2011 Fairfield University Cross Country Digital Publication University Information Table of Contents Location Fairfield, Conn. Page 1 Quick Facts/Media Information Founded 1942 Page 2-3 Coaching Staff Enrollment 3,300 Page 4 The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. Pages 5-17 Meet The Stags Athletic Director Eugene P. Doris Page 18 2011 Roster & Schedule Affiliation NCAA Division I Conference Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Page 19-22 2010 Season In Review Colors Red Pages 23-25 Records & Honors Nickname Stags Page 26 This is Fairfield Team Information Media Information Head Coach John Sagnelli) The 2011 Fairfield University Cross Country Digital Publication was Seasons at Fairfield 5 prepared to assist the media in its coverage of Fairfield Cross Country. Career Record/Seasons Same Requests for interviews, photographs, or additional information should Assistant Coach Benjamin Heslin (Fairfield ’11) be directed to the Sports Information Office. Interviews with coaches, 2010 MAAC Women’s Championship Finish 5th student-athletes, and administrators will not be granted unless 2010 MAAC Men’s Championship Finish 4th arranged by Sports Information in advance. Internet Access: Wireless internet is available within Alumni Hall and Sports Information Office the pressboxes at Lessing Field and Alumni Field. Ethernet access is also available at these locations on a first-come, first-served basis. Sports Information Director Jack Jones Wireless internet access is also available at Alumni Diamond. Associate Sports Information Director Chris O’Connor Asst. Sports Information Director/XC Contact Kelly McCarthy Game Day Coverage: Media interested in covering Fairfield’s home Sports Information Graduate Assistant Sarah Minice athletics events should contact Sports Information to secure press box McCarthy Office Phone 203-254-4000, ext. 2877 seating and credentials when necessary. For most contests, stats McCarthy Cell Phone 203-395-3858 sheets are available postgame while LiveStats are available through- McCarthy E-mail [email protected] out the game by visiting FairfieldStags.com. Sports Information Fax 203-254-4117 Websites FairfieldStags.com Parking: Parking is available at the Walsh Athletic Center and Alumni Fairfield.edu Hall on a first-come, first-served basis. Facebook Facebook.com/FairfieldUAthletics Twitter @fairfieldstags Credits: The 2011 Fairfield University Cross Country Digital Publication is a publication of the Sports Information and Cross Country offices. Written and Edited by Kelly McCarthy, Assistant Director of Sports Information. Layout and design by Kelly McCarthy. Photography by Stockton Photo, Inc., Double N Photography, and Russ McCreven. Special thanks to Head Coach John Sagnelli and the Fairfield University Division of Marketing Communications. Meet the Coaches The Stags continue their climb to the top of the MAAC under the fifth year head coach John Sagnelli Head Coach – Fifth Season he 2011 season marks John Sagnelli's fifth as head coach of the Tmen's and women's cross country programs. The Stags have continued to show improvement under Sagnelli's tutelage. The men's team jumped up five spots at the MAAC Championships in the last two seasons, finishing 2010 in fourth place. The women's team improved by four spots in the last two seasons, finishing 2010 in fifth place at the event. Sagnelli joined the Stags in 2007 after 12 successful seasons at the University of New Haven. Sagnelli was the men's cross country head coach for 11 seasons and spent the last four as the women's head coach. He was also the head coach of the track and field programs. During his time at New Haven, Sagnelli helped produce 14 Division II All- Americans, a national cross country qualifier, numerous All-New England and NCAA All-Region performers, 11 conference champions, 10 New England champions, and more than 80 All-Conference selections. In 2006, New Haven's men's cross country team achieved their eighth straight NCAA Regional ranking, placed eighth at the NCAA Regional, and had three all-conference performers. In each of his last five years, the men captured two conference championships and finished as the runner-up twice in the team competition. One the women's side, Sagnelli guided two NCAA All-Region performers and the ECC Runner and Rookie of the Year in 2006. The women's team fin- ished third at the league championships and posted its second individual conference champion in the last four seasons. New Haven also placed one student-athlete on the Division II National All-Academic Team. Prior to his stint at New Haven, Sagnelli served as the women's cross coun- try and track and field coach at Iona College. 2 2011 Stags Volleyball Q & A With Coach Sagnelli What is your coaching philosophy? I have been a coach for a lot of years and the most important thing I have learned is patience. Sometimes we get caught up in having imme- diate success. I believe that success will come but it needs to be developed first. As long as you are patient with the student-athletes and work with them to become great runners and great students, the success will come. What type of student-aathlete do you recruit? I like to bring in student-athletes that are smart, aggressive young people. I want student-athletes that are the whole package -- they excel in the classroom and on the course. But I also want student-athletes that have a great passion for competition and want to win. What do you ask of your student-aathletes? I ask from all of my student-athletes that they are 100 percent committed to running cross country at Fairfield. We have specific goals that we want to reach as a team and if the student-athletes aren’t committed, it’s hard to achieve those goals. That’s not to say that cross coun- try should be the only part of their college experience. I want my athletes to be well-rounded and get a full experience. I just ask that when they are at practice or at a meet, they are focused and giving 100 percent. What is the best part about Fairfield? I’d have to say the total atmosphere of the University. Fairfield is a wonderful place. We have an excellent academic reputation, great pro- grams that engage our students, a solid athletic program, and a beautiful campus in a great location. Being so close to New York City and the beach really attracts a lot of people with different interests. I think there is something for everyone here. Benjamin Heslin Assistant Coach – First Season fter spending four seasons as one of the top harriers at Fairfield University, Benjamin Heslin joins the Stags Acoaching staff for the 2011 campaign. Heslin, native of Berlin, Conn., was a three-year team captain for the Stags. He had a strong senior campaign, running the fastest-time ever by a Stag at Van Cortlandt Park (26:10.95) during the Iona Meet of Champions, and helping the Stags to a fourth-place finish at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships. Heslin, who graduated last May with a degree in accounting, was named to the MAAC Academic Honor Roll and the MAAC All-Academic Team as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He also achieved a spot on the Fairfield University Dean’s List all four years. Heslin served as the Co-President for Fairfield’s Student- Athlete Advisory Committee and was also a resident advisor. In May 2011, Heslin was presented with the Fairfield University Athletics Department William Wallin Award in 2011, which is bestowed upon the student-athlete who best demonstrates the highest levels of sportsmanship, character, and leadership on and off the field. In addi- tion to his performance and captaincy on the cross country team, Heslin was a resident advisor and active on campus. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference ith 10 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of In the summer of 2009, the MAAC added three associate members quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, - Albany, Boston University and Hartford - to women's golf, with the pro- Wthe Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is in its 31st year of grams starting competition against MAAC members Fairfield, Niagara competition during the 2011-2012 academic year. and Siena in 2009-2010 The MAAC was founded in 1980 by six charter members: the U.S. Military Academy, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Iona Academics & Athletics College, Manhattan College and Saint Peter's College. Competition fol- The MAAC prides itself on the accomplishments of its student-ath- lowed one year later in the fall of 1981 with members competing in letes in the classroom, as well as on the field. Mary Beth Riley, a 1991 the sports of men's cross country and men's soccer. On January 2, graduate of Canisius, was the first recipient of the NCAA Woman of the 1982, Army traveled to Iona for the first MAAC men's basketball game Year Award. In the fall of 1998, Erin Whalen, a member of the Iona and the MAAC story had begun. women's rowing team, was awarded one of the nation's 32 Rhodes Today, Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield Scholarships for academic achievement and civic leadership. Jose University, Iona College, Loyola University Maryland, Manhattan Vargas, a Loyola student, was also awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in College, Marist College, Niagara University, Rider University, Saint 1999. Peter's College, and Siena College. In addition, associate members First-class facilities are the rule with MAAC schools, as teams regu- include the University of Detroit Mercy, Jacksonville University and larly play in top-notch arenas, such as Madison Square Garden, the Virginia Military Institute in men's lacrosse. St. Francis (N.Y.) College, IZOD Center, HSBC Arena, Times Union Center, the Arena at Harbor Villanova University, VMI and Wagner College are all associate mem- Yard and the Sun National Bank Center.