Meet Our Staff

fcoots@hamilton.edu

(315) 859-4141

Francis Coots became the director of Campus Safety on March 1, 2017. Coots concluded a 33-year career with the New York State Police, retiring as the Troop Commander of Troop D, located in central New York. Coots’ career had him assigned to various areas of both central and western New York, holding multiple ranks within the organization. He is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy and served as president of the National Academy Associates - New York State/Eastern Canada Chapter. Coots has attained the highest level of the Incident Command System and has participated in multiple training events at area colleges including several at Hamilton College. Coots has a bachelor of science from Elmira College and is a graduate of the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services Law Enforcement Executive Institute. He is married and has three children, four step-children, and ten grandchildren. He resides in Syracuse, N.Y.

Following his service in the United States Marine Corps, Assistant Director Wayne Gentile returned to Central New York and began serving Hamilton as a patrol officer in 1999. He was appointed as an administrator in 2000 and was then appointed to Associate Director in 2019. He earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Mohawk Valley Community College and is also a graduate of the New York State Basic Course for Police Officers. Gentile is responsible for day shift operations in the Campus Safety Department as well as Clery Act compliance and serves as our liaison to the Office of Residential Life. He has received specialized training in crime scene investigation, women’s self-defense instruction, and is one of our training instructors. Gentile is a member of the Northeast Colleges and Universities Security Association.

Anthony Scalise was appointed to the position of Campus Safety Investigator in September 2015. He joined Hamilton as a Campus Safety officer in 2011 after completing 21 years of service with the Utica Fire Department, retiring at the rank of lieutenant. Scalise earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Mohawk Valley Community College. In addition, he is a New York State certified paramedic and a fire instructor, a hazardous materials specialists, and a New York State licensed enhanced status security officer. Scalise is responsible for investigating all serious incidents occurring on campus.