Hall of Fame
Nicholas DeCillis was an exceptional athletic administrator in Suffolk County (Section XI) for more than 50 years and has spent more than two decades serving NYSPHSAA as a member of its Executive Committee (1986-present). He spent 38 years as the Middle Country School District athletic director where he helped Middle Country grow from just one basketball and baseball team to 150 teams during his tenure. DeCillis, who started his career as a physical education teacher at Middle Country in Centereach in 1956, was a critical part of helping plan the construction of new gyms, fields, and weight rooms while also juggling the equity and integrity of his athletic programs during a time of aggressive growth for the district. Following his service to Middle Country, Nick was hired as a part-time athletic director at Sag Harbor for 12 years. Again he was part of another significant growth spurt assisting Sag Harbor in adding intramural and interscholastic teams while he was there.
From 1980-82, DeCillis was President of Section XI. He was also Section XI’s chief officials negotiator for the last 25 years and also served on the Board of the Suffolk County Athletic Association for more than 30 years.
Nick received a bachelor’s and master’s from New York University and was elected into the Suffolk County Hall of Fame in 2006. He is a NYS Physical Education Director of the Year and Section XI Chapter Athletic Director of the Year recipient, and has the honor of the Middle Country School (Newfield HS) athletic facility being named after him.