Signing Day: New Recruits Make a Pledge to Athletics and Academics

Published: July 11, 2012

Recruits for Queensborough’s 2012 - 2013 men’s basketball team are pioneers of an exciting new tradition. On July 9, they signed a Letter of Intent that states they will remain students and play with the Tigers for a full academic year.

“Success in sports is not just about talent,” said QCC’s new head basketball coach, Robert G. Holford Jr., the first African-American coach in the history of New York State and New York City to win a National Collegiate Championship. “There must be an opportunity for players to develop rhythm and chemistry—you can’t have that without dedication and commitment."

“We are excited to have Robert on board and to continue our strong record as champions in virtually every area of athletics,” said Pete Marchitello, Athletics Director at Queensborough.”

Coach Holford, who originated the idea of the agreement form, has held positions as a coach and administrator in higher education athletics for over 30 years. He was head basketball coach at Medgar Evers College where he gained an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) post season bid for the second time in the school’s history. He held the same position at Hostos Community College where he established a nationally recognized National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III basketball program.

Prior to coming to Queensborough, Coach Holford was Founder and CEO of Grassroots Community Youth Development Inc., in Queens. Other career highlights include coaching at Westchester Community College, Hofstra University and St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Coach Holford added, “I was drawn to Queensborough because students here are strong athletes and scholars; maintaining that balance is important.”

John Peloso, who was a shooting guard at Our Savior New American School, plans to study criminal justice at Queensborough beginning in the fall of 2012. He said, “I feel like I’m coming home to be coached by someone like Robert.”

Queensborough alumnus Damian Broadwater ʻ95 will be senior assistant coach for the men’s basketball team. He has been affiliated with Queensborough’s basketball program since 1992.