SUNY Oneonta Director of Athletics Tracey Ranieri announced today that Cameron Conover has been chosen as the new head men’s basketball coach. Conover takes the reins of the men’s program after Vince Medici took the job as the Athletic Director at Hudson Falls High School. Conover will assume his duties Monday, Aug. 29.
Medici spent 12 years as the head coach at Oneonta after taking over in 2004. During his tenure he won over 100 games while directing the program to an NCAA berth in 2010, which was the first for the program in nearly 35 years.
“We are excited to have Coach Conover join our team,” said Ranieri. “His wealth of experience and success combined with a strong and talented nucleus of returning players is sure to keep fans in their seats. It is going to be a great year.”
Conover comes to Oneonta after spending the past 11 years on the men’s basketball staff at Plattsburgh, the last eight years as the Associate Head Coach.
“I am thrilled to be the next head men’s basketball coach at Oneonta,” stated Conover. “I am very familiar with the school, and all that Oneonta offers. There are so many great things about Oneonta – great location, outstanding education, exceptional facilities, and great people. I am confident we will be successful and that our current players and future recruits will love it here and have a positive and rewarding experience.”
During his tenure at Plattsburgh, Conover was instrumental in building Plattsburgh into a regional power. He was the coordinator of the programs’ highly successful recruiting efforts, which produced three All-Americans and Three SUNYAC Players of the Year. The Cardinals won four SUNYAC championships, competed in seven NCAA tournaments, and had six 20-win seasons. With the help of Conover, the Cardinals have also advanced to the “Sweet 16” twice.
Conover mentored Anthony Williams, the program’s only two-time All-American, who ranked seventh in Division III scoring average (24.2 ppg.) in 2008 while being named the SUNYAC and ECAC Upstate Player of the Year for the second-straight season. Conover also accompanied Williams to Wadsworth, Ohio, for the 2008 Collegiate Basketball Invitational where the Cardinals’ all-time leading scorer was one of only two Division III players to make an appearance in the CBI All-Star Game on ESPNU.
Conover came to Plattsburgh after working for one season as an assistant coach at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, Calif. Prior to that, he was the freshman coach at Corona Del Mar High School in Newport Beach, Calif., his prep alma mater.
Conover began his collegiate playing career at Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., helping the junior college program to a No. 4 national ranking during his freshman year and a regional championship in NJCAA Division I the following season. He completed his career on an athletic scholarship at the University South Carolina-Aiken, an NCAA Division II program, and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications.
Conover, who directed Plattsburgh’s highly successful basketball camp, has worked many basketball camps throughout the country, including Eastern Invitational, West Coast All-Stars and Villanova University. He holds membership in the National Association of Basketball Coaches and Basketball Coaches Association of New York.
In addition to his coaching duties, Conover taught Plattsburgh State’s NCAA CHAMPS Life skills program. He also served as the faculty sponsor for SAAC.
Conover earned a master’s degree in administration and leadership at Plattsburgh State.
Conover concluded, “I am extremely appreciative of this opportunity, and I would like to thank Tracey Ranieri for believing in me. I am eager to get started.”
