By Rob Potter
LOCH SHELDRAKE — November 16, 2001 – The Sullivan County Community College Generals have a new coach.
SCCC Athletic Director and interim mens’ basketball coach Chris DePew confirmed yesterday that Chad Beeten “has been offered and has accepted” the head coaching position of the high-profile NJCAA program.
Beeten, 29, has spent the past four years coaching the Oakland (Ca.) Slam & Jam. That squad is recognized as one of the top AAU basketball teams in the nation.
He has also coached at Marymount University, an NCAA Division III school in Arlington, Va.
“His recommendations are just great,” SCCC Dean of Enrollment and Student Development David Thomson said of Beeten. “He knows the game and knows how to work with players.”
Beeten is expected to arrive on the SCCC campus next week.
DePew, an assistant coach under former coach Will Brown, has been the acting coach since Brown left SCCC in August to take an assistant coaching postition at SUNY Albany.
The plan is for both Beeten and DePew to guide the Generals before Beeten takes over the full-time coaching duties. DePew noted that there is no specific time frame for that transtition period.
“He doesn’t know the kids other than when he was being interviewed,” DePew said. “He’ll need some time to get to know the players and get a feel for the program.”
In his playing days, Beeten was recruited by and suited up for NCAA Division I George Washington University. A knee injury following his freshman season cut short his career at GW, however.
Beeten later played for Goucher College, an NCAA Division III school in Towson, Maryland.

Home Opener is Tonight

The Generals open their 2001-02 home schedule tonight versus the Teikyo Post University JV team. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse.
A pre-game ceremony to honor the victims of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center will be conducted by the honor guards of the Hurleyville and Loch Sheldrake Fire Departments.
All firefighters will be admitted to the game free of charge.
SCCC is 2-1 on the young season. The Generals last played on Saturday in the championship game of the Pete Pavia Memorial Tournament at Monroe Community College in Rochester.
The Generals lost to host Monroe CC, 102-96 in the title game.
In last Friday night’s opening round, SCCC defeated Lackawanna Junior College, 85-73. Tim Butler had 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Generals in the victory.