After Delay, Mahopac Wrestling Coach Appointed as Season Nears
After speculation from parents and students that a Mahopac high school wrestling coach’s job was in jeopardy, varsity head coach Dennis DiSanto was in fact appointed to the coach the team this season, according to Mahopac Superintendent Brian Monahan.
Anger and confusion were on full display during an Oct. 14 school board meeting when residents from the school wrestling community prodded the board for not appointing DiSanto, who was originally supposed to be named head of the program during the meeting until it was tabled last minute. Parents and students came out in droves to show support for DiSanto and question board members why the appointment was being delayed.
Board president Michael Sclafani did confirm during the testy exchange the district has to look into a “situation,” regarding DiSanto. There was an executive session held by the board last Thursday, presumably about DiSanto’s position as wrestling coach and he was appointed soon after.
One of the organizers of the group to speak on behalf of DiSanto was parent of a wrestling student-athlete, Nancy Cornell. She said Tuesday evening a group of wrestling parents and students heard earlier in the day DiSanto was not going to be approved that night like other winter season coaches and quickly acted to attend the meeting and speak in support of him.
While she declined to say who the person was that informed her, she did say that person was reliable. Cornell said she’s personally known DiSanto for four years from coaching her son, and that he’s “made a great impact on my son.”
Cornell, who is the president of the wrestling booster club, said over the weekend after DiSanto was officially named coach, “We’re extremely happy because we know there is no reason why he should not be appointed.”
“We knew that he was the best coach we’ve ever had in Mahopac,” she added.
During the meeting, Sclafani, while unable talk about specifics because it was a personnel matter, did note the full board had to meet to discuss and verify a “situation.”
“No one said he’s not you’re wrestling coach,” Sclafani said. “All we said is we’re not appointing him tonight.”
“If there’s a problem, we will address it, if there turns out not to be a problem, then we will move on,” Sclafani added. “But we are up here because we are obligated to see what the allegations are.”
Board member Brian Mahoney, who was a Mahopac graduate and a wrestler while in high school, told concerned students the school board would meet and “make a healthy decision that is best fit for the school and for the program.”
Parents and students both argued DiSanto has been an imperative part of the Mahopac wrestling program since becoming its head coach in 2012 after leaving Somers where he coached for 27 years. Students said they’ve seen marked improvement in their performance with DiSanto at the helm, noting his ability to get the best out of his athletes without verbally abusing them. Many said he was more than just a wrestling coach to them.
DiSanto is also a guidance counselor at the high school and after a delay is set to be the wrestling coach once again this year. This will be his fourth year as head coach of the wrestling program.
“This whole team loves him to death,” one student wrestler said during the meeting. “He’s the best coach you’ll ever have in Mahopac.”
