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Magarity's
Make Marist Basketball A Family Affair
 Family
is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as many things,
including "a group of individuals living under one roof and
usually under one head." Head men's basketball coach Dave
Magarity has taken that to heart and then some, instilling
family at Marist College, both within his program, as well as
within the school.
In his tenure at Marist, Magarity has coached the Red Foxes to
247 wins, an NCAA Tournament berth and a berth in both the
preseason and postseason National Invitation Tournament. Along
the way he and his wife, Rita, have raised three children,
with large parts of the time being at the McCann Center.
"Having my family around is somewhat of a mixed bag", Magarity
said. "The nature of my job sometimes involves pressure and
stress related activities. I feel the fans and community have
really appreciated the type of program we have run here. We
have had our share of winning, but the big picture is the type
of young men we have graduated and who have gone on to lead
successful lives."
 The
importance of family to Coach Magarity can be seen on the
bench next to him every game. Associate head coach Stephen
Sauers begins his 14th season at Magarity's side. He started
as a part-time coach, and has worked his way up the ladder,
becoming the programs recruiting coordinator and head scout. A
seat further down the bench is George Siegrist, in his 14th
year of association with Magarity. Siegrist played for the Red
Foxes for four seasons, two as captain, and is now in his 10th
season as a member of the coaching staff.
"The consistency and continuity of my staff has a very
positive affect on recruiting and speaks volumes to our
ability to maintain a smooth transition with players in the
program," Magarity said. "I think having such stability among
our staff is a very positive element of our program."
Sauers says that 'Coach' is plain and simple 'a family man.'
"Loyalty and friendship that we have is extremely high and
something coach taught me from day one and there is a lot to
be said for that," says Sauers. "Coach is all about family -
which includes his coaches and family, and his wife and kids
are my extended family, and I am extremely close to them."
The closeness of family shows in the Magarity family, as all
three children are currently attending Marist. The eldest,
Maureen, is a member of the women's basketball team, and is
working towards her Master's after earning her undergraduate
degree last spring. His daughter, Katie, is currently a junior
at Marist, and son, David, Jr., is a freshman and walk-on with
the men's basketball team.
"When I came here 18 years ago there was a major emphasis on
being part of the community and with a young family, that
became an integral part of all our lives," says Magarity.
"Marist has been a huge impact on our family, with our three
children attending the school and my wife, who earned her
master's degree at Marist, playing a large role in running our
summer basketball camp."
Maureen is the first of the Magarity children to graduate from
Marist, and enters her second full season with the women's
basketball team. She returned to Marist for the spring
semester in 2001, and returned to the floor the following
December.
 "I
remember that I was very excited and nervous, and on top of
that was sick with the flu the night before" Maureen said. "My
whole family on my dad's side came to the game, and I remember
not feeling that much pressure because I was able to look up
in the stands and see friendly faces, and realize that if I
did not play well that it was ok, it was not the most
important thing."
Family is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as many
things, including "a group of individuals living under one
roof and usually under one head." Head men's basketball coach
Dave Magarity has taken that to heart and then some,
instilling family at Marist College, both within his program,
as well as within the school.
In his tenure at Marist, Magarity has coached the Red Foxes to
247 wins, an NCAA Tournament berth and a berth in both the
preseason and postseason National Invitation Tournament. Along
the way he and his wife, Rita, have raised three children,
with large parts of the time being at the McCann Center.
"Having my family around is somewhat of a mixed bag", Magarity
said. "The nature of my job sometimes involves pressure and
stress related activities. I feel the fans and community have
really appreciated the type of program we have run here. We
have had our share of winning, but the big picture is the type
of young men we have graduated and who have gone on to lead
successful lives."
The importance of family to Coach Magarity can be seen on the
bench next to him every game. Associate head coach Stephen
Sauers begins his 14th season at Magarity's side. He started
as a part-time coach, and has worked his way up the ladder,
becoming the programs recruiting coordinator and head scout. A
seat further down the bench is George Siegrist, in his 14th
year of association with Magarity. Siegrist played for the Red
Foxes for four seasons, two as captain, and is now in his 10th
season as a member of the coaching staff.
"The consistency and continuity of my staff has a very
positive affect on recruiting and speaks volumes to our
ability to maintain a smooth transition with players in the
program," Magarity said. "I think having such stability among
our staff is a very positive element of our program."
Sauers says that 'Coach' is plain and simple 'a family man.'
"Loyalty and friendship that we have is extremely high and
something coach taught me from day one and there is a lot to
be said for that," says Sauers. "Coach is all about family -
which includes his coaches and family, and his wife and kids
are my extended family, and I am extremely close to them."
 The
closeness of family shows in the Magarity family, as all three
children are currently attending Marist. The eldest, Maureen,
is a member of the women's basketball team, and is working
towards her Master's after earning her undergraduate degree
last spring. His daughter, Katie, is currently a junior at
Marist, and son, David, Jr., is a freshman and walk-on with
the men's basketball team.
"When I came here 18 years ago there was a major emphasis on
being part of the community and with a young family, that
became an integral part of all our lives," says Magarity.
"Marist has been a huge impact on our family, with our three
children attending the school and my wife, who earned her
master's degree at Marist, playing a large role in running our
summer basketball camp."
Maureen is the first of the Magarity children to graduate from
Marist, and enters her second full season with the women's
basketball team. She returned to Marist for the spring
semester in 2001, and returned to the floor the following
December.
"I remember that I was very excited and nervous, and on top of
that was sick with the flu the night before" Maureen said. "My
whole family on my dad's side came to the game, and I remember
not feeling that much pressure because I was able to look up
in the stands and see friendly faces, and realize that if I
did not play well that it was ok, it was not the most
important thing."
Coach Magarity has nothing but praise for his daughter. "I am
very proud of what she has accomplished and as much pressure
as there is in coaching, sometimes you forget how much
pressure Maureen has had to handle. She has distinguished
herself as the player of the year in high school, and
throughout everything she has handled the pressure with class
and dignity, and my wife and I are very proud of her."
The 2003-04 campaign could have ups and downs for Dave
Magarity and his program, but the one constant will be his
family, both at home and at Marist.
Coach Magarity has nothing but praise for his daughter. "I am
very proud of what she has accomplished and as much pressure
as there is in coaching, sometimes you forget how much
pressure Maureen has had to handle. She has distinguished
herself as the player of the year in high school, and
throughout everything she has handled the pressure with class
and dignity, and my wife and I are very proud of her."
The 2003-04 campaign could have ups and downs for Dave
Magarity and his program, but the one constant will be his
family, both at home and at Marist. |
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