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Congratulations to Bishop Grimes Boys Varsity Basketball Coach, Bob McKenney, and the late alumnus, Joe Mazella ’76, former Henniger Boys Basketball Coach, who were both inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame on Monday, October 16, 2017. Bob McKenney joined Bishop Grimes in 2015 after coaching at Jamesville-Dewitt for 19 seasons. During his tenure at J-D, McKenney’s teams won five New York State Championships, two State Federation titles, and an undefeated (29-0) season in 2003-2004. From 1999-2012 McKenney’s teams won 13 consecutive league titles. Also from 1999-2009 McKenney worked as both the J-D Basketball Coach and as the Athletic Director at Onondaga Community College. Throughout his tenure, McKenney has been able to coach some of the area’s best players, including, Tyler Cavanaugh, Dajuan Coleman, Andy Rautins and Brandon Triche. In 2015 when he arrived at Bishop Grimes McKenney lead the Cobra’s to the New York State semifinals, winning 23 games and the Section III Class B title. McKenney currently ranks among the top five active winningest high-school coaches in New York State. Congratulations Coach McKenney! 
Photo (L-R): Brandon Schunck, Justin Stern, Jay O’Shea ’01, Charlie Falgiatano ’90, Bob McKenney, Frank Sommers ’90, Coach Hourihan, Steve Grattan, and Eric Ormond. 
Photo: Bob McKenney with his daughters, Mandy, Madison & Becky. The late alumnus Joe Mazella, class of 1976, was loved in the community, especially by those he coached. Mazella spent more than half of his life, 27 years, at Henniger High School until he passed away in 2009. At the time he was the Assistant Principal at Henniger. For 15 seasons, Mazella coached the Black Knights’ Basketball team which shared great success. His teams had a .759 winning percentage, a 245-78 record, captured 9 league championships, 5 sectional and regional titles, and 5 final four appearances. Mazella’s teams finished second statewide in both 1991 and 1995. In 2002 Coach Mazella and the Henniger boys’ basketball team became the first Section III team to win the NYS Class A Boys’ Basketball Championship. Following their historic 2002 season, Mazella was named the New York State Coach of the Year for the second time, an award he also won in 1995. Mazella has coached many successful players, including current Orange assistant coach, Lazarus Sims, professional basketball player and former member of the NBA, Andray Blatche, and New York State Finals’ Most Valuable Player, Chris Turner. We congratulate the late Joe Mazella, and his family, on this accomplishment and honor.  
Photos: Joe Mazella’76 featured in the event’s program and in the 1976 Bishop Grimes yearbook. Bishop Grimes is proud of both Coach Bob McKenney, and late alumnus, Joe Mazella ’76 for their accomplishments and their induction into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame. |
