Sports

Gulluscio replaces Costantini as Greenport AD

BOB LIEPA PHOTO
Todd Gulluscio succeeds the retired Robbie Costantini as Greenport’s athletic director.

He called it “a dream come true.”

Todd Gulluscio is Greenport’s new athletic director. Gulluscio, 33, who was approved at the school board’s meeting in July, succeeds Robbie Costantini, who retired.

“I am excited to continue on at Greenport,” Gulluscio said. “I want to thank our board and our superintendent. I am happy to be able to do this.”

Costantini, who became athletic director in 1995, said the most memorable event during his tenure was in 2009, when the Porters made the New York State boys basketball Class D final in Glens Falls.

“I thought we had a good shot to win it,” he said. “But the other team was just better that night. I felt so bad we didn’t bring home the bacon for our [former] superintendent, Charlie Kozora, and our coach, Al Edwards.”

Costantini said the plan was for Gulluscio to succeed him. “I involved Todd in a lot of stuff,” Costantini said. “I showed him how. He’s a bright young man. I expect good things from him.”

Costantini said he had worked closed with Gulluscio, who will continue to coach the Greenport/Southold/Shelter Island varsity field hockey team, in the hope that it would help ease Gulluscio’s transition into the new role.

Gulluscio called Costantini “a mentor and a friend.”

“Robbie has been great,” he said. “I’ve worked closely with Robbie. I learned things he did and the lessons he taught me. I am going to take what we have, which is great, and try and make it even better.”

Gulluscio said he has focused on field hockey “to get that program going. Now I want to apply that to the big picture.”

One of the things Gulluscio is going to do is to start a new Greenport Booster Club.

“We want the booster club to honor more of the scholar/athletes and to help raise money,” he said. “I think this is going to go over very well.”

Gulluscio will also be the dean of discipline. He is looking forward to the new challenge. “I am an open-minded, positive person,” he said. “I have patience and I am hands-on. I think everything out and then let it blossom.”