Greg Montalbano, the America East Pitcher of the Year in 1999, died August 21 at the age of 31. Montalbano, who was diagnosed with cancer during his freshman year at Northeastern, earned America East Pitcher of the Year honors as a junior when he compiled an 8-2 record with a 2.09 earned-run average and 71 strikeouts in 64.2 innings. He started the season with a no-hitter against Niagara and also had a one-hitter and three two-hitters in 11 starts that year.

Transactions

Associate athletics directors – David Paitson will be Sam Houston State’s new associate athletics director for external operations.

Assistant athletics directors – Missouri-St. Louis named Jessica Chandler assistant athletics director for compliance.

Coaches

Men’s basketball assistants – Holy Cross named Sean Ryan an assistant men’s basketball coach.

Women’s basketball – North Carolina Wesleyan hired Artina J. Trader as women’s basketball coach.

Men’s and women’s golf – Gannon named Dave Patronik and Jason Willow as men’s and women’s golf coaches, respectively.

Men’s and women’s soccer assistants – Sarah Teegarden has been named assistant women’s soccer coach at Alverno.

Men’s and women’s tennis -- Brooklyn hired Ahmad Odetalla as women’s tennis coach … Saint Rose named Sarah Mayer women’s tennis coach.

Men’s and women’s volleyball assistants – Holy Cross named Cortney Bliss as an assistant women’s volleyball coach … Rhode Island College named Crystal Colagiovanni  as assistant women’s soccer coach.

Staff

Athletic trainers – Guilford hired Gary Rizza as athletic trainer.

Assistant athletic trainers – St. Mary’s (Maryland) named Jessica Pope assistant athletic trainer.

Athletics communication – Tennessee hired former Knoxville News-Sentinel reporter Drew Edwards to write features for the athletics department’s Web site.

Deaths

Bob Johnson, former men’s basketball coach at Emory & Henry, died August 22.