The employee giving campaign runs through Friday, Dec. 13. Celebrating 102 years of impact in the local community, the����funds 73 different human service programs and projects at 34 nonprofit partners.

Kirsten Elleby

“The United Way makes a direct impact on people through supporting a variety of amazing initiatives and programs within our community. You will treasure the feeling when you know your dollar helped make a profound difference in someone’s life, perhaps even a family member or a friend in need,” says , one of the co-chairs of the University’s employee giving campaign and the deputy athletics director and senior woman administrator.

University employees are encouraged to consider making a voluntary pledge through MySlice. Options are available for either a one-time donation or a recurring donation through payroll deduction each pay period. University retirees are also invited to participate as many enjoy the longstanding tradition and generous spirit of this annual event. For those who prefer, a paper pledge card may be obtained by contacting campaign coordinator Jake Losowski at��jjlosows@syr.edu��or 315.443.4137.

In case you need inspiration for why your gift matters,�� featuring Elleby and her fellow University co-chair for the campaign, , vice president of enrollment services, along with other University employees discussing the importance of contributing to the United Way.

Ryan Williams

“���ϲ����� is crucial to the vitality of the broad ���ϲ����� community. When we partner with the United Way of Central New York, we ensure that services and supports are made available to community members who need them,” Williams says. “I have personally seen how United Way agencies change lives and knowing that ���ϲ����� faculty, students and staff contributed made it even more impactful.”

Every dollar raised remains in Central New York to help the United Way address various community needs. Faculty and staff are encouraged to unite with their Orange colleagues to give hope to those with the greatest need in our community.

Through the ���ϲ����� employee giving campaign, faculty and staff can give back to this initiative that supports and empowers the United Way to continue making a vast impact in our community.

“I challenge us to come together and make this year the best turnout ever for the ���ϲ����� campaign—to not only reach our monetary goals, but more importantly the goals of making our community stronger, prouder and more united than ever before,” Elleby says.

Many departments organize activities to raise additional funds to be donated to the campaign. Fundraising activities have included bake sales, raffles, contests and gift baskets. In the past, the Department of Public Safety held a step counting challenge, while ���ϲ����� Libraries held a bake sale that was popular with staff and students with all proceeds benefiting the United Way. Employees are encouraged to get involved, even if they have not participated in the campaign in the past.

In addition to the co-chairs, the annual campaign is led by a collection of team leaders from colleges and departments across campus who collaborate to promote the campaign and encourage their colleagues to participate.

“This campaign touches so many different aspects of peoples’ lives. It’s not just to give money to a company for them to do this one goal. It’s how can we take these funds and find the most important or the most critical or the ideal place to help the community in the best way possible,” says Kristin Jeter, access services librarian with ���ϲ����� Libraries.

No gift is too small and every dollar helps change lives.

“You don’t miss one or two dollars a week coming out of your paycheck. And that little bit can help make a big difference. Community is everyone working together for a common goal,” says Charlotte Stahrr, academic program administrator in the College of Professional Studies.

Edward C. Magee Sr.

“My dad was serious about work, community, country and ���ϲ����� athletics,” says Magee. The senior Magee died in 1989 at the age of 78. In recognition of his son’s gift to the John A. Lally Athletics Complex and the Athletics Opportunity Fund, the dining hall will be commonly referred to as Magee One Team Dining.

“My father was a low-key guy, but I know he would have wanted to help student-athletes and the athletics program in meaningful ways,” says Magee. Both father and son shared an appreciation for the power of sports to enhance the visibility and reputation of the entire University. “He turned me into an avid ���ϲ����� sports fan at a young age,” says Magee. “We had football season tickets forever!”

When his father became too ill with congestive heart failure to attend games, he would watch from his recliner chair at home. “This was before the internet, and he would create his own score sheets,” says Magee. On the day he died, Magee Sr. was watching the ���ϲ����� basketball team play Missouri. “Five to ten minutes into the game, he took his last breath. My brother Tom, who graduated from ���ϲ����� College of Law in 1973, still has that score sheet.” Now, Magee Sr.’s dedication to the Orange is memorialized in a place that honors the dedication of more than 600 student-athletes across 20 sports.

“Since we launched a dedicated campaign in 2021 to raise $150 million to enhance the student-athlete experience, we’ve been amazed and gratified by the support of donors like Ed,” says John Wildhack, director of athletics. “They truly appreciate the value of student-athlete focused facilities and services in attracting the most talented student-athletes and staff and ensuring competitive excellence in the athletics program.”

Edward “Ed” C. Magee

The athletics fundraising goal is part of the $1.5 billion for ���ϲ�����. “Philanthropy has always been critical to creating an environment where all our students can thrive, in the classroom and beyond, and in their chosen careers,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “I am grateful to Ed for recognizing that his gift can elevate the entire student experience, along with the reputation of the entire University.”

Magee graduated from the in 1970 with a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering, and earned an MBA in management data systems from the in 1972. He says he wasn’t a great athlete or an outstanding student, but he learned from his father and mother, a teacher, the value of hard work and dedication to family, community and country. He signed up for Air Force ROTC while in college, earning a scholarship that “would help out my parents.”

His father, Magee Sr., graduated from the in 1933 and completed a law degree in 1936. He joined the U.S. Army, served with the 84th Infantry Division in the South Pacific and Asiatic theaters, and trained soldiers for combat. He was a reservist for 20 years and retired as a major. He was equally devoted in his professional life, spending 40 years at the Utica Mutual Insurance Company.

Similarly, his son Ed was loyal in service to both country and a corporation that gave him the means to build wealth that could be used in service of others. Magee served four years at Eglin Air Force Base as an officer in the Air Defense Command and, as an air force captain, he designed real-time software to drive the world’s first phased-array Space Track Radar. Following the Air Force, he devoted himself to PepsiCo, first developing information systems and ultimately rising to the level of Pepsi-Cola International chief information officer. He retired at the young age of 48 and has spent his time since consulting and investing in promising ventures, giving back to community through various charities, and supporting his beloved alma mater.

Rendering of dining hall at the One Team Olympic Sports Center

In 2018, Magee established the Edward C. Magee Endowed Scholarship to provide financial assistance to undergraduate students in the and “help students who need a helping hand.” Believing students and student-athletes across all disciplines and sports can contribute to a thriving university and a culture of competitive excellence, Magee targeted his latest gift for the benefit of student athletes who will “fuel their bodies” at Magee One Team Dining.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ�����

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ����� is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit����to learn more.

The first-ever Bisignano Speaker Series event will feature ���ϲ����� women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack ’89 and four-time Paralympian Mallory Weggemann.

The rise of women’s sports has sparked a significant cultural shift in the last year, inspiring countless athletes and breaking barriers across the globe as national viewership numbers and stadium attendance for women’s sporting events have seen a dramatic rise.

���ϲ����� is proud to celebrate this through the first-ever Bisignano Speaker Series, “Tenacity and Triumph: Leadership Lessons and Resiliency.” The event will be held on Friday, Sept. 27 from 10-11:30 a.m. in the K.G. Tan Auditorium in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building and is open to all.

Featuring two powerhouse figures in sports, this event brings together ���ϲ����� women’s basketball head coach and Mallory Weggemann, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist, world record holder, passionate advocate and NBC Sports reporter and in-studio correspondent.

Weggemann, known for her determination in and out of the pool, will share how she overcame obstacles and achieved greatness as a Paralympic athlete. She was both a gold and silver medalist for Team USA during the 2024 Paralympic Games and made her hosting debut for NBC during the 2024 Summer Olympics.

“The Paris 2024 Games marked my fourth Paralympics but more notably, my first as a mom. Throughout this entire journey, from navigating through IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) as a professional athlete, competing through pregnancy and balancing sport and postpartum as a breastfeeding mom—I have experienced firsthand the stigma that still relates to female athletes as they continue their career through motherhood. As a result, at each turn I have been passionate to serve as an example that motherhood is a comma, not a period as it relates to our identity as women,” says Weggemann. “We are at a time where women in sport are rising, and it is important that we continue to utilize our voices and platforms to ensure the next generation, my daughter’s generation, has the access, opportunity and equality they deserve.”

Legette-Jack, an All-American during her days at ���ϲ�����, has become a trailblazer in women’s sports, including winning the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coach of the Year, the first ���ϲ����� coach to earn the honor in basketball since the University joined the ACC.

Moderated by Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Candace Campbell Jackson, these remarkable women will explore the themes of resilience, leadership and the ever-evolving landscape of women’s sports. Their conversation will offer powerful insights into how they’ve navigated their respective careers, driven by perseverance, hard work and a commitment to breaking boundaries.

The popularity of women’s sports experienced a tremendous boost in 2023, with the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball championship game experiencing a 103% increase in viewership (Louisiana State University beat Caitlin Clark and the University of Iowa), and the 2023 women’s World Cup enjoyed record-breaking audiences in several countries around the world. This rise has not only made athletes like Clark and Megan Rapinoe household names,��it has also ignited an industry that’s expected to bring in more than $1 billion in revenue for the first time in 2024.

Visit the for more information and to RSVP.

Get pumped, Orange Nation! The 2024 football season is kicking off with a bang after a win against Ohio, and now it’s time for you to join the action with your very own Game Day Kit. Whether you’re rooting from the stands or your living room, this kit has everything you need to show your Orange pride and support our amazing student-athletes.

What’s in the Game Day Kit?

Inspired by favorite traditions like “beat buttons” and banner flips, the kit includes:

• An 11-inch by 17-inch poster featuring Coach Fran Brown to track the season’s games.
• An 8.5-inch by 11-inch sticker sheet with Beat [Opponent] banners, game dates and pennant stickers to customize your poster and follow our wins.
• Five Otto temporary tattoos to boost your game-day spirit.
• A small felt ���ϲ����� pennant to add some Orange flair to any space.

How Can I Get One?

and make a gift of $10 or more to the Athletics Opportunity Fund, and a kit will be sent straight to you!

Get your Game Day Kit now and cheer on the Orange while supporting our student-athletes. It’s a win-win, just like we’re hoping this season will be. New coach, new rivals and a whole lot of Orange pride—let’s go, ���ϲ�����!

Head football coach Fran Brown uses the life lessons football teaches to transform his ���ϲ����� student-athletes into men who are invested in their community and put the needs of the team above their own needs.

The Fran Brown era got off to a fantastic start when the ���ϲ����� football team defeated Ohio University 38-22 Saturday afternoon before a raucous crowd of students, Central New York community members and alumni of the football program inside the JMA Wireless Dome.

Since his hiring as the program’s 31st head coach on Nov. 28, 2023, Brown has been busy making his mark, bringing in a slew of talented student-athletes and coaches while focusing on once again turning the Orange into national championship contenders.

But this job is about more than football for Brown, who came to ���ϲ����� as the nation’s top college football recruiter and a member of the 2022 College Football National Championship coaching staff with the University of Georgia. Brown uses the life lessons football teaches to transform his players into men who are invested in their community and put the needs of the team above their own needs.

Fran Brown

“Football has changed everything. It’s helped me be where I’m at today because of teamwork, because it’s bigger than just yourself. When you’re able to give it everything you’ve got, and it’s for us, not for I, then it becomes about everybody,” Brown says. “Now that I’m in the position I’m in, I can take football and I can help people literally change lives. I can be a blessing to others and to the community.”

Brown is a self-made man who came from humble beginnings in Camden, New Jersey, and football became an outlet for Brown. He excelled on the gridiron as Camden High School’s quarterback. After spending a year playing for Hudson Valley Community College, Brown was recruited to play for Western Carolina University by Matt Rhule, future head coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Brown thrived at cornerback, earning first-team All-Southern Conference honors and serving as team captain en route to earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Brown credits his coaches for helping him reach his full potential as a football player and, more importantly, as a man focused on making a difference in his community.

“My coaches were good, positive men that were teaching me the right things and wanted to see me be successful,” says Brown. “That just poured into me and has been a big influence on my coaching career. You always take all the good that everyone gives you and you want to be able to give back, to help, to push young men to go be successful in life.”

With excitement building around the Orange football team—faculty and staff are encouraged to purchase their tickets to Saturday’s —Brown stopped by the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast to discuss how he’s making his mark on the program, why he’s all-in on ���ϲ����� football and how his upbringing shaped and molded him into the leader he is today.

Check out featuring Brown. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

How can you describe the emotions of this past weekend?

Fran Brown talks with his student-athletes during Saturday’s season-opening win over Ohio University. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Athletics)

It was cool. It was emotional, just because of my family and getting them to have the opportunity to see me become a head coach. It’s a milestone when it comes to the entire family, my wife, my children, my siblings, my aunts and uncles. I’m extremely happy for them, and more so I’m happy for all the buildup from this community and how, since day one, we’ve gotten buy-in from the community. Everyone, the community, the staff, the faculty, the students, the alumni, everyone has been behind us. Everybody’s been open arms wanting to see us be successful. This win was for them. We deserved to start this out the right way.

How nervous were you before kickoff?

There were uncontrollable nerves! I was extremely nervous, but at the same time, when you prepare like we have, it’s a little bit of anxiety and that’s a part of the game. But I knew we were prepared. I didn’t lack the preparation, so it was just about football. I’m just thankful and happy that everybody [in the JMA Dome] got to enjoy their Saturday with a win.

What did you learn about yourself after your first game as a head coach?

Fran Brown takes in the action during his first game as head coach at ���ϲ�����. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Athletics)

I’ve got to control my composure on certain things. I was still in a practice mindset. My coaching staff did a great job and I learned that I was able to trust them and let them do what they need to do. Keep the players involved, even if they’re not on the field. Just getting everyone to focus on the game. Be where your feet are. It’s mental toughness. This is bigger than just a football game. Football teaches us about life and teaches us how to take care of all those little things.

With our core values, we are DART (Detailed, Accountable, Relentless, Tough). We need to be able to live DART at all times. Are you being detailed? Accountable? Relentless? When things are going the wrong way, are you displaying toughness?

What is the thought process behind DART?

I figured out what I can give these young men, outside of trying to get them closer to their faith, that they can take with them for the rest of their lives. No matter the situation, this DART tool is going to get them in and out of some of the toughest situations in their lives. Anyone that is going to lead a business, lead a family or be successful needs to be detailed, be accountable and be able to hold others accountable and be comfortable with others holding you accountable. You’re going to have to be relentless going after what it is you want to be in life. And you should be tough. If you’re DART in everything you do, you’re probably going to be very successful.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

1. Football game in the JMA Wireless Dome

Grab your friends and get loud because fall Saturdays in ���ϲ����� are synonymous with cheering on the . The home opener is Saturday, Aug. 31, when we take on Ohio University at 3:30 p.m. Join , the official student section, and snag your —which also includes tickets to every home men’s basketball game and complimentary admission to all home women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, ice hockey, volleyball, tennis and softball competitions!

A packed house for a football game vs. Notre Dame in fall 2023. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

2. Involvement fair on the Shaw Quad

Every semester, Student Engagement hosts an involvement fair to connect students with opportunities to get… well, involved, with recognized student organizations (RSOs). This year’s fair spans three days: , will highlight RSOs in the cultural, performing or special interest category; , will include those dedicated to public service, publications, club sports, sports interest and esports; and , will feature Honors, religious and fraternity/sorority-related RSOs. Festivities are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each of the three days on the Quad (rain location is Goldstein Auditorium in the Schine Student Center).

RSO University Union recruits new members at last year’s fall involvement fair. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

3. A visit to the Barnes Center at The Arch

Whether the purpose of your visit is to , , or take advantage of one of the facility’s , it’s only a matter of time before the Barnes Center becomes a staple of your life on campus. The center provides integrated wellness services and programs that support a holistic and inclusive student-centered experience promoting lifelong growth and development—which thankfully, includes .

The Barnes Center is lit up with activity on a fall evening. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

4. Apple and pumpkin picking

A fall field trip to a local pumpkin patch or apple orchard is a must during your time in ���ϲ�����. in Baldwinsville, in Lafayette and in ���ϲ����� (among many others!) all offer apple picking. Later in the season, in Marietta and in ���ϲ����� are two favorites for pumpkins and fall fun. All of these destinations are within a 30-minute drive from campus, but if you’re lacking transportation check the for upcoming outings to such places, which are sometimes sponsored and coordinated by the University.

A plethora of pumpkins available for picking at Abbott Farms. (Photo by Randy Pellis)

5. The season’s first snow

If you grew up nearby, this will be about as exciting to you as an all-nighter in Bird—but if you’re one of the many students who come to ���ϲ����� from warmer climates, perhaps you’ll be experiencing your first-ever snowfall later in the fall semester. When it happens, put on your favorite scarf, get a mocha java from and prepare to wow your friends and family back home with your snaps of our beautiful campus covered in the season’s first snow. And then get used to it—because it will be here until April!

A light dusting of snow covers campus. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Members of the Kehr/Hirsh family (from left to right): Steven Hirsh, Samantha Hirsh, Michael Kehr, Alice Hirsh, Ryan Kehr, Jonathan Hirsh and Rebecca Hirsh.

On an overcast Mother’s Day in 2018, a photo was taken outside of the Hall of Languages depicting a proud ���ϲ����� graduate, Ryan Kehr ’18, surrounded by happy family members.

It’s the kind of photo that gets taken repeatedly during Commencement weekend. This particular photo tells the story of the Kehr/Hirsh family—a proud collection of alumni whose connections to ���ϲ����� date back to the fall of 1966. That’s when Alice (Musikar) Hirsh ’70 began her pursuit of a nursing degree from the College of Nursing.

Hirsh is the matriarch of an Orange legacy family that currently boasts seven alumni members:

• Alice and her husband, Steven ’70 (philosophy, );
• Alice’s children, Jonathan ’99 (marketing management, ) and Samantha Hirsh ’10 (inclusive elementary and special education, ); along with Jonathan’s wife, Rebecca (Rosenstein) Hirsh ’99 (child development in what is now the );
• Hirsh’s nephew, Michael Kehr ’86 (political science, and the College of Arts and Sciences), and his son, Ryan (information management and technology, )

The family will add another branch to the tree when Julia Kehr ’26, Michael’s daughter, graduates in May of 2026 with dual degrees in international relations (Maxwell School) and information management and technology (iSchool).

Alice, Ryan and Julia sat down with SU News to discuss their love of the University, the Orange bonds that connect them and the impact ���ϲ����� has had on their lives.

Alice Hirsh ’70

Alice Hirsh

What drew you to ���ϲ�����? “The College of Nursing had a stellar reputation. It was hard to get into, and it was exactly what I wanted academically. When it came to choosing ���ϲ�����, I wanted a big school, one with great sports teams and Greek life. It was everything I wanted and more, and the College of Nursing really did a great job of teaching and preparing us.”

Involvement on campus: A member of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, Alice met her husband, Steven, during the fall semester of her sophomore year. They married a few months after graduation.

How strong is your affinity for ���ϲ�����? “I had such a positive experience at ���ϲ�����. It was an important part of my life. I’m still very close friends with a group of 15 women who graduated from the College of Nursing with me. We still communicate and we get together every couple of years for Orange gatherings that we plan ourselves. Now, seeing so many members of my family go on to study and earn degrees from ���ϲ����� really warms my heart. Everyone has had their own, great experiences. My family knows that everything I own is orange, and they know how important ���ϲ����� is to me.”

What makes ���ϲ����� special? “Each one of us found something different to focus our attention on. For me, it was Greek life. For Jonathan, he was passionate about . Samantha was on the . We each discovered our passions and interests because of our time on campus, and as a family we all believe ���ϲ����� is a great place.”

Ryan Kehr ’18

Ryan Kehr

What drew you to ���ϲ�����? “It wasn’t instilled in me that I had to attend ���ϲ�����, but ���ϲ����� was my number one choice. Plus, anyone I ever talked to about ���ϲ����� always mentioned how great their experiences were and how strong the alumni network was. I didn’t know what I wanted to study at first, so I applied to the iSchool and completely fell in love with the tight-knit community.”

Involvement on campus: An iSchool peer advisor, Ryan also worked for SIDEARM Sports, eventually running the student team of workers. “Working under SIDEARM Sports’ founder Jeff Rubin ’95, G’98 was invaluable. I owe so much of my career success to the lessons I learned from Jeff and from my classes. The first class I took from Jeff made me fall in love with technology as a career.”

Current job: Ryan is in his third year as a product manager for the NFL. He helps the league build up its electronic medical records platform for athletic trainers, team physicians and the players.

How did ���ϲ����� set you up for career success? “The iSchool gives students so many opportunities to learn, grow and pick their own career path. I learned how to be a good communicator, a good problem-solver and a good team player. Another key lesson I learned is to take advantage of every opportunity to meet with alumni. We did these iSchool road trips where we would go to Silicon Valley, New York City and Boston and meet with different companies that had ���ϲ����� alumni. We’d hear about their career journeys, and that helped me know what I wanted to do when I graduated. I’m thankful for all those opportunities; they shaped me into the person I am today.”

Julia Kehr ’26

Julia Kehr

What drew you to ���ϲ�����? “When we were all on campus for Ryan’s graduation and I saw all of my family members together, that was really cool to see everyone who shared that Orange connection. I knew right then that I was meant to be at ���ϲ�����. I applied early decision my senior year of high school and didn’t visit any other colleges.”

Involvement on campus: A member of the Delta Gamma sorority, Julia became involved with Slice Consulting, a student-run consulting firm that provides pro bono services to clients and nonprofits in ���ϲ�����. She currently serves as a project manager.

Career ambitions: “I interned at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey this summer and really enjoyed that experience. That solidified my interest in working for a nonprofit, which Maxwell definitely instilled in me and has been enhanced through my work for Slice Consulting. I feel like working in the public sector consulting or working as a project manager for a nonprofit would be a great fit.”

What makes ���ϲ����� special? “I always saw how closely tied to ���ϲ����� my family was, but I never realized what that meant until I enrolled. The second I came back to campus from winter break my freshman year, I understood how special it was that we all shared the same values because we were all at the same place for college and learned such valuable life lessons.”

The annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day occurs Sept. 7 when ���ϲ����� hosts Georgia Tech.

���ϲ����� will once again celebrate its faculty and staff with for the Saturday, Sept. 7, game at the JMA Wireless Dome when the Orange take on Atlantic Coast Conference rival Georgia Tech. Kickoff is set for noon.

Faculty and staff and their guests are invited to the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle prior to the game to enjoy a performance by the Pride of the Orange Marching Band, an appearance from our mascot, Otto the Orange and food and beverage concessions.

The first 400 full-time, part-time or temporary faculty and staff with a faculty or staff ���ϲ����� I.D. to visit the University’s pregame Faculty and Staff Appreciation tent on the Shaw Quad will receive a game day gift and a $5 concession coupon that can be redeemed in the JMA Wireless Dome. The pre-game tailgate begins at 9 a.m.

The week prior to the game, a drawing will be held to invite faculty and staff members to enjoy an enhanced game day experience. Those who have purchased tickets prior to Sept. 1 will be eligible for the drawing. Winners will be notified prior to game day.

Tickets

Discounted tickets are priced between $18.75 each (300-level seating), $34.88 each (predominantly 200-level seating) and $57.93 each (300-level seating near the 50-yard line) for University faculty and staff, their children and their guests (up to a limit of 10). Faculty and staff may . Tickets can be purchased until the day of the event.

Parking

University parking permits will be honored for free game day parking at the Skytop parking lot and the Comstock Avenue and University Avenue garages. For faculty and staff who do not already have University parking permits, a single one-time-use complimentary Skytop parking pass will be available for game day. These permits will be available for pickup on Thursday, Sept. 5, and Friday, Sept. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Office of Human Resources, 621 Skytop Road, Suite 1001, with proof of a Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day game ticket and a ���ϲ����� I.D.

With questions about Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or email hrservice@syr.edu. With questions about football tickets, email athsales@syr.edu.

Women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack will be honored with the 2024 Loretto Foundation Community Impact Award.

The Loretto Foundation will present women’s basketball head coach with the 2024 Loretto Foundation Community Impact Award on Oct. 10 at the foundation’s 16th Annual Hope Celebration. The “” will be held at Middle Ages in ���ϲ�����.

The Community Impact Award recognizes individuals or groups who champion the Loretto mission and have contributed to the overall well-being and vitality of the community. Her leadership in the Central New York community and her character-focused approach to coaching aligns with Loretto’s mission to be a family of exceptional people caring for and about each other and our company values of trust, kindness, teamwork and leadership.

Legette-Jack has led the Orange to back-to-back 20 win seasons since taking the reigns at her alma mater. She guided ���ϲ����� to the second round of the NCAA Tournament this past season and was named ACC Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year. The 1989 ���ϲ����� graduate ended her career as the all-time leader in points and rebounds at ���ϲ�����. She was the 1984 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and helped the Orange to their first NCAA Tournament in program history as a freshman. Legette-Jack is enshrined in multiple halls of fame, including Greater ���ϲ����� Hall of Fame, the ���ϲ����� Urban Sports Hall of Fame and the ���ϲ����� Orange Plus Hall of Fame.

Additionally,��County Executive J. Ryan McMahon will receive the��2024 Loretto Foundation Distinguished Service Award, presented to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment, leadership, and impact in improving care for older adults.

The Loretto Foundation’s annual Hope Celebration is a fundraising event that raises money and awareness for , a not-for-profit organization established to advocate for older adults and support Loretto’s role as an innovator in long-term care. Last year, the Hope Celebration raised over $200,000 to help Loretto residents and employees in need.

Tickets for the foundation’s 16th Annual Hope Celebration, the Blues & Brews Festival, are . Guests will savor brews and sample delicious food prepared by chef Teresa Seeley of Diamond Catering and listen to live music from one of the most followed acoustic duos in Central New York, The Shylocks.

Rower Kamile Kralikaite, a 2024 All-American, three-time All-ACC First Team selection and two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, will represent Lithuania in the upcoming Summer Olympics.

Being a skilled rower earned an athletic scholarship to ���ϲ�����, where she helped the claim the first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship in school history.

Her proficiencies on the water also earned Kralikaite the opportunity of a lifetime representing Lithuania in the women’s pair competition at the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

To qualify for the Olympics is a dream come true, especially being from such a small country. I still can’t believe I get to represent my country on this big stage. — Kamile Kralikaite ’24

But there was a time not that long ago, before Kralikaite came to the United States, when she wanted to abandon her rowing career. Recruited by a local coach when she was just 13 years old because she was tall and athletic, Kralikaite left her family and friends to begin a three-year training project focused on qualifying for the 2018 Youth Olympics.

While Kralikaite enjoyed the sport, her entire life revolved around rowing, and she experienced burnout from the arduous training sessions with no days off. Then came the decision that helped turn things around for Kralikaite: enrolling at ���ϲ����� as an international relations major in the and .

Once on campus, Kralikaite discovered that she was so much more than a talented rower. She formed tight friendships with her fellow student-athletes and coaches and rediscovered her love of rowing. Kralikaite credits her coach, , with helping her heal and find a healthy balance between rowing and her personal life.

“I will forever be happy and grateful for my experiences at ���ϲ�����. I met so many cool people that supported me and helped me reach my goals,” says Kralikaite, a 2024 All-American, three-time All-ACC First Team selection and two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree. “It was incredible how much we were able to achieve. Winning the ACC championship for the first time in school history was amazing. Everyone was selfless and wanted the same goal and worked tirelessly to help our team achieve success. It was the best experience.”

Kamile Kralikaite (right) and her partner, Ieva Adomaviciute, will vie for a gold medal in Paris in the women’s pair competition.

Kamile Kralikaite

Kralikaite, who hails from the tiny central Lithuanian city of Kaisiadorys (population: 8,334) will vie for a gold medal in Paris after she and her partner, Ieva Adomaviciute, in Belgrade, Serbia, last September. The top 11 boats qualified for the Olympics.

The begins on July 28, with the semifinals on July 31 and the final on Aug. 2.

“Our goal is to qualify for the A final, which would be huge. Right now, we’re producing some good speed from our boat, and we feel good. You wish for the gold, but as long we give it our absolute best against the world’s best, I know we’ll do well,” says Kralikaite, who along with Orange teammate Martyna Kazlauskaite, won the 2023 U23 World Championship in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Before she takes center stage with the world’s best rowers, Kralikaite sat down with SU News to discuss how she’s preparing for the Olympics, the thrill she feels representing Lithuania and how her time on campus fueled her holistic development.

How have you been preparing for the Games?

Kamile Kralikaite (back) and her partner, Ieva Adomaviciute, preparing for the Olympics.

The last couple of weeks has been about mental preparation, because you can’t gain too much speed at this point. I’ve been going for runs, working on my breathing, doing exercises and training on the water. I train six to seven hours each day. My goal is to be as brave and confident as I can during my races.

My preparation started almost a year ago. I knew we’d be racing against women who had more experience than I did, so I started working on becoming as mentally strong as I could. I treated trainings as if we weren’t just going up against ACC or NCAA competition, but also the competition I’d see in the Summer Olympics. When it comes time to compete, I’ve put myself in that situation a million times before mentally, so I know to just give it my best effort.

How can you describe the thrill of qualifying for the Olympics and representing Lithuania?

To qualify is huge, a dream come true, especially being from such a small country. Our whole Olympic rowing team is very young. Seven of our eight athletes are going to their first Games. It’s such a cool feeling and I still can’t believe I get to represent my country on this big stage. Lithuanians have been so supportive to those of us who qualified, and it’s great to know all that hard work paid off.

What’s your pre-race routine?

I started listening to this intense techno music and I just started feeling very brave. I’d walk around feeling like a winner and acting like a winner. If you walk into the room when you’re about to warm up and you’re already scared and fearful, you’ve already lost. I also write down and say out loud to myself that I am enough, which sounds so simple, but it’s a very powerful message. Whether you’re lining up for a race at ���ϲ����� or in Paris for the Olympics, we’re all equal. Once the race starts, it’s about whoever wants it more and whoever was better prepared. Maybe some of my competitors have been in the sport longer, but I plan on giving my absolute best.

I also always wear my ���ϲ����� gear whenever I warmup. But in the Olympics, there’s rules that we have to wear the official uniform when we race, so I have to take off my ���ϲ����� gear. But I know I will have Orange Nation cheering me on!

How have you embraced the power of positive thinking?

I like visualizing success. It’s very powerful because you put yourself in a place where you see yourself achieving. Rowing is a sport where you line up and give it everything you’ve got for two kilometers. Your body is going to be in extreme pain for six to seven minutes. You have to be ready for it and not get scared when your competitors are around you, so visualization and practicing breathing exercises has helped me a lot.

How much did you grow during your time on campus?

Kamile Kralikaite (center) in action with her ���ϲ����� teammates.

I fully grew into the person I am today because of ���ϲ�����. I started to love myself again, to love life and love people. I started to see how much better everything is when you work together versus when you’re trying to achieve everything by yourself. My coaches showed me how to be the best possible version of myself. I was surrounded by the best people and they made ���ϲ����� such a special place.

(Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Athletics)

For the second year in a row, head coach�� and his coaching staff have opened registration for their 2024 volleyball camps, which will begin in June. The camps will occur on campus in the Women’s Building, Gym A, and include the following options:

Individual Skills Camp

This camp will focus on improving techniques for such skills as service, reception, setting, defensive techniques and attacking. This session welcomes anyone ages 9-18 and costs $120 per attendee.
Date: Thursday, June 6
Time: 6-8 p.m.

Elite Navy and Orange Camp

These camps are designed for experienced players looking to improve their volleyball fundamentals. The sessions are available for rising ninth through twelfth graders. The cost for attending one day is $215, and the cost for attending both days is $387.

• Elite Navy Camp
  Date: Friday, June 7
  Time: 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
• Elite Orange Camp
  Date: Saturday, June 8
  Time: 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m.

Team Camp

This camp is available for any teams ages 12 and above to prepare for upcoming competitions. Each team will compete, as well as participate in skills training. These sessions will be held in the Women’s Building Gyms A and B, and cost to register will be $550 per team.
Date: Sunday, June 9
Time: 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.

University employees who have children interested in attending the camp can receive a discount by sending an email from their University email to suvolleyball@syr.edu. The discount code will be used during online registration.

For more information and to register, visit the .

The half-day camp is open to boys and girls ages 5 to 13 and will occur at the SU Soccer Stadium April 22-26 from 9 a.m. to noon daily. Players of all experience levels will learn from head coach Ian McIntyre, associate head coach Jukka Masalin, assistant head coach Carter Lincoln and current members of the team through instructions and guidance to the campers.

The ���ϲ����� men’s soccer spring break camp runs April 22-26 on campus.

Featuring activities, skills, drills and games based on the fundamentals of soccer—dribbling, passing, shooting and learning to compete on the field—Lincoln says the camp’s goal is to teach those fundamentals through entertaining activities and exercises.

“Fun is the priority. We want to inspire young soccer players and instill a passion for the game. Through soccer, children can learn the importance of hard work, teamwork and dedication to becoming the best versions of themselves,” Lincoln says. “We also want to strengthen our relationship with the ���ϲ����� community, which is the biggest supporter of our program. These camps strengthen those community ties and allow campers and their families a chance to get to know our staff and student-athletes better.”

The camp costs $200 per child. For information or to register, visit or send an email to susoccercamps@gmail.com.

The One University Awards Ceremony, an annual event to honor members of the ���ϲ����� community who are making a difference through academics, scholarship, creative work and dedicated service, will be held Friday, April 19, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

“Every year, we come together to celebrate the outstanding contributions and tremendous success of our students, faculty, staff and broader community,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “The accomplishments of this year’s recipients reinforce what it means to be Orange. This ceremony also shines a bright spotlight on the work being done around campus, much of which happens behind the scenes. I thank the many members of our community who organized this event and look forward to recognizing this year’s winners.”

Two major awards—the Chancellor’s Medal and the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence—will be bestowed. The ceremony will also include the presentation of the Student-Athlete Award, Judith Seinfeld Scholarship, Meredith Professorship for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Recognition Award, Diversity and Inclusion Award, William Pearson Tolley Medal for Distinguished Leadership in Lifelong Learning and Chancellor’s Forever Orange Award.

���Ի��� will also be recognized. This year’s��University Scholars,��, and Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars will also be honored.

All members of the University community are invited and encouraged to attend. A reception will follow in the lobby of the Heroy Geology Laboratory.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided at the ceremony. For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations, contact Gabe Coleman at gbcolma@syr.edu.

Award Recipients��

The��Chancellor’s Medal��is the University’s highest honor and is awarded to individuals in honor of their trailblazing and extraordinary contributions to the University, to an academic body of knowledge or to society. This year’s recipient is��, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The��Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence��recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions in four overarching categories:

• The award for��Excellence in Student Research recognizes students who have engaged in collaborative research that has the potential to make a deep and lasting impact on greater society. This year’s recipients are Jingjing Ji, a doctoral candidate in chemical engineering in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (graduate), and Ashtha Singh, an international relations major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School (undergraduate).
• The award for��Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives acknowledges faculty and staff who, through their work, enhance the undergraduate experience for students or make invaluable contributions to supporting and advancing the University’s mission and goals. The recipients are��, associate professor of communications in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications (faculty); , chief operating officer for the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (professional staff); , program coordinator of citizenship and civic engagement in the Maxwell School (professional staff) and , events coordinator at Lubin House (support staff).
• The��Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction award is intended for faculty members who are collaborators in work of intellectual richness that has the potential for future impact. The work of these nominees offers possibilities for collaboration within the University and outside in partnership with others. This year’s honorees are��, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Art and Music Histories in the College of Arts and Sciences, and , associate dean of research and professor of Public Health in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.
• Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence, Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors those who have made extraordinary contributions toward advancing all four pillars of excellence over the arc of their careers while at ���ϲ����� and beyond. This year’s recipient is��, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The other awards to be presented are:

• The��Student-Athlete Award recognizes the top female and top male student athletes and are presented to the senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average over the course of their academic and athletic careers. This year’s recipients are Izabela Krakic, an international relations major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences and member of the women’s rowing team, and Julius Rauch, an entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises major in the Whitman School of Management and a member of the men’s soccer team.
• Seinfeld Scholarship: Each year ���ϲ����� honors the talents of outstanding faculty or students through an��, a distinguished alumna and member of the University Board of Trustees. Awards are made to those who have been determined by their peers to have made outstanding contributions to the beauty of the world, to have added to human values and to ending human abuse anywhere in the world, and to have demonstrated passion for excellence, creativity and originality in academic or artistic fields. This year, the designation is bestowed upon a faculty member,��, associate professor of advertising in the Newhouse School.
• The��Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professorships for Teaching Excellence were created in 1995 to recognize and reward outstanding teaching among faculty. The 2024-27 Meredith Professors are��, professor in the School of Information Studies, and , Bond, Schoeneck and King Distinguished Professor in the College of Law.
• In 2001, the Meredith Professorship Program was expanded to recognize teaching excellence by non-tenured faculty and adjunct and part-time instructors. Awards are given in two categories:��Early Performance ���Ի���Continuing Excellence. This year’s honorees in the Early Performance category are��, assistant professor of television, radio and film in the Newhouse School; , associate teaching professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science; , assistant professor of visual communications in the Newhouse School; , assistant teaching professor of Chinese and Chinese language in the College of Arts and Sciences; and , assistant professor in the School of Architecture. The two honorees in the Continuing Excellence category are��, assistant dean of online and distance education and associate teaching professor of social work in the Falk College, and , teaching professor and graduate director of nutrition and food studies in the Falk College.
• The��Diversity and Inclusion Award��recognizes an individual who is integral in helping us achieve academic excellence at a university that is welcoming to all through our investments in a diverse, inclusive, accessible and equitable community. This year’s recipient is��, teaching professor in the College of Law and faculty fellow for the Office of Strategic Initiatives and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
• The��William Pearson Tolley Medal for Distinguished Leadership in Lifelong Learning is based in the School of Education and honors national or international leadership in support of lifelong learning. This year’s recipient is ’77, executive director of MidPenn Legal Services, adjunct professor of law at PennState’s Dickinson Law and an alumna of the School of Education.
• The��Chancellor’s Forever Orange Award recognizes individual students, faculty or staff who—by virtue of extraordinary hard work, good values and commitment to excellence—have come to embody the best of ���ϲ�����. This year’s recipients are , associate vice president of parent engagement and student experience, and , head coach of the men’s soccer team.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from several student organizations who will be , enjoy a spirited awards ceremony hosted by student Nicole Aponte ’24 and mingle with honorees and each other during a reception following the ceremony.

Get to know the outstanding alumni across generations who will be honored April 12 during the ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards.

Traditionally held in the fall during Orange Central, the 2024 awards ceremony was shifted to the spring to facilitate greater interactions between award recipients and the ���ϲ����� student body. The honorees, selected by the awards committee of the Board of Directors, were selected for their achievements and success, truly highlighting what it means to be Forever Orange.

The George Arents Award is ���ϲ�����’s highest alumni honor and recognizes individuals who have excelled in their fields. In 2024, three alumni will receive the Arents Award: former NFL quarterback turned philanthropist Donovan McNabb ’98; president and chairman of Wilmorite Thomas Wilmot ’70; and former litigation attorney turned civic leader Melanie Gray L’81.

Marc Malfitano ’74, L’78 will receive the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award for his loyalty and service to ���ϲ����� over the past 50 years. Malfitano is a member of the 50th reunion class, and both the Classes of 1964 and 1974 will celebrate milestone reunions during the weekend.

Amanda Quick ’14, G’16 will be awarded the Generation Orange Award, which recognizes graduates from the past decade for career success and community engagement, along with their overall commitment to ���ϲ�����.

Major General Peggy Combs ’85, H’21 will receive the Military/Veteran Award for exceptional meritorious service while serving in the United States Military.

New in 2024, Tracy Barash ’89 will receive the Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of her consistent volunteerism to ���ϲ�����.

Also new in 2024, the Outstanding Future Alumni Award will highlight student Leondra Tyler ’24 for her commitment, involvement and leadership outside of the classroom.

, then make plans to .

Story by Laura Verzegnassi ’25, student intern in the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving

Vernon L. Lee Jr.

It’s a love story that began at Hendricks Chapel, where Vernon L. Lee Jr. first met Marcia L. Heath. Both undergraduates, they raised their voices in song together, worshipped together and, six days after they both graduated from ���ϲ����� in 1954, they married. Their devotion to each other and to the Orange Community lasted a lifetime and beyond—in the establishment of the Marcia ’54 and Vernon ’54 Lee Endowed Fund for Hendricks Chapel.

The Reverend Vernon LaMont “Bonky” Lee Jr. was 92 when he passed away on Dec. 10, 2023. He had served as a voting trustee on the ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees from 1976 to 1989, when he became a life trustee. He also served on the Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board.

“Vernon was a valued trustee and supporter of ���ϲ����� for decades,” Chancellor Kent Syverud says. “I am so grateful for his life and work.”

Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in speech and drama from the College of Arts and Sciences followed by a master’s degree in theology from the Boston University School of Theology in 1957. He began as a pastor in 1957, advancing to the position of superintendent of the Elmira District of the Methodist Church in New York. Lee also had served as executive director of the church’s Central New York Conference, headquartered in ���ϲ�����. In retirement, he had been a senior consultant to the United Methodist Frontier Foundation Inc.

It is noteworthy that the Methodist leader was so dedicated to and engaged with his alma mater, a university that was initially founded by resolution of the Methodist State Convention in ���ϲ����� in 1870. “Reverend Lee embodied the dynamic relationship between faith and learning,” says the Rev. Brian E. Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel. “Through his lifelong commitment to mission and ministry, Vernon truly lived the famous quote by Methodist theologian John Wesley: ‘Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.’”

“To be on the receiving end of Rev. Lee’s kindness and wisdom was an honor. Though ���ϲ����� is no longer affiliated with the Methodist Church, leaders such as Vernon help to ensure that the spirit and soul of our campus community will remain strong for generations to come,” says Konkol. Lee’s ministry mentor was Charles Noble who was the dean of Hendricks Chapel when he and Marcia were students. The endowed fund set up by the couple was created “to initiate, support and/or enhance programs that fulfill the mission of Hendricks Chapel.” Konkol says it provides support for students in need, and creates opportunities for student engagement.

As a Methodist pastor in the Central New York Conference, Lee served churches in Watkins Glen, ���ϲ�����, Auburn, Geneva and Elmira. In later years, he became district superintendent for Elmira, and subsequently conference executive. He completed his active ministry at the United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, New York.

Lee was a member of the United Methodist Frontier Foundation’s Board of Directors, serving New York and Connecticut. He was past president of the Board of Directors of the Folts Foundation Inc. in Herkimer, New York; past chair of the Board of Trustees of Alban at Duke Divinity School (formerly The Alban Institute in Herndon, Virginia); and past president of The Rotary Club of ���ϲ�����.

He and his wife Marcia, who received a bachelor’s degree from the School of Education, were also generous supporters of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, ���ϲ����� Athletics and ���ϲ����� Libraries.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marcia, two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

• Tuesday, March 5, 6 p.m.,��Women’s lacrosse vs. Stony Brook
• Tuesday, March 19, 3 p.m.,��Women’s lacrosse vs. Albany
• Wednesday, March 20, 7 p.m.,��Men’s lacrosse vs. Duke
• Wednesday, March 27, 4 p.m.,��Women’s lacrosse vs. Loyola
• Tuesday, April 2 through Saturday, April 6: Monster Jam set-up and event (some parking in West Campus lots will be restricted during set-up)
• Thursday, April 18, 7:30 p.m.,��Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band

Access to Campus for Academic Purposes

Home lot parking permits will be honored for most events. If further restrictions are required for specific events, Parking and Transportation Services will notify affected permit holders well in advance of the event.

Accessible parking for academic purposes will be provided in the lot designated on the face of the permit.

Parking and Transportation Services asks for your support of these procedures so that we may provide academic access for the entire University community. If you have any questions or need to coordinate additional academic access, please contact Dee Bailey at debailey@syr.edu or by phone at 315.443.5319.

David Bennett ’56 has been in attendance for the home coaching debuts of the last five ���ϲ����� head coaches.

When Adrian Autry ’94 led the ���ϲ����� men’s basketball team into action against the University of New Hampshire to open the 2023-24 season, there were many familiar faces in the stands inside the JMA Wireless Dome cheering on the Orange.

But as far as program historians go, one particular fan, , stood out for his longevity and loyalty to the men’s basketball team. After all, he’d been in attendance for the home coaching debuts of the last five ���ϲ����� head coaches.

You’d have to go back a century—to the 1924-25 squad that defeated St. Lawrence University by a score of 32-26 on Dec. 12, 1924, in Lewis Andreas’ first season on campus—for the last home coaching debut Bennett didn’t see in person, and Bennett had a valid excuse for missing that home opener: He wasn’t born until 1935.

As Autry’s team handled New Hampshire by a score of 83-72 on Nov. 6, Bennett was there in Section 123, a seat he has occupied since the Dome opened in 1980. His interest in ���ϲ����� athletics goes back to 1940, when his father, Bernard, a local attorney and fellow ���ϲ����� alumnus, took his son to his first game when he was just 5 years old.

“Oh, I’ve gone to a lot of ���ϲ����� basketball games, going back to when I was a boy. My father was a very big basketball fan, and it was a great bonding experience to go to basketball and football games with him,” says Bennett, professor emeritus of history in the .

Long-Lasting Orange Fandom

Over the last 75 years, there have been five head men’s basketball coaches: Marc Guley (1950-62), Fred Lewis (1962-68), Roy Danforth (1968-76), Jim Boeheim ’66, G’73 (1976-2023) and Autry.

David Bennett with his wife, Gerda, during a recent men’s basketball game in the JMA Wireless Dome

Bennett was 15 years old when Guley made his home head coaching debut, guiding ���ϲ����� to a 101-39 victory over the University of Toronto on Dec. 12, 1950, in Archbold Gym. He’s seen the Orange men play in Archbold, the downtown Jefferson Street Armory (after a fire ravaged Archbold in January of 1947), the New York State Fairgrounds Coliseum, the War Memorial, Manley Field House and the Dome.

He was fortunate enough to see future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Cousy when Holy Cross played ���ϲ�����, and when Bennett enrolled at the University to pursue an American studies degree, he saw future Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown ’57 star for the Orange football and basketball teams.

Bennett cheered on the Orange during the first basketball games at Manley Field House (1962) and the Dome (1980) and has fond memories of watching Hall of Famers Dave Bing ’66, H’06 and Boeheim earn a berth in the NCAA tournament during the 1965-66 season, the program’s second NCAA appearance at the Division I level.

“���ϲ����� had some great basketball teams. Under coach Fred Lewis, we had this walk-on named Jim Boeheim, and he was playing with a guy who became his closest friend, a man who is one of the great players in the history of the sport in Dave Bing. That team was a great story. Jim went from walk-on to team captain, and Bing was a dominant player. Those teams were fun to watch,” Bennett recalls.

Bennett joined the faculty of the Maxwell School in 1961, after returning from the University of Chicago, where he received a Ph.D. in history. He was on the faculty for 60 years before retiring and was a past Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence. Bennett served as chair of the history department, chair of the University Senate Committee on Athletic Policy and chair of the University Athletic Policy Board, a role he held for 20 years. He was faculty representative for athletics to the NCAA for those 20 years.

Bennett played a central role in creating the Faculty Oversight Committee for Athletics, which was responsible for ensuring the athletic and academic enterprises were aligned and recruited student-athletes who were just as committed to their studies as they were to their sport.

Bennett was on search committees that helped name Jake Crouthamel as athletic director (1978), and Dick MacPherson the head football coach (1981). And in 1976, Bennett was on the committee that recommended to then-Chancellor Melvin Eggers the hiring of Boeheim as the next head men’s basketball coach leading up to the 1976-77 season.

Favorite Men’s Basketball Memories

Every time ���ϲ����� has advanced into the Final Four—including that unexpected run in the 1974-75 season, the devastating losses in the national championship during the 1986-87 and 1995-96 seasons and, finally, a national title during the 2002-03 season—Bennett has been at the games cheering on his alma mater.

“That 1987 team, with Derrick Coleman, Rony Seikaly, Sherm Douglas and others, that was my favorite team, and they were so close to winning a national championship,” Bennett says, the bitter taste of the loss to Indiana University still evident in his voice. “But I’m forever thankful to Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick, Gerry McNamara and the 2003 team that finally won it all. That was probably the greatest moment, at least for me, in the history of ���ϲ����� athletics.”

David Bennett, professor emeritus of history in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

For a beloved professor who taught primarily modern American history and modern military history at ���ϲ����� from 1961 through 2021, the fact that Bennett, who can vividly recall moments from past basketball seasons, has been present for so many of the landmark moments in program history is not lost on him.

“I recognize the similarities between my time as a professor and my interest as a ���ϲ����� basketball fan. I never wrote about American athletics, but I was always interested in it. And of course, because I’m a historian, I can remember a lot of the games I’ve seen. I’ve always been a fan because my father and I had a bonding experience around ���ϲ����� sports,” Bennett says.

As Autry makes his way through his first season as a head coach, Bennett wishes him well and doesn’t want to witness another head coach make his ���ϲ����� debut anytime soon.

Student-athletes will be able to take a new Maymester course in Los Angeles.

A new study away opportunity for student-athletes will be offered this year as a Maymester course in Los Angeles.

The course, Networking and the Art of the Pitch, was developed by , chair of communication and rhetorical studies (CRS) in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), and , director of VPA’s Los Angeles program, working with , assistant provost for student-athlete academic development in the Department of Athletics.

The course was designed to help break down a common barrier faced by student-athletes who are interested in studying off campus.

“Student-athletes are often constrained by their training and game schedules, which means they do not have many opportunities for study abroad and study away,” Dubrofsky says. “Tommy mentioned that student-athletes would love an opportunity to study away, and that a perfect time for it is Maymester, when they don’t have any games or practices.”

Dubrofsky adds that CRS enrolls many student-athletes, making it the logical program to house the new initiative.

The two-week course will introduce students to the principles of persuasive communication and networking in the sports broadcasting industry. Students will visit studios and other companies and attend games and cultural events. ���ϲ����� alumni who were student-athletes and pursued a variety of career paths will serve as guest lecturers.

The course is open to all CRS student-athletes; those in other majors can take it as an elective. For more information, contact Proulx at 818.314.6722 or asproulx@syr.edu.

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• (Office of Veterans and Military Affairs): I
• (Maxwell) and Grant Reeher (Maxwell):
• (Athletics),
• (Arts & Sciences):
• (Law):
• (Whitman): I I
• (School of Education): I
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• (Law):
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To get in touch and learn more about ���ϲ����� faculty members available for interviews, please contact��media@syr.edu.

This special effort from Otto’s Army, ���ϲ�����’s student section, is a partnership with the Forever Orange Student Alumni Council (FOSAC) to highlight the importance of giving back.

Gregory Slodysko ’24, president of Otto’s Army, emphasizes what the organization means to the University’s student-athletes.

“If you’ve ever seen some of the post-game interviews for football or basketball, often either our coaches or the opposing team’s coaches mention how much Otto’s Army affects each and every game. […]�� No team wants to play ’Cuse at home, and a large part of that belief is thanks to Otto’s Army.”

On Saturday, students will be wearing Blizzard T-shirts with QR codes on the back that lead to a link to make a gift that will go directly to Otto’s Army.

“All money raised will go directly to Otto’s Army so we can continue to improve the student section for years to come. For this reason, giving back is important because it allows Otto’s Army to remain one of the best college student sections in the nation,” Gregory says. “In the past, we have used the money raised to help fund our bus trips so that we can turn critical away games into home games and support our Orange on the road. Giving back for the Blizzard game this year will continue to help us grow and improve the gameday experience for all ���ϲ����� students.”

For the Class of 2024, the gifts are especially meaningful. A gift of at least $24 in honor of their class year means the student will receive special cords at Commencement to show that they gave back.

“Those who give back bring students to ���ϲ�����. Without them, many students wouldn’t be able to come to school here. FOSAC helps remind the campus community of those who brought them here, whether it be alumni or donors they’ve never met,” says Megan Edenfeld ’25, president of�� FOSAC. “We encourage students to take pride in being part of the Orange family and help maintain the spirit that draws so many to SU. By fostering student-alumni connections, FOSAC empowers students while also reminding alumni that they will forever have a place in the Orange family”

The Blizzard is forecasted for Saturday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome.

“If you plan to attend this game (student or not), please wear white and prepare for the snow. Let’s ice out the dome next Saturday,” Gregory says.

Can’t join us in the JMA Dome? Here’s how to .

Story by Laura Verzegnassi ’25

Mike Mangano

That’s why Mangano has fully embraced the partnership between the University’s and the in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics that’s allowing nearly 50 students majoring in sport analytics to provide real-world data to assist the coaching and athletic performance staffs of 11 of ���ϲ�����’s men’s and women’s athletic teams.

The specifics vary from sport to sport, but in general, most students are collecting performance data from the student-athletes’ wearable devices, analyzing that data from training, practices and games, and interpreting that data to provide insights to coaches and staff.

When Mangano was an assistant athletic trainer for the men’s soccer team, he says that kind of data helped coaches determine the optimum workload for each player. Once the players started maintaining that weekly goal, soft tissue injuries decreased. “So, for me, it’s great. I don’t have to do as much work,” Mangano says, laughing. “But at the same time, my philosophy is, do the work on the front end. If you can prevent injuries–and obviously you can’t prevent them all–but if you can prevent most of the injuries and add that kind of education for the student-athletes and coaches, then (the analytics) are working for us.”

The genesis of this partnership between athletics and analytics can be traced to Mangano’s interest in analytics and sport performance and conversations he had with , the program manager for the program and a former soccer standout at Le Moyne College in ���ϲ�����. Riverso encouraged Mangano to earn his , which Mangano did last year, and they arranged for sport analytics students to start collecting, analyzing and interpreting data for the men’s soccer team in 2022.

Sport analytics students also started working with the women’s lacrosse team last season. The men’s soccer team won the 2022 Division I national championship, while the women’s lacrosse team reached the 2023 Division I Final Four.

Sport analytics student Danielle Napierski at the JMA Wireless Dome, where she attends practices and games to collect data on the ���ϲ����� women’s basketball team and its opponents.

“The role of our student analysts has been integral to our program’s success,” says , men’s soccer head coach. “The student analysts are responsible for collecting and interpreting all GPS data and providing detailed post-match and post-training reports. These reports are presented to the coaching staff with concise information that enables us to make objective decisions around training load and managing student-athletes’ minutes in games. “In addition to the GPS data, the student analysts provide half-time and post-match reports of pre-determined categories that allow us to see how we are playing, and how we can make the necessary adjustments,” says McIntyre.

The partnership expanded this academic year to include the following teams: women’s and men’s basketball, field hockey, football, ice hockey, women’s and men’s lacrosse, women’s and men’s soccer, softball and track and field.

“The coaches were open to having students who were passionate about working with this type of data metrics and analysis, and this was a perfect opportunity to start utilizing my knowledge and applying what I learned in the classroom,” says second-year student Danielle Napierski, who is one of seven sport analytics students working for the women’s basketball team.

, assistant provost for student-athlete academic development at ���ϲ�����, says the sport analytics students are available to all athletic teams and the athletic department plans to make this a long-term arrangement with the sport analytics program.

“This collaboration represents an exciting opportunity to merge the worlds of athletics and data analysis, further enhancing our ability to make informed decisions and drive success both on and off the field,” says ���ϲ����� Director of Athletics . “Together, we will harness the power of analytics to gain a competitive edge and propel our student-athletes and teams to new heights.”

, director of the sport analytics program and a professor in the Department of Sport Management, says the partnership provides sport analytics students with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to apply the data analytics skills they’re learning in class. “It not only provides the students with real-world experience in sports but gives them the chance to see it applied directly to the University sports teams they already love and support,” Paul says.

Second-year student Dan Griffiths says when he first toured the campus, his guide said the sport analytics program partnered with some of the teams, and Griffiths figured it was only the football and basketball teams. But now, two years later, Griffiths is working with his favorite sport, track and field.

“This is exactly why I came to ���ϲ�����,” Griffiths says. “After my first year, I was very committed to being a part of the team, and I saw that I could have this opportunity as long as I had the initiative to take it on myself.”

To get a better understanding of this partnership, we talked to sport analytics students Griffiths, Napierski and Caden Lippie about their roles with the athletics department. Visit the to read more about their experiences.

We are expecting 200 school buses on campus, with students being dropped off on College Place and the west side of Campus.��Faculty and staff parking in the west campus lots may use the Irving Avenue Garage on Thursday to allow for space to park buses.

Both College Place and the parking lots on the west side of campus near the JMA Dome will become congested at times. Parking staff will be on hand to direct traffic. The game will begin at 10:30 a.m., with students arriving as early as 9-10 a.m. Buses will depart between 12:30-1:30 p.m. The men’s basketball team will follow with a home game against Niagara University at 5 p.m.

Parking and Transportation Services apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and thanks everyone for their understanding and flexibility during this time.

If you have any questions, please contact at 315.443.4652 or by email at parkmail@syr.edu.

Human Resources and ���ϲ����� Athletics are pleased to host Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night in the JMA Wireless Dome to celebrate faculty and staff members’ contributions. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy an evening out with your colleagues, friends and/or family while supporting the Orange and being celebrated for all you do for the University!

Come cheer on the men’s basketball team as they take on the Niagara University Purple Eagles on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 5 p.m. Discounted tickets are available in the lower bowl student section for just $15/each, plus taxes and fees. Faculty and staff can .

Valid University parking permits will be honored in the University Avenue or Comstock Avenue garages. If you have any ticket questions, please call the Dome Box Office at 888.Dome.Tix or email ���ϲ����� Athletics at athsales@syr.edu.

Brown and his peers from Camden, New Jersey, made the 95-mile trek to Meadowlands Stadium to watch local star Donovin Darius ’98, future Pro Football Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb ’98 and the 17th-ranked Orange take on the 24th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in the Kickoff Classic on Aug. 26, 1997.

On Monday morning, as Brown was introduced as the newest head coach, he harkened back to vivid memories of a dominant, 34-0 trouncing of Wisconsin by ���ϲ����� as the blueprint for where he wants to take this program.

“Why ���ϲ�����? That [game] is my vision of ���ϲ�����. We are going to bust our butt to get back to that way. To bring back the great tradition of football that was here before me, before my era,” Brown told a packed audience of media members, former Orange football student-athletes and supporters of the program in the Ferguson Football Auditorium in the George R. Iocolano and William C. Petty Football Wing at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

���ϲ����� Chancellor and President Kent Syverud (left), head football coach Fran Brown (center), and Director of Athletics John Wildhack ’80 during a press conference introducing Brown to the ���ϲ����� community.

Wanting to return the Orange to a time when the program was consistently ranked in the Top 25 under former head coach Paul Pasqualoni (107-59-1 record in 14 seasons) and offensive coordinator George DeLeone (who Brown worked with at both Temple University and Baylor University), Brown had a message for the football alumni.

“I need your presence. I need those guys to see the history that was before them. I need them to want to be able to mimic what happened before them,” Brown said. “The money and all those things will come when the time is right. I want your guys’ presence. I want your heart. Because you’re going to get my heart. You’re going to get every bit of me that you can get for the entire time I’m here.”

Vowing that current and prospective student-athletes will follow his DART method—being detailed, accountable, relentless and tough in their pursuit of greatness on the football field, in the classroom and in the community—Brown said he’s “all-in on ���ϲ�����.”

“I am competitive. I need to win at everything. You can’t chew gum faster than me. I’m going to win at everything and we’re about to go shock the country,” Brown said.

Get to know Brown, the nation’s top college football recruiter and a member of the 2022 College Football National Championship coaching staff with the University of Georgia.

What Can Brown Do for Orange?

Brown played a critical role in attracting top talent to Georgia, and his deep ties to New Jersey and the Northeast will allow him immediate recruiting success for the Orange.

Brown and Wildhack share a laugh.

“I was always able to go out and recruit and get the best players, but it wasn’t because I was saying or selling all this stuff. It was because of the relationships. It was me continuously talking to them about life, helping young men become closer to the man above [God],” Brown said. “I recruit just being genuine. I’m telling the kids the truth. I’m telling all the kids now, ‘The reason you should come to ���ϲ����� is, because [if] you’re coming here, you’re going to be successful for the rest of your life.”

Brown said he plans on “taking care of our backyard, from Canada to the DMV [Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virgina].”

“That’s why I got the job [because of my recruiting]. We all understand that. I’m not going to stop that. Why would you stop doing what you’re good at?” Brown said.

Diamonds in the Rough

Brown is a self-made man who came from humble beginnings. His mother gave birth to Brown when she was just 13 years old, and by the time she was 21, there were four boys running around the house. Football became an outlet for Brown to escape life’s difficulties, and he excelled on the gridiron as Camden High School’s quarterback.

After spending one year playing football for Hudson Valley Community College, Brown earned an associate’s degree and caught the eye of Matt Rhule, future head coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers who was serving as Western Carolina University’s assistant head coach. Rhule recruited Brown to play for Western Carolina, where he thrived at cornerback, earning first-team All-Southern Conference honors and serving as team captain en route to a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

As Brown was talking with Kent Syverud, ���ϲ�����’s Chancellor and president, Syverud asked him an innocent question:

“I know you can recruit, that’s great, but what about the diamonds in the rough? What about those guys that people overlook? What are you going to do about them?” Brown recalled. “I said ‘How am I going to forget about me?’ I can’t forget about me. I was one [a diamond in the rough]. I was the guy that went to school, didn’t have all the stuff everybody else had. I had an uncle, Charles Brown, he told me ‘Don’t ever, ever, ever allow your situations to dictate your outcome. You make the best of it. You dominate, you get up, and you walk every single day with the next foot forward.’ And I’ve always busted my butt.”

Relationships Matter

Brown’s extensive coaching resume includes stops at Rutgers University (2020-21), Temple University (2011-16, 2019), Baylor University (2017-18) and Paul VI High School (2010). He has worked with some of the top coaches in the country, including Rhule at the University of Nebraska and Georgia’s Kirby Smart. Both offer high praise for Brown.

Fran Brown (center) poses with his two sons, Fran Jr. (far left), and Brayden (second from left), his wife, Teara (second from right), and daughter Ivy Ann.

Brown made a lasting impression on Rhule, who first recruited Brown to play at Western Carolina and then connected Brown with then-Temple University coach Steve Addazio, an introduction that helped Brown land his first college coaching job in 2011. After Rhule took over the Temple program in 2013, he tapped Brown as one of his full-time assistant coaches.

It’s one of the many reasons why forming lifelong relationships with his coaches and his prospective student-athletes really matters to Brown, and why Brown continues to keep in touch with the families of his recruits long after they’ve committed to join him.

“I don’t really have a recruiting pitch. I just ask recruits ‘Do you want to be successful? Do you want to become a man? Do you want to be a good father? Do you want to be a good husband?’ When you’re asking those questions, then it becomes authentic,” Brown said. “I’m building genuine relationships. I’m going to know your grandma, I’m going to know your aunt. I’m going to know your cousin. I’m going to make sure that I’m detailed with everything and write it down. For me to have students trusting me, I need to understand and know them.”

Burdens of Being a Black Head Coach

There are 133 Division I institutions playing football, and only 14 of those programs (10.5%) have Black head coaches. Brown recognizes the special opportunity in front of him and realizes there will be immense pressure on him to succeed. If he’s successful, he knows more doors will open for other aspiring Black head coaches.

“Do I know that there’s a little more on me because I am a Black man? Yeah, and I’m cool with that. I’m excited about that because I’m going to open the door for everybody. I’m going to do this the right way because it’s bigger than me. There’s a lot of people that came before me that didn’t get this opportunity, and there’s going to be a lot that come after me that will be because of how I do here at ���ϲ�����,” Brown said.

After closing out the regular season with a 35-31 win over Wake Forest on Senior Day inside the JMA Wireless Dome to become bowl eligible, the Orange found out their postseason fate Sunday afternoon.

The ���ϲ����� football team will take on the University of South Florida in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 21.

���ϲ����� (6-6, 2-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) will travel to Boca Raton, Florida, to play the University of South Florida (6-6, 4-4 in the American Athletic Conference) in the . The game kicks off at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21, and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Fans who are interested in making the trip to Florida to cheer on the Orange are encouraged to fill out the . Ticket information will be shared there as soon as it is available.

While Fran Brown was named the 31st head coach in program history on Nov. 28, interim head coach Nunzio Campanile, who led the Orange during their win over Wake Forest, will coach ���ϲ����� during the bowl game.

This year’s squad earned the 28th bowl appearance in program history, with the Orange sporting a 16-10-1 record all-time in bowl games. This will be ���ϲ�����’s first time playing in the Boca Raton Bowl.

The matchup will pit two former Big East rivals who have some history playing each other. ���ϲ����� and South Florida played annually as Big East conference members from 2005-12, and again in 2015 and 2016.

The Orange and the Bulls have met 10 times previously, with ���ϲ����� losing eight of the 10 matchups. The Orange last defeated the Bulls 37-36 on Oct. 27, 2012, in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Fran Brown

The nation’s top recruiter, a member of the 2022 College Football National Championship coaching staff and a New Jersey native, will soon take the helm of Orange Football. Today, Director of Athletics John Wildhack announced that Fran Brown, currently defensive backs coach at the University of Georgia, has been named the 31st head coach of ���ϲ����� Football.

Brown will be officially introduced as head football coach at a press conference on Monday, Dec. 4, at the Ferguson Football Auditorium in the George R. Iocolano and William C. Petty Football Wing at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. Details of the press conference will follow.

“I am incredibly proud to be leading ���ϲ����� Football at a university with a rich and storied tradition of academic and athletic excellence,” says Brown. “���ϲ����� Football has outstanding talent, great facilities and passionate alumni. The success of the players is my No. 1 priority—on and off the field. I want my guys to succeed in life, because they played football at ���ϲ�����. My immediate area of focus is building relationships with my current players and putting together an elite staff, while also having fun on the recruiting trail. I’m ready to get to work and look forward to building something special for our fans.”

Brown joined the University of Georgia in early 2022 where he was part of the coaching staff that led the undefeated Bulldogs to victory in the 2022 College Football National Championship. Under the leadership of the defensive coaching staff, the Georgia defense finished the season ranked among the nation’s leaders in rushing defense, scoring defense, red zone defense and total defense. The defense also finished the season with two first team All-Americans and finalists for awards, including the Butkus Award, the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.

According to 247Sports, Brown is the No. 1 recruiter in the nation for the 2024 recruiting class and has played a critical role in attracting top talent to Georgia. This designation follows his recruitment of two five-star prospects, both of whom are ranked No. 1 in their respective positions. Brown brings with him deep ties to New Jersey and the Northeast, which will allow him immediate recruiting success for the Orange.

“Fran is an outstanding coach, recruiter and person, and exactly who we need to take ���ϲ����� Football to the next level,” says Wildhack. “Fran has clearly articulated a vision for the future of our football program, and he is a powerhouse recruiter with deep ties to the geographies from where we need to draw consistently. Fran has had tremendous success recruiting to a variety of programs—in the South, Southwest and Northeast, and I have no doubt he will bring that track record here to ���ϲ�����. I am looking forward to welcoming Fran and his family to the Orange community. The future is bright for our football program.”

A former student-athlete, Brown played football at Western Carolina University, where he was named a team captain and earned First Team All-SoCon selection at cornerback for the Catamounts. He went on to play two seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. Chancellor Kent Syverud says Brown’s experience as a college and professional football player combined with his coaching prowess positions him well to support ���ϲ�����’s student-athletes’ success both on and off the field.

“What impressed me most during my conversation with Fran is his deep commitment to our student-athletes,” says Chancellor Syverud. “He knows how to win and how to recruit. But most importantly, he is passionate about mentoring and guiding student-athletes in all aspects of their lives. Fran is the kind of coach who is going to demand excellence from his student-athletes and coaching staff in everything they do—on the field, in the classroom and in our community.”

Brown’s extensive resume includes stops at Rutgers University, Temple University (2011-16, 2019), Baylor University (2017-18) and Paul VI High School (2010). During his career, Brown has worked with some of the top coaches in the country, including Georgia’s Kirby Smart and University of Nebraska’s Matt Rhule. Both Kirby and Rhule offered high praise for Brown.

“Fran is excellent,” says Smart. “No ego, he’s trustworthy, smart and he’s worked really hard during his two seasons here to earn an opportunity like this. He has built great relationships in our building, our players love him and we couldn’t be more excited for him, Teara and their family.”

“Fran Brown will be a tremendous leader for the ���ϲ����� program,” says Rhule. “His commitment to improving the lives of the players he coaches will only be matched by his passion for coaching on the field. ���ϲ����� will recruit elite talent, retain and develop those players, and produce a team that everyone can be proud of.”

Prior to joining the Georgia staff, Brown was defensive backs coach at Rutgers for two seasons under Head Coach Greg Schiano. In his first year with the program, his secondary helped create 19 turnovers in 2020, 10 more than the previous season and the most since 2012 for the Scarlet Knights. Schiano offered congratulations to Brown upon the news of his hiring.

“I am proud of Fran and thrilled for him to have this opportunity,” says Schiano. “���ϲ����� is getting both a dynamic coach and a great addition to their community. I’m elated for Fran and his whole family.”

Before Rutgers, Brown was co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Temple. While there, the defensive unit was nationally ranked in red zone defense, sacks, defensive touchdowns, tackles-for-loss and fumbles recovered. At Temple, Brown recruited or coached five players who went on to play in the NFL, including three draft picks: Harrison Hand (fifth round, Minnesota Vikings), Shaun Bradley (sixth round, Philadelphia Eagles) and Chapelle Russell (seventh round, Tampa Bay).

Brown has also recruited and worked with future NFL players, such as Sean Chandler, P.J. Walker, Hasson Reddick, Jullian Taylor, Sharif Finch, Jacob Martin and Raquell Armstead.

At Baylor, Brown served as the assistant head coach/defensive backs coach. While in Waco, he helped turn the program around from a 1-11 season in 2017 to a 7-6 mark the following year, which culminated in a Texas Bowl victory.

Brown grew up in Camden, New Jersey, and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Western Carolina University. Brown and his wife, Teara, have two sons, Fran Jr. and Brayden, and a daughter, Ivy Ann.

Brown takes over a ���ϲ����� program rich with tradition, which will play in its second-consecutive bowl game later this season. The Orange has won 743 games in its history, which ranks 23rd all-time among current FBS teams, boasts one national championship, a Heisman Trophy winner and five conference titles.

Fans can show their support for the Orange by joining or , giving to the and making 2024 season ticket deposits, which are available now at , for fans to be part of the next era of ���ϲ����� football.

Thursday, Nov. 30

Come cheer on the Orange women’s basketball team as they take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in an exciting ACC/SEC matchup with tip-off at 7 p.m.

• Discounted tickets are available at just $5 per seat.
• .
• Parking is available at no charge in any west campus lot, including the Irving Avenue Garage.

Thursday, Dec. 21

Save the date for Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night at the Orange men’s basketball game vs. the Niagara University Purple Eagles on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. Ticket information will be announced as it becomes available.

Enjoy an evening out with your colleagues, friends or family while supporting the Orange and being celebrated for all you do for ���ϲ�����!

If you have any ticket questions, please call the Dome Box Office at 888.Dome.Tix or email ���ϲ����� Athletics at athsales@syr.edu.

This year’s beneficiary is Tillie’s Touch, a not-for-profit organization founded by Dale Johnson in 2008 to help youth overcome barriers and maintain a 100% high school graduation rate. The organization’s goal is to make an impact in the lives of Central New York youth, provide opportunities to play sports and help children achieve academic excellence. Tillie’s Touch serves 1,500 youth annually.

Over the past 19 years, the Sport Management Club has raised over $665,000 for Central New York nonprofit organizations. Featured items this year include a Super Bowl football signed by Tyreek Hill, a Ichiro Suzuki signed baseball and Buddy Boehiem signed basketball, among other items.

To further the auction’s mission of community impact, Apex Entertainment is this year’s title sponsor. “We are really proud to work with Apex Entertainment for another year. They were amazing to work with last year, and we look forward to working together again to raise money for Tillie’s Touch,” says auction co-chair Jacob Geisinger.

The 19th Annual Charity Sports Auction will take place in the backcourt of the JMA Wireless Dome as the ���ϲ����� Orange take on LSU in front of tens of thousands of dedicated fans and the ���ϲ����� community.

Visit or follow the auction on , and for the most up-to-date event information. To register for online bidding or make a monetary donation, visit the .

Story by Zach Roth ’24

This year’s celebrations commenced with the release of the Military Times Best for Vets College rankings on Nov. 6, where ���ϲ����� once again secured a spot in the top 10% of colleges and universities. Such an achievement is only possible due to the unwavering dedication of the University’s faculty and staff, along with a supportive campus community.

From left to right, student veterans Jack Pullano ’24, Benetta Dousuah G’25 and Raphael Grollmus ’24.

Throughout the week, three student veterans and one veteran alumni member of the OVMA advisory board shared their stories with the campus community. Benetta Dousuah G’25, Raphael Grollmus ’24 and Jack Pullano ’24 shared their reflections on their service and how ���ϲ����� is impacting their post-service lives.

Retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Ginsburg ’72, a member of the OVMA advisory board and a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, spoke about a lifetime of service to those who have served and his selection for a leadership position within a national veterans’ service organization.

The Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center, in collaboration with the Department of Digital Stewardship, launched the digital exhibition, “.” Additionally, library staff created a table display to showcase the work of several student veterans and veteran alumni. A central focus of the display was a recently published book about , a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot during World War II who was a member of the historic Tuskegee Airmen.

On Nov. 10, things kicked off early as more than 230 registered participants arrived on campus in the chilly morning hours for the annual Veterans Day 5K Walk and Run, hosted by the OVMA. The event welcomed participants from the Central New York region onto campus for a run with military-connected students, faculty and staff to build camaraderie and esprit de corps.

The ���ϲ����� Veterans Day Ceremony official party. From left to right, Sheneé Bletson; John Nipper ’23, G’24; Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol; Chancellor Kent Syverud; and Retired Lt. Cmdr. Laurie Coffey L’25. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

After the run, the doors opened at the D’Aniello National Veterans Resource Center to welcome guests for the University’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony. The ceremony featured Sheneé Bletson, a U.S. Air Force veteran who works in the Office of Inclusive Excellence as an office coordinator; U.S. Navy Veteran John Nipper ’23, G’24, president of the University’s Student Veteran Organization; and , a student in the College of Law who served as the keynote speaker.

“It is crucial that young people of diverse backgrounds and circumstances are exposed to the inspiration and confidence that come from having someone believe in them. ���ϲ�����’s position of educating leaders is a conduit to a better future,” said Coffey, who served for more than 20 years as a combat aviator in the U.S. Navy. “It is through community that we may come together and empower young people to achieve and gain self confidence.”

U.S. Air Force Lt. Cmdr. Sean Stumpf ’07 in the pilot’s seat of a C-130. (Photo courtesy of Sean Stumpf)

On Nov. 11, the Orange men’s football team faced the Pittsburgh Panthers at Yankee Stadium in New York City, marking 100 years since the two teams came together in 1923 to establish the collegiate football tradition at the historic baseball field. Taking place on Veterans Day this year, the game featured members from the University’s ROTC Color Guard presenting the national colors and a flyover by Lt. Col. Sean Stumpf ’07, a C-130 pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

In a poignant moment during the game, twin brothers and U.S. Army veterans were proudly featured as the game’s Hometown Heroes. The Watts twins both competed on the University’s track and field team in the early 1990s before serving in the U.S. Army. William stood in for both of the brothers on Saturday, as Clarence passed away due to complications from cancer in 2015.

���ϲ�����’s Hometown Hero presentation to William Watts ’94. (Photo by Dwayne Murray)

Michael Greifenstein, ’27, a military-connected student and broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School, was among a handful of winners from the OVMA’s Orange in the City competition, which paid for transportation to and from the game, accommodations in the city, tickets to the game and other ���ϲ�����-related festivities over the weekend.

“Getting to experience the 100th anniversary game, especially from the venue my girlfriend and I were in, was an unforgettable experience,” says Greifenstein. “Growing up as a Yankee fan and studying now as a ���ϲ����� student, this a time I won’t soon forget.”

From ���ϲ����� to New York City, OVMA Deputy Director Dwayne Murray ’91 played a crucial role behind the scenes to ensure a smooth celebration of Veterans Day at ���ϲ�����. Murray, who grew up in the Bronx and also competed on the University’s track and field team with the Watts Twins, shared his reflections on the weekend’s events.

“Spending time in Bronx while representing ���ϲ����� and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs on Veterans Day was an enchanting experience,” says Murray, who grew up close enough to Yankee Stadium to hear the cheers after a home run. “From the color guard and the flyover by one of our very own alums to the hometown hero presentation, Veterans Day just meant a little bit more this year.”

For more information about OVMA, or how you can support the University’s goal of being the “Best Place for Veterans,” visit the OVMA website at veterans.syr.edu.

It’s a term that’s often used to describe the culture found in a sports locker room, but in the case of the ���ϲ����� men’s basketball program, the student-athletes and coaches who make up the team truly feel like a family.

And beginning tonight when the Orange tip off the 2023-24 season at home against the University of New Hampshire, there will be a new yet very familiar face leading the Orange men’s basketball family.

, the former men’s basketball standout who served as Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim’s ’66, G’73 assistant and associate head coach for 12 years, begins his next great coaching challenge: leading his alma mater.

Adrian Autry

“This is a dream come true. For Coach Boeheim to stamp me [as his successor] and give me his blessings, it means the world to me and I don’t take that lightly,” says Autry, who earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from the .

“When I talk about our program and what it means to me … I love this place, I love Coach Boeheim and I love ���ϲ�����. This place was pivotal for me growing as a young man. Those years were important because I experienced everything there and I took everything I learned with me,” Autry says. “I especially learned about loyalty. The ���ϲ����� community, this University and our fans are loyal to the men’s basketball program, and that all comes back to the family part of it. I’ve always embraced that family atmosphere here.”

During a four-year playing career, Autry etched his name in the school’s record books as a prolific passer and tremendous defender. He still ranks fifth in program history in career assists and sixth in steals.��Following a successful playing career that included stints in Europe and across North and South America, Autry embarked on his second act: as a basketball coach, learning the Xs and Os of coaching from his mentor, Boeheim.

Autry stopped by the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast to discuss this exciting opportunity, and why he’s ready to take over and make his mark on the men’s basketball program.

Autry also reveals the lessons he’s learned from Boeheim, explores why his team will be fast-paced on offense and tenacious on defense, recalls his favorite memories from his playing days and shares why, from his first day on campus, ���ϲ����� has always felt like home.

Check out featuring Autry. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

Adrian Autry is the eighth head coach in ���ϲ����� men’s basketball program history.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Sidat-Singh’s death, which occurred a year after his entry into the U.S. military. Following rigorous testing, he joined the elite Tuskegee Airmen. His P-40 fighter went down during a training mission in 1943, killing the young airman, just four years after earning a bachelor’s degree from the .

Sidat-Singh’s life and legacy was recently honored during an event at the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building (NVRC), marking the 75th anniversary of desegregation of the U.S. military.

Even so, much of Sidat-Singh’s life remains undocumented. Award-winning journalist and author Scott Pitoniak ’77 and , the David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management in the , have written a years-in-the-making book that fills in the blanks of Sidat-Singh’s extraordinary but largely forgotten life.

Predicated on extensive research and interviews, their historical novel, “,” recently was published by Amplify/Subplot and is available online and in bookstores. The book was unveiled during the NVRC event, at which both authors discussed this remarkable student, athlete and veteran.

• Friday, Oct. 27 vs. Daemen
• Wednesday, Nov. 1�� vs. College of St. Rose
• Monday, Nov. 6 vs. New Hampshire
• Wednesday, Nov. 8 vs. Canisius
• Tuesday, Nov. 14 vs. Colgate
• Tuesday, Nov. 28 vs. LSU
• Tuesday, Dec. 5 vs. Cornell
• Tuesday, Jan. 23 vs. Florida State
• Wednesday, Feb. 7 vs. Louisville
• Tuesday, Feb. 27 vs. Virginia Tech

Access to Campus for Academic Purposes

Home lot parking permits will be honored until four hours prior to tip-off. Faculty and staff with valid University parking permits who need to access campus for academic purposes will be able to park in the following areas on a space-available basis:

Note: The garage will close one and a half hours after the game ends. If your parking needs are not met due to the garage closure, please contact Parking and Transportation Services.

Accessible parking for academic purposes will be provided in the lot designated on the face of the permit if space is available. If no spaces are available, permit holders will be directed to another location.

Access to Campus for Those Attending Basketball Games

If you are attending a game on any of the above dates, your regular parking permit will be honored at the��. Patrons will have access to transportation to and from College Place. If you have an accessible or medical permit, you may park in the����and ride the shuttle to Gate A, free of charge.

We ask for your support of these procedures so that we may provide academic access for the entire University community. If you have any questions or need to coordinate additional academic access, please contact Dee Bailey at��debailey@syr.edu��or by phone at 315.443.5319.

The arena lights run over 6,000 hours annually, which is equivalent to over 250 days. By using more efficient LED fixtures, the amount needed to light the arena has been nearly halved. This project will help the University reduce its carbon footprint by roughly 141 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) each year. CO2 equivalent is a metric used to compare and understand the impact of emissions from various greenhouse gas emissions based on their global warming potential. 141 metric tons of CO2e is equivalent to the emissions from over 100,000 pounds of coal burned.

The new LED lights (pictured right) represent a vast improvement over the old lighting fixtures at the Lally Athletics Complex arena.

Sustainability Management worked with Athletics to accurately schedule when the lights will be turned on and off. The new fixtures also have dimming capability which will provide additional savings and help prolong the lifetime of the fixtures.

Many of the old fixtures were originals from 1960, meaning the lighting circuitry was outdated and in need of an upgrade. Campus Planning, Design and Construction engineers designed the new lighting and circuitry layout, and organizing the fixtures into six zones which allow sections of the arena to be selectively dimmed or turned on/off, making the space more adaptable.

Assistant Director of Engineering, Utilities and Sustainability Jason Plumpton says, “This project is another great example of how we can improve the quality of campus facilities as we perform energy efficiency upgrades.”

Not only will the new lights improve lighting quality, but also benefit the environment. Sustainability Management and Campus Planning, Design and Construction have plans to install additional LED lights across campus. If you have any questions reach out to Sustainability Management at sustain@syr.edu or head to the website at .

This was part of a preservation effort to ensure that this important part of University history is sustained for long-term access. The digitization of the films was made possible through funding from Life Trustees Eric ’66, G’68 and Judith C. Mower ’66, G’73, G’80, Ph.D.’84, with additional financial support provided by Trustee Patricia H. ’64, G’66 and Louis A. Mautino ’61, G’62.

Of the 430 films digitized from the larger ���ϲ����� Audiovisual Collection, nearly 400 are now available through , the Libraries’ digital library portal. The content forms the core of the new , a virtual collection created for the digital library where materials can be searched by date, keyword and more. The new digital master files will be added to and actively preserved on the Libraries’ digital preservation platform, ensuring that access to these films will persist well into the future.

“These films document one of the great eras of ���ϲ����� football. They include substantial footage of the No. 44 greats Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little, as well as other notable players such as Larry Csonka, John Mackey, Fred Mautino, Lou Mautino and Jim Nance,” says Meg Mason, University Archivist. “They also document the team’s 1959 undefeated national championship season and the work of Coach Ben Schwartzwalder. There is so much history in these films, and we’re really excited to preserve them through digitization and share them with the campus community and beyond.”

“Like many analog formats held in the Libraries, the 16-millimeter films at the center of this project had become increasingly difficult to provide access to, both due to the obsolescence of playback equipment and the risks around physical deterioration of the media itself,” says Déirdre Joyce, head of the Digital Stewardship team and the Digital Library Program. “As such, digitization for the express purpose of content preservation has become our primary means of providing long-term access to audio-visual materials both now and into the future. This gift was both important and well-timed, helping us address some of the Libraries’ most at-risk content.”

“We’re grateful to Libraries’ donors like the Mowers and the Mautinos for their inspirational support in getting this important collection digitized,” says David Seaman, dean of the Libraries and University Librarian. “These football films represent much more than a sport. They document an important part of the University’s history during an historical period in America’s history. Ensuring this is captured for future generations is an essential undertaking that will have value long into the future.”

Faculty and staff and their guests are invited to the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle prior to the game to enjoy a performance by the Pride of the Orange Marching Band and food and beverage concessions.

The first 400 full-time, part-time or temporary faculty and staff with a faculty/staff ���ϲ����� I.D. to visit the pregame Faculty and Staff Appreciation tent on Shaw Quad will receive a game day gift and a $5 concession coupon that can be redeemed at the JMA Dome.

The week prior to the game, a drawing will be held to invite faculty and staff members to enjoy an enhanced game day experience, either via seat upgrades or an upgraded concessions voucher. Those who have purchased tickets prior to Sept. 4 will be eligible for the drawing. Winners will be notified prior to game day.

Tickets

Discounted tickets are priced at $10 each (300-level seating) or $15 each (200-level seating) for University faculty and staff, their children and their guests (up to a limit of 10). Faculty and staff may . Tickets can be purchased until the day of the event.

Food Drive to Benefit the Salvation Army

The Office of Community Engagement will host a food drive to benefit the Salvation Army at the game. Food collection barrels, as well as red kettles for those who prefer to make a monetary donation, will be placed at locations around campus as you approach the JMA Dome. There will be a drop-off barrel located at the Faculty and Staff Appreciation tent, so be sure to bring a non-perishable item with you to help the cause!

Parking

University parking permits will be honored for free game day parking at Skytop parking lot and the Comstock Avenue garage. For faculty and staff who do not already have University parking permits, a single one-time-use complimentary Skytop parking pass will be available for game day. These permits will be available for pickup on Tuesday, Sept. 5; Wednesday, Sept. 6; and Thursday, Sept. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Office of Human Resources, 621 Skytop Road, Suite 1001, with proof of a Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day game ticket and a ���ϲ����� I.D.

With questions about Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042 or email hrservice@syr.edu. With questions about football tickets, call the JMA Wireless Dome Box Office at 315.443.2121.

• Saturday, Sept. 2,��at 4 p.m. vs. Colgate
• Saturday, Sept. 9,��at 3:30 p.m. vs. Western Michigan
• Saturday, Sept. 23, Time TBA vs. Army
• Saturday, Sept. 30, Time TBA vs. Clemson
• Friday, Nov. 3,��at 7:30 p.m. vs. Boston College
• Saturday, Nov. 25, Time TBA vs. Wake Forest

Access to Campus for Academic Purposes

Home lot parking permits will not be honored on game days. Faculty and staff with valid University parking permits who need to access campus for��academic purposes��will be able to park in the following areas on a space-available basis:

• Comstock Avenue Garage
• University Avenue Garage

Note: Both garages will close two and a half hours after the game ends. If your parking needs are not met due to the garage closure, please .

Accessible parking for academic purposes will be provided in the lot designated on the face of the permit if space is available. If no spaces are available, permit holders will be directed to another location.

Access to Campus for Those Attending Football Games

If you are attending a game on any of the above dates, your regular parking permit will be honored at the Skytop Lot. Patrons will have access to transportation to and from College Place. If you have an accessible or medical permit, you may park in the Skytop Lot and ride the shuttle to Gate A, free of charge.

We ask for your support of these procedures so that we may provide academic access for the entire University community. If you have any questions or need to coordinate additional academic access, please contact Dee Bailey at��debailey@syr.edu��or by phone at 315.443.5319.

A $1M gift for a culinary hub in the John A. Lally Athletics Complex honors Joseph O. Lampe ’53, L’55, H’04.

“When Joe was a young boy, his father took him to all the football games. He even got to sit on the bench with the team, and he grew up determined to go to ���ϲ�����,” says Shawn. “I’ve never known someone to be so in love with his university. And he loved all sports. We often had to cancel social plans to stay home and watch ���ϲ����� basketball games on TV. As the new athletics complex was taking shape, I wanted to honor Joe there in some special way. It made sense to make a gift that would put his name on the kitchen that will nourish every student-athlete in the ‘One Team’ Olympic Sports Dining Hall and the Football Dining Hall.”

The Lampe Culinary Hub and dining halls are centrally located in the new John A. Lally Athletics Complex, which has entered a new phase of development and where on the new Football Operations Center and the “One Team” Olympics Sports Center. The new complex replaces what was once known as the Joseph and Shawn Lampe Athletics Complex. “As a real estate executive and a fundraiser, Joe understood how things must evolve to meet current needs and demands. I know he would be pleased to have his name in a location in the new athletics complex where there will be energy and intention to help students,” Shawn says.

“A native of ���ϲ�����, Joe bled Orange,” said Director of Athletics John Wildhack. “Every ���ϲ����� student, including each one of our student-athletes past, present and future, are the beneficiaries of Joe’s passion for the Block S. We are grateful for the generosity and commitment he and his wife, Shawn, make to the place we are all fortunate to call home.”

“Joe was generous in countless ways, giving of his time and wisdom and wealth, always trying to enhance the student experience from the classroom to the playing field,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “With his name forever present in the new athletics complex, generations to come will know of his contributions and impact on his alma mater.”

Joe Lampe’s connection to ���ϲ����� runs as far back as his birth at the former Hospital of the Good Shepherd in ���ϲ�����, now known as Huntington Hall. From birth until the day he died on Jan. 25, 2018, he was connected to the University. He earned a degree in speech and dramatic arts and continued his education at the College of Law. He served as a member of the Air Force Reserve at Hancock Field and was called to active duty after completing his law degree.

Joseph O. Lampe ’53, L’55, H’04

Though he did not return to ���ϲ�����, instead building a life and career in Arizona where he had been stationed, he remained connected to campus. He supported the Student-Athlete Fund and established the Joseph O. Lampe Endowed Scholarship, which is awarded to the captains of the football and men’s basketball teams. He also supported Our Time Has Come and College of Law scholarship funds, along with dozens of other scholarship programs. For the College of Visual and Performing Arts, he established the Iris L. Pérez Celis Fund to support studio arts majors from traditionally underrepresented groups.

“When Joe was ready to go to college, his father had a financial setback,” says Shawn. “That’s why he got the job in the cafeteria. He was a determined person. Nothing got in his way when he put his mind to something. He believed his education enabled him to be successful. Joe wanted to help students with financial challenges and give them opportunities to be successful.”

Lampe described his desire to make life better for others in a book about leadership, written by former ���ϲ����� Chancellor Kenneth A. “Buzz” Shaw. In “The Intentional Leader” (published Aug. 29, 2005), Lampe is quoted: “Work is important to me. I want to work hard and I want to believe that the work I am doing makes things better for people…It is important to me to believe that my time on earth results in the betterment of others.”

Shawn recalls that her husband’s work ethic, loyalty and determination applied to all his dealings with the University. He was on the College of Law Board of Advisors and the Chancellor’s Council. He served on the Board of Trustees beginning in 1987 and was its chairman from 1998 to 2004. “Joe barely missed a meeting, despite the difficulty in flying from Phoenix to ���ϲ�����. In fact, he kept a bag at the campus hotel, so it was ready for him on quick trips,” Shawn says.

In honor of Lampe’s contributions to the University and its students, ���ϲ����� recognized him with numerous awards, including the ���ϲ����� Athletics honorary Letterwinner of Distinction award in 2003, SU Alumni Award in 1984, the Distinguished Service Award from the College of Law in 1991, the George Arents Award for Business and Service to Alma Mater in 2003 and an honorary doctor of laws degree in 2004.

“I knew what Joe was passionate about,” says Shawn. “He had so much energy. Now, his name will live on in a place filled with positive energy.”

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About the Legends Society

The Legends Society is an exclusive group of ���ϲ����� fans, family and alumni who join in this shared vision and are actively supporting the John A. Lally Athletics Complex by making commitments to the capital campaign. Donors to the Legends Society enjoy unique stewardship opportunities in recognition of their support. .

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ�����

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ����� is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit����to learn more.

Construction continues at the JMA Wireless Dome on the installation of upgraded chairback seating and the introduction of new premium offerings throughout the venue.��The change from bench seating to chairback seating will create a new fan experience, including a new seating map and revised capacities for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s lacrosse games.

The new chairbacks will add comfort and accessibility for fans and feature a larger seat width and height. The changes to the seating will result in an adjustment to the number of seats in each row and section throughout the venue. Though the effect on each section will vary, some sections may decrease by up to 200 seats.

To accommodate these new capacities and revised seating maps, each season ticket holder will select a new seat through a coordinated seating process. The reseating process will begin in late summer with suite holders for all JMA Dome events and courtside seats for both men’s and women’s basketball. All current season ticket holders will have priority for seat selection in 2024-25.

“���ϲ����� Athletics is committed to presenting timely and transparent information to ensure a smooth transition for our loyal ticket holders throughout the reseating process,” says ’Cuse Athletics Fund (’CAF) Executive Director Michael Paulus. “We look forward to communicating this plan to our ’CAF members and donors in the coming months.”

The chairback seating that will replace the bench seating throughout the 100, 200 and 300 levels will be installed prior to the 2024 football season. Preparation work for the seating replacement is underway, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements, with widening of aisles to 48 inches, replacement of vomitory ramps, construction of new ADA seating platforms and railing replacements. Additionally, life safety improvements include installation of new fire sprinklers, fire alarm system upgrades and the addition of a building-wide smoke evacuation system.

Elements of the JMA Wireless Dome Transformation Project anticipated for the fall of 2023 include��5G capabilities and the Kuhn Game Day Lounge presented by Hidden Level. Enhancements to the JMA Dome began in 2020 with a $118 million construction project that included a new roof, lighting and air conditioning.

For the most up-to-date information on the JMA Wireless Dome Transformation Project, visit��. Alumni, fans and friends can visit the website to track construction progress, access seating and pricing updates, and sign up to become a Project Insider to receive notifications about the project.

Artist rendering of John A. Lally Athletics Complex

“I want to offer my sincere gratitude to all ’Cuse Athletics Fund members and donors who continue to step up and impact ���ϲ����� Athletics and ���ϲ����� through their support,” says Director of Athletics John Wildhack. “Providing competitive resources for our student-athletes, coaches and staff is a top priority, and we simply cannot pursue and accomplish this without you. We are immensely appreciative of your support across all levels and thank you for the impact you have on our student-athletes.”

Contributions to the ’Cuse Athletics Fund encompass all areas supporting ���ϲ����� Athletics, including annual giving to the Athletics Opportunity Fund, support to individual sports teams, priority seating and Legends Society commitments to the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

“We have been able to surpass significant milestones in supporting our student-athletes due to the collective support from our alumni, friends and fans,” says Michael Paulus, senior associate athletic director and executive director of ’CAF.�� “Every gift matters, and we want to thank the more than 11,300 members and donors who have supported ’CAF through our many avenues of giving and have a vital impact on ���ϲ����� Athletics.”

Support for ’CAF came at every gift level in 2022-23 to achieve a record number of donors. This year during the University wide day of giving—Boost the ’Cuse—���ϲ����� Athletics received gifts from more than 870 donors. The one-day total in giving was 2.5 times more than the amount raised in 2022 for the giving challenge. Annual support from Boost the ’Cuse for head coaches’ funds provides resources for recruiting, training and competing. Due to generous donor support, several teams were able to travel abroad for training trips in 2023, including men’s soccer to England and men’s and women’s rowing to the Henley Royal Regatta. Furthermore, donations from alumni and friends provided individual teams the ability to upgrade training technology, improve team spaces and invest in additional areas of programmatic support.

Most notably from the successful year, philanthropic major gifts from donors propelled the capital campaign to surpass $50 million in commitments and complete Phase 1 of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. The first step in this capital project was celebrated on Feb. 17, 2023, with a ribbon-cutting to formally open the Complex Entranceway. In May, the capital project reached another on a new Football Operations Center and “One Team” Olympic Sports Center. Anticipated completion of Phase 1 renovations is set for spring 2025.

Support through the Legends Society has provided momentum for the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, the new home of the Orange. The Legends Society, which serves as the leadership philanthropic giving arm of ’CAF and supports the John A. Lally Athletics Complex capital campaign, saw record growth during this fiscal year.

Since July 1, 2022, there have been 85 new Legends Society commitments, of which more than 65 were from first-time major gift donors to ���ϲ����� Athletics. With the addition of these new commitments, the Legends Society has eclipsed 191 donors as of June 30, 2023, including 20 donors who have committed $1 million or more. The support comes from across Orange Nation and includes donors from 20 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada.

Commitments to the Legends Society begin at $25,000 and are fulfilled over a period up to five years ($5,000 per year). The program encompasses six levels of commitments and extends up to $1 million or more. In recognition of their philanthropic leadership, donors of the Legends Society may enjoy unique stewardship experiences and engagement opportunities in alignment with their support.

“Our Legends Society donors have been critical to achieving the Phase 1 milestone and impacting the student-athlete experience for all our programs. We thank you for trusting the vision of the capital campaign and helping bring to fruition the first part of our new home at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex,” says Wildhack.

As construction continues on the Football Operations Center and the “One Team” Olympic Sports Center, fundraising will begin to support the anticipated next phase of the multi-year, multi-phase capital project. Phase 2 will include a Student-Athlete Development Center encompassing academic program support, tutoring space, mental health support and career counseling. The University also plans to construct a new Strength and Conditioning Performance Center and an updated Hall of Champions to recognize alumni successes and celebrate the accomplishments of Orange student-athletes in the classroom and on the field. This area will also serve as a gathering and event space.

The plans to renovate the existing footprint at the Lally Athletics Complex follow the in the fall of 2021 to raise $150 million to impact the student-athlete experience for all 20 sports programs and 600-plus student-athletes.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About the ’Cuse Athletics Fund

The ’Cuse Athletics Fund (’CAF) is the driving force of private support for ���ϲ����� Athletics. The goal of ’CAF is to provide the resources needed for our 600 student-athletes and 20 sports teams to excel in competition and the classroom. ’CAF relies on the support of annual members, alumni and major gift donors to provide these resources. Thanks to the commitment and passion of our supporters, ���ϲ����� Athletics leverages exceptional athletics and academics to transform student-athletes into leaders and champions. .

About the Legends Society

The Legends Society is an exclusive group of ���ϲ����� fans, family and alumni who join in this shared vision and are actively supporting the John A. Lally Athletics Complex by making commitments to the capital campaign. Donors to the Legends Society enjoy unique stewardship opportunities in recognition of their support.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ�����

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ����� is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.

Introduction to Sport Social Work is an elective course created by Associate Teaching Professor of Social Work in collaboration with Rachel Hamilton, a master’s of social work student who’s currently interning with . Marfilius will teach the course and Hamilton will be his research assistant, and here’s an excerpt from the course description:

Introduction to Sport Social Work: Applying a strength-based perspective to promote the health and well-being of student-athletes through a social justice framework. Through course readings, students will learn about sport social work theory, interprofessional collaboration, and understanding the well-being issues of athletes. Course assignments will help students gain knowledge in applying strength-based perspectives within engagement, assessment, and interventions with athletes.

Rachel Hamilton

In recent years, more professional and collegiate sports teams have added mental health professionals to their staffs. But a professional with a social work degree provides teams with what Hamilton describes as a “macro and micro mix.”

“You’ve got an individual who can see something from the micro level of the individual who’s right in front of them, but also can zoom out and look at the societal trends, the trends within athletics, and the policies in place to evaluate what can be done to improve those policies and make it easier for athletes to feel supported in their mental health and well-being,” Hamilton says.

“With social workers, it’s that vast scale and scope of skill sets that make the difference,” Hamilton adds. “It’s not just a clinical degree. It can be, if that’s what you want it to be, but as an advanced clinical student, I’m also having to take classes like social welfare policy that are more organizationally based and macro-based. With that knowledge, even if I do just want to work one-on-one with an individual, I still have the ability and the skill set to look at it from the macro perspective.”

“It’s never been a part of our program before, and Rachel and Ken are educating me about utilizing it because we want to have as many tools in our toolbox as possible,” says , the senior associate athletics director of sports medicine in the athletic department. “In college athletics, we are continually challenged to identify new ways to best serve our student-athletes, and this program has the potential to provide us with another resource to help serve the bigger purpose.”

‘Mental Health Linchpin’

Marfilius and Hamilton are both former athletes; Marfilius competed for ���ϲ�����’s rowing team, and Hamilton was a member of a varsity cross country team in Maine that won multiple high school state championships. Hamilton’s husband is former ���ϲ����� football player Macky MacPherson, who went on to play for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and coach Division I college football.

Ken Marfilius

Hamilton, a student member of the Alliance for Social Workers in Sport and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, is the first social work student to intern in the athletic department. Marfilius, an Air Force veteran whose primary research focus has been on military populations and veterans, had started building a course on social work and sports and was assigned as Hamilton’s field placement supervisor for her internship with athletics.

Together, they refined the course that Marfilius had started to build by incorporating that “macro” strength-based view that goes beyond general mental health support.

“It could be a student-athlete who comes from a challenging background with adverse childhood experiences and what we find, just like with the military, is that at 18 years old those experiences aren’t left behind,” Marfilius says. “They bring those with them–in addition to the pressure and the competition and the academics–and we look at both individual needs and systemic and structural needs of student-athletes and organizations.”

Marfilius says social workers can serve as a team’s “mental health linchpin,” helping directly with mental health-related issues or making referrals to other mental health professionals when appropriate. Mitchell says he views social workers as another potential source of education for student-athletes who don’t know what resources are available or have tried to cope privately with their problems because they didn’t want to seek help.

“We want to build trust by educating them and letting them know we have their best interests at heart,” Mitchell says. “If they can trust us when everything is going great, it increases the trust when things are not going as well.”

A Growing Demand

Marfilius says the new course is also ideal for students interested in sports administration, coaching or working with athletes.

David Sobczak, who was a student assistant coach for the ���ϲ����� football team and is now a coach at the University of Akron, pursued a Social Work degree at Falk College because it taught him how to communicate with players who didn’t come from the same background.

“I was interested in working with student-athletes, but there were not a lot of universities, if any, that have a social work program that’s so heavily integrated into a school that offered sport management and sport analytics,” Hamilton says. “I believe that’s why I was able to break into the athletics department for my internship hours.”

Hamilton says her internship started with her interest in working with student-athletes on their mental health challenges but has evolved to look at how student-athletes can be supported from a systemic level. Marfilius says the Sport Social Work course will provide students with a similar opportunity to explore both sides.

“Just that exposure alone, and to have that understanding of what sport social work really is at a macro level, allows them to then look at their career trajectory in a different way,” Marfilius says. “But also, as a career choice, we have more folks who are entering this niche of a field.”

Hamilton says her long-range goal is creating a sport social work program at ���ϲ����� that will meet what will eventually be a growing demand for social workers in the industry.

“Sports acts like a microcosm; there are leadership positions and administrative positions where you can utilize your social work skills to perform well,” Hamilton says. “There are support roles, mental health roles, and your traditional counseling roles, but also this skill set is invaluable to help navigate personality dynamics and group dynamics, and understanding the ways in which you can integrate and use those skills.”

This marks the second consecutive victory parade with an Orange connection. , the women’s basketball coach, served as grand marshal of last year’s Juneteenth celebrations.

Adrian Autry ’94

“It’s just an honor and a privilege to be grand marshal, and I’m excited to take part in this celebration that’s so important to our community,” Autry says. “The University is a big part of our city, and we support that community. To represent the University and be with our community on a day that is special means a lot to me.”

The victory parade is part of the city’s 33rd annual Juneteenth Cultural Festival, which takes place June 16-17 in Clinton Square downtown. This year’s celebration is the second in ���ϲ����� since Juneteenth became an acknowledged New York state holiday in 2020 and a federal holiday in 2021.

Autry, a native of Harlem, New York, will be riding at the front of the parade route sporting his customary ���ϲ����� gear. The parade begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 17, with Autry riding at the front of the procession. The parade route starts at the Dunbar Center on South State Street and concludes in front of City Hall.

At the conclusion of the victory parade, Juneteenth festivities will continue at City Hall from 1 to 10 p.m.

Autry is a devoted family man, and he’s excited that his wife, Andrea, and their daughter, Nina, will be in attendance for the parade and subsequent Juneteenth celebrations.

“Being not only a basketball coach, but a mentor and a community figure, that’s what you want to do, help teach others about our history. This provides an opportunity for me to give these children who attend Juneteenth hope, and to show the progress that’s been made. Our country is all about opportunity and progress,” Autry says.

In March, Autry was announced as the eighth head coach in the history of the Orange men’s basketball program.

Autry appeared in 121 games (116 starts) during a four-year career playing for Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim ’66, G’73 from 1990-94. He still ranks fifth in program history in career assists (631) and sixth in career steals (217).

Autry joined Boeheim’s staff as an assistant head coach in 2011 before being promoted to associate head coach in March 2017. He earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication (now communication and rhetorical studies) from the College of Visual and Performing Arts and was honored as a ���ϲ����� LetterWinner of Distinction in 2016. He later received the prestigious Vic Hanson Award from the Hardwood Club in 2017.

After their hard-earned National Championship season, the ���ϲ����� men’s soccer team wanted to respond in gratitude back to the community and held a meet and greet with youngsters at the Boys & Girls Club.

Team members ’22 and ’24 started a program, Sincere Impact, to show their appreciation to the community. During their first event, in April, members of the team held a meet and greet with youngsters through the Boys & Girls Club and organized a clothing giveaway.

“As members of the men’s soccer team, Julius and I were overwhelmed by the support we received from the community during our National Championship season in 2022,” says Singelmann, who earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the and the and is pursuing a graduate degree in economics from the Maxwell School. “Witnessing the impact our success had on the City of ���ϲ����� was truly humbling and inspiring. We knew we wanted to give back, and that’s when we came up with the idea to start a clothing drive.”

The response from fellow student-athletes and other University members was overwhelming.

“We extend our gratitude to all our team members for their generous contributions of over 400 articles of clothing, which surpassed our expectations of making a significant impact,” says Rauch, a double major in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises and finance in the . “In collaboration with the ���ϲ����� Athletic Department and our fellow student-athletes, we gathered more than 1,500 gently used pieces of clothing that met our donation standards.”

The Athletics equipment staff assisted in sorting and cleaning the donated items to ensure they were in top condition.

Members of the men’s soccer team enjoyed spending time at the Boys & Girls Club and interacting with the youngsters.

Members of the University’s , Kate Flannery, executive director of community engagement, and Cydney Johnson, vice president of community engagement and government relations, connected Singelmann and Rauch with the Boys & Girls Clubs of ���ϲ����� to set up an event.

“The student-athletes coming to the Boys & Girls Club on Shonnard Street provided a very positive and genuine experience for our neighbors on the near West Side,” says Johnson. “The club was thrilled to host the student-athletes and share a meal with them, along with activities and general fun time.”

The members of the soccer team enjoyed spending time at the club and interacting with the youngsters.

“It was truly heartwarming to witness the impact we were able to make on the kids from the Boys & Girls Club,” Singelmann says. “Our organization was founded with the goal of having a sincere and direct impact on the community by providing necessities while also fostering relationships with the youth.”

Rauch says the whole experience was impactful to him—to just hang out and play basketball, offer them a variety of gear and share some pizza and cookies together—and the best part was the chance to reinforce to the children how much they are valued and loved.

Members of the men’s soccer team organize clothing as part of a meet and greet and clothing giveaway at the Boys & Girls Club.

“In addition to the satisfaction of spending time with members of our community, we were overwhelmed by the gratitude we received and how fulfilling it was to see the children enjoy themselves,” Rauch says.

Singelmann also enjoyed spending time playing foosball, pool and basketball with the youngsters and building connections.

“I am excited about the potential to strengthen our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of ���ϲ����� and have even more events like this in the future,” Singelmann says. “Our mission is to help create an environment in which the young people of ���ϲ����� can thrive and reach their full potential, and I am proud to be a part of that mission.”

Rauch agrees, noting they want to continue to build a strong relationship with the organization by partnering on future events.

“I would like to express my appreciation to the staff, children and families of the Boys & Girls Clubs of ���ϲ����� for welcoming us into their community,” Rauch says. “We intend to continue providing the children with support in any way possible. More importantly, we aspire to foster an unwavering sense of belonging and confidence in every one of them.”

Men’s soccer players Julius Rauch ’24 and Noah Singelmann ’22 organized a clothing giveaway for an event at the Boys & Girls Club.

Otto the Orange

���ϲ����� is home to many incredible legends who have been inducted into various hall of fames, including Dave Bing ’66, H’06; Jim Boeheim ’66, G’73; Jim Brown ’57; Eileen Collins ’78, H’01; Gary Gait ’91; Floyd Little ’67, H’16; Roy Simmons Jr. ’58 and Kathrine Switzer ’68, G’72, H’18, just to name a few. It should come as no surprise then that ���ϲ�����’s own Otto the Orange is a contender for the Class of 2023’s Mascot Hall of Fame.

Beginning today, you can start casting your votes once per day for 14 days for our beloved Otto by visiting the . Voting ends on Saturday, May 27. Your vote can count for even more when you become a .

Otto is always ready to cheer on our teams.

Otto is up against , including eight from the major leagues, three from the minor leagues, five from the NCAA and one from an independent program. If accepted, Otto would be among the first 10 college mascots ever inducted and would join the following:

• YoUDee (University of Delaware)
• Smokey (University of Tennessee)
• Nittany Lion (Penn State University)
• Lil’ Red (University of Nebraska)
• Bucky Badger (University of Wisconsin)
• Brutus Buckeye (Ohio State University)
• Big Red (Western Kentucky University)
• Aubie (Auburn University)

Otto has fans of all ages.

Otto has some serious competition though, including familiar rivals from the Atlantic Coast Conference:

• Buzz (Georgia Tech)
• Rameses (University of North Carolina)
• The Blue Devil (Duke University)

Help Otto win by voting every day and encouraging other Orange fans to do the same. “No matter who you are—student, alum, staff or faculty member, community member, even if you have never seen Otto before—you can’t help but smile when you see that ball of Orange spirit,” says Shannon Andre, executive director of communications for Student Experience and former Otto during the ���ϲ����� men’s basketball iconic six overtime game. “Otto brings such joy and positivity everywhere they go, and I don’t think there’s another mascot that has the same effect on people. And there’s certainly no other mascot built like Otto! Otto is truly one-of-a-kind and that’s why everyone should vote for Otto.”

Young or old, everyone loves Otto.

Otto has brought spirit, pride and joy to not only the ���ϲ����� community since the early 1980s, but also the greater Central New York community. Just in the last year Otto has participated in 409 events on campus, 181 events within a 5-mile radius of campus and 73 events within a 30-mile radius and 92 events 30 miles or more away from campus. Sixteen percent of those events were in the Central New York community at places like the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

“Having Otto attend our events adds another layer of excitement and surprise to an already fun-filled day. With their exuberant spirit and contagious grin, Otto has a big impact on our family-fun events,” says Heidi Strong, director of development for the zoo.

Mascot coach of the Otto program Julie Walas knows the work Otto puts in to celebrate with the Orange community every day.

“Otto’s been at graduations, move-ins and drop-offs, birthday parties, community events, playgrounds and parks,” Walas says. “Otto’s traveled the world to be with fans during their big moments—this gives the fans and the community a chance to thank and celebrate and recognize all the joy that Otto brings for each of us.”

“While the national landscape in college athletics is changing rapidly, ���ϲ����� student-athletes remain focused on their academic success as evident with this latest APR report,” says Assistant Provost for Student-Athlete Academic Development Tommy Powell. “This success, sustained over 11 consecutive years, demonstrates the commitment to academic success by our extraordinary student-athletes, coaches, support staff, University administration and faculty.”

For the fourth year in a row, ���ϲ�����’s men’s cross country, men’s track & field and women’s volleyball teams scored a perfect 1,000 APR multi-year score, while women’s ice hockey also achieved that mark this year.

The NCAA also tracks one-year APR scores for every team. In 2021-22, 12 teams posted a perfect score, which ties for third on the list of the most teams to achieve a perfect single-year score. Women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, ice hockey, women’s lacrosse, women’s rowing, men’s soccer, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, and women’s volleyball all posted a perfect 1,000 APR.

The APR score follows individual student and total program progression at each Division I institution, tracking student-athletes by assigning points for each semester they remain eligible and for staying enrolled or graduating.

Every ���ϲ����� team surpassed the minimum standard of 930 (a perfect score is 1,000). The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years.

For three days earlier this spring, two of the University’s emerging student leaders—Malique Lewis ’24 and —were granted an opportunity to observe and learn from cadets and military leaders during the annual McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character. Their day-to-day lives are examples of the hard work, dedication and determination required of a leadership role in the military.

Julius Rauch (left) and Malique Lewis (right) attended the annual McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character along with Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation J. Michael Haynie (center).

In their own distinct ways, Lewis and Rauch lead by example on campus. Lewis, a Posse Scholar, is the co-creator and co-founder of the Black Student Union who has served as chief of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility and chief of staff for the . He’s also an engagement associate for .

Rauch, a member of the national championship-winning , is a leader on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. His commitment to academic success netted him the Elite 90 award from the National Collegiate Athletics Association for having the highest GPA in the country, the first Orange student-athlete to earn the honor.

The lessons learned and experiences gained at the McDonald Conference were both affirming and life-changing for Lewis and Rauch, who emerged from the three-day conference feeling motivated to be agents of change on campus and in the community.

“I learned so much. In everything you do in life, lead honorably, hold your peers accountable and don’t give up on someone when they come up short. We need more of that in society. We all have duties to carry out. When you live honorably, like the West Point cadets do, you’re doing something bigger than yourself,” says Lewis, a junior studying communications and rhetorical studies in the .

Malique Lewis (left), Bob McDonald (center), and Julius Rauch (right) during the annual McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character.

“Walking around West Point, talking with the cadets, you just see it everywhere. Their leadership stands for duty, honor and country. It was such an amazing and immersive experience,” adds Rauch, a sophomore double major in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises and finance in the .

“The biggest takeaway was, if you really want to be successful in any organization, lead by example and be the change you wish to see in the community, take care of the people you work with. It’s about how many changes you can make and how those changes will affect the people around you,” Rauch says.

The annual McDonald Conference aims to bring together a diverse and talented group consisting of some of the best undergraduate student leaders from across the world to meet with and learn from senior military leaders who can serve as their mentors.

The result? Attendees like Lewis and Rauch honed their leadership, critical thinking and collaboration skills, emerging with a newfound appreciation for leaders doing the right thing, even when that task is arduous.

“My definition of leadership is that leaders help create more leaders, so I wanted to learn as much as I could about leadership at West Point and bring it back to campus,” Lewis says. “When we have these experiences, when we are given these amazing opportunities, it’s our obligation to share that wisdom and help everyone understand the lessons we learned and share that knowledge with our community. That’s how we create a better world.”

A group photo taken during the annual McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character at West Point.

Leadership lessons were also delivered by two of the conference’s keynote speakers, Mark Shapiro, president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Seema R. Hingorani, managing director and strategic client and talent engagement lead at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. The attendees heard their perspectives on effective leadership, engaged in a Q&A with the speakers, then discussed the key takeaways in small breakout sessions.

Rauch and Lewis were both struck by the profound lessons taught on the importance of leaders holding themselves (and their peers) accountable for their actions while not making excuses when things don’t pan out.

“I see it as my obligation to help as much as I possibly can here on campus. To do that, I need to learn to take full ownership of everything that happens,” says Rauch, believed to be the only Division I student-athlete invited to attend the conference. “If you take ownership, you work even harder because there’s no room for excuses. Being a good person and working as hard as you possibly can—together, those two things are the formula for success.”

Ed Pettinella

“We are grateful for the support and leadership of Ed and his family.��Their commitment to the John A Lally Athletics Complex and the JMA Wireless Dome will enhance the experience for all of our student-athletes at ���ϲ����� and our fans who attend events at the JMA Wireless Dome,” says Athletic Director John Wildhack. “Ed’s gift provides tremendous momentum to two projects that are critical components of our long term vision for ���ϲ����� Athletics.”

This new commitment will support Phase 1 of the ongoing John A. Lally Athletics Complex project, which includes the construction of the One Team Olympic Sports Center and the Football Operations Center. These two facilities will combine to support all 600 student-athletes and include updated dining and nutrition spaces, locker rooms, and medical training and strength and conditioning facilties. Additionally, a portion of this commitment will support the JMA Wireless Dome Transformation Project and the construction of Miron Victory Court.

Pettinella has been an influential and impactful figure on ���ϲ�����’s campus for years. He first arrived at ���ϲ����� to pursue an MBA after graduating with a B.S. degree from SUNY Geneseo in 1973 and beginning his career at Community Savings Bank (CSB). After earning an MBA in 1976, he returned to CSB to blaze a trail as the bank’s first investment analyst. In the years following, he continued to build his impressive resume in banking as the president of Charter One Bank of NY and executive vice president of Charter One Financial Inc., as well as several management positions with Rochester Community Savings Bank, including chief operating officer, chief financial officer and chief investment officer. In 2001, Pettinella joined Home Properties, which owns, operates, develops, acquires and rehabilitates apartment communities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. After initially serving as the executive vice president, he became president and chief executive officer and ran the company’s $7 billion real estate investment trust.

“Ed’s generosity is matched by his vision and informed by his business acumen,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “He invests his time and philanthropy in faculty and academic initiatives that enhance both research and teaching, and in projects that transform the total student experience, both inside and outside the classroom. We are a much stronger university because of Ed.”

Pettinella’s success as a businessman is rivaled only by his impact on the communities in which he lives and works. In addition to his service as a ���ϲ����� Trustee, Pettinella is a member of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management Advisory Council and the Kuhn Real Estate Center Advisory Board. He received Whitman’s Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award in recognition of his career accomplishments and dedication to ���ϲ�����,. He was also named SU Dritz Trustee of the Year in 2016. His leadership philanthropy funded two professorships at Whitman and a scholarship for athletic graduate students. With the announcement of this new $3 million gift to support ���ϲ����� Athletics, Pettinella and his family continue to lead the way in providing the resources ���ϲ�����’s ��faculty, coaches and students need to be successful. Their generosity also advances the Forever Orange Campaign, the comprehensive effort to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support for the University.

“As a proud ���ϲ����� alumnus, it’s an honor to support the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, the JMA Wireless Dome Transformation Project and the Miron Victory Court as these projects are very instrumental to the future of ���ϲ����� Athletics,” says Pettinella. “The combination of superior academics and exceptional athletics provides the student body with an unrivaled collegiate experience. I look forward with enthusiastic anticipation to watching our future students and student-athletes gain tremendous life experiences from these outstanding projects.”

The John A. Lally Athletics Complex and the reflect the commitment by ���ϲ����� to provide the best possible experience to all student-athletes, coaches, alumni and fans by improving infrastructure and resources that support all of ���ϲ�����’s athletic programs. When complete, the will be a state-of-the-art academic and athletic village featuring a new Football Operations Center, One Team Olympic Sport Center and new Academic Center to serve all 20 sports teams and 600-plus student-athletes. The to reimagine the stadium experience, includes installation of upgraded seating and new premium offerings throughout the historic venue.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About the Legends Society

The Legends Society is an exclusive group of ���ϲ����� fans, family and alumni who join in this shared vision and are actively supporting the John A. Lally Athletics Complex by making commitments to the capital campaign. Donors to the Legends Society enjoy unique stewardship opportunities in recognition of their support.

About the JMA Wireless Dome Transformation Project

aims to enhance the game day experience for all ���ϲ����� fans, student-athletes, coaches, students and alumni. The second phase of the project, which was announced in December, includes the installation of upgraded chairback seating throughout a majority of the Dome and the introduction of new premium offerings, building upon earlier enhancements that included the installation of a new roof, the largest center-hung video scoreboard in college sports, air conditioning throughout the venue, lighting and sound enhancements, and an improved concessions experience.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ�����

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ����� is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit����to learn more.

Adrian Autry

built his credentials as a player and coach under his mentor, Hall of Fame head coach and colleague . Autry is now set to make his own mark as the eighth head coach of the ���ϲ����� men’s basketball program.

“Thirty-three years ago, I arrived at ���ϲ����� a young man from Harlem, New York. I always say that I was the easiest McDonald’s All-American you ever had to recruit. From day one, Coach took me under his wing, as a player and most recently as a coach,” Autry said during last week’s press conference, as he was officially introduced as the new head coach. “It has been an honor to play for and coach with you. I’m excited to begin this next chapter.”

During the press conference, Orange fans got to know a bit more about the four-year letterwinner and a hint at what they might expect as Autry continues the proud legacy of ���ϲ����� men’s basketball.

1. Vision for the Program

Autry was quick to state he has no plans to reinvent a program that entered the 2022-23 season as the sixth-winningest program in the NCAA.

“I am a new voice, a new face with new ideas. But the standards that have helped build this program will not change,” Autry said.

“We want to be versatile on both ends of the floor. We want to be aggressive and get up and down [the court]. Just being able to adapt and for right now, that’s where we’re starting. As we go, we’ll adapt to the personnel we have. But for right now, the one thing we want to do is play with some space and pace and get up and down the court.”

2. Passing the Torch

Autry joined Boeheim’s staff as an assistant head coach in 2011 before being promoted to associate head coach in March 2017. He succeeds Boeheim, who amassed a career record of 1,015-441 and guided the Orange to the 2003 national championship, five Final Four appearances, 19 Sweet 16 berths and 35 trips to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament during his tenure.

Autry credited Boeheim for instilling in him a desire to “never lower your standards for your team and players. And the consistency. … Come in and go after it every day,” Autry said.

Boeheim gave Autry his full endorsement.

“I’ve known Adrian Autry since he was 16 years old. He scored 30 points in New York City against [future NBA player] Kenny Anderson and I said ‘that’s a guy we need to get to come to ���ϲ�����.’ A few years ago, we needed to get him to come back [to be on the staff] and he came back. He’s a great coach. Adrian Autry can coach. He knows how to coach. There will be no problem coaching going forward. None. … ���ϲ����� basketball is being left in the best of hands,” he said.

3. There’s Nowhere Like the JMA Wireless Dome

Among the many reasons why this position appeals to Autry are the home court advantage provided by the tremendous support from Orange fans and the JMA Wireless Dome—aka the Loud House, which can hold as many as 35,642 fans—and the fact that ���ϲ����� is one of the most accomplished college basketball programs in the country.

“To the fans, that make up Orange Nation, the ones who fill up the seats in the Loud House, the ones who cheered me on as a player, the ones who support this program whether we’re winning or losing, thank you,” Autry said. “Representing the Orange is special because of you. There is nowhere else in America like the Dome.”

4. 2-3 or Not 2-3?

When Autry was asked whether he will continue to have his team play the trademark 2-3 zone defense Boeheim was known for, or switch it up to a man-to-man defense, it drew laughs from Autry and those in attendance.

“We’ll be versatile. We will do whatever it takes for us to win the game. That’s the main goal, to win the game. So, whatever that may be, that’s what we’ll play,” Autry said.

5. Proud Family Man

Autry and his wife, Andrea, reside in Jamesville, with a son, Trey, and a daughter, Nina. They are also proud parents of two Orange alumni: Aliyah ’17 and Adrian Jr. ’19. The family watched as their father was named the next head coach of a university that means so much to each of them.

“I want to thank my family for your support, for allowing me the freedom to sometimes miss birthdays, anniversaries and sporting events, all in the name of basketball. You have been with me for every step of the way. You keep me grounded, and you support me in so many ways,” Autry said.

The Autry File

• Was a McDonald’s All-American in 1990 at St. Nicholas of Tolentine in the Bronx and helped lead his team to a New York state championship in 1988.
• With the Orange, Autry appeared in 121 games (116 starts) during a four-year career from 1990-94. He still ranks fifth in program history in career assists (631) and sixth in career steals (217).
• As a student-athlete, his teams made the NCAA tournament three times: 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1993-94.
• Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication (now communication and rhetorical studies) from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
• Returned to the Hill as an Orange assistant coach before the 2011-12 season and was promoted to associate head coach in March of 2017.
• Coached the Orange’s forwards, including eventual NBA draft picks Jerami Grant, Tyler Lydon and Chris McCullough and NBA G-League standouts C.J. Fair, Tyler Roberson and Andrew White.
• ���ϲ����� played in the NCAA Tournament in seven of his 12 seasons as an assistant coach, including advancing to the Final Four in both 2013 and 2016.
• Was honored as a ���ϲ����� LetterWinner of Distinction in 2016, and received the prestigious Vic Hanson Award from the Hardwood Club in 2017.
• Nicknamed “Red” for his red head of hair.

Jim Boeheim

“There is no doubt in my mind that without Jim Boeheim, ���ϲ����� Basketball would not be the powerhouse program it is today,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “Jim has invested and dedicated the majority of his life to building this program, cultivating generations of student-athletes and representing his alma mater with pride and distinction. I extend my deep appreciation and gratitude to an alumnus who epitomizes what it means to be ‘Forever Orange.’”

In addition to the national title he and the 2003 team brought home during his 47 years as ���ϲ�����’s head coach, the Orange has made 35 trips to the NCAA Tournament, including Final Four appearances in 1987, 1996, 2003, 2013 and 2016. Boeheim, a four-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year, has been honored as National Association of Basketball Coaches District II Coach of the Year 10 times and United States Basketball Writers Association District II Coach of the Year on four occasions.

“I have spent my entire career surrounded by the biggest and best names in professional and intercollegiate athletics. Few people are on the same playing field as Coach Boeheim,” says John Wildhack ’80, director of athletics. “Jim Boeheim is synonymous with excellence, grit and determination. Jim is a rare breed of coach, building a program that is among the best in college basketball for nearly five decades. I am incredibly grateful for what he has done for ���ϲ����� Basketball, ���ϲ����� Athletics and ���ϲ����� as a whole.”

Autry, a ���ϲ����� alumnus whose family bleeds Orange, played for Boeheim from 1990-94 and went on to a successful professional career, playing primarily in European leagues, as well as in the United States Basketball League (USBL). He began his coaching career in 2006 when he was hired as associate head coach at Bishop Ireton Catholic High School (Virginia) and went on to coach powerhouse AAU programs. Autry moved into the collegiate ranks in 2008 when he was hired by then-head coach Seth Greenburg as director of basketball operations at Virginia Tech. He was later promoted to an assistant coach post. He was named assistant coach at ���ϲ����� prior to the 2011-12 season and was promoted to associate head coach in March 2017.

Adrian Autry

“There have been very few stronger influential forces in my life than ���ϲ����� and Jim Boeheim. They have both played such important roles and without either of them, I am certain I would not have this incredible opportunity before me,” says Autry. “I have spent much of my time in the game of basketball learning from Jim and am so grateful to him for preparing me to carry on the winning tradition that is Orange Basketball. It’s hard to imagine a world without him on the bench, but together with our coaches, student-athletes and fans, we will build on decades of success as a winning program.”

“It’s rare that a program has as deep of a coaching bench as we do here at ���ϲ�����,” says Wildhack. “We are fortunate to have someone of Coach Autry’s talent, experience and character taking the reins of ���ϲ����� basketball. Not only is he an exceptional Xs and Os coach, he’s also an outstanding recruiter, selfless mentor, dedicated community leader and a passionate Orange ambassador. I am thrilled to see what he will do with this program as its head coach.”

At ���ϲ�����, Autry has worked closely with eventual NBA draft picks Jerami Grant, Tyler Ennis, Oshae Brissett, Tyler Lydon and Chris McCullough. Grant has enjoyed tremendous success in the NBA, while Lydon, McCullough and additional Autry protégés C.J. Fair and Andrew White have excelled in the NBA G-League. Autry coaches the ���ϲ����� forwards and recruits all positions for the Orange. ���ϲ����� has played in the NCAA Tournament in seven of his 12 campaigns as an assistant, including Final Four trips in 2013 and 2016. In November 2016, Autry was honored as a ���ϲ����� LetterWinner of Distinction and in 2017 he received the prestigious Vic Hanson Award from the Hardwood Club.

Autry and his wife, Andrea, reside in Jamesville, with a son, Trey, and a daughter, Nina. They are also parents of a daughter, Aliyah, and a son Adrian Jr., both whom graduated from ���ϲ�����.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming to ���ϲ�����—I had never been to Upstate New York,” he told an audience that filled the Maxwell School Auditorium on Feb. 17. “I looked around and I didn’t see many people who looked like me. It was a rude awakening for me because, from kindergarten through 12^th grade, I never went to school with anybody who didn’t look like me.”

Dave Bing ’66 , H’06, NBA legend, former mayor of Detroit and Maxwell School alumnus, reflected on his life experiences and efforts to uplift others during a recent Renewing Democratic Community talk with Professor Chris Faricy, right, associate professor of political science and the inaugural Hicker Family Professor in Renewing Democratic Community. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

The NBA Hall of Fame member and former Detroit mayor reflected on his early days on campus at the start of the conversation-style event moderated by Chris Faricy, associate professor of political science and the inaugural Hicker Family Professor in Renewing Democratic Community. The talk was part of a speaker series celebrating the creation of the professorship with a gift by Bing’s former Orange teammate, George Hicker ’68 and his wife, Kathy.

Bing shared how the University’s student body of roughly 14,000 included only 100 Black students when he attended. Bing said he felt the sting of inequality and racism off campus and when traveling to games—once, he said, Coach Fred Lewis threatened to forfeit and take the team back to ���ϲ����� after a hotel clerk directed the Black players to stay at a different hotel.

However, among his teammates and on campus, Bing said he found a community. “I received, in my opinion, an education not necessarily just in academics but in people,” he said. “What I cherish most here at ���ϲ����� are the relationships that I developed, the friendships that I developed, the respect that we had for each other—not only as basketball players, but as people, because all of us came from different backgrounds.”

He added, “We all accepted each other for who we were, and we know we needed each other to deliver the dream that we had.”

A Feb. 17, 2023, talk by Dave Bing ’66, H’06 was part of the Renewing Democratic Community Speaker Series that celebrates a gift by Bing’s teammate, George Hicker, and his wife, Kathy. Bing is shown with, from left, Kathy Hicker, George Hicker ’68 B.A. (PSc), Professor Chris Faricy and Maxwell School Dean David M. Van Slyke. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Bing was recruited to ���ϲ����� by football legends Ernie Davis ’62 and John Mackey ’63 B.A. He became lifelong friends with roommate and teammate Jim Boeheim ’66, G’73, now head coach of the men’s basketball team. With the fifth highest scoring average in the nation, Bing earned a spot on the All-American team and was drafted second overall by the NBA’s Detroit Pistons in 1966. He became one of the most celebrated basketball players of his era—the NBA named him to its Hall of Fame and in 1996 designated him one of its 50 greatest players of all time. In 2021, he was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Faricy shared obstacles Bing faced, which are outlined in his 2020 autobiography, “Attacking the Rim: My Journey from NBA Legend to Business Leader to Big-City Mayor to Mentor.” He played, for instance, with limited vision from a childhood eye injury, and he was a married father while playing basketball for the University.

Turning the conversation to civil rights, Faricy asked Bing if he has seen changes in the role of student athletes from when he was on campus to modern movements such as Black Lives Matter.

Bing talked about the inequality he saw and noted activists at the time such as Stokely Carmichael, Malcolm X, H. Rap Brown, Angela Davis and Martin Luther King Jr. “As a youngster at that time, looking at all of them and what they were about and the things that they were exposing, it was easy, I think, to become angry and disillusioned with the system because we didn’t think, even back then, that we were treated fairly. There was no equality.”

He added, “Fast-forward to today. There may have been some improvements in certain areas, but we have the same problems today. … And until such time we admit the fact that there is a major, major underclass in this country that needs help and figure out how we do that, how we help the less fortunate, how we try to treat them as equals, we’re going to continue down this road.”

Faricy shared Bing’s success in promoting economic development, particularly in underserved Black communities. After retiring from basketball, he joined a Detroit steel company; and soon after, launched his own business processing steel for Michigan’s auto manufacturers. Bing Steel earned him the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year award in 1984, and later, the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy award.

Faricy asked him, “What advice would you give to officials in ���ϲ����� and Central New York who want to increase the percentage of minority-led businesses? What should we do to promote more Black businesses in ���ϲ����� and the surrounding area?”

Bing emphasized the importance of opportunity, investment, persistence and planning. “I knew I wasn’t ready to be an entrepreneur when I left basketball,” he said. “I trained for two years in the steel business where there were no Blacks, and that was a strategy for me.”

Bing said 80 percent of his workforce was Black, He told the audience he wanted to be in Detroit to help the people that needed jobs, the people “that nobody cared about.”

“I look back in retrospect and I am very proud of what we accomplished because I had people who were employed by me early on, and I was there long enough to see their kids employed,” he said. “I know I helped families that way.”

Bing sold Bing Steel in 2007 and took office as Detroit’s mayor in May 2009 as the city faced debt, a shrinking population, high unemployment and failing infrastructure. Faricy asked Bing how he sought to restore trust in city government. Bing said he led by example, arriving to city hall early, working transparently, resigning from the lucrative corporate boards that he served on, and setting his own salary at $1 per year.

“If you go into politics to make money, you made the wrong choice,” said Bing. “You got to go in to serve.”

Dave Bing ’66, H’06 posed with students and other event attendees during a reception that followed his talk in the Maxwell School Auditorium.

After leading the city through the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history, Bing turned from politics to philanthropy, founding the Bing Youth Institute (BYI), a nonprofit focused on mentoring Black boys in Detroit. Since its inception in 2014, the BYI and its mentorship program called BINGO has served six graduating classes and has a 100 percent high school graduation rate; 80 percent of the students are in college.

When asked if he sees assisting boys as an effective way to address major societal problems, Bing cited a lack of male role models as a major problem at home and in school. He noted that 52 percent of boys in Detroit who enter the ninth grade never graduate.

“I think the biggest impact that I’m making is what I’m doing now because I know I’m changing lives and I know I’m bringing some of these boys out crime and out of poverty,” he said.

Members of the audience posed questions during the second half of the event. One attendee asked Bing to reflect on his ability to look outside of himself despite challenges he faced to address broader issues facing the global Black community.

“I don’t think that we can be satisfied with where we are,” Bing replied, crediting his parents for setting him on the path to success though neither graduated high school. “…We need to support each other much more than we do and stop just giving that meaningless lip service. …I don’t think there are any easy answers, but entrepreneurship is one of the ways that I think a lot of us can get out of where we are today.”

A recording of the event can be viewed .

This story was written by Jessica Smith and Jessica Youngman

John A. ’82 and Laura Lally cut the ribbon to officially mark the opening of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex entranceway.

The John A. Lally Athletics Complex entranceway is complete. The first milestone in the ongoing to build a new home for the Orange will welcome all visitors to the Lally Athletics Complex. When completed, the John A. Lally Athletics Complex will stand as a state-of-the-art academic and athletics village serving all 20 ���ϲ����� teams and more than 600 student-athletes.

On Friday afternoon in front of more than 100 esteemed donors, coaches, student-athlete and University leaders, ���ϲ����� Chancellor Kent Svyerud, Director of Athletics John Wildhack ’80 and lead donors John A. ’82 and Laura Lally cut the ribbon to officially mark the opening of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex entranceway.

“The John A. Lally Athletics Complex is an Athletic and Academic Village,” Wildhack said. “It represents our commitment to provide every student-athlete with the tools to reach their full potential, both academically and athletically. We will provide best-in-class services in academic support, sports medicine, nutrition, strength and conditioning, career counseling, and personal support for every student-athlete at ���ϲ�����. It will enable us to recruit the brightest and best student-athletes. It will help us compete and win at the ACC and national level. The success of our student-athletes, both academically and athletically, will bring great pride to our University, our community, our alumni, and Orange fans around the world.”

A key priority of Forever Orange, ���ϲ�����’s comprehensive capital campaign, the Lally Athletics Complex will elevate the student-athlete experience and provide a first-rate facility to help the department continue to develop, recruit and retain high caliber student-athletes. Thanks to the leadership support of Lally, a three-time Orange football letterwinner, and his wife, Laura, this vision is steadily becoming a reality.

“Being a ���ϲ����� Football player was formative for me,” Lally said. “I took what I learned on the field and applied it to business and life. I am very excited about where we are with the project at this time. But we’re just beginning—we need to do everything we can to support it and continue to make this great facility a reality.”

Lally, a graduate of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and an offensive guard for the Orange from 1977-82, made a in 2019 to jumpstart the campaign and help inspire fellow alumni, fans and donors to support.

“The John A. Lally Athletics Complex is the physical embodiment of ���ϲ�����’s promise to our student athletes,” Syverud said. “Here our students will see the investment ���ϲ����� is making in their development as a whole person —academically, athletically and personally.”

Friday’s ribbon cutting marked the completion of construction on a new front entrance and expanded meeting space that features engaging interactive technology and state-of-the-art video boards. The entranceway will be the central entry for all alumni, friends, staff, coaches, student-athletes and prospective student-athletes and their families to enter into the home of ���ϲ����� Athletics. Future plans for the complex call for the second level of the entranceway to be expanded into a student-athlete academic success center serving all ���ϲ����� student-athletes.

Momentum for the campaign is building as the ‘Cuse Athletics Fund (‘CAF) and ���ϲ����� continue to fundraise for the next phases of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. The includes the creation of a new Football Operations Center and the ‘One Team’ Olympic Sports Center, which will be utilized by all Olympic sports teams and house updated dining and nutrition facilities, renovated locker rooms, medical training and strength and conditioning facilities, and modernized displays honoring the history of ���ϲ����� Athletics.

“John and Laura, your support, commitment and passion inspire all of us,” Wildhack said. “Thank you for believing in us, thank you for trusting us. Your generosity will enable tens of thousands of young women and men to come to ���ϲ����� to learn, to grow as people, to thrive, to compete, and to win at the highest level. Today, our collective vision and dream is being realized — and we’re just getting started.

“What does today represent?�� It represents the official beginning of the multi-phase vision for the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. It represents a new era in ���ϲ����� Athletics.”

To date, the Phase 1 fundraising goal to continue construction on the John A. Lally Athletics Complex is 90% complete. In just two years, the , a leadership group of fans, family and alumni who join in a shared vision to provide current and future student-athletes with a championship experience through philanthropy, has grown to almost 170 donors who have made major gift commitments to support ���ϲ����� Athletics and the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

To learn more about the John A. Lally Athletics Complex capital campaign and how to support, please visit the .

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ�����

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ����� is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit foreverorange.syr.edu to learn more.

Coughlin had entered the season on thin ice after his Giants stumbled to the finish line the year before, and after this inauspicious start to the season, the calls for Coughlin to be fired grew louder. But Coughlin knew he had a talented team, and the Giants’ front office stuck with their veteran head coach.

Good thing they did. Never one for giving in to his critics, Coughlin grew resolute in his determination to lead the Giants to success. His team responded, rallying around their embattled coach to win six straight games and qualify for the playoffs with a 10-6 record.

The Giants became the third team to advance to the Super Bowl after winning three straight road playoff games, and their reward was a date with��Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots. In one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played, Coughlin’s Giants shocked the football world, rallying late for a 17-14 victory in part thanks to an improbable completion from quarterback Eli Manning to on third down that would come to be known as “.”

Tom Coughlin ’68, G’69 won two Super Bowls as the head coach of the New York Giants.

Now, Coughlin has a new book out, “,” describing how, against all odds, the Giants pulled off perhaps the greatest upset in Super Bowl history.��The book is a lesson in how to overcome adversity and how to respond when life hands you a setback.

“Our game was the greatest upset in the history of football, and of all the Super Bowls for sure. There’s a theme that goes on in the book, which is, ‘Go ahead. Tell me I can’t do something,’ that was always a great motivator for me,” says Coughlin, who won 170 games as a head coach and received the Arents Award, ���ϲ�����’s highest alumni honor, in 2017.

Coughlin, a three-year letter-winner on the football team under legendary Hall of Fame coach Ben Schwartzwalder,��stops by to relive his coaching career, reminisce on those Super Bowl championships, and share why ���ϲ����� was his dream school.

He shares his memories of playing alongside Orange football legends like and , explains why the No. 44 is the most special number at ���ϲ�����, and discusses why he and his late wife, Judy, became passionate about helping families tackle childhood cancer through the .

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Check out episode 129 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Tom Coughlin ’68, G’69. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

James D. Kuhn ’70, G’72 and his wife, Marjorie, have provided a substantial new commitment to support the Forever Orange Campaign for ���ϲ����� and of the multimillion-dollar, multi-year effort to reimagine the stadium experience. The gift creates a new premium field/courtside space within the JMA Dome and provides an upgraded fan experience for premium seat holders for all five ���ϲ����� Athletics programs that compete in the facility.

“Through their philanthropy, Jimmy and Marjorie continuously redefine what it means to be a fan, friend and ambassador of ���ϲ�����,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “Thanks to their leadership, selflessness and vision, ���ϲ����� will continue to transform and elevate the fan and student experience on campus for years to come.”

The Kuhns have made several high-impact gifts over the years. Their gifts have established the and the Leo and Sunnie Kuhn Endowed Scholarship for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Whitman School of Management, as well as the Kuhn Film Fund in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. They have also supported initiatives in the School of Architecture, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and ���ϲ����� Athletics. In addition to supporting a number of ���ϲ����� initiatives, Kuhn has been a champion of philanthropy to a number of other organizations with gifts to NYU Langone, National Jewish Hospital, Mt Sinai, HSS and the Diversity Scholarship Fund at NYU Schack Real Estate Center for students pursuing a master’s degree in real estate.

James Kuhn is just as generous with his time. He has served on the Board of Trustees since 2007, was vice chair from 2013-17 and chair of the Facilities Committee from 2009-13. He has been a member of the Board Executive, Finance and Facilities committees. He also currently serves as chair of the Board Athletics Committee (through early May 2023). He is a member of the Whitman Advisory Council, which he had previously chaired for 10 years. In 2010, Kuhn received the inaugural Dritz Rookie Trustee of the Year Award and in 2018, he received the Dritz Trustee of the Year Award. In 2001, he received the Whitman School’s Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award.

“Jimmy appreciates what it takes to excel as a student-athlete,” says John Wildhack, director of athletics. “Besides the commitment and hard work it takes to be a competitor, he knows that the entire University community plays a role in the success of our athletics program. Enhancing the fan experience at the JMA Dome strengthens our commitment to our student-athletes.”

A , Kuhn captained the ���ϲ����� fencing team during the 1967-68 season and was a three-time letterwinner. During his tenure on the team, he won the North Atlantic Collegiate Foil Championship and went on to finish in the top 16 at nationals in 1968. After a 25-year absence, Kuhn returned to fence in the veterans division, where he was ranked seventh in the nation by the time of his retirement in 2001.

“���ϲ����� gave me everything I needed and wanted to prepare me for life,” says Kuhn. “There are two things you can do in your life that are unrequited—philanthropy and helping your children be better than you are.”

After earning a B.S. in finance in 1970 and an MBA in 1972 from ���ϲ�����, Kuhn began his career as a lender with Metropolitan Life, and then was an owner/manager with The Mendik Company, before selling it to Vornado. He is principal, president and head of investor services for New York-based Newmark, which he joined in 1992. With more than 6,500 employees worldwide, Newmark operates from approximately 170 global offices. Kuhn also founded and leads Newmark’s technology and innovation practice group.

aims to enhance the game day experience for all ���ϲ����� fans, student-athletes, coaches, students and alumni. The second phase of the project, which was announced in December, includes the installation of upgraded chairback seating and the introduction of new premium offerings throughout the venue, building upon earlier enhancements that included the installation of a new roof, the largest center-hung video scoreboard in college sports, air conditioning throughout the venue, lighting and sound enhancements, and an improved concessions experience.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ�����

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for ���ϲ����� is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit����to learn more.

But despite those lean early times, from the moment he assumed the role of head coach, McIntyre was focused on building up the Orange’s men’s soccer program, and on Dec. 12, his team reached the pinnacle.

When senior Amferny Sinclair buried his penalty kick shot high over the outstretched arms of Indiana University’s goalie, the Orange (19-2-4) claimed their first national championship, outlasting Indiana 7-6 in penalty kicks to win the College Cup.

The seeds for this successful postseason run were planted last year, and with many returning student-athletes who endured the growing pains of losing six one-goal games, McIntyre’s team won 11 more matches than it did last year, including sweeping the Atlantic Coast Conference’s (ACC) regular and postseason championships.

Ian McIntyre coached the ���ϲ����� men’s soccer team to its first national championship, outlasting Indiana University 7-6 in penalty kicks to win the College Cup.

“We really started thinking about doing something not just magical, but legendary when we drove back from Clemson as ACC champions. It’s been a lot of fun to watch video and have videos shared with us of how much enjoyment there was on the field,” McIntyre says. “The drama and emotions that went with securing a national championship via a penalty shootout—it’s been a whirlwind the last few weeks. Very humbling to see just how everyone has embraced this terrific group of young men. And it was very special to bring a national championship back to ���ϲ�����.”

McIntyre relives the night ���ϲ����� was crowned champions of the collegiate soccer world, shares how his student-athletes and coaches celebrated their national title, recounts when he felt his team was capable of making a deep run in the postseason, discusses the vital role support from the campus community and alumni played in the team’s postseason run, and more!

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Check out episode 128 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Ian McIntyre. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

Kellington, an assistant athletic trainer for the Bills, was part of a team of medical professionals on the sidelines at Paycor Stadium on Monday night when Hamlin, 24, went into cardiac arrest after tackling Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins.

After Hamlin collapsed, Kellington took action, performing life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that, according to , was “absolutely vital” and “a huge difference-maker” in bringing Hamlin back to life.

Denny Kellington, assistant athletic trainer with the Buffalo Bills (photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bills).

Kellington and the medical professionals worked to restore Hamlin’s heartbeat using CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) on the field. Hamlin’s heartbeat was restored after CPR was administered for more than eight minutes. He was given oxygen from a portable tank to help him breathe, according to the Bills, before being transported to the University of Cincinnati (UC) Medical Center in an ambulance.

“For (Denny) to find himself at that position and needing to take the action that he did and step up and take charge like he did—and there were others on the field as well—is nothing short of amazing. The courage that took, you talk about a real leader, (Denny) is a real hero in saving Damar’s life and I admire his strength,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Thursday.

Hamlin remains in critical condition in the hospital’s surgical and trauma intensive care unit, but on Thursday, on Hamlin’s condition, sharing that Hamlin has “shown remarkable improvement” as he recovers from his on-field cardiac arrest.

The team said Hamlin is responsive and “neurologically intact,” and that his lungs continue to heal while he makes steady progress. Hamlin is able to move both his hands and feet, and can communicate with his doctors, nurses and with his family members by writing on a clipboard. Hamlin remains intubated to assist with his breathing.

During a press conference with reporters, both Dr. William Knight IV and Dr. Timothy Pritts of the UC Medical Center credited the immediate use of CPR for Hamlin’s positive progress, adding that his outlook could have been much worse if CPR hadn’t been administered as soon as it was.

“It’s not only that the lights are on. We know that he’s home. It appears all the cylinders are firing within his brain,” Dr. Pritts said.

In his previous role as ESPN’s executive vice president for programming production, John Wildhack ’80, ���ϲ�����’s Director of Athletics, oversaw all ESPN and ABC game, event and studio production work, including “Monday Night Football.” He says Hamlin is fortunate to have been surrounded by talented professionals who knew how to handle this difficult situation.

“Sports at any level, especially intercollegiate athletics and professional sports, requires the involvement of many people, and this incident is an example of why it’s important to have the right people with the right training in the these roles,” Wildhack says. “As someone who spent a long time as a leader at ESPN, which broadcast the game and covered Damar’s injury, I can say this was one of the most challenging situations we’ve ever seen. I’m just grateful and thankful that the right people were on the field to help save this young man’s life.”

As Hamlin woke up on Thursday, his doctors said the defensive back was responsive and followed their commands before asking them a question by writing on a clipboard.

“When he asked, ‘Did we win?’ the answer is, ‘Yes, Damar, you won. You won the game of life,” Dr. Pritts recounted.

Denny Kellington (far right) is credited with playing a vital role in saving the life of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin after Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a game on Monday, Jan. 3.

Kellington has worked with the Bills’ athletic training staff since 2017. Prior to joining the Bills, Kellington was a member of the ���ϲ����� sports medicine staff beginning in 2005. He spent 11 years with the University, including serving as the head athletic trainer for the Orange football team from 2011-17. His wife, Jennifer, earned a master’s degree in higher education from the School of Education in 2006.

To better connect with fans of the ���ϲ����� football team while showcasing the human side of being a Division I student-athlete, redshirt junior defensive end Caleb Okechukwu, sophomore defensive back Ja’Had Carter and sophomore linebacker Marlowe Wax launched “” earlier this football season.

While the trio of talented football student-athletes was ultimately successful in their efforts to strengthen the already strong bonds between the team and its passionate fan base, a funny thing happened during the recording of their weekly podcast: the talks evolved into a form of therapy, a way for Okechukwu, Carter and Wax to improve their mental health through candid conversations.

Caleb Okechukwu

“We were just trying to show that we’re humans who have emotions and personalities when we’re on the field. We wanted to take our fans behind the scenes and take them onto the field with us while showing that we’re vulnerable with what we go through on a week-to-week basis,” says Okechukwu, who serves as the host and conductor of the podcast. “For me, we’re so used to being tough and not saying anything about the issues we deal with, so this has been like therapy for real. We all looked forward to talking and laughing on the show after each game.”

“As men, we’re taught to not be vulnerable, and a lot of people might think we’re so tough that things don’t get to us, but we all have emotions,” says Wax. “Doing the podcast is therapy, being able to talk to each other about what we’re going through, and I appreciate how much the fans and the public have bought into our podcast.”

The podcast is also a great way for fans of the Orange to get to know their favorite players off the field. Modeled after shows like “,” an unscripted show featuring former NFL players Brandon Marshall, Adam “Pacman Jones, LeSean McCoy and Chad Johnson, the Orange podcasters say their show exemplifies how student-athletes can use their voices as a powerful tool.

Ja’Had Carter

“I was definitely nervous that first episode, but then as we started going through the episodes and talking with each other, it turned into a conversation that really flowed. As the weeks went on, we got better and better and became more confident in our abilities. This has turned into something special,” Carter says.

The name of the podcast is a testament to the tenacious energy and aggressive approach employed by the members of the defense, and it’s also a nod to the tight-knit relationship between Carter, Okechukwu and Wax, who dubbed themselves and their defensive teammates the “Mob Squad.”

So it was only natural that, when they were thinking of what to call their fledgling podcast, the trio settled on “The Mob Podcast.” But what does that mob mentality mean?

“Being aggressive. Always flying to the ball and having that mentality that nobody scores on us. But it’s not just the defensive guys, the offensive guys have bought into the mob mentality, too. It keeps us together and strong,” Carter says.

Marlowe Wax

“We knew the fans would love it because they know and embrace that mob mentality. We hear the mob chant during the games and this whole thing has just come alive and taken off so quickly,” adds Wax.

“When you think of the mob mentality, it’s everybody coming together and being focused on one goal, and accomplishing that goal as a team,” Okechukwu says.

After storming out of the gates red-hot thanks to a 6-0 start that saw the Orange ranked as high as No. 14 in the national polls, comparisons were being drawn between this year’s squad and the last ���ϲ����� team to start 5-0: the 1987 Orange, who, led by quarterback Don McPherson ’87 finished with an undefeated 11-0-1 en route to an appearance in the Sugar Bowl.

Following a shutout home win over Wagner, McPherson joined the podcast for a candid conversation on football, life as a student-athlete on the ���ϲ����� campus, and the importance of taking care of yourself, physically and mentally.

“When Don started talking about mental health and mental wellness issues, that really stood out to me. As athletes, and especially for male athletes, we’re taught to keep our emotions in. We don’t really display our emotions or talk about issues that we’re going through, but it’s important that we do, and this podcast has helped us do that,” Carter says.

The podcasters have recorded and posted 10 episodes so far, with one more episode still to come. Before ���ϲ����� played in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl against the University of Minnesota on Dec. 29,��the Mob Squad mingled with fans of the Orange during a live podcast recording session, fielding questions from fans who made the trip to New York City to cheer on ���ϲ����� in its first bowl game in four years.

It’s fitting that the podcast featured the fans, since they played such an important role in the creation of the show.

“All offseason we’re grinding, putting in that blood, sweat and tears to get better on the field. What we’re doing right now is what we all dreamed of doing when we were younger, and it’s great that we all came together this year with that one main goal in mind,” Wax says.

“This year we really created a culture and put that respect back on the ���ϲ����� football team,” adds Okechukwu.

Architectural rendering of the interior of the JMA Wireless Dome, illustrative of a future basketball game, as anticipated enhancements continue

“There is no doubting the enormous impact the JMA Wireless Dome Transformation Project is having on ���ϲ����� Athletics, the five teams that call this building home and the fans who enjoy visiting and cheering on the Orange,” says John Wildhack ’80, director of athletics. “There is a lot of exciting work ahead and still many details to confirm, but ���ϲ����� Athletics remains focused on providing an unmatched experience to our season ticket holders, donors and fans. As we continue to work through the revised seating map, we are committed to providing timely and transparent communication to our loyal supporters to ensure they continue to enjoy the level of service they have come to expect from the JMA Dome.”

Architectural rendering of the football field in the transformed JMA Wireless Dome

Today’s announcement represents the latest milestone in a multimillion-dollar, multiyear effort, which began in 2018, to reimagine the stadium experience. Since work commenced, the University has installed a new fixed roof, the largest center-hung video scoreboard in college sports and air conditioning. It has also invested significantly in accessibility updates, lighting and sound enhancements, and the concession experience.

“Our ongoing investments to create a state-of-the-art experience have been a pivotal component of the Campus Framework and demonstrates our commitment to aligning ���ϲ�����’s mission and vision with its physical spaces,” says Pete Sala, vice president, chief campus facilities officer and managing director of the JMA Dome. “I am thrilled to see this transformative project continue to deliver on this promise, and excited for what these enhancements will mean for current and future generations of Orange students, student-athletes, fans and visitors.”

Of course, one of the JMA Dome’s most consequential changes, beyond its physical appearance, is its name. Earlier this year, ���ϲ����� and JMA Wireless, announced a 10-year naming rights partnership, marking a historic collaboration that will elevate the digital infrastructure and provide fans and other users with the most advanced 5G wireless network. When complete, the JMA Dome will be one of the most technologically advanced and digitally connected stadiums of its kind. The University and JMA Wireless previously announced they expect this work to be done ahead of the start of the 2023 football season.

Upgraded chairback seating will be a key component of the second phase of transformation inside the JMA Wireless Dome.

As the transformation continues, ���ϲ����� is already looking to the future, with specific enhancements in mind. In particular, fans can expect to experience the introduction of new premium offerings, in-venue hospitality spaces, including the Kuhn Game Day Lounge presented by Hidden Level, and the eventual construction of Miron Victory Court, the latter of which will expand and redefine the JMA Dome’s footprint, connect it to the Barnes Center at The Arch and ultimately create a seamless navigational experience.

Phase two renovations and construction will begin in spring 2023 following Commencement and will be completed ahead of the 2024 football season. The University and ���ϲ����� Athletics will continue to provide updated information regarding the timeline of the renovation, seating and capacity changes, new ticket offerings and pricing as these plans are finalized.

For the most up-to-date information on the JMA Wireless Dome Transformation Project, visit . Alumni, fans and friends can visit the website to track construction progress, access seating and pricing updates, and sign up to receive notifications about the project.

About ���ϲ����� Athletics

���ϲ����� Athletics is in an era of growth and is committed to upgrading and improving its athletic facilities across campus with the goal of elevating both the student-athlete experience and the ���ϲ����� fan experience. These projects will have an immediate and lasting impact on the ���ϲ����� community, all 20 sports teams and 600-plus student-athletes.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

After closing out the regular season with a convincing road win at Boston College, the Orange (7-5, 4-4 in the ACC) Sunday afternoon. ���ϲ����� will travel to New York City and the world-renowned Yankee Stadium for a showdown with the University of Minnesota (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten) in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

The game kicks off at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29, and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

“We’re thrilled to be invited to play in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl,” head coach�� says. “I’m excited for our players to travel to New York City and experience all the fantastic events that come with a bowl trip as a reward for what they accomplished this year. I’m also happy that our fans will have another opportunity to see us play in our home state after all their support this season.”

The ���ϲ����� football team is headed to New York City for a showdown with the University of Minnesota in this year’s Pinstripe Bowl.

Fans who are interested in making the trip to the Big Apple to cheer on the Orange are to guarantee seats in the Orange’s designated fan sections. Ticket options start at $60, with discounted tickets available to all students.

���ϲ����� brings a perfect 2-0 record in the Pinstripe Bowl into this year’s clash, with the Orange previously defeating Kansas State by a 36-34 score in the inaugural game in 2010 and knocking off West Virginia by a 38-14 score in 2012.

���ϲ����� has enjoyed tremendous success playing in Yankee Stadium, sporting a 7-2 record all-time heading into the Pinstripe Bowl. This year’s squad earned the 27th bowl appearance in program history, with the Orange sporting a 16-9-1 record all-time in bowl games, including winning their last four bowl games.

The Orange and the Golden Gophers have met five times previously, with ���ϲ����� emerging victorious in their last matchup, a 21-17 win in the 2013 Texas Bowl. The Orange are looking for their third win all-time in six matchups with the Gophers.

For the third year in a row ���ϲ����� Athletics ranks in the top 10 among Power 5 schools’ Graduation Success Rate (GSR). ���ϲ�����’s 93% GSR is tied for the fifth highest score among Power 5 schools, and the Orange are one of 25 Power 5 schools nationally to score 93% or higher.

���ϲ�����’s GSR of 93% ties for the third-best score in program history, trailing only 95% in 2021 and 94% in 2020. It ties the mark set in 2019.

For the fifth time in the last six years, more than half of ���ϲ�����’s teams achieved a perfect 100% score. GSR measurement reflects Orange student-athletes who enrolled in 2015-16 and earned degrees within six years.

���ϲ�����’s 93% GSR is above the national GSR of 89%, and the Orange are one of eight Atlantic Coast Conference schools to achieve a 93% or better.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) started measuring GSR, which includes those who entered midyear, as well as student-athletes who transferred into the institution, in 2004.

���ϲ�����’s women’s tennis and women’s volleyball programs achieved a perfect 100% for the 11th consecutive year, the longest active streaks in the athletics department. The Orange men’s cross country and men’s track and field teams have scored a perfect 100% for nine years in a row, and the women’s rowing and men’s lacrosse teams have a five-year streak of perfect scores.

In addition to those teams, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s basketball all scored a perfect 100%.

“These excellent scores are a testament to the dedication of ���ϲ����� student-athletes to their academics and to their sport, an incredibly demanding balancing act,” says Faculty Athletic Representative , professor of sport management in the Falk College. “Student-athletes have amazing competitive experiences here, while at the same time earning degrees in a diverse array of majors that prepare them exceedingly well for their future endeavors. Congratulations to Athletics Director John Wildhack and his team, especially all of the talented coaches, academic support staff and, of course, our highly-regarded student-athletes. Well done.”

The volleyball program leads all ���ϲ����� programs with 13 perfect GSR scores, followed by the men’s cross country, men’s track and field, and women’s tennis programs, which have posted a perfect 100% GSR 11 times. Women’s soccer has each achieved a 100% GSR on 10 occasions.

“In the ever-changing world of higher education and collegiate athletics, one thing has remained constant: A degree from ���ϲ����� will set up our student-athletes for opportunities to thrive on a national and international level,” says Assistant Provost for Student-Athlete Academic Development . “I have had the privilege to see many of these graduates enter as first-year students and leave the University prepared to serve and contribute positively to our society.”

���ϲ�����’s GSR Success By the Numbers:

• Power Five Ranking: ���ϲ����� ties for fifth among Power 5 schools (93% GSR)
• Teams with a 100% GSR in 2022: nine (women’s tennis, women’s volleyball, men’s cross country, men’s track and field, men’s lacrosse, women’s rowing, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s basketball)
• Consecutive 100% GSR scores: 11 years (women’s tennis, women’s volleyball)
• Most 100% GSR scores: 13 (women’s volleyball)

The NCAA instituted the GSR to more accurately reflect the mobility of college students as compared to the Federal Graduation Rate. The federal rate counts any student who leaves a school as an academic failure, whether or not the student enrolls at another school. The federal rate also does not consider students who enter as transfer students. The GSR formula provides a more complete and accurate picture by removing from the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible and including student-athletes who transfer to a school after being enrolled at another university.

But that all changed when Flanagan retired at the end of last season and the Orange hired as the program’s second head coach.

As she looks to make her mark on the women’s ice hockey team, Smith is relying on a key principle that helped ���ϲ����� soar to new heights in recent seasons, including a second trip to the NCAA tournament after capturing both the College Hockey America (CHA) regular season and tournament championships for the first time in history during the 2021-22 season: No one will outwork the Orange.

Smith comes to ���ϲ����� with a decorated resume, excelling as both a defenseman with St. Lawrence University—Smith was a Top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as a defenseman during her senior year—and an accomplished assistant coach at Clarkson University and with Hockey Canada.

Britni Smith, the second head coach in the history of ���ϲ����� women’s ice hockey, says no one will outwork her student-athletes.

“I think ���ϲ����� is a place that provides the complete package for the student-athlete experience and that’s important to me, because that’s something I got at St. Lawrence,” Smith says. “So I think as I’m getting into my first head coach role here, that’s something that’s very important to me, to provide that student-athlete experience that then when they graduate, they are proud to have been a part of this program. And if they could pick all over again that they would be picking ���ϲ�����.”

Smith discusses why she wanted to become the Orange’s next head coach, how she relates to her student-athletes and what makes ���ϲ����� a special place. Smith also shares her coaching philosophy, what it was like to earn her first win with the Orange and how she fell in love with hockey while playing on a homemade rink in her hometown of Port Perry, Ontario.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Check out episode 124 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Britni Smith, head women’s ice hockey coach. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.