Port Jefferson makes new coaching hires


New PJ coaches | Port Jefferson School District | Facebook

The Port Jefferson School District has announced they will have an exciting lineup of new varsity head coaches for the 2025–26 school year. These educators bring championship experience, strong leadership, and a deep commitment to student-athlete growth.

Coach Jen Poma will lead both the Varsity Girls and Boys Tennis teams. A guidance counselor at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and former Division I tennis player, Coach Poma previously coached JV and Varsity Tennis at Smithtown East, where her teams captured league titles in two of her three seasons. Her expertise and passion promise to elevate the Royals’ tennis program.

Coach Hannah Keech takes over the Varsity Girls Lacrosse team. A former standout at SUNY Cortland, Keech earned two SUNYAC championships, three All-Tournament Team honors, and multiple All-Region and All-Conference selections. With 12 years of playing experience and five years of coaching, she will also assist with Middle School Girls Basketball and JV Boys Soccer, bringing a strong multi-sport perspective to the district.

Coach Joe Petre, a physical education and health teacher at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School, will serve as Varsity Girls Basketball head coach. Petre brings over five years of varsity assistant experience in boys basketball at Hauppauge and Smithtown East, where his teams reached the playoffs and earned three league titles and a county championship appearance. He will also coach JV Girls Volleyball and assist with Varsity Boys Lacrosse.

Other notable additions include Ashley Drews – Middle School CheerleadingCJ Perrino – Varsity Assistant Football, Middle School Wrestling, Middle School BaseballDennis Christofor – Volunteer, Girls and Boys TennisKeith Buehler – Middle School Football AssistantMichelle Landetta – Unified BowlingPete Meehan – Varsity Boys Basketball Head CoachJoe Jacovino – Middle School Boys Lacrosse

“We’re fortunate to welcome such talented, dedicated coaches,” said Adam Sherrard, Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics, and Nursing.

 

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