Ray Rankis, Lehman '75
Ray.Rankis@baruch.cuny.edu
Head Coach
Ray Rankis will begin his 27th season as the head coach of the men's basketball program.
The longest serving head coach in Baruch and CUNYAC men’s basketball history, Ray became the first person to coach 20 or more seasons in the league.
Last year, Rankis coached the Bearcats to an undefeated regular season (13-0) in the CUNYAC standings and played in the NCAA Tournament for the third time (2000, 2006, 2009) this decade.
For his efforts in a 23-6 season, Ray was named the 2008-09 Coach of the Year by two organizations - the CUNY Athletic Conference and the Metropolitan Basketball Writer's Association (Div. III). He was also named a Co-Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) for the Atlantic Region.
Rankis recorded his 350th career win on December 8, 2008, with a 77-72 road victory against Rutgers-Newark from the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
Rankis is the Associate Athletic Director for the athletic department, whose many duties vary from intramurals to scheduling to the continuing education program.
A 1975 graduate of Lehman College, Rankis completed his bachelor of arts degree in mass communications and went straight to John Jay College, where he served eight seasons as assistant coach.
He coached the Bloodhounds’ junior varsity for seven years, claiming three CUNYAC junior varsity tournament titles. He earned his master of science degree in physical education in 1980.
In 1983, Rankis was appointed head coach at Baruch, and has remained ever since. A five-time CUNYAC Coach of the Year, he has guided his troops to several CUNYAC divisional crowns and the CUNYAC Tournament Championship in 2000. His efforts in that season also earned him New York State Division III Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year honors as well as an award from the New York Police Department.
He also coached two years of women’s cross country and three seasons of women’s tennis. His 1993-94 tennis team was undefeated at 13-0 and won the CUNYAC regular season and tournament championships. He also guided the women to two Hudson Valley Women’s Athletic Conference crowns.
Rankis is a member of the Lehman College Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the Latvian-American Sports Hall of Fame.
A 1970 graduate of DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, he and his wife, Ann-Maria, live in New Rochelle, N.Y., with their children, Matthieu and Simone.
Gary Siano, Baruch '95
Assistant Coach
Gary Siano is a veteran of the coaching staff and returns for his 15th year on the bench.
Prior to joining the coaching staff, Gary played for Rankis from 1991-95.
As a key reserve, he helped lead Baruch to an ECAC Metro New York/New Jersey tournament berth in 1993, and the CUNYAC championship game in 1994. He was honored as a team captain in 1995.
Siano graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business management, and is currently Vice President of Operations for National Medical Management Services, a Port Washington, New York based revenue cycle/medical billing company.
He resides in West Islip, New York with his wife, Julie, and two sons, Nicholas and Zachary.
Stanford Simmons, Baruch ‘97
Assistant Coach
Stanford Simmons has been an assistant since the 1995-96 season and will begin his 15th year with the staff.
Nicknamed Stan, he has played a big part in recruiting many of the current players on the roster.
He has also been a part of the coaching staff at Baruch that went to the NCAA Tournament three times (2000, 2006, 2009), and won the ECAC Metro Region Championship in 2003 with a 25-5 record.
Stan graduated from Baruch in 1997, with a degree in finance and investments, and a minor in accounting.
He has played recreational basketball with John Salley, and for various church organizations.
Anwar Baptiste, Baruch '06
Assistant Coach
Anwar will begin his fourth season on the coaching staff.
Baptiste, who played two years for the Bearcats (2004-2006), will assist the program in all areas, including recruiting, scouting, and practice sessions.
Anwar is a graduate of St. Raymond’s High School in the Bronx, and played varsity basketball under respected head coach (and current DePaul Assistant) Gary DeCesare.
He won the New York City and State Championship during the 2000-01 championship season with a 23-8 record.
Following high school, Anwar played briefly for Clarkson University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He joined Baruch prior to the start of the 2004-05 season.
Carl Emengo, Baruch '07
Assistant Coach
Carl will begin his third season on the coaching staff.
He will assist the staff in areas of game preparation, scouting, and transportation.
Carl played for Coach Rankis for two seasons (2005-2007) as a point guard and led the team in scoring his senior season at 16.0 ppg, which included 36 points against Clark (Mass.).
Prior to joining Baruch, Carl was an All-Conference player for Queensborough Community College and played varsity basketball for Canarsie High School.
Mike Dietz, Baruch '08
Assistant Coach
Mike will begin his first season on the coaching staff.
He will assist the staff in all areas, including practice, film breakdown and scouting.
Mike played four years of Div. III college basketball, starting at Plattsburgh State (2005-2007) and then joined Baruch (2007-2009) for his final two seasons. As a player, he played in three NCAA Tournaments (Plattsburgh 2, Baruch 1) and three conference championship games.
A local product from Queens, Mike played varsity basketball at Archbishop Molloy High School under legendary coach Jack Curran.
Jake Weitzen, Tufts '07
Assistant Coach
Jake will begin his first season on the coaching staff.
He will assist the staff in all areas, including practice sessions, film breakdown and scouting.
Jake played four years of college basketball (2004-2008) for Tuft University in the very competitive NESCAC and was named a second team All-Conference player during his junior year.
A local product, Jake played varsity basketball for Bronx Science High School.