Charlie Peck, Head Coach
FOR THE FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR, the
?top cop? of the men?s basketball team at Southampton Graduate Campus of
Long Island University will be Charles M. Peck.
A Suffolk County police officer for the last 14 years, he is serving as head coach of the Runnin? Colonials, who are entering their 39th season.
?Charles Peck brings a strong commitment to our athletic department,? said College Provost Tim Bishop. ?He is very student-oriented, and has an exceptional reputation in the basketball community on Long Island.?
So does Peck?s background in law enforcement benefit his position as head coach? ?I think there are plenty of skills that apply to both jobs,? said Peck, who joined the Suffolk County Police in 1988. ?You have to know how to read people, understand what motivates them.?
During his tenure as an officer, Peck served as Assistant Coach at the State University of New York at Farmingdale from 1990-92, Associate Head Coach at New York Institute of Technology from 1992-96, and as Assistant Coach at Dowling College in 1996. He officially joined Southampton Graduate Campus on April 17, 1997.
?After being an assistant coach at three Long Island colleges, I am enjoying the opportunity to guide the men?s program at Southampton,? said Peck, 40. ?My goal is to build a foundation here for long-term success.?
Through the recruiting efforts of Peck and his staff, the Runnin? Colonials have garnered talent from the Northeast region, and from three different countries.
?Charlie?s best assets are his knowledge of our conference and his people skills,? said Mary Topping, Athletic Director for Southampton Graduate Campus. ?He is one of the best recruiters in the league.?
There are good reasons why Peck has an eye for talent in the region. Since 1995, he has served as Director of the Frank Morris Basketball camp. Since 1987, he has been Assistant Director for Summer Basketball at Rockville Centre. From 1987-90, he was an assistant coach at St. Agnes High School in Uniondale, N.Y.
Peck, who was born in Brooklyn and raised in Oceanside, was a good high school basketball player at now-defunct Marie Regina High School in Uniondale, N.Y. He wanted to stay in the game, so he gave coaching a shot. At age 18, he coached his younger brother?s CYO team.
Before graduating from St. John?s University in 1983, he got an individualized lesson in college basketball from coaching legend Lou Carnesecca.
?When I was a junior, I made up an excuse to get into Carnesecca?s office,? said Peck, who received his B.S. in Management and a Minor in Education. ?I told him I really didn?t have a report to write, but I just wanted to meet him and talk basketball. He taught me about having a good rapport with your players, and a lot about defense.?
Another influence was Frank Morris, a legendary high school coach at St. Agnes. Morris, who stressed a running game, shared a lot of Carnesecca?s qualities. ?Both have a tremendous desire to win,? said Peck. ?And each of them treated everyone the same, right down to the 14th player on the roster.?
Peck, who is pursuing his Master?s degree in Physical Education at Adelphi University, has a wife, Mary, who often sings the national anthem prior to home games for the Runnin? Colonials. They have three children ? Patrick, age 10, Veronica, 7, and Charlie, 5.
So how committed is Charlie Peck to the future of the men?s basketball program?
?If my sons go to Southampton Graduate Campus,? says the head coach, ?I?d love to be here to coach both of them.?
Peter Quinn, Assistant Coach
Assistant coach Peter Quinn begins his fourth season with the coaching staff of the Runnin? Colonials, after serving as a volunteer coach in 1998-99.
As a Southampton Graduate Campus sophomore in 1997-98, Quinn played at guard during Peck?s inaugural season as head coach. ?On and off the court, I was impressed with how well he communicated with his teammates,? said Peck. ?He knows how to build team chemistry.?
Quinn, 25, will use those and other skills to assist with recruiting, player development, scouting and running practices. He?ll also be responsible for analyzing other teams? tendencies by breaking down videotape.
?Peter excels at assessing opponents,? said Peck. ?He?ll be a really good head coach someday.?
Before transferring to Southampton from Suffolk County Community College, he was a player/assistant coach for one season at Palm Beach (FL) Community College. At PBCC, he once totaled 17 assists in a tournament, and he successfully recruited an eventual Junior College All American.
Quinn, born in Bronx, NY, developed his basketball skills as a player at Northport High School, where he graduated in 1991. He currently holds a job working for a local business in Northport, NY, where he now lives.
The son of Paul Quinn, he has three brothers?Pat, Paul Jr. and Kevin. Now a Southampton Graduate Campus junior, he is majoring in Liberal Studies in addition to his basketball duties.
?I?m excited to be part of the program here,? said Quinn. ?It should be a great place to gain some coaching experience.?
