Mike Demos, Siena College Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
"Well, thank you all for joining us here today for our introductory press conference for the 18th head coach in Siena Basketball history, Carmen Maciariello. We'll have a few speakers here first. We're pleased to be joined today by Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, Times Union Center General Manager Bob Belber, MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor, and to my right, the President of Siena College, Br. Ed Coughlin, Vice President and Director of Athletics, John D'Argenio and new head coach Carmen Maciariello. As I mentioned, we'll have a few speakers. We'll conclude at the end with remarks from Coach Maciariello, and then we'll also take a few questions at the podium for coach from the media, we'll circulate a microphone for that. But first, I'd like to welcome up to the podium to get us started, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy."

Daniel P. McCoy, Albany County Executive
"I guess when you talk about Siena – just look around – it's 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and shouldn't you be at work? But, what's more important? 'Hey, I have to take the afternoon off to hear this great, exciting news.' And, you know, that's what captures Siena College and their basketball, it really does. It's a community that – in the Capital District, there's over 320,000 people in the county, but over a million in the Capital District – and you fill the Times Union up. People love to see what's going on. They get mad when you don't do good. They get happy when you're doing well, they're happy when you're even doing better. But, it's the spirit of the school. It's the cohesiveness of the organization and the resilience of the program that continues to grow. When you get down, you have to continue to look forward. So, Coach Carm: I look forward to watching you. The fact that he's local, the fact that he played for City Rocks AAU and he coached there. What better experience can we have here, and we all know where you grew up and went to high school so we can find you a lot easier if things go bad, so I'm just saying. Not me, but some of the players might. But, I do want to say congratulations to Siena and to the players, most importantly, you had a great season, your going to have a better season going forward with a great coach, and I look forward to watching all of you grow at the same time, so thank you."

Br. F. Edward Coughlin, O.F.M., Ph.D., Siena College President
"Thanks, Dan. I was trying to think of all kinds of exciting things to tell about how I got this 'tremendous athletic injury'. I was thinking, 'this three-point shot that I was making from the corner with only three second left to play.' It was just a freak accident in the backyard of the friary. Anyway, I'm sure I'll be ready for the next season, Carm, if you're interested. No, it's great to have all of you come here today, and as Dan said, I think Siena Basketball really is a community-based affair. It's not only a Siena community affair, but it is a local Albany affair as well. So, to have all of you here and have a tremendous support and interest and what-not. I know you've read many things about Carm, about his background and his many experiences and all of those different kinds of things about him and whatever we think about him as our next coach. For me, one of the key things that, in addition to all of those things I know about him in terms of statistics and what-not, is one of my first memories of him was in the dining hall last summer. He was in there having breakfast with the players and taking to them, and he had a passion and enthusiasm, and it was about not only their athleticism, but about their academics. I think he very much appreciates what Siena is trying to in terms of being a community which is a learning community, which really tries to excel in a lot of different ways. So, we really hope that you give us a great deal of leadership, Carm, and we certainly appreciate your enthusiasm that you bring to the job, and we look forward to working with you to make this next great chapter in Siena Basketball history. Thanks for joining us, we appreciate it."

John D'Argenio, Siena College Vice President and Director of Athletics
"Welcome everybody. I want to take a moment to thank Bob, Dan, and Rich for being here with us. I appreciate them coming to help us celebrate this news. I also obviously want to thank Brother Ed and I want to thank the Chairman of our Board, John Murray, our Athletic Committee Chair Ken Raymond, because again this year they allowed us to attack this process the way we needed to, so we were able to go out and get the right person, so I thank them for that support. As we said last week, the heart of the program at Siena College is the players. We have some former players out here, we have current guys. Guys, why don't you stand up for a second for me please…and the managers, come on guys. Thank you. So, what we do is for them. As we mentioned last week, the program is player-centered, just like the college is student-centered. Certainly, we need good coaches to make that happen, and we've had them in the past. We appreciate last year, we appreciate Coach Christian coming in and rallying the troops. But we also know that Coach Carm was a large piece behind that. When we talked about him being the right person for the job, obviously, there's the connection to the players, first and foremost. But, what I don't want people to overlook is the championship pedigree that he brings to this program. All you have to do is go back to his playing days at Shen (Shenendehowa High School): Section II Championship, right? (yup), Times Union Player of the Year, some good credentials. Then he played for a year at Siena and helped us to a MAAC Regular Season Title. He went on, he coached at a few places: Fairfield, where they won a regular season title in the MAAC, national postseason appearances. Providence and BU (Boston University) the same. I think that total at every school he coached at, they won or shared in a regular season title. They won over 60 percent of their conference games, and they played in seven postseason tournaments, including an NIT Championship. So, along with the connection to the players, along with the connection to the area, its that championship pedigree that we know is going to help continue us to propel Siena College forward. I appreciate his willingness to step up to this roll, but we really didn't have to twist his arm too much. Certainly, when he graduated form Siena College in '01, even though he was no longer here, we was connected to the area, because you can often look in the stands, even when he wasn't here and playing, his mom and dad and sister might have been in the stands cheering on Siena Basketball, so you know this is his hometown team, this is his hometown program, and we'll get his support, his family's support, and everybody's support.

Carmen Maciariello '01, Siena College Men's Basketball Head Coach
Well, thank you all so much. Brother Ed, John, Board of Trustee members. All of the Siena faithful here. So many great familiar faces. It's such a special day for me and my family. Without them, I wouldn't be the man I am today. Mom and Dad, I love you very much even though you're in Florida right now watching Facebook Live. But, hopefully someone knows how to work that for you pool side. But, my family always let me chase my dreams, and this isn't a profession where it's easy to do. There's a lot of road blocks, and your journey is never a straight path, so I just appreciate them for letting me have that opportunity to chase, and chase, and chase. My wife, Laura, and daughter Reese - you support me, you unconditionally love me, and I wouldn't be able to do this without you guys. You guys are my heart. My extended family and friends – you are all appreciated. Too many of you here in the crowd to name, but thank you so much for your support. It means a great deal to me and my family, and that's what Siena Basketball is all about.
 
I'm honored to be here today, as your head basketball coach. I'm so grateful for this opportunity with this rich basketball tradition, and one of the best fan bases in the country. Siena has always had a special place in my heart. This is a dream come true. Growing up in the Capital Region, my first encounter with Siena Basketball I was in fourth grade. I was in Mike Deane's summer camp, and that was the first time I touched a basketball. I had Velcro shoes on, I didn't know how to tie my laces. I struggled the one day I did wear laces to camp because there was always swim time at Coach Deane's camp, so I struggled to tie my shoes - They were a pair of Air Jordan Ones, Sammy, ok? So, trust me, I got you! – and I had to have somebody help tie them for me to go back in to play. And so, I'm like, you know, thinking everything is going well and at the end of camp, you know, you get a report card or an evaluation and none of our campers when we run camp this summer, we are never going to give these evaluations. But, they gave one to me and I thought I was doing well and I get all these number ones and I look at everyone else's and they have fours and fives. It basically said 'hey Carm, you may want to try soccer'. Alright! So three years later, I'm the leading scorer at the camp, and then the rest is history. But I ended up taking that learning lesson as a kid that never played basketball in the fourth grade to someone that achieved and overcame those obstacles.
 
Moving on from that, as John eluded to – my high school days at Shen, a three-year stint at New Hampshire – but Siena was always in my heart. Having the opportunity to come back here and help Siena hang a banner and win a championship – and Corey Osinski was a big part of that championship and played in an NCAA Tournament the year before at Arkansas, and you know, so many great, great stories. And so many guys that donned that uniform, that green and gold - that meant so much. That's what made me want to come back here, both as a player, and as a staff member for Fran McCaffery, and as an assistant last year, and now to be your head coach.
 
It was the best decision of my life. I played for a legendary coach in Jim Zullo. I played for a great coach, and the founder of the Albany City Rocks in Jim Hart. I just have so many different connections where I'm just so invested in this community, and it just hurt me when that Siena across the chest didn't mean anything for the trials and tribulations that everyone went through. I had a stint of three-years playing professionally in Italy after here. Then I had the chance to come back and work for Fran as his Director of Basketball Operations. I have over a decade of Division I experience, and as John eluded to, I don't need to get into the places I've been, or the things we've won. But we've always done it together. But the most important thing, it was always about the players. And after the excitement of last season, I want to continue to propel this program forward.
 
We're going to strive for excellence in all that we do. Year in and year out, our goal is to compete for and win conference championships. I'm looking forward to building upon the foundation we laid together this past season. We together, will continue to build - brick-by-brick, day-by-day – and give it everything we have to make this Siena community, and all of you, proud. This is your team – this program is not about me. Siena is a player's program, it has always been a player's program. From Billy Harrell, Marc Brown, Doremus Bennerman, Kenny Hasbrouck – it's always been about the guys who proudly wear that green and gold. These guys are here – these players – and their ability to persevere. These guys, right here. They have shown how resilient they are on the court, and off the court. You guys are why I do this, there's no other reason. I know how special it is to have the privilege to wear the Siena jersey, to play in the great arena that's behind me, with the best fans in the country. We're going to build something special, something great. I hope you guys know how honored I am to lead you.
 
As I said, Siena Basketball is a player's program. We will be smart, tough-minded, well-conditioned, and unselfish. In all we do, our disposition is to attack. This attacking mentality will be emphasized in all facets of our program. This will be our identity. We will prioritize finishing in all that we do: in every drill, in every class, in every practice – we will finish what we start. This finishing mentality will allow us to prevail in hostile road environments, in close games, and in tournament play. As a former scholar athlete, and a proud son of Siena, Siena College is dear to my heart. Over the past decade I've been able to learn from the best, and assist head coaches to construct championship programs. I know what it takes. Our foundation here is strong. We look forward to completing our mission. Our fan base is once again energized, and the players are unified working towards a common goal. To be a champion, it takes grit, determination, and a singular focus. Our players have what it takes to be just that.
 
As I said before, I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity to lead my alma mater. I'm excited to get started, and look forward to being your head coach. It's a great day to be a Saint.