{"id":165799,"date":"2026-03-17T02:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T02:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/165799\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T02:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T02:34:11","slug":"port-washington-educator-softball-coach-named-new-york-state-coach-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/165799\/","title":{"rendered":"Port Washington educator, softball coach named New York State Coach of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eric Sutz, a Port Washington educator and varsity softball coach, has been named New York State Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations, recognizing his leadership, mentorship, and impact on student-athletes.<\/p>\n

Sutz, who teaches at Salem Elementary School and has coached in the Port Washington Union Free School District for more than 20 years, said the honor reflects the collaborative culture of his program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not an individual award, it\u2019s a team award,\u201d Sutz said. \u201cI have two fantastic assistant coaches, great athletes and supportive parents. The recognition really speaks to the culture we\u2019ve created together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Coach of the Year award recognizes high school coaches who demonstrate excellence in leadership, sportsmanship, and mentorship while building successful athletic programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"PortPort Washington Varsity Softball Coach Eric Sutz with the Port Washington Union Free School District mascot, a Viking. Photo provided by Port Washington Union Free School District<\/p>\n

Sutz said his approach to coaching has evolved over time.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly in my career, the focus was winning. Now, the focus is on the process and the relationships you build. If you do those things right, the winning takes care of itself,\u201d he said. He added that leadership development is central to his program, with classroom sessions several times a week emphasizing personal growth alongside athletic skill.<\/p>\n

Sutz said the support of his former players-turned-assistants, like Alexandra Caprariello, has been key to his success. <\/p>\n

\u201cAlex played for me from eighth grade through high school and is now my assistant coach. That relationship is very special. I wouldn\u2019t be where I am without her,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the recognition, Sutz said, \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to know that the people you work with respect what you\u2019re doing and feel you\u2019re making an impact. But more than anything, it\u2019s about the relationships and the growth of the athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick Schratwieser, the district\u2019s director of health, physical education and athletics, said Sutz exemplifies the values of high school athletics.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not only an exceptional softball coach, but also an incredible teacher and leader who prioritizes building meaningful relationships with his student-athletes,\u201d Schratwieser said. \u201cHis ability to develop both the person and the player is what makes his program so special. This recognition reflects the lasting impact he has on everyone around him.\u201d<\/p>\n

During his career, Sutz has fostered a culture of teamwork, perseverance and sportsmanship within the softball program while supporting student-athletes across the district\u2019s athletics programs.<\/p>\n

Caprariello, a former player who now serves as an assistant coach for the varsity softball team, said working alongside Sutz has been a meaningful full-circle experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to work with a head coach who leads with so much care, thoughtfulness and passion for the game,\u201d Caprariello said. \u201cHis commitment to our players goes far beyond the field. Coach Sutz inspires them to reach their full potential, believe in themselves and support one another along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"StudentsStudents surprised Sutz with signs and cheers. Photo provided by Port Washington Union Free School District<\/p>\n

Assistant coach Alyssa Czarnecki said Sutz\u2019s dedication has helped make the Port Washington softball program unique.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe puts effort in daily to make it a special place for players and coaches, both during the season and in the offseason,\u201d Czarnecki said. \u201cHe goes above and beyond to let each player and coach know they are valued both for what they bring to the team athletically and as people. I am a better coach and person because I am able to be a part of the culture he has created.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sutz also highlighted the importance of giving back to the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year, we\u2019re participating in an event for the Michael Magro Foundation, which helps families with children affected by cancer,\u201d Sutz said. \u201cOver the past 10 years, we\u2019ve also raised money for the American Cancer Society through Strikeout Cancer. The game is a great avenue to impact society positively.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Sutz, the honor is a reminder of his long-standing connection to the Port Washington community. \u201cI\u2019ve been teaching here since I was 21. This is home, professionally and personally,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Eric Sutz, a Port Washington educator and varsity softball coach, has been named New York State Coach of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":165800,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[6879,68031,68032,9,11,10,49,68033,51,50,68034,47124,68035,68036,33853],"class_list":["post-165799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-6879","tag-eric-sutz","tag-national-federation-of-state-high-school-associations","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-new-york-state","tag-new-york-state-coach-of-the-year","tag-new-york-state-headlines","tag-new-york-state-news","tag-paul-d-schreiber-high-school","tag-port-washington","tag-port-washington-union-free-school-district","tag-softball-coach","tag-the-daily"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165799\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=165799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=165799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}