When Stan Nevins, a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Wrestling Hall of Fame, retired from SUNY Cobleskill in January 1991, he left behind a remarkable coaching legacy. In 22 wrestling seasons, the Nevins-led teams posted a 196-36 record without a losing season.
On the lacrosse field, he guided his squads to a 184-66 mark and four regional crowns. His cross country teams, which had a career 37-4 dual meet record, won numerous regional championships. Nevins was voted "Regional Coach of the Year" by his peers in lacrosse, cross country and, on 10 occasions, in wrestling. In 1976 and again in 1980, he was named the NJCAA "National Lacrosse Coach of the Year."
In 32 years, Nevins coached 70 teams of which only four had losing records. "I am proud of those numbers," said Nevins, who began his coaching career in 1959 at Orange County Community College before moving to SUNY Cobleskill in 1965. "But far more important than the win-loss records, I am proud of the fact that I have always put academic success ahead of winning games or championships. So many athletes have been Academic All-Americans and this truly reflects my Cortland philosophy."
A Plattekill, N.Y., native, Nevins graduated from Wallkill (N.Y.) High School. He attended Cortland during the 1952-53 academic year, then returned in 1956. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1959. Competing in football, wrestling and lacrosse, Nevins was a two-time Red Letter Award winner in wrestling. He was a Beta Phi Epsilon fraternity brother and president of the Newman Club at Cortland.
A former assistant trainer with the New York Jets, Nevins worked as a football official and, for a quarter-of-a-century, as a wrestling official. He is a past president of the NJCAA Wrestling and Lacrosse Associations.
Within his community, Nevins has long been active with the Little League and has served on the St. Vincent's Church Building Fund Committee.
UPDATE: Nevins passed away on Aug. 8, 2020 at age 87.
