As the winter sports season is right around the corner, there are a couple of teachers here at CHS that chose to take on coaching roles for winter sports. Both new coaches, Mr. Roden and Mr. May, are excited to take on something new. Both will be joining our boys basketball team, but on different levels. Coach Roden will be coaching the JV team, well Coach May will be coaching 7th grade basketball.
Mr. Roden, a second year teacher at CHS, will be the head coach of the boys JV basketball team this winter. He is also an assistant coach for the varsity baseball team. In high school, Roden was a two sport athlete, playing basketball and baseball at VVS. He went on to play collegiate baseball at Umass Lowell and Le Moyne: “I played 3 years of varsity basketball at VVS. we lost to Chittenango my junior and senior year in the sectional semifinal.” He has always had a passion for helping other people, especially when it comes to sports. “Sports have always been a really big part of my life, I wanted to be involved.” Roden has high expectations coming into his first season at the helm. “I hope to start building a new culture here… the kids will be able to grow a lot.” The JV basketball team is looking to build off of a strong season last year, as former head coach Shea Skeele is now leading the Varsity team after longtime head coach John Clancy retired following the 2024-25 season. Come support our JV and Varsity teams!
Our other new head coach is Mr. May, a Social Studies teacher here at Chittenango. He will be the head coach of the 7th grade boys basketball team this year. He played football, basketball, and baseball in high school. For May, he hasn’t had any experience coaching basketball, as he coaches JV football and helps out with the baseball program. However, he has plenty of experience of his own, winning a state championship with his high school in 2019. Coach May is someone who loves to help and teach, whether it’s on the court, diamond, or field, or in the classroom: “I always loved basketball and I love teaching it.” Coach May knows there will be some differences when it comes to coaching modified vs JV: “The two obvious ones are speed and physicality, so I think really the biggest thing is focusing on the fundamentals.” May is very excited to coach and do something that he has never done before.
As the basketball season is here for modified and around the corner for the JV team, make sure you go and support our bears!
