SUNYAC to Honor Former Director of Athletics Bruce Delventhal

Former SUNY Plattsburgh Director of Athletics Bruce Delventhal will be honored by the State University of New York Athletic Conference in May with the Dr. Patrick R. Damore Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the conference.

When he retired in 2016 from a decade-long tenure on campus, the department's athletics accomplishments included competing in 46 NCAA championships and winning four national titles in women's ice hockey. 

"One of the great pleasures of my job over the last 10 years was working with Bruce," said SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling. "He led a superb coaching staff in a manner to make any college president proud."

Delventhal was also integral in the creation of the Friends of Plattsburgh State Athletics, a fundraising endeavor to improve athletic facilities at the college. The program helped fund a $2.1 million renovation of the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena and the addition of bleachers and a press box for the college's baseball field.

"Bruce set the tone for the entire department in terms of serving the local community," said Bryan Hartman, vice president for student affairs.

The SUNYAC will present the award May 15 at its annual awards banquet in Liverpool, N.Y.

The Dr. Patrick R. Damore Distinguished Service Award was created in 1980 to recognize someone that has given 10 or more years of service to the SUNYAC. Since its inception, 33 individuals have been honored for their tireless efforts within the conference. The last award winner from 2015, Linda Case, served as the athletic director for Brockport from 1995-2010.