Paw Prints E-Newsletter: Volume 40

Paw Prints E-Newsletter | 10/25/2017 1:30:00 PM

From the desk of the Director of Athletics…

As I write this Paw Prints, a lot is happening here at Daemen Athletics, and all the activity shows the strength of the College and the decision to "Move to Division II". We are near completing our first soccer season with a "home" field that looks like it belongs to Daemen College which is not a small accomplishment for a school with no open land, but over 50 soccer student-athletes. Our partnership with the Park School on Karrer Field has created a facility that benefits various entities within the WNY soccer community.

On the performance front, both of our soccer teams competed well in the East Coast Conference. The women upset two-time defending conference champion Bridgeport and are still in the chase for a postseason competition spot. The men's program truly upped the tempo of play, and they've achieved the most wins of the Division II era. Like our soccer teams, our men's and women's tennis teams have been infused with fresh faces from around the globe, and both teams had successful fall seasons. Women's volleyball is also in the hunt for a conference tournament spot, and our cross country programs both placed third in the East Coast Conference championship meet, with Amy Trabert earning the runner-up spot to the overall women's champ. Men's golf and women's triathlon continue to establish themselves within a growing number of East Coast Conference teams, hoping to spur a conference sponsorship of those sports. This week our women's bowling team launched their third year of varsity competition, and next week we kick off basketball season. Throw the development of eSports into the mix, and it is clear that there are so many good things to follow for the Wildcats.

On the revenue and student-athlete development side of our program, we are pleased to announce grants and gifts totaling $55,000 this month to support Daemen CAUSE, a program that continues to grow in impact and reach each week. Community engagement with Daemen Athletics is at an all-time high. All of our facilities are serving our campus and community with much-needed recreation space from the early hours into the late night. In October, we sent our student-athletes to leadership development meetings in New York City and awarded them with Cross Training Character from the Heart awards to recognize that sport and success is not just about having talent, but rather how it can be used to benefit more than just you.

The pace of Daemen Athletics is quick these days. As announced yesterday, to keep up with our impact, we have elevated, Brandi Guerinot, Mike Miranto and Mike MacDonald to Senior Associate Athletics Directors positions. I simply can't say enough about the talent and dedication of these three individuals and the entire athletics program at Daemen. If you are a loyal Paw Prints reader, you know that we truly operate as a team here at Daemen and each accomplishment, whether personal or department-wide, is a reflection of the good work of many. The creation of this trio of senior leadership shows the confidence Daemen President Gary Olson has in the strategic initiatives they have led and their ability to lead as we embark on the next set of projects aimed to grow enrollment and external revenues of the College.

I have decided that it is time for me to return to the projects that initially brought me back to WNY and Daemen College in 2006, teaching and building access to youth and college sport. When Dr. Olson asked me to move from the Faculty Athletics Representative to Athletics Director role in July 2014, we agreed to make it two-year commitment, which turned into three and now a fourth year. Dr. Olson asked me to provide leadership that focused on three important tasks. First and foremost, successful completion of the move to NCAA Division II project. Next, build a Division II athletics program and staff that was well situated to compete within the East Coast Conference. Third, he asked us to find, develop and establish external revenue streams that would finance the accomplishment of goals one and two with minimal impact on Daemen's overall operating budget. An amazing group of people here in Daemen Athletics have helped us reach and surpass these three goals.

Those of us tied to the "Move to Division II" project at Daemen have been taskmasters. The difference between an NAIA and NCAA program is vast. Both have their merits but are different in day-to-day operation and measurements of success. The reality is that NAIA athletics departments have significant autonomy and a lesser number of operating rules and no regular audits. NCAA membership brings numerous benefits, but with such comes significant regulations and reporting. As I said in 2014 and repeated often after, NCAA Division II membership requires more from everyone and everything but delivers an incredible set of opportunities for student-athletes. The last piece, providing more opportunities for student-athletes to excel, has been my focus and it is their welfare that should always come first. I will greatly miss working for and with these young people each day. But, as we move into the next phase of strategic initiatives, the stage is set for a new Daemen AD. I am confident that the focus will remain on educating and developing student-athletes through our talented team of coaches. The next AD will hopefully get a chance to lead more and be a taskmaster less. I am excited for them and to see where Daemen Athletics goes next. I hope you are too.

If you are as excited as I am about the next phase of Daemen Athletics or would like to recognize how far we have come in our NCAA membership, please support us by making a gift through our new online pledge site. Finally, we hope to see you at one of our upcoming events, several of which are listed below. And as always, remember to #beFIERCE!

Bridget Niland
Director of Athletics

DAEMEN ATHLETICS - UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, Oct. 28 - 3:30 PM - WVB vs. American International (Halloween Bash)
Saturday, Oct. 28 - 7:30 PM - WVB vs. Roberts Wesleyan (Halloween Bash)
Friday, Nov. 3 - 8:00 PM - MBB @ Buffalo (Exhibition)
Saturday, Nov. 4 - 11:00 AM - NCAA Division II East Region Cross Country Championship (@ Audubon Golf Course)
Sunday, Nov. 5 - 12:00 PM - WVB vs. LIU Post (Senior Day)
Friday, Nov. 10 - 8:00 PM - MBB vs. Felician
Saturday, Nov. 11 - 4:00 PM - MBB vs. Nyack
Wednesday, Nov. 22 - 1:00 PM - WBB vs. Notre Dame College

FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING OF ALL DAEMEN GAMES & EVENTS, VISIT OUR COMPOSITE CALENDAT AT DAEMENWILDCATS.COM

GET ALL YOUR DAEMEN ATHLETICS GEAR AND ACCESSORIES AT SHOPDAEMENWILDCATS.COM

LEARN MORE ABOUT DAEMEN'S NEWLY LAUNCHED
CENTER FOR ALLIED & UNIFIED SPORT & EXERCISE AT
DAEMEN.EDU/CAUSE

Head Women's Soccer Coach Dan Dolan sits down with Senior Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications Mike Miranto to discuss his team's recent games and what's coming in the week ahead. Click the play button for the full video. Watch more videos from Daemen Athletics at YouTube.com/daemensportsinfo

IN THE NEWS...

OCT. 3 - CUSTODI, AADNOY NAMED STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE MONTH
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OCT. 4 - WILDCATS TAKE THRUWAY RIVALRY GAME IN DRAMATIC FASHION
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OCT. 9 - FALL SCHEDULE SET FOR WOMEN'S BOWLING TEAM
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OCT. 10 - BOYAR EARNS SECOND WEEKLY ACCOLADE FROM CONFERENCE OFFICE THIS SEASON
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OCT. 13 - WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL BLANKS MOLLOY IN ECC ACTION
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OCT. 17 - GUERINOT TO PARTICIPATE ON PANEL OF NCAA COMPLIANCE PROFESSIONALS
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OCT. 20 - KEEM NAMED DIVISION II HERO OF THE WEEK
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OCT. 21 - BODNAR PACES WILDCATS TO THIRD PLACE SHOWING AT ECC CHAMPIONSHIPS
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OCT. 21 - TRABERT & PEDE POWER WILDCATS TO THIRD PLACE FINISH AT ECC CHAMPIONSHIPS
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OCT. 24 - RESTRUCTURING OF DAEMEN ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED
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Did you know there are over 123,000 men, women and children waiting for life-saving organ transplants? Did you know that 100 people in WNY need blood every day?

You can provide hope to those in need by becoming an organ, tissue or blood donor through Unyts. Visit unyts.org/checkyes to register as a donor today.

UNYTS is a proud corporate partner of Daemen College Athletics.

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