2010 Fairfield University Cross Country Brochure University Information Table of Contents Location Fairfield, Conn. Page 1 Quick Facts/Media Information Founded 1942 Page 2 Coaching Staff Enrollment 3,300 Pages 3-4 2010 Season Outlook President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. Page 4 2010 Roster Athletic Director Eugene P. Doris Pages 5-10 Meet The Stags Affiliation NCAA Division I Pages 11-14 2009 Season in Review Conference Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Colors Cardinal Red Pages 15-17 History and Records Nickname Stags Page 18 The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Pages 19- This is Fairfield Team Information Sports Information Office Head Coach John Sagnelli Season at Fairfield Fourth Sports Information Director Jack Jones Cross Country Office Phone 203-254-4000, ext. 2021 Associate Sports Information Director Chris O’Connor Coach Sagnelli E-mail [email protected] Assistant Sports Information Director/XC Contact Kelly McCarthy 2009 MAAC Finish - Women Sixth McCarthy Office Phone 203-254-4000, ext. 2877 McCarthy E-mail [email protected] 2009 MAAC Finish - Men Fifth Sports Information Fax 203-254-4117 Website FairfieldStags.com 2010 Cross Country Schedule Fairfield.edu Date Event Course Location Media Information September 4 Marist Mini Meet Marist College The 2010 Fairfield University Cross Country Brochure was prepared to September 11 Fairfield Invitational Fairfield University assist the media in its coverage of Fairfield Cross Country. Requests September 17 Iona Meet of Champions Van Cortlandt Park for interviews, photographs, or additional information should be direct- September 25 Victor F. Leeber, S.J. Invitational Fairfield University ed to the Sports Information Office. Interviews with coaches, student- October 1 Paul Short Invitational Lehigh University athletes, and administrators will not be granted unless arranged by October 9 New England Championships Franklin Park Sports Information in advance. October 29 MAAC Championships Hammonasset State Park November 13 NCAA Regionals Hammonasset State Park Game Day Coverage: Media interested in covering Fairfield’s home athletics events should contact Sports Information to secure press box November 20 ECAC/IC4A Championship Van Cortlandt Park seating and credentials when necessary. Credits: The 2010 Fairfield University Cross Country Brochure is a publication of the Sports Information and Cross Country offices. Written and Edited by Kelly Parking: Parking is available at the Walsh Athletic Center and Alumni McCarthy, Assistant Director of Sports Information. Layout and design by Kelly Hall on a first-come, first-served basis. 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. Coaching Staff John Sagnelli Head Coach Fourth Season ohn Sagnelli enters his fourth season as head coach of the men's and women's Q & A With Coach Sagnelli cross country program. J What is your coaching philosophy? The Stags have continued to show improve- I have been a coach for a lot of years and the most important thing ment under Sagnelli's tutelage. The men's I have learned is patience. Sometimes we get caught up in having team jumped up four sports at the MAAC Championships in the last immediate success. I believe that success will come but it needs to two seasons, finishing 2010 in fifth place. The women's team be developed first. As long as you are patient with the student-ath- improved by three spots in the last two seasons, finishing 2010 in letes and work with them to become great runners and great stu- sixth place at the event. dents, the success will come. Sagnelli joined the Stags in 2007 after 12 successful seasons at the University of New Haven. Sagnelli was the men's cross country What type of student-aathlete do you recruit? head coach for 11 seasons and spent the last four as the women's I like to bring in student-athletes that are smart, aggressive young head coach. He was also the head coach of the track and field pro- people. I want student-athletes that are the whole package -- they excel in the classroom and on the course. But I also want student- grams. athletes that have a great passion for competition and want to win. During his time at New Haven, Sagnelli helped produce 14 Division II All-Americans, a national cross country qualifier, numerous All-New What do you ask of your student-aathletes? England and NCAA All-Region performers, 11 conference champions, I ask from all of my student-athletes that they are 100 percent com- 10 New England champions, and more than 80 All-Conference selec- mitted to running cross country at Fairfield. We have specific goals tions. that we want to reach as a team and if the student-athletes aren’t In 2006, New Haven's men's cross country team achieved their committed, it’s hard to achieve those goals. That’s not to say that eighth straight NCAA Regional ranking, placed eighth at the NCAA cross country should be the only part of their college experience. I Regional, and had three all-conference performers. In each of his last want my athletes to be well-rounded and get a full experience. I just five years, the men captured two conference championships and fin- ask that when they are at practice or at a meet, they are focused 2 ished as the runner-up twice in the team competition. and giving 100 percent. One the women's side, Sagnelli guided two NCAA All-Region per- What is the best part about Fairfield? formers and the ECC Runner and Rookie of the Year in 2006. The I’d have to say the total atmosphere of the University. Fairfield is a women's team finished third at the league championships and post- wonderful place. We have an excellent academic reputation, great ed its second individual conference champion in the last four sea- programs that engage our students, a solid athletic program, and a sons. New Haven also placed one student-athlete on the Division II beautiful campus in a great location. Being so close to New York National All-Academic Team. City and the beach really attracts a lot of people with different inter- Prior to his stint at New Haven, Sagnelli served as the women's ests. I think there is something for everyone here. cross country and track and field coach at Iona College. Eileen Fish Assistant Coach First Season ileen Fish enters her first season as an assistant coach for the Ecross country program. Fish comes to Fairfield after serving as head coach of the cross country and track programs at Saint Joseph High School in Trumbull, Conn. for the last three years. She is the director of the Newtown Hawks Cross Country and Track program, a youth cross country and track club for 4th-8th graders. She also runs a youth track summer camp for athletes Fish, who has also coached at Seymour High School and Sheehan and Lyman Hall,has received coaching certification through the CIA, AAU, and USTAF. Fish has two children. Her daughter, Erin, is a current sophomore at West Virginia University while her son, Bradley, is a sophomore at Newtown High School. Jeff Paul Season Outlook & Harrier Profiles 2010 Season Outlook he Stags have steadily improved under the guidance of Head solid sophomore campaign while classmate Caroline Riley, who is a Coach John Sagnelli, now entering his fourth season. co-captain for the second year, returns after missing much of 2009 TSagnelli has helped both programs move up four spots at the with an injury. All are expected to be among the Stags top-six. Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship over the last Junior Lauren Tehan continues to work her way back from injury three years. Once a green team, the Stags now have a solid core of and came on strong at the end of last season. Tehan, who was the upperclassmen that have helped take the program to new heights. Stags top-finisher as a freshman, is expected to regain that form. Sagnelli has also brought in a bevy of talented freshmen and sopho- Junior Kelly Kramer and sophomores Elizabeth Butrick and Sam mores to help continue the upward trend. Goodnow are all expected to make contributions. “We are definitely a more veteran team this season,” Sagnelli said. Sagnelli has brought in five freshmen this season in Juli Bassett, “We still may seem young on paper, the experience we’ve gained is Danica Ceballos, Molly Leidig, Hillary Maxson, and Lindsey Russo. invaluable. Each and every runner on this team knows how hard they Bassett, a native of Oakdale, Conn., was a four-time all-conference have to work in order to rise to the top of the MAAC. They are willing to pick and a two-time state qualifier at Saint Bernard High School. rise to that challenge and I can't wait to see what we can do.” Connecticut native Maxson was a three-time All-State selection at Old Saybrook High School while fellow Nutmegger Russo was a four-time Men’s Preview All-Conference selection and a state qualifier at Notre Dame-Fairfield. The Stags will be led by seniors Benjamin Heslin and Jeff Paul as Leidig, a native of Landenberg, Pa., was a four-time All-Conference they provide leadership to the 15-man squad. selection and a four-time state qualifier at Ursuline Academy in Heslin, a co-captain for the third straight season, was the Stags Delaware. Ceballos heads east from Upland, Calif. Where she was an top-finisher in four races, including the final three of the season. He all-conference honoree at Saint Lucy's Priory High School.