Mount announces new coaches

Dietz named new Head Basketball Coach

Mount Saint Mary College Athletic Director Drew Brown recently appointed Marion Dietz as the Knights’ new Head Women's Basketball Coach.

Dietz joins the college after serving as an assistant coach at William Smith College and as a graduate assistant at Catholic University.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Marion Dietz to the Mount as our next women's basketball coach," said Brown.

“Coach Dietz has experienced great success as both a student-athlete and as a coach at a high level. She brings a strong vision for our program, on the court, in the classroom, and in our community that will build on our rich history of success. I look forward to seeing her develop and mentor our student-athletes.”

At William Smith College, Dietz assisted in all operations of the program with a strong focus on recruiting, opponent scouting, and daily practice preparation. She aided in the development of two Second Team All-Conference players and mentored the second runner-up for the Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year.

Prior to William Smith, Dietz helped the Catholic University Cardinals to a 27-9 record during her two seasons on staff. During a COVID-shortened first year, Catholic was 7-3 overall and finished as runner up at the Landmark Conference Tournament. In the following season, Dietz helped the program register 20-wins and again finished second in the Landmark tournament. The Cardinals earned an NCAA tournament at-large bid during a season that saw four players receive All-Landmark honors and one was named WBCA honorable mention All-American.

“I want to thank Drew Brown and the entire selection committee for the opportunity to lead the women’s basketball team as their next head coach," Dietz said. “I’m beyond excited to continue to build on the program’s winning tradition and work with the extraordinary student-athletes we have here both on and off the court."

Dietz, a native of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., is a 2020 graduate of SUNY New Paltz. She started all four years as a guard for the Hawks, netting 1,253 career points to finish second on the program's all-time scoring list. During her career, the Hawks went 87-28, recording three SUNYAC Championships, earning three NCAA Tournament bids, including two rounds of 16 appearances in 2017 and 2019. Dietz was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020, and was selected as the SUNYAC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2020.

Dietz has also served as an AAU Coach of the NY Royals out of Syracuse, N.Y., leading a 14U team in a well-respected program on a national travel circuit. She has volunteered with the Hudson Valley Knights AAU program from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and also directed youth clinics at her alma mater.

Dietz earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood/childhood education with a concentration in mathematics at SUNY New Paltz, and earned a master's degree in learning and instruction from Catholic University.

Butler takes the helm as Head Tennis Coach

Photo by Lee Ferris

Yancy Butler was recently added to the roster at the Mount’s Athletics department as Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach.

Butler comes to Newburgh following a successful collegiate playing career. He has served as both a head coach in college and as a private tennis professional. 

“We’re excited to have Yancy join our team and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop our tennis programs,” said Drew Brown, Mount Athletic Director. “Yancy brings a strong playing and coaching background, and his energy and passion for the sport of tennis will be contagious.”

At the collegiate level, Butler served as the Head Coach at Lancaster Bible College, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Men’s program. In his head coaching capacity, he coached proper physical conditioning and advanced game techniques. He was also responsible for recruiting prospective student-athletes to bolster the team’s roster. 

Prior to his head coaching appointment, Butler was an assistant coach at Lancaster Bible from 2019 until being named the Head Coach in 2022. In this role, he planned practices, took part in developing players, and joined in court strategy, while learning the recruiting and scheduling aspects of the program. 

Under Butler’s tutelage in 2021, Lancaster Bible made an appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament after an undefeated conference season. Prior to joining the coaching staff, Butler played collegiately at Lancaster Bible and was named First Team All-Conference in both singles and doubles from 2016 to 2019. 

“It has been my dream to come back to my home state of New York and coach the game I love,” said Butler. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to do so. I have learned a lot over the last four years of coaching and I am looking forward to bringing what I’ve learned to the program here. Let’s go Knights!”

Outside of college tennis, Butler has served as a tennis professional at Tennis Central in Lancaster, Pa. and Bent Creek Country Club in Litiz, Pa. In these capacities, he ran camps and after school programs, as well as private lessons and USTA Tournaments.