Today's edition of the blog comes to you from Omaha, a city with a strong connection to Stony Brook Athletics. I am attending the College World Series this week to fulfill my responsibilities as a member of the Division I Baseball Committee; but, I look forward to returning again in the very near future with our baseball team.



Reaching Omaha is a reward that only eight of the 295 teams in Division I get to experience each year. The 64-team NCAA tournament is a gauntlet that makes earning a ticket to Omaha one of the most treasured achievements in college sports. Our appearance in 2012 made a significant impact that still resonates loudly today, and Matt Senk and I have had several conversations since the end of the season about what we need to do to make it back. Although it won't be easy, I am confident that it will happen.

All In The Family



The Stony Brook Athletics family grew this week, and I am very excited about our newest additions. I am overjoyed to welcome Dan Rickard back to Stony Brook as our Associate Head Coach for women's basketball. Dan was a student-athlete here before joining the men's basketball staff, first under Nick Macarchuk and later Steve Pikiell. He played an integral role in the rise of our men's basketball program and now brings his extensive basketball knowledge to our women's staff as the lead assistant for Caroline McCombs. Dan joins new staff members Janie Mitchell, Audrey Cunningham and Jania Sims and I can confirm that there is an overload of positive energy coming from the women's basketball office as we head into the 2016-17 year.

We are also pleased to welcome George Greene as our new Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Performance. George has an extremely diverse background that ranges from starting a program from the ground up at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia; training elite United States soldiers at Fort Bragg in North Carolina; and serving as a strength coach at UMass and Iowa. I want to acknowledge the outstanding coaches who George will have the pleasure of working with when he arrives next week: Miguel Rivera, GC Yerry, Jasmine Johnson and Kaitlyn DeTuro. I'm so grateful to Miguel, GC, Jasmine and Kaitlyn for pulling together and making sure that our student-athletes never missed a beat as we conducted the search that ultimately resulted in George's hire.

A Request (Or Two)

This is the part when I humbly ask you to do two things if you have not already done so: get football season tickets and make a contribution to Seawolves United. Revenue growth is essential to our future and we have made tremendous strides in this area in recent years. It isn't all about the money though. I'm also asking for your energy, advocacy and commitment. We need you to not only buy tickets but come to our games. Put the dates of the games on your calendar today. If you can't come, give your tickets to someone who can.



Enhancements to the pre-game experience in Seawolves Town as well as inside LaValle Stadium ensure that game day is going to be bigger and better than ever. If you don't have your tickets yet, please call 631-632-WOLF or visit StonyBrookAthletics.com. I truly appreciate your consideration and support.

As we approach June 30, please know how important your gift to Seawolves United is. Every dollar invested in our department makes a difference. So many of our goals in academics, nutrition, sports medicine and life skills can be impacted by your support. I am truly appreciative of the fact that there are many causes worthy of your support. Please stand alongside our 435 student-athletes by going to SeawolvesUnited.com and making a gift by June 30.

Our vision to positively transform the life of each student-athlete is alive and well. Together we can make a difference.

Together We Transform!


Warm regards,



Shawn