Paw Prints E-Newsletter: Volume 60

12/15/2020 3:30:00 PM

From the Desk of the Director of Athletics...

Dear Wildcat Nation,

I hope this message reaches you at a time of good health and happiness. It is my pleasure to provide you with an update on our athletics program as we approach the holiday season.

Let me start by thanking the many of you of who have made an impact in our teams' return to competition by donating to the Game On Campaign and the Daemen Wildcats Gotta Play Fund. Your generosity and support is helping to ease some of the financial burdens brought on by COVID-19 as we work to provide a first rate student-athlete experience despite the circumstances of the pandemic. If you're just hearing about this fundraising opportunity, it is based around a "virtual sellout" of Lumsden Gymnasium. To date, we've sold nearly one third of available "tickets" as we work towards a goal of 500.

It is final exam week here on campus, and I can't help but reflect upon the challenges we've faced during this unorthodox semester. I continue to be impressed and inspired by our student-athletes and coaches who have adapted and overcome all that's come their way. This includes quarantines and pauses to team activities. While these may not be ideal situations, I think overall our Division - coaches, staff and student-athletes - have handled them in a positive and professional manner. Ironically, I believe that in a time where it's difficult to physically be together, our student-athletes have grown closer for having collectively made it through this semester.

Looking ahead, there's light at the end of tunnel, but still more challenges to tackle. As our country begins the monumental task of vaccinating the population, we plan to be reintroducing athletic competitions, beginning in mid-January with our men's and women's basketball teams. We continue to work with our conference office and fellow conference members on just what those schedules will look like, not just for basketball, but for all of our programs, including those that normally compete during the fall. We've been consistent throughout this ordeal that Daemen is committed to providing some type of competitive season for as many of our teams and student-athletes as possible. The circumstances may dictate otherwise, but I believe we're going to try.

Lastly, in the coming weeks I'll be presenting a new strategic plan for the Division of Athletics to the college's presidential cabinet. Our last strategic plan set in motion the college's transition from NAIA to NCAA membership. Now that we're established within the NCAA Division II community, it's incumbent that our next strategic plan lay the groundwork for how we can build championship caliber teams and student-athletes. Part of that plan includes a reimagining of our Athletics Hall of Fame and the Wildcat Athletics Association, as well as the formation of a new Varsity Letter Society to unite all former student-athletes. Whether you played for the Rosary Hill Angels or Crusaders, or the Daemen Demons, Warriors or Wildcats, our student-athlete alumni base has been fractured for far too long and it's time we put an end to that. More to come on the strategic plan and its initiatives in the near future.

I hope that each and every one of you has a safe and happy holiday season. I look forward to updating you again next month, when perhaps we'll have some exciting games to discuss! Go Wildcats!

Happy Holidays,