SUNY Cortland Athletics

Andrew Tei is a 1935 graduate of Cortland and was a teacher and coach in Truxton for 33 years. When Truxton was a central school, he coached soccer, basketball and baseball. He has been a YMCA camp director, a Boy Scout counselor, a Red Cross board member, president of the Cortland County Music Association and a Democratic candidate for the State Assembly. He also served in a number of sports officials' organizations.

As an undergraduate at Cortland, Tei played four years of baseball and three years of football. After graduation, he served for a time as assistant varsity football coach for the Red Dragons.

When asked "how have athletics affected your life?" Tei responded by saying: "Athletics have been my life, they have taught me how to live and I have used them to teach my students how to live. An athletic life is a good life." When asked to try and single out his "biggest athletic thrill" Tei stated: "I pitched a 4-hit victory in my first starting assignment since I was a relief pitcher but the honor of being chosen assistant varsity football coach by "Chugger" was greater. This was it. This gave me the faith and confidence which carried throughout my coaching career."

Tei and his wife, Pauline, have three children.

UPDATE: Tei passed away on Jan. 6, 1988 (date not confirmed)