Leading off today: As usual, late March is bringing news of some personnel changes across the state as coaches decide to call it a day — or have the decision made for them.

   One such instance took place at Albany CBA this week as Ron Kuhl found out he will not be brought back to coach hockey next winter. Principal David McGuire and first-year AD Rich Scully gave him that news during the end-of-season performance review, The Times Union reported.

   Kuhl, who won a national junior college title as coach at Hudson Valley CC in 2001, leaves with a 69-54-11 record in five seasons.

   "I loved CBA and I planned on being there a long, long time," Kuhl told the paper. "The parents and the players in the program have been absolutely tremendous. I have the utmost respect for the administration, faculty and staff. I did not dispute what it said. What would be the point? There was already a lack of trust. I'm still stunned at what happened."

   Kuhl would not divulge specifics of the review, but did say a couple of references regarding him were "pure speculation." Scully declined comment.

   Meanwhile, Bill Hopkins said he is stepping down as boys basketball coach at Corning East following a 6-12 record in his ninth season.

   "I actually came to the realization probably toward the middle of January, I realized that it’s just not going to work," Hopkins told The Corning Leader. "Either the message is getting stale or it’s just not working right. I’ve had this feeling before and you just kind of know that it’s time to leave."

   Hopkins, 56, has coached at some level for 34 seasons. He retired from his duties as a physical education teacher in January.

   Changes in store for ESG: A recent change in the eligibility rules will make it possible for some athletes to participate in the scholastic division of the Empire State Games one more time even if they have already graduated from high school.

   The rule revision says an athlete who is still 17 years old as of Aug. 31 of that year can compete in the scholastic division. That's immediate good news for some athletes in

Winter tournament brackets NYSPHSAA boys basketball NYSPHSAA girls basketball NYSPHSAA boys ice hockey

sports for which there is no open division at the ESG such as field hockey, ice hockey and baseball.

   On the other hand, the change has the potential to squeeze oustanding rising sophomores and juniors out of spots in sports with super-competitive tryouts such as boys lacrosse.

   "Empires are a big thing for recruiting also and if I made the team and played another year, it would take a spot away from another kid who could be recruited," North Rockland senior Dan Michella told The Journal News. "I also think it's unfair in that you want everyone to have the same shot and once you graduate from high school, you're out of chances."

   On the move: One of New York's rising football prospects has packed up and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to continue his career at highly successful St. Thomas Aquinas.

   Iona Prep's Tommy Pizzuro, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound tackle, has attracted interest thus far from Penn State, Boston College, Syracuse, Auburn and several other schools. He transferred to Aquinas in January, midway through his junior year.

   "He definitely wants to play big-time football,” Tom Pizzuro Sr. told Scout.com. "He likes all of the schools. We’re originally from New York, so Syracuse is (intriguing). He’s open to going anywhere, but he likes Syracuse. It’s got great tradition and great facilities."

   You might recall that Fox Lane QB Mike Mathews tried his hand at the same Florida school a year ago but ended up transferring back to his New York school in early September.

   Spring trips Those of you who'll be writing stories this month about spring trips to Myrtle Beach or Florida by local baseball and softball teams would do well to read this week's piece in The Journal News leading off with a story from the all-time trip: Eastchester and Horace Greeley's baseball visit to Cuba.

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