The College of Staten Island men’s basketball program will be ringing in the 8th Annual Matty While Men’s Basketball Alumni Game on Saturday, and when they do they’ll turn a lot of attention to recently retired head coach and former Dolphin Tony Petosa, as he will make the trip to The Tank to take part in the festivities. Celebrating the legacy and memory of late-assistant coach Matty White and his late-wife Delores, the yearly game features alumni battling it out at 11am followed by CSI’s doubleheader against CUNYAC-rival York College. The event is used as a fund and friend-raiser for the program with all proceeds generated supporting the program in the name of Coach White. At the conclusion of the Alumni Game, the College will honor Petosa in pregame festivities of the men’s tip-off at 1pm.
CSI alum Craig Sleap, a member of the basketball program from 1996-2000 while doubling on the baseball team crafted the idea to host the inaugural event along with Petosa, and will see the event off as its principal organizer.
Alumni will be provided with complimentary game jerseys, Alumni giveaways, a Nike Drifit Basketball Practice Shirt and a full luncheon. Registration is $60 with all proceeds generated assisting the men’s basketball program.
An assistant coach for the Dolphins for 17 years, coach White lost his battle with kidney cancer in May of 2010, he was 74. In a dedication ceremony prior to tip-off in 2011, members of the Alumni presented the White family with a commemorative plaque dedicating the event in future years be officially renamed the Matty White Men’s Basketball Alumni Game. Delores White passed away in 2015 but had been a constant figure surrounding the program for many years. Both of their legacies will be celebrated on Saturday.
This past summer, Petosa stepped down from his head coaching duties following a CUNYAC Championship season. Petosa played for the Dolphins from 1982-86, then served as an assistant coach before assuming head coaching duties in 1989. He amassed 459 career victories, the most by any CSI and CUNYAC coach in history spanning all sports and among the most in NCAA Division III history. Along the way he helped develop events such as CSI’s Annual Tournament of Heroes, a nationally-recognized two-day basketball tournament celebrating the lives of former basketball players who died on September 11, and the Alumni gathering on Saturday, the longest running alumni event of its kind at the College.
Those wanting to register for the event can contact CSI Marketing Coordinator Jaclyn Panepinto at (718) 982-3402. Walk-up registration is encouraged and will take place beginning at 9:00am at the Sports & Recreation Center on January 27. Lunch tickets only are available at $20.
