Paw Prints E-Newsletter 7/30/2015 4:53:00 PM

Paw Prints E-Newsletter: Volume 13

From The Director of Athletics' Desk...

Well, we made it! The month of July was a historic one for Daemen Athletics as we were officially advanced to active member status in NCAA Division II, marking the completion of a campus-wide initiative that has been ongoing for the past four years. It's often said that athletics can be the "front porch" of a college, a window for the community to see through and discover all that is good about Daemen. With the advancement to active member status in NCAA Division II, I am proud to believe that Daemen Athletics can be that "front porch" for this institution that we all love so much.

Getting us to this point was no easy task and it took a strong commitment from everyone across our campus. Much like the teamwork that we ask our intercollegiate teams to display in the heat of competition, the accomplishment of NCAA Division II membership was a total team effort; from the Board of Trustees to the Business Office, from our dedicated Admissions staff to the Maintenance Department, from the Financial Aid Office to our outstanding faculty members, and everyone else in-between, we could not have gotten here without you, and for that I am extremely thankful for your support. That thanks extends to our community partners and corporate sponsors who have also lent a hand in supporting this initiative, and the overall growth of Daemen Athletics.

I also want to thank our student-athletes, both past and present. Your unwavering commitment has been the driving force behind this transition and everything we do is aimed at providing you with the best student-athlete experience that we can offer. Your support of this endeavor has helped pave the way for those who follow in your footsteps to build on the traditions and success that our fans have grown accustomed to.

I would be remiss if I didn't offer another thank you and congratulatory message to our President, Dr. Gary Olson. As I stated at the press conference, Dr. Olson would be the first to tell you that he's not a "sports guy", but he most certainly is someone who understands the role that athletics can play for a college. With his continued leadership and support, Daemen College and Daemen Athletics are both destined for even brighter days.

Now, with all of this excitement behind us, it would be easy to rest on our laurels, but I assure you that this accomplishment has only served to re-energize our troops. We are full steam ahead into the next chapter for Daemen Athletics. Our staff is hard at work finalizing our next strategic plan which will outline the major goals of this new era. We are excited about the staffing additions we've made recently, including the hiring of Paul Lagno to lead our cross country and track and field programs, as well as the dynamic duo of Bob Maxwell and Stephanie Albano who will take our volleyball program to new heights. The 2015-16 season will also see the launch of our new intercollegiate programs, women's triathlon and bowling, both of which we expect to be making major announcements about in the coming weeks. These are just a few examples of the work ongoing to establish Daemen Athletics as a major player in the conference, state and region.

Thank you for taking the time to read about all the positive things we have going on. I hope that you can join us in celebrating all that is great about Daemen Athletics at our Third Annual Wildcat Golf Classic on Thursday, August 13 at Glen Oak Golf Course in East Amherst. For information on that event, or if you'd like to discuss Daemen Athletics and where we're heading, please contact me at bniland@daemen.edu or (716) 472-5951.

As always, we are grateful for your support of Daemen Athletics and I invite you to watch a brief video highlighting how you can make an impact on this exciting new era. I look forward to sharing more information on the progress of Daemen Athletics next month.

Until then, BE FIERCE!

Bridget Niland
Director of Athletics

Daemen Recommended For Active Member Status In NCAA Division II
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Beverly Inks Pro Deal With German Club
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Maxwell To Lead New Era Of Daemen Volleyball
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75 Daemen Student-Athletes Named To ECC Commissioner's Honor Roll
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Daemen Turns To Lagno To Lead Cross Country & Track & Field Programs
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Mehmetaj Named To NABC Honors Court
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MAKE A GIFT TODAY TO THE WILDCAT ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION - BUILDING EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS IN THE CLASSROOM, ON THE FIELD, AND IN THE COMMUNITY!

Tim Horton's is a proud corporate partner of Daemen College Athletics.

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From The Director of Athletics' Desk...

Bridget NilandDirector of Athletics

Bridget Niland
Director of Athletics