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Blue Devils name new coaches

Special to The OBSERVER

Fredonia State has appointed one new head coach and six assistant coaches prior to the start of the 2019-20 school year.

Julie Troche takes over as head coach of the women’s cheerleading team. The new assistant coaches are Rebecca Allen of women’s volleyball, R.J. Gicewicz of men’s hockey, Cassie Herman of softball, Luke Kuczewski of baseball, Jaedyn Ossont of women’s soccer, and Kelly Vincent of men’s and women’s cross country/track and field.

Allen, Herman, Kuczewski, and Vincent are Fredonia State alumni.

Troche has served as a Blue Devil assistant for several seasons and has a cheerleading coaching background of nearly 20 years. A Dunkirk Middle School teacher, wife, and mom, she succeeds Katie Pucci-Schaefer, who retired last May to pursue a career in her family’s business.

Allen played two seasons of volleyball for Head Coach Geoff Braun and two seasons of softball for former coach Lorrie Corsi after transfering to Fredonia State. A resident of Lakewood, she teaches and coaches in the Maple Grove school district.

A graduate of St. Lawrence University, Gicewicz was forced to quit playing college due to an injury but stayed on as a student assistant coach and team manager. He held the position for two seasons before graduating last May.

Herman is a 2019 Fredonia State graduate and a four-year player for Head Coach Tony Ciccarello. In addition, Kuczewski graduated last May after playing four seasons for Head Coach Matt Palisin.

Ossont was also a two-sport athlete — women’s soccer and softball — at SUNY Canton. Her work history includes stops at St. Lawrence University and with the Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional Hockey League. She joins the staff of Chris Case.

Vincent competed in cross country and track & field for four seasons. In addition to coaching, she will serve as the recruiting coordinator for Head Coach Tom Wilson.

Earlier this summer, Director of Athletics Jerry Fisk announced the hiring of Astrid Escobar as head coach of men’s and women’s swimming and diving.

More Blue Devil assistant coaching hires will be announced in the coming weeks.

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