Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island Men's Basketball team has news on the coaching front this week.  Assistant Coach J.C. Albano, a 2012 alum, has announced he is leaving the team to accept the Athletics Director role at his high school alma mater, Moore Catholic, in Staten Island.  Fellow Assistant Coach Nicholas Doran, who is entering his seventh season with the Dolphins in 2020-21, has also been elevated into the role of Associate Head Coach.  Head Coach T.J. Tibbs has announced that the team will seek a replacement for Albano in the coming weeks.

A member of the CSI Dolphins team during the 2011-12 run to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16, Albano has spent the last three years as an assistant at CSI, helping CSI to two CUNYAC Championship appearances, with a title in 2018.  Prior to that, he worked as a grammar school coach and drill instructor at Moore Catholic High School and the Staten Island Philippine American Group beginning in 2007. Upon his graduation from CSI in 2012, he served as the Junior Varsity Grad Assistant coach at Moore, and was later promoted to JV Head Coach. There, he helped Moore attain it's first and only JV City Championship in school history during the 2014-15 season. Staying close to his alma mater, he is thrilled to be rejoining the Mavericks as Athletics Director.

"Moore and CSI are the only two schools I have worked post-graduation and anytime you're welcomed back home it's a very humbling experience, and I am very blessed for this opportunity" said Albano.  "Being able to come back to Moore in this elevated position is an honor and I am truly excited to be in a position to further the growth and development of the entire student-athlete body."  Albano was also quick to credit his time spent at CSI as sparking his desire to further pursue athletics administration.  "I learned so much from my time at CSI.  Working with T.J. to help build the basketball program while being able to see the entire operation function, especially during the move to NCAA Division II, was phenomenal.  The level of dedication and professionalism exhibited by the senior staff was very inspiring.  Being able to see and be a part of that truly helped me in attaining this position."

According to Tibbs, Albano is beyond ready to lead the Moore unit, noting that CSI's loss will be Moore's gain.  "We are extremely happy for JC and his family as he is moving on to his next challenge," said Tibbs.  "JC has been a tremendous asset to our program on and off the court. He has been an incredible role model for our players and has contributed to my personal growth over these last three years. Moore Catholic is getting the absolute best person for the job. JC is extremely passionate about Moore Catholic. His attention to detail and ability to connect with anyone is just a few of the reasons he will be wildly successful there."

Meanwhile, Nicholas Doran, Men's Basketball's longest-tenured coach has been elevated into the Associate Head Coach position.  Doran joined the team during the 2014-15 season, and has helped the Dolphins compile a 103-62 record in that span (.624), with two CUNYAC titles, three championship appearances, and an ECAC Metro Championship.  Tibbs was quick to point to Doran for much of the team's success since he took over as Head Coach in time for the 2017-18 season.

"Having Nick with me for these last three years has been critical to the success and continued growth we have had as a program," said Tibbs.  "Nick is the calming hand that steers our ship as much as anyone. His individual resume in this program can rival anyone and his work has helped make our program ready to go through our current Division II transition. Nick is already a Head Coach and it's only a matter of time before he becomes the leader of his own program. Having him gives our program an advantage everyday in practice and in games."

The search for Albano's replacement will commence in a few weeks time.  The CSI Men's Basketball season officially gets underway in mid-fall with intercollegiate play fully entrenched in the East Coast Conference and NCAA Division II in early-November.