EX-COACH AT AQUINAS AND CANANDAIGUA DIES AT 55
David Nieman, the football coach who led Aquinas to back to back New York state titles and later roamed the sidelines for Canandaigua, died Sunday, following an ATV accident that occurred last month.
He was 55.
The Canandaigua City School District released the following statement on Mr. Nieman:
“The Canandaigua City School District is deeply saddened by the passing of middle school physical education teacher and coach Dave Nieman. He spent the past twenty years building strong connections with our students and mentoring younger coaches and teachers. He was an integral part of the school community.
“Coach Nieman will be remembered for his remarkable ability to connect with everyone he met, making each person feel truly valued. He was a dedicated coach in our football and lacrosse programs and will be remembered for being not only a fierce competitor but for teaching student athletes life lessons that go beyond the field and the gymnasium. “At this time, the district will have counselors and support in place for students and staff. We will continue to work with Dave’s family and respect their wishes and their ask for privacy during this very challenging time.”
Mr. Nieman was hired as Aquinas’ varsity football coach in 1999, following a stint as an assistant at Greece Olympia High School. In 2001, he led the Lil Irish to the program’s second NYSPHSAA title, defeating Section I’s Horace Greeley, 22-15, in the championship game. Aquinas successfully defended its Class A title the following season, becoming only the second Section V program to win back-to-back state crowns.
“We have a lot of pride in the football that’s played in our area,” Mr. Nieman told the Democrat and Chronicle following Aquinas’ second straight title. “It may sound corny, but we are one big football family in Section V.”
Mr. Nieman left Aquinas after the 2003 season and, following a one-year hiatus, accepted the same position in Canandaigua. He took over a Braves team that went 3-6 the prior season (the program’s first losing record since the late 1970s), but Canandaigua rebounded to win 12 games over the next two seasons, then won the 2007 Class AA section crown.
Mr. Nieman resigned as Canandaigua’s varsity football coach following the 2008 season, citing a desire to pursue administrative opportunities, though he remained with the school district in various capacities, including as a JV football coach, girls lacrosse coach and physical education teacher. In 2022, Mr. Nieman detailed his bout with Guillain-Barre syndrome. A GoFundMe page to support his rehabilitation raised over $41,000 from 445 donations, greatly surpassing its goal of $25,000.
Mr. Nieman graduated in 1987 from Greece Athena High School, where he was a three-sport athlete and a member of the school’s athletic hall of fame. After high school, Mr. Nieman played collegiate football at SUNY Brockport, where he shares the school record for career interceptions (18).
Justin Ritzel, a Greece native, has covered high school sports around New York state since 2015. Follow his Twitter/X handle @ReporterRitz and on Instagram at ritzelphotography.