Providence College Athletics

Teamwork Yields Wins And An Opportunity To Contribute

Teamwork Yields Wins And An Opportunity To Contribute

By Robert G. Driscoll, Jr.

September

Providence College athletics is buzzing with activity as we ready ourselves for the 2002-03 season. Our accomplishments during the summer have helped to set the stage for a competitive and enjoyable year. Some of these accomplishments include:

  • 117 student-athletes named to the BIG EAST Academic All-Star Team.
  • The addition of Susan Yow and her staff, hired to lead the women's basketball program. The combined staff coaching experience exceeds 75 years.
  • The outsourcing of our strength and conditioning program to a facility owned and operated by Mark Stephenson and with conditioning experts and better equipment.
  • The hiring of an assistant director of marketing. Hailing from UCLA, Anthony Shay brings new and innovative ideas to our athletics department.
  • The approval of an exciting, new athletic logo design, now being integrated into materials, uniforms, and apparel for the upcoming season.
  • Notification of being named as the host of the NCAA East Regional Ice Hockey Championship in 2003.
  • Currently conducting a national search to hire a director of athletic development to help raise the necessary dollars to remain competitive in the BIG EAST and nationally.
  • Our men's and women's basketball teams both traveled to Europe in August to gain valuable playing time in preseason competition.

    I am grateful for the contributions of all the people whose individual effort and teamwork made these achievements possible. We will continue to rely on this teamwork as we face the challenges and opportunities ahead.

    Artificial-surface playing field planned

    One such significant opportunity and, indeed, an important immediate challenge, is the construction of a state-of-the-art, artificially surfaced playing field on campus. Such a field will positively impact the entire campus community by providing space for students participating in intercollegiate athletics as well as students, faculty/staff, and alumni participating in intramural/recreational sports. It will provide the College with a first-class, multipurpose space requiring minimal maintenance that, with lighting, can be used virtually year round.

    All of our intercollegiate teams will benefit from this new facility. In particular, it will allow our field hockey and lacrosse programs to recruit nationally and continue to build on their successful programs. In addition to the benefits listed above, the playing field will be conducive to high-performance play and will give us the opportunity to host championship events.

    Facility improvements such as this serve an important role in recruiting top-quality students to Providence College.

    Initial estimates for construction of this facility stand at over $1.5 million. We need the contributions of Providence College alumni and friends to make this field a reality so that the entire campus community can benefit from it for years to come. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Danny McCabe, associate athletic director for external affairs, at 401-865-2909 or by e-mail at dmccabe@providence.edu.

    Thank you for your continued support of Providence College.

    Go Friars!

    If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please click here to e-mail Athletic Director Bob Driscoll.