The 2025-2026 DCC Athletics Season began on 8/1/25. The Department has been supporting coaches and student-athletes as we prepare for competition starting in late August and early September for volleyball and soccer, respectively. During the 2025-2026 academic year DCC plans to offer six traditional athletic programs: Women's Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Women's Softball and Men's Baseball as well as the co-ed Esports Program. The Athletic Department added Coach Robert Piano as a full-time Assistant Athletic Director for the department and Coach Piano worked with AD Paquet, Asst. AD Santoro, and the Coaching staffs to set up student-athlete orientation sessions, 1:1 weekly meetings for academic oversight, and mandatory study halls for each respective team. The teams will meet regularly with Coach Piano, AD Paquet, their Coaches, and staff from the Center for Academic Achievement, The Math and Science Center, and the Writing Center to assist with meeting academic progress each semester.
Facility Improvements
· Falcon Hall gymnasium floor was stripped, painted, and resealed with an updated center court Falcon Logo.
· Falcon Hall purchased a new LED Scorer's Table to display graphics and information on during sporting events.
· Falcon Hall purchased new chairs and stools for team benches.
· Falcon Hall is in the process of working with Pepsi to have a new scoreboard purchased and installed.
· Falcon Hall is in the process of upgrading their PA and sound system and incorporate lighting for pre-game announcements and introductions.
· Falcon Hall installed new boxing equipment for use as an extension of the Fitness Center.
· The DCC Athletic Department is working the CHA Engineering Firm on the multi-purpose Turf Facility on campus for the Soccer and Baseball programs. Completion is slated for Fall 2026.
· The DCC Athletic Department worked with the National Fitness Campaign to install a Fitness Pad on Campus adjacent to the Tennis Courts for outdoor workouts. Completion is slated for Fall 2025.
· The DCC Athletic Department is working with CHA and Facilities Department to devise a renovation plan for the Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts, and Handball Courts. This will include the addition of Pickle Ball courts on the DCC Main Campus.
Men's Soccer Coached by Zach Reid and Andrew Morocho-Lopez
Head Coach Zach Reid was elevated from Assistant Coach after last season and new Assistant Coach Andrew Morocho Lopez was hired during the Fall of 2025 after competing as a Falcon in fall 2024 and graduating from Dutchess in Spring 2025. The coaches have been doing an excellent job thus far. The Men's Soccer Program began their season on 9/4/25 when they faced Ulster CC at Millbrook High
School. There are currently 24 members on the roster, with 5 sophomores and 19 freshmen. The team will compete through October in hopes of advancing to the Regional Tournament for a chance to complete for a National Tournament berth.
Women's Volleyball Coached by Didi Spero and Tim Milholm
The DCC Falcons Women's Volleyball team, coached by Didi Spero and Tim Milholm, began their season on 8/30/25 when they hosted a non-conference double duel attended by Monroe-Bronx, Hudson Valley, and Finger Lakes; all Nationally Ranked teams. The team currently has 9 members on the roster, with two sophomore student-athletes and 7 freshmen. The Falcons aspire to win their third Mid-Hudson Conference Championship in four years and earned a spot in the National Tournament as Region Winners or Runner Ups for a third time in four years.
Men's Basketball Coached by Robert Piano, Justin Kinlock and Ian Umpierre
The DCC Falcons Basketball begins the 2025-26 pre-season with 8 sophomore student-athletes and 12 freshmen. This will be Coach Piano's 5th season at Dutchess. The team expects to be Nationally ranked in the 25-26 Pre-Season poll for DIII Men's Basketball and aspires to finish as Region Champions and travel to the National Tournament to be held at Herkimer Community College in New York. The team will begin official practices in October and will start their season on 11/1/25 when they host Gateway.
Women's Basketball Coached by Tyrone Moultrie and Curtiz Simpson
Head Coach Tyrone Moultrie heads into his 2nd season as Head Coach of the Dutchess Women's Basketball program. The team will compete in their 3rd season of competition since prior to the pandemic in 2019-20. The roster will include four returning sophomore student-athlete and a group of incoming freshmen. Women's Basketball team had a successful restart to the program after a three-year hiatus and aspire to make the Region XV Tournament and vie for a Region Championship. The team will begin official practices in October and will start their season on 11/1/25 when they host Gateway.
Women's Softball Coached by Chip Watt, Cassidy Watt, and Gabriel Baez
Women's Softball team returns to competition in Fall 2025 after a successful 2024-2025 season; winners of the Region XV Tournament and Northeast District Runner-ups to CC of Rhode Island. The team was two wins away from its first National Tournament berth since 2014. The 2025-26 roster will be comprised of 7 returning sophomore student-athletes and a group of incoming freshmen student-athletes. The team began preseason practices for Fall 2025 in September and will conclude the Fall 2025 preseason with a scrimmage that is TBD. The team aspires to finish as repeat Region Champions and travel to the National Tournament in Spring 2026.
Esports Coached by Jesse Navarra, Nathaniel Bogart, and Noah Landaira
The DCC Esports Program plans to compete in the NJCAAE Tier #3 and Tier #2 Level for 2025-2026. The team currently has over 30 interested students-athletes who wish to participate in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 in games such as League of Legends, Tekken, Rocket League, Valorant, Overwatch, Call of Duty, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Brothers. Head Coach Jesse Navarra continues to do an amazing job with growing the program and onboarding interested student-athletes at the DCC Esports Arena in Dutchess Hall. Practices will be held in person and remotely on weekdays and weekends for each respective team. Competition with other NJCAA schools will occur on weekday evenings in person in the Esports Arena. The space is currently being utilized on average of 20+ hours per week. The team will continue livestreaming matches via the DCC Esports Twitch Channel with live commentary on their broadcasts. The program is currently looking at adding another Assistant Coach in the coming weeks to help with the program.
Men's Baseball Coached by Al Hammell
Men's Baseball fielded a team in the Spring 2025 semester after a one-year hiatus due to low interest from prospective student-athletes. Coach Hammell is currently holding Fall 2025 training sessions with baseball student-athletes twice per week to prepare for Spring 2026. Interest for 2025-2026 has improved significantly and there are approximately 20 students interested in baseball for this season. The team will return 7-10 sophomores this season. The team will continue with preseason training sessions through September and will work out until the end of October before breaking for the winter. The team is currently planning to host a scrimmage against another NJCAA Member College at the conclusion of the Fall 2025 training sessions. The Athletic Department is working with the new and returning student-athletes to ensure they have access to academic resources for continued success in the classroom and to ensure they meet the requirements for Spring 2026 as 1st or 2nd season athletes.
25-26 Scheduled Community Involvement
· Falcon Hall will host Career Fair – October 2025
· Falcon Hall will host College Fair – October 2025
· Falcon hall will host Craft Fair – November 2025
· Al Hammell Fundamentals Winter Baseball Clinic for Local Youth Programs
· Officials v. Cancer Tournament – February 2026
· Boys' and Girls' MHAL High School Basketball Championships - February 2026
· Section IX High School Basketball Championships – March 2026
· Falcon Hall hosted Dutchess County Science Fair – April 2026
· Falcon Hall hosted DCC Career Fair – April 2026
· Falcon Hall hosted DCC Health Fair – April 2026
· Dutchess Community College will host the Region 15 D3 Women's Softball Tournament
Athletic Department Links Athletics Website – www.dutchessfalcons.com
Instagram https://instagram.com/dutchessfalcons?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Hudl Fan TV Channel – https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ny/poughkeepsie/organization/69984/dutchess-cc
Twitch Channel (Esports) - https://twitch.tv/dutchessccfalconsesports
