Together We Transform Thursday — April 16, 2020
 
As COVID-19 continues to cause devastation and despair for so many people around the world, I continue to offer my warmest wishes for good health and safety during this most challenging of times. I also want to express my deep appreciation and gratitude to the valiant health care workers, including those helping close to home at Stony Brook Medicine and across Long Island.
 
Each day brings a new opportunity for some glimmer of hope. That hope is what I am hanging on to as we navigate our way through this crisis.
 
Of course, each day also brings another opinion about when sports will return. The truth is that no one truly knows — at least not on April 16. I refuse to allow conjecture to be my guide and, while I remain optimistic that fall sports will be played as scheduled, I must also be realistic. Anything can happen. Regardless of how events transpire over the next few weeks, we will be prepared.  
 
While we are planning for a full fall season, including football, we know that those decisions will be made outside of our control. Our coaches have been tremendous by utilizing creative ways to stay connected with our student-athletes. Their mental health and well-being during this time apart is extremely important and the outreach by coaches and support staff is essential. Speaking of support staff, our academic success team is doing outstanding work supporting our student-athletes. The move to online classes has been especially challenging, but I am proud of our student-athletes for locking in on their academic work. There is nothing more important right now!  
 
The business of recruiting has also continued for our coaches. In fact, Wednesday was the first day that student-athletes could sign a national letter of intent following a mandated "dead period" from the NCAA. During a dead period, coaches are not permitted to have in-person contact with prospects. Since prospective student-athletes are currently unable to step foot on campus, our coaches have been creative in bringing campus to the prospects throughout this process.
 
Since this crisis began, my days have been filled with numerous video calls with our coaches, staff and student-athletes in addition to those with the NCAA and America East. My message to our department is that we will come out of this stronger than ever. In times of adversity, there is always opportunity. Having said that, we will need to streamline our operation as the financial reality comes into clearer focus; however, we will not back down from our expectation to win.
 
Before we are back to the business of winning, we must do everything possible to support our student-athletes from afar. It is with that in mind that the campus established an emergency fund to support all Stony Brook students with the financial challenges that have resulted from COVID-19. I encourage you to support the cause by clicking here.
 
One other note to pass along is that I had an extremely positive call with incoming president Maurie McInnis last Friday. Her thorough knowledge and deep appreciation of Division I athletics aligns well with our vision. I enjoyed our conversation and look forward to welcoming her on campus in July.
 
I remain hopeful that we will be in a much different place by then. Hope will not change the current crisis, but I believe that it is an essential ingredient to our path forward.
 
We're going to need to pull together more than ever. As disappointing as it was to have our 20^th year as a Division I program and defense of our America East Commissioner's Cup abruptly cut short, we have loftier goals ahead. Together we will find a way to reach our greatest heights.
 
Stay safe, stay positive and stay strong … Keep believing!


 
Shawn