Elmont athletic director named to Hall of Fame

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Chris Agostino has dedicated his career to coaching boys’ basketball on Long Island. He started out as an assistant varsity coach in Amityville, then became the head coach at Oyster Bay and Harborfields Central School District, before being named the athletic director at Elmont Memorial High School five years ago.

Now, Agostino is being recognized for his years of service. On Oct. 28, he received an email from the Basketball Coaches Association of New York saying he was named to its New York State Basketball Hall of Fame.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Agostino said of receiving the email.

In order to be selected for the honor, the organization reviews nominations each year and a panel judges them based on the number of years the individual served as a head coach, his or her win-lose percentage, the number of championships he or she won each year, his or her leadership and service, and the honors and awards the he or she has received as head coach.

Agostino was nominated for the award by Elmont Varsity Basketball Coach George Holub, who said he consults him for advice, and had gotten to know Agostino when he coached basketball for Harborfields in Greenlawn. “He’s a great guy and he loves basketball,” Holub said of his superior. “His teams always play hard and they win.”

In 2012, for example, the Harborfields basketball team won the Class A New York State championships under Holub’s guidance. But, Agostino said, he has never focused on winning. “Those wins and losses were great,” he said, “but the reality is, it’s the relationships I’ve developed over the years” that’s important.

Many of his former students, he said, went onto play basketball in college, and Agostino said he has kept in touch with many of them.

Now, as the athletic director at Elmont Memorial High School, Holub said, Agostino continues to be a resource for coaches and oversaw the refurbishment of the school’s gym.

And as for Agostino, he said he is grateful to serve as the school’s athletic director, calling it “an incredible place” to work.