On January 27, Gentry Lewis stepped down as Athletic Director and Dean of Students at NYHS.
“I’d like to thank Coach Lewis for his dedication to our school and our students,” Rabbi Yehuda Gabay, Head of School, wrote in an email to the NYHS staff. “Coach Lewis has guided our student-athletes to be their best on the court and off and has supported the NYHS athletic program. We are grateful for all his hard work and wish him continued hatzlacha (success) in his next role.”
The reason for Lewis’ resignation remains unknown. Gabay and Deidre Schreiber, General Studies principal, refused to comment. Lewis himself has not publicly shared details about his decision to step down.
Lewis was hired in July 2024 and only came to school in September 2024, two weeks after the school year had started. This is the third Athletic Director to leave NYHS in three years, following Ashford Jackson and Michelle Pearce. “Each circumstance was different,” Schreiber said. “I’m not sure I could attribute one succinct reason to it.”
Steve Bunin, varsity boys basketball coach, will take over as Athletic Director. He will continue to be varsity boys basketball coach as well.
“We got along very well and I liked him very much,” said Coach Bunin in regards to Lewis. According to Bunin, he admired that Lewis incorporated more school spirit, improved the weight room, and provided more amenities for the boys’ basketball team.
Bunin plans to be athletic director for at least the next five years. His main goal is to restart girls’ sports at NYHS, as the girls volleyball and basketball teams did not happen this year.
“Girls’ sports is a big passion of mine,” he said.
Schreiber and Rabbi Naftali Rothstein, Judaics Studies Principal, will take over as Dean of Students together for the rest of the year. In this role, Lewis primarily dealt with disciplinary action for students as needed. Decisions for next year on who will fill the position of dean of students have not been decided yet.
Students are disappointed that Coach Lewis has stepped down.
“Joking around with him… was a highlight of my day,” said junior Evan Kaufthal. “I’m going to miss his presence at school.”
