Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Olympic torch will enter Maracana Stadium tomorrow night in Rio to officially open the 2016 Olympic Summer Games. Despite all of the negative attention that has been directed at Rio in recent weeks, I am looking forward to watching the Olympics. The sacrifices that the majority of the athletes make just for the opportunity to represent their country is honorable. Their personal journeys are what make the Olympics so compelling.

Speaking of personal journeys, Stony Brook's own Lucy (Van Dalen) Oliver will once again compete for her native New Zealand in the 5,000-meter run. Lucy made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Olympics just a few months after becoming Stony Brook's first national champion when she won the indoor mile. We are all extremely proud of Lucy and all that she has accomplished.

In speaking about Lucy, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the incredible job that Andy Ronan does for us as our head track and field coach. Andy has trained countless elite runners in addition to Lucy, including Jenny Payne, Lucy's twin sister Holly Van Dalen, Hayley Green and now Christina Melian. A premier runner in his own right, Andy represented Ireland in the marathon during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Setting the Pace

The fall sports season is like the first leg of a relay race. We want to get a quick start out of the gate and carry that momentum into the winter and spring. In other words, I need our fall sports to be like Nesta Carter.

In addition to being one of the world's fastest sprinters, Carter is a two-time gold medalist who runs the lead leg for the Jamaican 4 x 100 meter relay team. With Carter setting the pace and Usain Bolt running the anchor leg, the Jamaican team set the world record at the 2012 London Olympics.

We need our fall sports to help provide the boost that Nesta Carter gave to his team. There is so much energy to be gained for our winter and spring teams by having a strong fall in cross country, football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer. Our last fall championships were won in 2012 and, like the Jamaican relay team that year, we are looking to get off to a strong start. I am very optimistic about our fall teams and their ability to collectively set the pace for what could be another historic year for the Seawolves.

Speaking of History…

Last year, it was Will Tye who made history when he became the first Seawolf to appear in a regular season NFL game. Now it's Jameel Warney's turn.

Jameel signed with the Dallas Mavericks last week, bringing himself a step closer to becoming the first Stony Brook alum to reach the NBA. Everyone who has been around Jameel knows that he has the drive and the talent to make it. The Mavericks saw it when they brought him in for a pre-draft workout and later during the Las Vegas Summer League.

Campers at this week's Jeff Boals Stony Brook Basketball Camp are getting to know Jameel in a different way - as a coach. Jameel, Carson Puriefoy (who has some exciting opportunities ahead of him and will soon begin his pro career) and the current members of the Stony Brook basketball team are serving as coaches for the weeklong camp. When I watch our student-athletes work with the campers, I am filled with pride. Not only do we have outstanding basketball players on our team, we have outstanding young men.

Now one of them is on the verge of fulfilling his NBA dream.

It is rare that a player like Jameel, who has just signed a pro deal and is preparing for his first NBA
training camp, would want to work camp as a coach but that's the Jameel Warney that we all know and love.

While we're on the subject of basketball, our men's and women's programs are well into their offseason training and the energy has been outstanding. The men's team will begin the season with a new coaching staff (with the lone exception of assistant Lamar Chapman who returns for his ninth season), new trainer, new strength coach and new academic advisor. Although we have lost some fantastic coaches and staff members since the end of last season, the new energy that Jeff Boals has brought to Stony Brook is contagious.

The energy is just as strong on the women's side, where Caroline McCombs has a new coaching staff with Dan Rickard, Janie Mitchell, Audrey Cunningham and Jania Sims. Although we have a lot of new faces in the basketball suite, the expectation remains the same for both programs: win the America East title. All of the players that I speak to say that they wish the season could start today, and I couldn't agree more!

You will get an opportunity to see both teams soon so if you have not already done so, please call 631-632-WOLF or go to StonyBrookAthletics.com today to get your season tickets.

Together We Transform!

Warm regards,



Shawn