Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of our announcement that Stony Brook had accepted an invitation to join the CAA.
 
It was a momentous day that set a new course for Stony Brook Athletics. I remain incredibly excited about the positive impact that the move will have on our institution and the campus community as a whole.
 
Seeing our student-athletes compete with the CAA logo emblazoned on their uniforms fills me with tremendous pride. Our teams are competing on a larger stage in a wider geographic footprint that will allow Stony Brook to more broadly reach future students and supporters. The journey to this point has not been an easy one by any stretch, but it continues to be one worth pursuing with unbridled enthusiasm.
 
Our move to the CAA isn't the only variable that has changed for us. The NCAA landscape as we know it is changing daily, forcing us to reimagine how we approach the management of our department. The subject of NIL has become an everyday discussion item while the transfer portal has created a revolving door for rosters. Add in the proposed recommendations from the Transformation Committee that essentially redefine what it means to be a Division I member and we're in for an interesting time ahead.
 
I have heard the growing number of people – some within our own industry – who say that all of the changes are bad for college athletics. Regardless of your opinion, the message is clear: the business of college athletics will never be the same again.
 
Fortunately, we are prepared. The conference move was a significant step and we are raising money for critical initiatives that will position us for the future. There is still much to be done that will require all of us to lock arms and boldly walk the same path together.
 
Over the past 12 adventurous months we have sown the seeds of success that we believe will yield historic results for Stony Brook Athletics. Time will be the ultimate judge, but so too will the work that we do together.  
 
Onward!
 
Women's Basketball Returns Home Tonight and Sunday
 
As the basketball season heads into the home stretch, our women find themselves near the top of the CAA as they prepare for a two-game homestand against College of Charleston and Towson.
 
With a 5-2 record, Ashley Langford's crew sits in second-place just behind North Carolina A&T. Tonight's game against Charleston and Sunday's tilt with Towson are crucial as CAA tournament seeding comes in to clearer focus. 
 
If you haven't been to a women's game yet this season, what are you waiting for? Now is the time so come out to Island Federal Arena tonight at 6:31 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Stephenson-Moore, Policelli Among NCAA Leaders
 
Our men's basketball team has battled all season long despite a rash of injuries that left our team with eight scholarship players for most of the season. What our team lacks in depth, it has more than made up for in effort and heart.
 
Tyler Stephenson-Moore and Frankie Policelli, our two senior leaders, have each set the example while raising their play to a new level. Our program has always been about player development, but look no further than Tyler and Frankie to see the proof.
 
Among all Division I players, Tyler ranks second in minutes per game with 37.6 while increasing his scoring average from 7.4 a year ago to 15.1 this season. Frankie is currently fifth nationally with 8.05 defensive rebounds per game and 26^th with 9.6 total rebounds per game.
 
The guys are currently on the road for games at William & Mary tonight and Hampton on Saturday.
 
Football Staff Changes

It's been a busy offseason for our football program as the work toward a successful 2023 season continues in earnest.
 
As we welcomed our student-athletes back for the start of winter workouts on Monday, we also ushered in new coordinators. Bryan Collins, a Long Island coaching veteran who came to us prior to the 2021 season after a storied head coaching career at LIU, was elevated to defensive coordinator. His replacement as defensive line coach is a familiar face in Sean Hammonds, who initially came to us as a graduate transfer from Ball State before serving as a graduate assistant both here and at Kent State.
 
On offense, we brought in Andrew Dresner from Maine to serve as coordinator and bring some new concepts that will help us put points on the board. When I met with Andrew on his interview, it was clear that he had the energy and ideas that will elevate our offense. I also believe that his familiarity with the CAA will pay huge dividends.
 
We will soon be announcing one more new hire on defense, but I'm very excited about our staff as we head into a critical offseason period.
 
Chuck Priore and I continue to have ongoing conversations about our program and how to best position us for a successful 2023. Obviously, the staff has been a subject of discussion but we have also had productive dialogue around recruiting, utilization of our roster and building a winning culture.
 
We're looking ahead with excitement about the work that will take place over the next few weeks and months. Stay tuned!
 
Good luck to all of our teams competing this weekend, including our track and field teams as they compete this weekend at the Columbia Challenge in New York City.
 
Keep believing!
 


Shawn