozzo said he is looking forward to working with assistant coach Harold

Drumm, a 1994 graduate of Ward Melville and an All-American at the

Massachusetts.

"I don't know much about the division and where we should be seeded,"

Cuozzo said. "I'll lean on Harold and we have a lot of work to do. I'm going to

expose these guys to the best lacrosse that I can find in the bigger schools.

And we're going to be a real good team."

So is playing Ward Melville on the horizon?

"That's not going to happen," he said. "I wouldn't want to do that."

By the way, Cuozzo bogeyed the 16th, but had a good outing.

"Any day on the golf course is a good day," he said.

No ordinary Joe

Joe Cuozzo's career highlights as Ward Melville's boy lacrosse coach:

Years 38 (1969-2006)

Record 699-73

Winning percentage .905

League/Division titles 35

Playoff appearances 37

Suffolk finalists 30

Suffolk titles 22

Long Island titles 15

State finalists 11

Also

Seven state titles

71-game winning streak: 1988-1990

Won 88 of 89 games: 1997-2000

49 All-Americans

Compiled by Andy Slawson