Coach Fred Ahart Gym

 ROSCOE GYM TO BE NAMED 

"COACH" FRED AHART GYM                                  

  ROSCOE--Athletic accomplishments are honored in many ways and on Saturday, January 4 Roscoe "Coach" Fred Ahart will receive one of the highest sports honors given a coach when the Roscoe Central School (RCS) names its gymnasium the "Coach" Fred Ahart Gymnasium.

  The "Coach: Fred Ahart Dedication Ceremony committee organizing this event noted, "he didn't do this by himself....he did this with all of your support."

  As the late Sullivan County Democrat Sports Editor Rob Potter wrote several years ago Ahart is, "the man known simply and affectionately as "Coach" in the Roscoe community."

  Ahart is easily described today as one of the most outstanding and highly respected coaches in not only Section IX but throughout New York State.

  During his 45 years at RCS "Coach" Fred has served the youth of Roscoe as their Athletic Director, football, basketball and track coach, has supervised the Saturday Rec. and summer rec. programs, been dean of students, a member of the faculty advisers to the National Honor Society, has been the Basketball Officials Signer, is Co-Chairman of the Section IX Boys'Basketball Committee, a Section IX representative to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association's Basketball Committee, os Chairman of the Section IX Eligibility Committee, serves on the Section IX Athletic Council, has been honored as Athletic Director of the year in 1993, Football Coach of Year in 1999 and in 2010 he was inducted into the New York State Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

  He has indeed been a mentor to many athletes and students as well as the father of five and come sometime this month the grandfather of 14.

  The 66-year-old Ahart has served RCS under the leadership of 16 superintendents and was hired by William Jones to teach Physical Education/Health and to be the basketball coach. 

  Mr. Jones in interviewing Ahart said he was looking for a baskerball coach and Fred's answer was "then I am your man."

  Fred Ahart's athletic accomplishments include two Western Sullivan League football championships in 1989 and 1990, two division championships in 1989 and 1990, one regional championship in 1990, five Western Sullivan Basketball Championships 1984, 85, 86, 89, 98, three Section IX championships 1984, 86, 98, a New York State semi-final win (1986) that being the only trip to the NYS tournament for Roscoe.

  The biggest changes for Fred in his time at RCS came about in 2002 when he watched as the "little gym" where he'd spent 33 years of his career and was his "home away from home" become an auditorium and the school opened a state of the art full sized gymnasium for the next generation of athletes.

  Roscoe's Athletic Director through all the changes also was part of merging football with their biggest rival Livingston  Manor which ended in 2012 but with it came Roscoe's merging with Downsville for football, soccer, girls' basketball, modified girls' basketball, baseball, softball, golf and cross country.

  The only Roscoe sport that has not merged is boys' basketball. 

  Ahart graduated from Ithaca College in 1969 with a physicial education degree and picked the small rural school district in Northwestern Sullivan County because, in addition to being head of the athletic department he could immediately get into coaching.

  The January 4 dedication ceremony starts with a 1 p.m. tour of RCS new facilities. The dedication ceremony takes place at 2 p.m. in the gymnasium.

  At 3:30 there will be a formal ceremony at the Rockland House. 

  Additional information and anyone with questions are asked to call Debbie Henrickson at 607-498-5329 or email mystic1992@aol.com or Becky Ahart at 607-498-4341 or email rahart@roscoe.k12.ny.us 

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Photo Identification

                                                          

Roscoe Central School Athletic Director and "Coach" Fred Ahart.

                                      

The Roscoe Central School gymnasium is lined with many championship banners with many of them won under the guidance of "Coach" Fred Ahart . This sporting facility will officially be named the "Coach" Fred Ahart Gymnasium in ceremonies to be held January 4, 2014.