John M. Prenderville

John M. Prenderville
Biographical details
DiedOctober 26, 2019 (aged 86)
Troy, New York, U.S.
Alma materSt. Francis College
Playing career
Basketball
1950–1953
1955–1956		St. Francis (NY)
St. Francis (NY)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963–1973
1973–1975		St. Francis Prep (NY)
St. Francis (NY)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1974–1994
1978–1983		NYS OPRHP (Dep. Com.)
NYSAC (Chair)
Head coaching record
Overall18–32 (NCAA)

John M. Prenderville was an American athlete and government official who played and coached basketball at St. Francis Preparatory School and St. Francis College and served as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission and deputy commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Athletic career

Prenderville grew up in Park Slope and played basketball St. Francis Preparatory School and St. Francis College.[1] His playing career was interrupted by the Korean War. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955.[2] He was a member of the St. Francis team that made it to the semifinals of the 1956 National Invitation Tournament.[3] He graduated from St. Francis College in 1956.[4]

Coaching career

From 1963 to 1973, Prenderville was the varsity and junior varsity basketball coach at St. Francis Prep. In 1973 he succeeded his former teammate Lester Yellin as the head coach at St. Francis College.[3] In two seasons he compiled a record of 18–32.[4]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
St. Francis Terriers (NCAA Division I independent) (1973–1975)
1973–74 St. Francis 11–13
1974–75 St. Francis 7–19
Total: 18–32

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Government service

Prenderville began his career in politics as an assistant to Congressman Hugh L. Carey.[2] Prenderville later ran Carey's Brooklyn office and when Carey became Governor of New York, Prenderville was appointed deputy commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.[1] In 1977, Prenderville helped create the Empire State Games.[2] In February 1978 he was named acting chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission.[1] He was promoted to permanent chairman that July.[5] He was replaced by John R. Branca as athletic commission chairman in 1983 but continued to serve as Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Recreation until 1994.[6]

Later life

Prenderville served as president of the American Housing Foundation, which provided affordable rental apartments for the elderly in the Capital Region. He died on October 26, 2019, in Samaritan Hospital in Troy, New York.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Smith, Red (February 24, 1978). "Newest and Biggest Boxing Czar". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b c d "John M. Prenderville". Hans Funeral Home. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b "People in Sports: Stasiuk Goes". The New York Times. May 11, 1973.
  4. ^ a b "Jack Prenderville". Sports Reference College Basketball. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Prenderville Succeeds Farley". The New York Times. July 8, 1975.
  6. ^ "John Branca Heads Sports Commission". The New York Times. July 13, 1983.