A new chapter has started at Poly, as Kym Carter stepped down after two years as the Director/Co-Director of Athletics, leaving behind a legacy of leadership. In lieu of this event, Coach Lou Candel, Head Coach of the Boys’ Lacrosse Team, has stepped up as the Athletic Director. Many are assured that Poly athletics is in good hands under the leadership of Candel. “I have nothing but positive things to say about Coach Candel; I trust that he will be great,” said Interim Head of School John Rankin.
Understanding that athletic and academic excellence are related, Candel knows from personal experience that creating an environment where athletes can grow is essential to their success. Candel is more than just your ordinary high school coach, too. He played basketball at Amherst and lacrosse at Yale; he had offers to play professionally overseas but chose to work on Wall Street trading foreign bonds and U.S. equities. Since Candel became head coach, the Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team has had enormous success. Last year, he led the team to an undefeated season, securing the 2024 Prep Ivy League title for the first time in 13 years. However, he didn’t stop there as he led the team to win the 2024 NYSAIS lacrosse championship, “He could be considered overqualified,” said Max Penachio, ’25, and Evan Saunders, ’25.
Poly athletics has a long tradition of excellence. “Poly has been a powerhouse school in New York City for some time,” according to “The Dynasty of Poly Sports,” an article published in Polygon, in April 2023 by Jesse Cavaliero. This includes Poly football, which has dominated cross-borough rivals Fieldston and Horace Mann, winning five out of six games against them since 2018. Poly’s tradition of athletic excellence includes many championships across football, soccer, volleyball, and baseball, which has maintained the #1 ranking in New York State. “We are constantly playing teams from across the country, all with very talented players,” said Leo Mullin ’25, a Poly Varsity Baseball team member. However, this history of excellence has caused a lot of pressure on the sports department, specifically the Athletic Directors. “The challenge is that the expectations that a lot of our parents, and frankly, our board members and alumni have about athletics puts a giant spotlight on the Athletic Directors, putting them under a lot of pressure,” said Rankin.
Candel recognizes this pressure, acknowledging that success on the playing field takes more than just dedicated players and coaches; it also requires a lot of effort from administrative staff to coordinate everything from equipment to scheduling. “I have had to be involved with a lot more of the administrative things, making sure everybody has all of their paperwork, medical paperwork, making sure that this, that everybody has what they need for their games, for their schedule, making sure that we’re compliant with all of the rules for the league,” said Candel. This was easier with a Co-director, and since Carter’s departure, Candel has had to take on a heavier load. He simply said, “I’m busier, that’s it.”
In addition to his focus on fostering a successful and supportive athletic environment, Candel is committed to getting Poly athletes the recognition they deserve. “What I want to do is get many of our athletes noticed by colleges. I want to try and help us be a bit more high profile to colleges because we have some great athletes here who are very underrated by the colleges, and I’d like to do more things to promote how good our student-athletes are in the Ivy Prep League.” He also understands that combining academic and athletic excellence is vital for student-athletes, providing college admissions and recruitment opportunities. When asked if academics play a role in athletic recruitment, he said, “A hundred percent, because anywhere athletes, especially the ones who are interested in playing at the next level in college, the first thing I tell them is to get your academics up because it will open many more doors for you.”
Students love to see their classmates score the game-winning goal and their teams win championships. They know how hard Poly’s student-athletes work. At the same time, they often need to be made aware of the planning and logistics required to keep everything from the gym open to a college recruiter noticing Poly students. These are immense tasks. Candel looks forward to building on Poly’s tradition of sports excellence, which starts with coaching. “I’m going to really rely on our coaching staff. We have a fantastic coaching staff. They’re all experts in their respective sports, and I have faith and trust in them that they will just keep doing what they’re doing.”
