Nyack coach's name to come off baseball field in wake of abuse claims against assistant

Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·4 min read
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UPPER NYACK - Nyack's school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to remove the name of a former varsity baseball coach from facilities.

The vote to remove Dave Siegriest's name from the baseball field and other sites comes after accusations of child sex abuse against his longtime assistant coach, Peter Recla, came to light. The alleged incidents took place between 1996 and 2000, according to a 2020 Child Victims Act summons filed against the school board that accused Recla of grooming and abusing a student.

The district's insurer settled the case in 2022. A settlement amount was not revealed in public records. Recla has not been charged with any crime.

Why a push to rename field? Decades-old sex-abuse claim against assistant coach puts focus on Nyack schools

Siegriest, who worked alongside Recla for more than 20 years, died in 2006 at age 43 of pancreatic cancer.

Former players and others who pushed for the resolution have repeatedly stated that no one is accusing Siegriest of abuse. But, former players have said he was, at best, negligent.

Matthew Simone, with fellow former Nyack High School baseball players, speaks before the Nyack School Board, in favor of a resolution to remove the name of former head coach Dave Siegriest's name from the baseball field and other sites. Jan. 23, 2024. The resolution was approved during the meeting at Nyack High School.
Matthew Simone, with fellow former Nyack High School baseball players, speaks before the Nyack School Board, in favor of a resolution to remove the name of former head coach Dave Siegriest's name from the baseball field and other sites. Jan. 23, 2024. The resolution was approved during the meeting at Nyack High School.

Siegriest was a gym teacher at Upper Nyack Elementary and provided safety lessons each year to pupils.

Recla was a volunteer and not on staff. He took over as head coach for one season, in 2007, after Siegriest died, but then was dismissed.

'A good man who did good things'

About 200 showed up at the board meeting and some two dozen spoke either for the resolution's approval or in support of Siegriest's memory and the preservation of various honors for him.

Margaret Siegriest, Dave's widow, spoke as their sons, Sean and Brendan, stood behind her.

Nyack School Board President Karen Hughes listens to public comment during a public meeting at Nyack High School Jan. 23, 2024. A resolution was approved to remove the name of former head coach Dave Siegriest's from the baseball field and other sites.
Nyack School Board President Karen Hughes listens to public comment during a public meeting at Nyack High School Jan. 23, 2024. A resolution was approved to remove the name of former head coach Dave Siegriest's from the baseball field and other sites.

"He was a good man," she said, "who did good things."

Margaret Siegriest said her husband didn't know of any accusations against Recla. He would have been devastated to learn of them, she said. "He was a victim of the alleged perpetrator who deceived everyone."

"Don't rush to judgment of a man based on spite and hearsay," she urged the board, "when the man is no longer here to defend himself."

Margaret Siegriest, with her sons, Sean and Brendan, speaks before the Nyack School Board during a public meeting at Nyack High School Jan. 23, 2024. A resolution was approved to remove the name of former head coach Dave Siegriest's from the baseball field and other sites.
Margaret Siegriest, with her sons, Sean and Brendan, speaks before the Nyack School Board during a public meeting at Nyack High School Jan. 23, 2024. A resolution was approved to remove the name of former head coach Dave Siegriest's from the baseball field and other sites.

People in the west side of the Nyack High School auditorium stood and clapped. Supporters of the resolution filled the east side of the room.

'At 16, I knew something was wrong'

Several who spoke against the resolution said it lacked due process since Siegriest could no longer share his side.

A statement was read by Julia Margagliotta on behalf of Patrick D'Auria, a former Nyack baseball player who filed the Child Victims Act suit against the district that alleged abuse by Recla. D'Auria said many have asked why he didn't come forward sooner. "It takes time to process abuse," his statement said, "process for what it is."

A statement was also read by Maris Hudson for Spencer Witte, Nyack High School Class of 2000 and one of the organizers of a petition by Nyack Baseball Alumni for Truth, Transparency & Support. "At 16, I knew something was wrong," Witte's statement said, questioning how Siegriest, a coach and teacher, didn't know. "Plugging his ears meant that kids got hurt."

Several speakers questioned the apparent secrecy surrounding the accusations made against Recla and the settlement, which was first publicly reported by News 12 in fall of 2023.

Robin Maslanek, a teacher at the high school, sent in a statement via the meeting webcast. "Do not underestimate the effect this has had on staff," she said.

Hope for healing

The resolution doesn't cite a reason for removing Siegriest's name from the baseball field and scoreboard, as well as a dedication plaque and trophy case at Upper Nyack Elementary, beyond saying the action was weighed "after careful consideration and due deliberation." The board, under the resolution, will also cease operation of The Dave Siegriest Memorial Baseball Tournament and the Coach Siegriest “Stay Strong” Scholarship.

Nyack school board President Karen Hughes, just prior to the vote, encouraged anyone with information about past abuse to contact Clarkstown Police. She added that there have been no findings of criminality by the board and "we're not aware of Mr. Recla being found guilty."

Clarkstown Police previously did not respond to requests for the status of any investigation.

Hughes also said the board sincerely hoped for healing for victims of abuse. She encouraged people to reach out to the Center for Safety & Change in New City, a nonprofit that supports victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and other crimes.

The board then voted without comment.

The Center for Safety & Change's 24-hour hotline can be reached at 845-634-3344.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Past sex abuse claims lead to coach's name removal at Nyack HS