Over the course of the past year, several coaches have left, while both new and familiar ones have replaced them. After 22 years of coaching at Stuyvesant, Larry Barth has chosen to retire. From 1984 to 1995, Barth led the Runnin’ Rebels, the boys’ varsity basketball team to several division titles. In more recent years, Barth has served as the coach for the boys’ junior varsity basketball team, the girls’ tennis team and boys’ bowling team. He was also the faculty advisor for the roller hockey club. Last year he took over for Anetta Luczak as softball coach for the Chipmunks. “I love coaching all the sports I’ve coached, but last year I decided that it’s a long day and a long season,” said Barth. Eric Wisotsky became the coach of the girls’ softball team, the Chimpunks, in the 2007 season.

There have been several coaching changes for the varsity basketball teams as well. After six years as head coach of the Runnin’ Rebels, Erik Connolly decided to retire. He plans to move to Florida to finish his Master’s Degree in Health Education, which is now required of all coaches. Philip Fisher, former coach of the Phoenix, the girls’ varsity basketball team, took Connolly’s place. Fisher led the team to the playoffs atop the division. Fisher was also reinstated as the coach of the Mimbas, the girls’ soccer coach after former coach James Herlihy left during the middle of the boys’ soccer season in the fall.

The many coaching changes have inevitably influenced the productivity of the teams, although some resulted in better outcomes than others.