SUNY Oneonta Athletics

Spartano graduated from Utica Catholic High School in 1960.  Following high school graduation, he entered the United States Navy and served for three years.  In the fall of 1968 he enrolled at Mohawk Community College.  While at Mohawk C. C. he played both basketball and baseball.  In the fall of 1970, he transferred to Oneonta, and completed his undergraduate degree in 1972.
 
At Oneonta, "Doc" became an immediate starter for the baseball team where they won the SUNYAC championship in 1971.  He was an outstanding fielder, a masterful base runner and offensive threat. He broke the team stolen base record and had a career fielding percentage of .990.   He was a SUNYAC all-star, the SUNY Scholar Athlete of the year, and recognized for his play by being among those inducted to Coach Axtell's baseball Hall of Fame.  "Doc's" leadership skills were outstanding, as evidenced by his being hired to coach the 1972-73 Oneonta State junior varsity basketball team and to assist Coach Axtell with the baseball team.
 
"Doc" was hired by Utica College in 1973 to coach their men's baseball team.  He also coached men's and women's basketball at Utica.  He was named Director of Athletics at Utica in 1982 and helped transition the college from Division I to Division III.  During his tenure as the athletics director, which ended with his retirement in 2011, the athletics program grew from 12 to 25 intercollegiate varsity teams.  He was inducted on two separate occasions into the Utica College Hall of Fame.  In 2014, The Genesis Group of Utica bestowed on him the honor of inducting him into the Education Hall of Distinction for distinguished service to Mohawk Valley Education.

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