Tuckers fill one coaching spot, searching for a second

As the fall high school season gets underway, Mattituck High School has filled one prominent varsity coaching position and is looking to fill another.

Jeff Hauser has taken over for the late Kelly Pickering as girls volleyball coach, while Logan McGinn has stepped down as the Mattituck/Greenport/Southold girls lacrosse coach.

Mattituck athletic director Gregg Wormuth said that Hauser, an assistant volleyball coach last season, was a natural choice to succeed Pickering. He noted that Pickering was an assistant to longtime Tuckers girls volleyball coach Frank Massa, who was at the helm for 36 years. She took over the coaching reins in 2022.

“Jeffrey was in a place, having learned from Kelly, who had learned from Frank,” Wormuth said. “It was the logical and right decision and move for that to happen. We’re excited to see Jeffrey take it over. I think he’s certainly capable, and we’ll continue our success in the girls volleyball program.”

Pickering, a beloved educator and coach in the Mattituck-Cutchogue school district, passed away at the age of 49 on Feb. 15.

Hauser, 28, who also directs the Mattituck/Greenport/Southold boys lacrosse squad, became good friends with Pickering and her family.

“I don’t even know if bittersweet would be the word, because I don’t think any of us could have seen this coming,” he said. “Kelly and I spoke to each other about me taking over in the future. But we didn’t plan on it happening this soon and under these circumstances. I learned so much from Kelly the past three years. I spent time between varsity and JV and coaching junior high together. We spent almost six days a week, every day for six months, together.”

The Tuckers opened their Suffolk County season with a non-league match at Shoreham-Wading River on Wednesday, Sept. 2. They will host Pierson/Bridgehampton in their home opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 4:30 p.m.

Mattituck will host the first annual Kelly Pickering Memorial Volleyball Tournament during Homecoming weekend, on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9 a.m. The Tuckers will compete against Greenport/Southold, Riverhead, Shoreham-Wading River, Miller Place, Southampton and Shelter Island.

“That’s the great part about the volleyball community,” Hauser said. “Kelly was so immersed in it. Everybody knew her from travel, neighbors in Center Moriches. Everybody loved her. Everybody is on board with the fundraiser. We have people donating their time, their resources, local businesses. We’re really excited for it.”

The Tuckers lost to Bayport-Blue Point in last year’s Suffolk County Class B finals.

McGinn, 29, has moved to coach the East Islip girls lacrosse team alongside Steve Levy. In his six years, McGinn led the Tuckers to five playoff appearances and a pair of County Class D crowns (2023 and 2025). The Tuckers lost in the Class D semifinals to Babylon, 17-13, in May.

“It was definitely not something I ever wanted to do,” McGinn said. “I always catch some people reaching out, asking if I’d ever be interested in leaving. The answer was always no. I guess the stars aligned. It was a really good chance for me to continue to grow in the world of lacrosse and continue to grow as a coach. It just became too good of an opportunity to pass up, which definitely was very hard leaving Mattituck. This is home. It’s something I was able to help grow, and I fell in love with.”

Wormuth stressed that McGinn’s departure “was not disciplinary” or due to “a lack of ability.”

“He has the opportunity to do something else, which I supported and certainly will miss him in that role,” he said. “I always had my faith in him. He’s done a great job over the years. When people are given opportunities that are great, I never ever want to hold them back.”

McGinn will remain a physical education teacher at the school and will coach other sports, such as the girls’ JV soccer squad.

“It’s not a closed door,” he said. “I’m still rooting for the kids and for the team. I’m helping with the coaching search. I would like to see it go into good hands.”

Asked about his favorite memories, McGinn replied that it wasn’t the wins.

“It was in practice,” he said. “Anytime you get those moments with the kids where you could just be there for them. You get to almost have that inclusive environment where it’s just fun. My greatest memories from our team are before lacrosse, after lacrosse, where we’re just joking around, or on the bus. Those are the memories that you’re always going to miss.”

While lacrosse is a spring sport, Wormuth said it was important to have a new head coach in place by Thanksgiving.

“I want to fill it as soon as possible,” he said. “Varsity sports don’t just happen in season. They are year-round. We’ve got to be ready to go for winter league.”