Coaching Staff
Head Coach Izzi Metz '98
Assistant Coach Duncan Paddick '07
Assistant Coach Dennis Pysnack
Assistant Coach Carl Wenzel
Head Coach Izzi Metz ’98
 In April 2006, Hobart Director of Athletics Mike Hanna ’68 announced the appointment of Izzi Metz ’98 to serve as the head coach of the Statesmen basketball team. Metz returns to his alma mater after five very successful seasons as an assistant coach at Cornell University.
“I’m excited about the future of Hobart basketball and confident in the leadership, energy, character, and teamwork that Izzi Metz brings to our basketball program, to our campus, and to the community of Geneva,” Hanna said. “As an assistant coach, Izzi was a key factor in the best season in Hobart basketball history and at Cornell he has clearly established his effectiveness as a teacher, as a recruiter, and as a mentor of young men. In my mind, Izzi Metz defines the term “Statesman” and our athletics staff joins me in welcoming him home.”
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” Metz said. “It’s been a dream of mine for a very long time to be a head coach. I’m ready to run with it.”
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT COACH IZZI METZ |
“Coach Metz brings a tremendous energy and enthusiasm for coaching. He has a great way of looking at things on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. I’ve asked him to really focus on the defense, and I think that was a large reason we finished second in the Ivy League in field goal percentage defense last year and was one of the reasons we did such a great job rebounding and defending and leading the league in steals. He has a great feel for the X’s
and O’s, as well as tremendous interpersonal skills that guys on the team can relate to.”
—Cornell Head Coach Steve Donahue
2005-06 Cornell Basketball Media Guide
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“Izzi is one of the hardest working coaches in the business. He does whatever it takes to be successful.”
—Columbia Head Coach Joe Jones
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“Izzi was instrumental in Cornell’s rise to the top of our league. He’s as well respected as any assistant coach in the Ivy League. I know he’s going to do a great job at Hobart.”
—Yale Head Coach James Jones
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With the Big Red, Metz has been involved in all aspects of the program, from recruiting to planning and executing practices, to film break down and scouting, as well as serving as the head coach of the Cornell junior varsity basketball team. During his first four seasons in Ithaca, the Big Red improved from 5-22 to 13-14. During the 2005-06 season, Cornell posted a 13-15 overall record, including a second consecutive winning season in the Ivy League (8-6), a feat the program had not accomplished since 1986-87 and ’87-88 seasons.
“What is most striking about Coach Metz is his uncanny ability to analyze a situation and develop an effective plan for success,” Cornell Head Coach Steve Donahue said. “He never compromises his values and remains committed to the development of young men, both as individuals and as basketball players.”
Metz joined the Big Red following one season as an assistant coach at Hobart. That season, he was the top assistant for the Statesmen’s most successful season. The 2000-01 Hobart squad produced a school record 20 wins against just eight losses, tied for first in the Liberty League, won the conference’s tournament championship, and earned the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid.
“I think we can do some great things at Hobart. The Liberty League is an outstanding basketball conference and our plan is to be highly competitive on a consistent basis. My goal for our student-athletes is for them to have the best experience possible as a member of the Hobart basketball family.”
As a student at Hobart, Metz was twice named to the Dean’s List, in addition to playing basketball for the Statesmen. He graduated in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
Following graduation, Metz returned to his native Los Angeles, where he was a member of the Bishop Montgomery High School coaching staff. Metz helped guide Bishop Montgomery to the CIF Division 3 State and Southern Section Championships in 2000. He also coached the Los Angeles Rockfish, a high school all-star team.
Additionally, Metz has extensive experience as a camp clinician, working at the UCLA Basketball Camp, the Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp, the Pocono Invitational Basketball Camp, and the Massachusetts Special Olympics.
“I look forward to coming back to my alma mater, a place I have a real passion for,” Metz said. “I’m excited to get to work.”
Assistant Coach Duncan Paddick '07
 Duncan Paddick '07 was named the assistant basketball coach prior to the 2007-08 season.
“We’re excited to bring Duncan back to Hobart as a member of our coaching staff,” Head Coach Izzi Metz ’98 said. “As a player, Duncan was a fierce competitor and brought tremendous energy, passion and enthusiasm to the floor each day. His strong understanding of the game, our program, philosophy, and institution will prove invaluable as he embarks on a long and successful coaching career.”
A 2007 graduate of Hobart, Paddick returns after a short stint as an intramurals intern and physical education instructor at Cornell University. While there, he was responsible for assisting in the coordination and implementation of the intramural program. He also taught a basketball class in which he relayed the skills and fundamentals of basketball to his students.
Paddick served as a volunteer assistant basketball coach at Chenango Valley High School in 2006, and also worked as a counselor at the Basketball City Summer Basketball Camp in New York City, where he instructed athletes ages 8-18.
While a student at Hobart, Paddick served as the sports director for the campus radio station, WEOS. He was also an intramural coordinator, responsible for coordinating the flag football and basketball programs.
A native of Binghamton, Paddick graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in public policy and a minor in political science. He was named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team and received the Statesmen Basketball Award for leadership as a senior. He currently resides in Geneva.
Assistant Coach Dennis Pysnack
 Dennis
Pysnack enters his 19th season as an assistant coach
in the Hobart basketball program. He plays an integral roll
in scouting and local recruiting as well as in practice
on a daily basis.
Pysnack has provided
the program with stability and continuity for nearly two
decades. He is the only Statesman player or coach to be
associated with three of the program's four postseason appearances.
A gifted clinician, Pysnack has been active in the area junior leagues
for several years. A native of Seneca Falls, N.Y., he is the proud father of twins Ella and Jaymon.
Assistant Coach Carl Wenzel
 Carl
Wenzel is in his seventh season as a collegiate assistant
coach. Wenzel joined the Statesmen with more than 30 years
of experience as a high school basketball coach.
Wenzel has been a teacher in the Geneva City
School District since 1975. He coached the boy's junior
varsity basketball team from 1975-76 through 1979-80. For
the next 21 seasons, he guided the Panther's varsity basketball
team to a 265-182 (.593) record. Under his leadership, Geneva
won three consecutive Finger Lakes East Championships (1982-84).
Wenzel was named the Section V Class AA Coach of the Year
in 1982 and 1983. He also led the Panthers to Sectional
Championships in 1989 (Class B) and again in 1999 (Class
BB).
A 1974 graduate of St. John Fisher College, Wenzel started three season for the Cardinals. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
He and his wife, Ann, and their three children live in Geneva.
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