ATHLETICS PROGRAM FACT SHEET A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE 79 NCAA Division II Individual Championships 10 NCAA Division II Team Championships Nearly 1,200 All-America selections First-Class Athletics Facilities Soaring Above The Competition Dedicated in November of 1988, Jess Dow Field is a multi- Southern Connecticut State University’s outstanding athletic million dollar stadium facility which can accommodate football, program continually ranks among the top NCAA Division II soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and track and field. The AstroPlay programs in the nation, artificially-surfaced playing field is surrounded by an eight-lane, and also boasts a long state-of-the-art 400-meter record of dominance in track surface. The artificial the Northeast for both field was replaced in 2011, team and individual while the track surface championships. was updated in 2013. The Owls rank among Directly adjacent to Moore the NCAA leaders with 79 Field House, Dow Field is individual titles and team lighted and has a capacity championships with 10 for some 6,000. titles. James W. Moore Field Most recently, the House is Southern’s 4x400 relay of Crystle primary indoor athletic Hill, Sarah Hill, Georgette complex. The main arena, with a permanent seating capacity of Nixon and Shatajah 2,800, has a six-lane, artificially-surfaced track (200 meters), which Wattely of the women’s was completely renovated in the summer of 1997. The fieldhouse is indoor track and field utilized for all major indoor events and can accommodate multiple program won the 2015 practice sessions simultaneously. Drop curtains and netting allow NCAA title in that event. the main arena to accommodate a complete baseball or softball SCSU had NCAA infield for practice as well as the traditional indoor programs. championships Moore Field House also has complete weight-training facilities, representation in eight locker rooms and equipment rooms. Located in Moore Field sports in 2016-17 and also House, Hutchinson Natatorium has an eight-lane swimming pool ranked among the top-30 with both one- and three- percent of all Division II meter diving boards and a programs in the Learfield Colorado timing system. Sports Cup for the 11th straight year. The recently renovated Pelz Gymnasium is the oldest of the Southern athletic facilities and is utilized primarily for physical education classes, recreation & intramurals, women’s gymnastics, and volleyball. The facility has a six-lane pool and an independent, auxiliary gymnasium for gymnastics. The Owls also host softball action at their facility behind Pelz Gym and opened The Ballpark at Southern Connecticut in the fall of 2001. All of the Southern facilities have played host to collegiate and scholastic championship events. Head Coach Phone Directory Men’s Soccer: (203) 392-6018 Men’s Basketball: (203) 392-6017 Women’s Lacrosse: (203) 392-6940 Women’s Soccer: (203) 392-5759 Football: (203) 392-6010 Field Hockey: (203) 392-5981 Baseball: (203) 392-6021 Men’s Track/Cross Country: (203) 392-6023 Softball: (203) 392-6153 Women’s Track/Cross Country: (203) 392-6019 Volleyball: (203) 392-6022 Women’s Gymnastics: (203) 392-8874 Women’s Basketball: (203) 392-6002 Men’s/Women’s Swimming: (203) 392-6026 Complete staff directory and email addresses available at www.southernctowls.com ACHIEVEMENTS IN ATHLETICS Southern Connecticut State University produces student-athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom. Among the University’s notable athletic alumni are numerous individuals who have made an indelible impact in society, both inside and outside of the athletic realms. Donna Lopiano – former executive director of the Women’s Sports Swimming Foundation; inducted into the Verizon Academic All-America Hall Ben Michaelson - 10-time NCAA Division II swim champion and of Fame in 2003 and former recipient of an NCAA Silver Anniversary three-time Division II swimmer of the year; won two gold medals and Award and the Gerald Ford Award set two Pan American Games records in 2003 (100m butterfly and 400m Mike Katz - former Mr. Universe medley relay member); third fastest time in U.S. history in 100-yard Dan Lauria - decorated actor in television, film and theater butterfly; U.S. short course record in 100-meter butterfly Men’s Gymnastics Rich Corso – head coach of 1996 U.S. Olympic Water Polo team Peter Kormann - bronze medalist in floor exercise at the 1976 Summer Men’s Soccer Olympics in Montreal (first medal in men’s gymnastics for US in 44 Brian Bliss - 1990 U.S. World Cup men’s soccer team; 1988 U.S. Olympic years); head coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic team in 1996 and 2000 team; played in Major League Soccer with Columbus, New York/New John Crosby - 13 championships in NCAA men’s gymnastics; member, Jersey and Kansas City; former Technical Director for the Chicago Fire; 1972 U.S. Olympic team (Munich) current Director of Player Personnel for Sporting Kansas City Women’s Basketball Bo Oshoniyi - winner of Golden Boot Award as top goalkeeper in Mary Anne O’Connor - silver medalist in women’s basketball at the collegiate soccer in 1993; played with Kansas City of Major League 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal Soccer (MLS); 1993 U.S. World University Games team and 1995 U.S. Sue Rojcewicz - silver medalist in women’s basketball at the 1976 Cup team; current head coach at East Tennessee State Summer Olympics in Montreal Mike Petke - currently the head coach of Real Salt Lake; former head Joan Bonvicini - former head women’s basketball coach - University of coach New York Red Bulls; two-time Major League Soccer all-star with Arizona, Long Beach State and Seattle University New York/New Jersey MetroStars Cathy Inglese - former head women’s basketball coach - Boston Juan Carlos Osorio - current head coach of Mexico National Team, College, University of Rhode Island, University of Vermont former head coach of Red Bull New York Marnie Dacko – former head women’s basketball coach – University of Other Owls in Major League Soccer Massachusetts and Cornell University Shawn Boney (Los Angeles Galaxy), Chris Houser (Tampa Bay Mutiny), Don Perrelli – coached three different teams in NCAA Division I Top Alejandro Rincon (Chicago Fire), Kevin Anderson (Colorado Rapids/ 20 (Southern Connecticut, St. John’s, Northwestern) Tampa Bay Mutiny), John Ball (Chicago Fire), John Debrito (MetroStars/ Women’s Soccer New England Revolution/Kansas City Wizards/Columbus Crew), Beba Stratakis - played for Greece in the 2004 Olympic Games Christian daSilva (MetroStars), Carlos Rocha (New England Revolution) SCSU AND THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Active Coaches Jacques Cesaire: played nine seasons with the Jeff Stoutland: in his fifth season as offensive line coach for the Philadelphia San Diego Chargers Eagles Jerome Cunningham: played two seasons Tim Holt: in his third season as assistant offensive line coach with the with the New York Giants and two with the Oakland Raiders; coached on the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tennessee Titans staffs Nick DeFelice: played for two seasons with Former Coaches the New York Jets Kevin Gilbride: former head coach of the San Diego Chargers, offensive Ike Igbinosun: played with the Jacksonville coordinator for the New York Giants, Super Bowl XLII and XLVI Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys and Champions; also served as an assistant coach with Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Steelers Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills Scott Mersereau: played eight seasons with Chris Palmer: former head coach of the Cleveland Browns, former the New York Jets and was a fifth-round draft quarterbacks coach for the New York Giants, Super Bowl XLII Champions pick of the Los Angeles Rams Nick Nicolau: spent 19 seasons as an assistant with the Saints, Broncos, Carlif Taylor: played with the New York Raiders, Bills, Colts, Jaguars, and Chargers Giants and Dallas Cowboys Kevin Lempa: coached with the San Diego Chargers’ staff Travis Tucker: played tight end for three Mike Cavanaugh: coached with the San Diego Chargers’ staff seasons with the Cleveland Browns Steve Bush: coached with the Miami Dolphins’ staff Frank Biancamano: played with the Denver Former Players Broncos, New York Giants, Cleveland Kevin Gilbride was the Joe Andruzzi: three-time Super Bowl champion (2002, 2004, 2005) with the Browns and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator of two New England Patriots Super Bowl winning teams for the New York Giants. DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS JAY MORAN A veteran athletic administrator with nearly 25 years in higher education, Jay Moran was named as the fifth Director of Athletics in the history of Southern Connecticut State University on July 17, 2014. Moran joined the Owls after 10 years at the helm of the University of Bridgeport athletic program. He is no stranger to the Elm City, as he also previously served as the Athletic Director at Albertus Magnus College from 2002-04. An active member in his community, Moran has been the mayor of Manchester since April, 2014 after several months as deputy mayor. During his time as an athletic administrator, Moran has served in a leadership capacity among his peers – including as president of the East Coast Conference Athletic Directors’ Council from 2007 to 2011, and is the president of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. He holds a Bachelor of General Studies degree, with a concentration in sport and leisure studies, from the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Science degree in management from Albertus Magnus..