It would be strange if any student coming through the Sidney High School between 1969 and 2001 did not come in contact with Doug Quinney.

He was a social studies teacher during most of that time, so there was a good chance that a sophomore or junior would have "gotten stuck" with him then. But if you could run, jump or throw with the slightest trace of ability, he "got you stuck" on being a member of either the indoor or outdoor track & field teams.

And based on his results as well as the many collegiate successes he has produced, Doug Quinney's influence goes on and on.

Doug was a 1964 graduate of Bainbridge-Guilford and received his B.A. in history at the University of Rochester. He taught at the Morrisville-Eaton school for a year - and coached modified track - before settling in Sidney in 1969. It would be would two years before he assumed the role of Boys Varsity Spring Track Coach, in 1971.

The dual meet record of 223-38-1 amassed by Sidney was impressive enough. There were ten Susquenango Association team titles, six Section IV banners (five more runner-up finishes), three State Champions and one high school All-American. Yes, that resume alone would be a career worth taking into any Hall of Fame.

But there was also Girls Varsity Spring Track coaching duties. From the program's inception in 1975, the Lady Warriors eclipsed the fine marks set by the boys: Dual meet record of 21512-2, 16 Sus titles, 11 Section IV Champions (IN A ROW!!), 11 State Champions and one All American. During what could be considered the "Golden Years" of Sidney girls track & field, they were ranked as one of the five teams for all schools in New York State from 1987-94 and again in 1998.

Wait! There's more! In 1972, Doug initiated the Indoor Track & Field program at SHS and because these were all group meets there are no records of wins and losses. There are, however, two state champions and one national champion, plus the honor of being the top ranked team in Section IV - all size schools included - for many years.

Indoor meets are now held at impressive facilities at Cornell and Cortland. But in the early days? Try the annual Maine-Endwell Parking Lot Invitational - bring your shovel. Or how about the concourse of the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena?

So what else can be said about Doug Quinney when it comes to track & field? Perhaps the unsung parts, like being chairman of the State Girls Track & Field Committee. Like the eleven seasons helping the Central Region team at the Empire State Games. And like the year 1986, when Doug served as the NYS representative to the U.S. Coaches Association All-American Selection Committee.

All along, the kids were the most important element of the fun and success of Sidney track. There may have been some who agreed to the persistent Quinney recruiting just to see him run the traditional "victory lap" at Sus League Championships. They may have figured if they ran track for one season he would let them alone, only to find it was impossible to not come back.

And who else could get the annual efforts from his famous "volunteer coaches"? Fortunately, what goes around comes around, because Doug is now one of Bill Munro's volunteer assistants and probably wouldn't have it any other way.

There is no question Doug Quinney is a respected track coach, not just in Sidney but throughout New York and even beyond, based on the number of Division I graduates that came out of Sidney.

A more important sign of respect might be the influence of the "can do" spirit that he quietly instilled - okay, so nothing Doug ever did was quiet - in the individuals and teams he coached and how his former athletes repay that respect time and time again.