Fairfield Stags
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Fairfield University is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and is classified as Division 1-A in the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its athletic programs. Fairfield sponsors 19 varsity sports - baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's crew, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball. Fairfield annually boasts among the best student-athlete graduation rates in the nation. The men's and women's golf programs are both ranked among the best in the nation for academics, according to the Golf Digest's Second Annual College Golf Guide.
[edit] Traditions
[edit] History of the Stag
With the dawn of the first athletic team (cross country) in the fall of 1947, it became apparent that a nickname would be needed. For the 1947-48 season, Fairfield University adopted the "Men In Red" as its nickname.
The following year, the University introduced men's basketball as its next team and its first varsity sport. With the start of varsity sports, the school put it to the students for input in naming of a school mascot. Two recommendations were made to the Board of Trustees for an official decision and vote. As the late Fr. Charles F. Duffy S.J. recounted: "As a member of the Board of Trustees, I remember voting at a board meeting late in 1948 on the naming for our athletic teams. We voted for Stags over Chanticleers!"
What made the decision for the Board a bit easier and logical was the fact that the school was part of the Dioceses of Hartford and the word Hartford means stags (hart) and stream (ford). According to Webster's New World Dictionary the word "hart" means "A male of the European red deer; stag." As for the world "ford" Webster describes it as "A shallow place in a stream, river, etc."
As a result, Fairfield University's seal itself was designed featuring a deer leaping over a tumbling brook to represent both the school's connection with the Dioceses as well with its close ties with nature.
Fairfield is situated on a rolling, immensely wooded 200-acre campus overlooking Long Island Sound. The name fits well as a nickname because the Stag is a good jumper and it spirited and agile, as Fairfield would like all of its student-athletes to be.
[edit] Fight Songs
[edit] "The Fairfield University Fight Song"
- Written by Prof. Brian Q. Torff during the 1995-96 academic year for a contest sponsored by the Fairfield University Student Association.
- Come catch the spirit, Fairfield U.
- For all to hear it, Fairfield U.
- Red and White will always conquer,
- Go for the winner 'till the end, and so we’ll
- Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight for Fairfield U.,
- Each day and night our hearts will be true,
- And all across the land we'll always stand by Fairfield U.
- And all across the land we'll always stand by Fairfield U!
[edit] "The Men in Red"
- Written by Rudy Ross '51 when Fairfield was an all-male institution.
- The men in Red will always fight for Fairfield.
- The men in Red will fight tonight for Fairfield.
- We'll stick out our chin, and we'll wind up with win, with a grin.
- The men in Red will raise a shout for Fairfield.
- The men in Red will go all out for Fairfield,
- As we go on rolling up the score for dear old Fairfield ever more.
[edit] Men's Basketball
The men's basketball team has experienced the thrill of post-season tournament action twelve times (1951 NAIB Tournament; 1960, 1961 and 1962 NCAA DII Tournament; 1973, 1974, 1978, 1995 and 2002 National Invitation Tournament (NIT); and 1986, 1987, and 1997 NCAA DI Tournament). In the 1997 NCAA Tournament, the Stags lost to top-seeded North Carolina, despite leading by seven points at halftime. Individually, Deng Gai '05 was the nation's top shot blocker in 2005 with 5.5 blocks per game which ranks #5 on the NCAA's all-time blocked shot average list. Thirteen Stags have been either drafted or signed to play in the National Basketball Association. The men play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT where Fairfield University hosted the Bridgeport regional of the 2006 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament and will host the upcoming 2007 MAAC Men's Basketball Championship and will co-host with Yale University the Division I NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Regional in 2009 and 2011. Record Book: Men's Basketball
[edit] The Dawn of Stags Basketball
Through the efforts of Rev. Victor Leeber, S.J., Fairfield University introduced men's basketball in 1948 and has since played 47 continuous seasons of hoops through the 2005-06 season. Fairfield played its first-ever game against Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, NY, losing 46-78, and won its first-ever game that season against Hillyer College (now the University of Hartford), 47-37, in Bridgeport, CT at the Bridgeport Armory, Fairfield's original home court. During the 1950-1951 season, under new Head Coach James Hanrahan, the still fledgling program experienced its first winning season with a 16-11 overall record and received the school's first ever postseason berth in the 1951 NAIA National Men's Basketball Championship Tournament.
[edit] Red Stags Rising
During the 1958-1959 season Head Coach George Bisacca took over the program and proceeded to elevate the Stags to a higher level experiencing only 1 losing season in 10 years. The Stags received three straight postseason berths to the NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship Tournament between 1960 and 1962 and advanced to the 2nd round in 1960 and 1961. On the heals of this postseason success, Fairfield upgraded the program up to Division 1 hoops during the 1964-1965 season.
[edit] The Golden Barakat Era
The most successful stretch of Fairfield basketball occurred under Head Coach Fred Barakat when the Stags received three berths in the post-season NIT in six years and was chronicled in the book, 25 Years Plus One: Recounting the Meteoric Rise of Fairfield Basketball, by Connecticut sportswriter, Don Harrison. During the 1972-73 season the Stags finished with a 18-9 overall record and were invited to the post-season NIT for the first time in the programs history. In the 1st round, Captain George Groom led the Stags to a 80-76 victory over Marshall University playing before 13,904 fans at Madison Square Garden. In the 2nd round, the Stags fell 76-77 to the eventual National Champion Virginia Tech Gooblers before more than 17,000 fans. The Stags followed up this success with a 17-9 overall record and a second invitation to the post-season NIT during the 1973-74 season. In the 1st round, Captain Richie O'Connor led the Stags to a 37-32 halftime lead before falling 65-66 to the University of Hawaii before 17,739 fans. The Stags returned to the post-season NIT for the third time during the 1977-78 season following the program's first 20 win season (22-5 overall) and a record point setting 123-108 victory over the then 14th ranked Holy Cross Crusaders. In the 1st round of the tournament, Junior Mark Young led the Stags with a 32 performance in a 93-108 losing effort to the Dayton Flyers.
[edit] Back to Back in the MAAC
During the 1995-96 season Head Coach Paul Cormier led the Stags to a 20-10 overall record, an appearance in the MAAC championship game and the program's fourth berth in the NIT. In the opening round of the NIT, the Stags played the Providence College Friars before 6,368 fans at the New Haven Coliseum. Led by Shannon Bowman the Stags held a 46-43 half time lead before eventually falling 78-69 to the Friars.
Picked to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 1996-97, Fairfield suffered through an injury-plagued regular season and finished in last place. But the Stags made a Cinderella run in the MAAC tournament, defeating top seed Iona, St. Peter's and Canisius to capture the league's automatic berth in the 1997 NCAA Tournament despite an 11-18 record. Fairfield then gave top seeded North Carolina all it could handle in the first round of the East Region in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Stags opened a 37-28 lead early in the second half before their bid to become the first 16 seed to win a NCAA Tournament game fell short, 82-74.
[edit] O'Toole Time
During the 2002-03 season, Head Coach Tim O'Toole led the Stags to an 19-12 overall record, an appearance to the MAAC tournament championship game, and the program's fifth berth in the NIT. In the opening round of the NIT, Nick Delfico led the Stags with 14 points in a 90-78 losing effort to the Boston College Eagles before 6,500 fans at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
[edit] Cooley In Control
On April 11, 2006, Ed Cooley (former Boston College Eagles assistant coach) was announced as the program's 11th Head Coach ushering in a new era of Stags basketball. With a renewed commitment to reestablishing the winning basketball tradition at Fairfield, Coach Cooley quickly signed a talented recruiting class to join veteran leaders Michael van Schiack, Danny Ogelsby, Marty O'Sullivan, All-MAAC Rookie Herbie Allen and Jon Han (of MTV Nike Battlegrounds fame). The new Stags include 6'7" Roi Bookbinder (Tel Aviv, Israel), 6'8" Iowa State transfer Mike Evanovich (Storrs, CT), 6'8" Anthony Johnson (Lake Wales, FL), 6'4" Devin Johnson (Richmond, VA), 6'7" Richard Fleming (Chester, PA) and 6'6" Greg Nero (Red Hook, NY). Nero was the only one of these recruits to be signed by O'Toole, and he also led his high school squad to a berth in the New York State regional final and was the Most Valuable Player of the Mid-Hudson Athletic League. Devin Johnson was the Richmond Metro Player of the Year. And with a renewed excitement surrounding the program, Stags fans are looking forward to the upcoming 2006-2007 season with an out of conference slate featuring the Boston College Eagles of the ACC; the UConn Huskies, Georgetown Hoyas and Providence Friars of the Big East; the St. Joseph's Hawks and Fordham Rams of the Atlantic 10, the Ole Miss Rebels of the SEC; and the Holy Cross Crusaders and Loyola Ramblers.
[edit] Head Coaches
| Years | Head Coach | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948-1949 | Joe Dunn | 9-14 | - |
| 1949-1950 | Bob Noonan | 5-16 | - |
| 1950-1958 | James Hanrahan | 82-79 | 1951 NAIB |
| 1958-1968 | George Bisacca | 151-85 | 1960 NCAA, 1961 NCAA, 1962 NCAA |
| 1968-1970 | Jim Lynam | 23-29 | - |
| 1970-1981 | Fred Barakat | 160-128 | 1972 NIT, 1973 NIT, 1978 NIT |
| 1981-1985 | Terry O'Conner | 45-68 | - |
| 1985-1991 | Mitch Buonoguoro | 80-103 | 1985 NCAA, 1986 NCAA |
| 1991-1998 | Paul Cormier | 86-111 | 1996 NIT, 1997 NCAA |
| 1998-2006 | Tim O'Toole | 112-120 | 2003 NIT |
| 2006- | Ed Cooley | - | - |
| - | Total | 753-753 | - |
[edit] Stags in the NBA
| Player | Year | Round | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Rafferty | 1965 | 16th | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Bill Jones | 1968 | 7th | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Art Kenny | 1968 | 18th | Baltimore Bullets |
| Rich O'Connor | 1974 | 8th | Kansas City-Omaha |
| Phil Rogers | 1974 | 10th | Buffalo Braves |
| Danny Odums | 1976 | 6th | Buffalo Braves |
| Steve Balkun | 1978 | 7th | Boston Celtics |
| Kim Fisher | 1978 | 8th | Boston Celtics |
| Joe DeSantis | 1979 | 2nd | Washington Bullets |
| Mark Young | 1979 | 2nd | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Pete DeBisschop | 1983 | 4th | Seattle Sonics |
| A.J. Wynder | 1987 | Free Agent | Boston Celtics |
| Deng Gai | 2005 | Free Agent | Philadelphia 76ers |
[edit] Women's Basketball
The Lady Stags received an at-large bid to the Women's NCAA Tournament in 2001, a first for the school. Head Coach Diane Nolan reached her milestone 500th game win in 2006. The women play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT where Fairfield University hosted the The Arena and Fairfield University recently hosted the Bridgeport regional of the 2006 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament and will host the upcoming 2007 MAAC Men's Basketball Championship and will co-host with Yale University the Division I NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Regional in 2009 and 2011.Record Book: Women's Basketball
[edit] Men's Lacrosse
The men's lacrosse teamis a member the ECAC Lacrosse League competing against traditional lacrosse powerhouses such as the UMass Minutemen, Georgetown Hoyas, Hobart Statesmen and Loyola Greyhounds. Since taking the helm in 1996, Head Coach Ted Spencer, has guided the Stags to great success on the national stage including 2 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2003 and 2006), 2 Great Western Lacrosse League Championships (2003 and 2005), 2 ECAC Tournament Championships (1998 and 1999), 3 MAAC Championships (1996, 1997 and 1998) and developed 2 All-Americans (CJ Kemp '03 and Greg Downing '07) along with 18 All-New England selections and 8 Academic All-New England selections. In 2002, the Stags were selected as the winner of the Joseph (Frenchy) Julien Memorial Award for Sportsmanship. Four Stags have been drafted by Major League Lacrosse with Peter Vlahakis '04 being the leading 2006 MLL FOGO with a 60% Face-Off Percentage. Record Book: Men's Lacrosse
[edit] 2005 Season
Season Highlights: The 2004-2005 season will go down as one of the greatest in Fairfield history with the Stags finishing as the 15th ranked team in the nation. Not one for dramatics, the Stags won the Great Western Lacrosse League and earned a trip to the 2005 NCAA Tournament with a dramatic victory over then 12th ranked Denver in the last game of the season. In the 1st round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament, the Stags fell to eventual 2005 National Finalist, Duke. Major victories included wins over then 20th ranked Harvard, Penn State, then 10th ranked Hobart, and then 11th ranked Notre Dame. Individual recognition went to Coach Ted Spencer (GWLL Coach of the Year), Greg Downing (Honorable Mention All- American, GWLL Player of the Year and 1st Team All-New England), Tom Werney (2nd Team All-New England), Michael Bocklet (2nd Team All-GWLL), and Matt Bocklet (2nd Team All-GWLL and 2nd Team All-New England). Season Results: 11-5, Overall; 4-1, GWLL
[edit] 2006 Season
Season Highlights: The Stags first official season as a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League proved a successful one with Stags posting a winning league record. Major victories included wins over Harvard and then 16th ranked Loyola. The victory over Loyola marked the programs first win over the Greyhounds and included the now infamous hidden ball goal. In the final game of the season against then 8th ranked and eventual 2006 National Finalist, UMass, the Stags held the lead until the final minute before succumbing to the Minuteman in dramatic fashion. Individual recognition went to Greg Downing (Tewaaraton Trophy Preseason Watchlist, Honorable Mention All-American, 1st Team All-ECAC and 1st Team All-New England), Travis Nelson (2nd Team All-ECAC); Matt Bocklet (2nd Team All-ECAC and 2nd Team All-New England), Josh Thornton (2nd Team All-New England), and Trevor Kelly (NEILA Scholar-Athlete). Season Results: 6-7, Overall; 4-3, ECAC
[edit] 2007 Season Preview
Key returning players include A-Travis Nelson (37pts), M-Greg Downing (35pts), A-Mike Bocklett (35pts) and D-Chris Atwell. Downing was HM AA and early Tewarraton Trophy candidate. Nelson was the Stags OMVP emerging as a dominant offensive player towards the end of 2006. Atwell (6'6", 220) was the Stags DMVP drawing the toughest defensive assignments and shutting down some of the top players in nation in 2006. Bocklett was the Stags Unsung Hero and is capable of taking over games as he proved on a few occasions last year. Key departing players include M-Josh Thorton, D-Trevor Kelly and D-Matt Bocklet.
Key new players include transfers M-Andrew Urquhart (Maryland) and M-Chris Campbell (Penn State) and freshman A-Nick Federici, A-Logan Rausse, M-Kevin Peters and D-Mike Gianelle. Urquhart probably will share and help solidify the FOGO responsibilites with Charles Keinath (52%). Campbell probably will step right in and take over where Thornton left off and some with a more physical style of play!
With the Stags returning the core of the team that won the GWLL in 2005 and almost pulled off a victory over NCAA Runnerup UMass; Downing fully recovered from his 2006 illness; Nelson, Bocklet and Atwell ready to elevate their game to the AA level; and super transfers Urquhart and Campbell ready to make an instant impact, the Stags are primed for a big year in 2007!!!
[edit] Head Coaches
| Years | Name | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-1995 | Tom McClelland | 8-27 | - |
| 1996-2006 | Ted Spencer | 83-75 | 2003 NCAA, 2005 NCAA |
| - | Total | 91-102 | - |
[edit] Stags in the MLL
| Player | Year | Team |
|---|---|---|
| CJ Kemp | 2003 | Rochester Rattlers |
| Peter Vlahakis | 2004 | Long Island Lizards, New Jersey Pride |
[edit] Women's Lacrosse
The Lady Stags are achieving equal success winning the MAAC Regular Season Title in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003 and the MAAC Tournament Championship in 2001. Record Book: Women's Lacrosse
[edit] Men's Soccer
The men's soccer team with Head Coach Carl Rees manning the helm over the past 10 years has been ranked among the nation's elite programs and has achieved seven winning seasons, including double-digit win totals in five of the last 10 campaigns. In 2005, the Stags posted an unbeaten conference record (8-0-1) for the first time in school history and captured the MAAC regular-season championship. The Stags also garnered a national ranking in the 2005 polls, thanks in part to an unbeaten mark during the month of October (8-0-1). In 2001, the Stags placed in the national rankings all but two weeks, hitting a program-high of number 12. In 1999, the Stags won its first MAAC tournament title and the program's first NCAA play-in berth. And in 1998, the Stags posted a program-high 15 wins and earned a number 24 nationally ranking, the first-ever top 25 poll appearance by any Fairfield University team.
[edit] 2006 Season
In 2006 the Stags became the first Fairfield team in any sport to advance past the first round of an NCAA Tournament, as they defeated UConn 2-1 in the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship in Storrs, CT. After winning the MAAC regular season and post season championship, the Stags, led by seniors Alex Cunliffe and Mike Troy, as well as juniors Tom Skara, J.P. Francini and Sam Bailey, entered the UConn game as the underdog. A goal by senior Jimmy Gaughan broke a 1-1 tie and solid goaltending from Francini kept the lead for Fairfield who upset the Huskies. The Stags lost to Towson in the second round, but will be remembered as one of the best athletic teams in school history.
[edit] Stags in the Pros
| Player | Year | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vasilis Androutsos | 2005 | Montreal Impact | USL First Division |
| Jim Hunt | 2004 | Long Island Rough Riders | USL Second Division |
| Justin Thompson | 2004 | Virginia Beach Mariners , Toronto Lynx | USL First Division |
| Lee Williams | 1999 | Toronto Lynx | USL First Division |
| Jim McElderry | 1993 | New York Fever, Long Island Rough Riders | USL First Division |
[edit] Women's Soccer
The Lady Stags have won the MAAC Regular Season Title five times (1993, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2002) and the MAAC Championship Tournament six times (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2005) since 1993. Under new Head Coach Jim O'Brien, the Lady Stags participated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005. Record Book: Women's Soccer
[edit] Spirit Team
The Spirit Team consists of the cheerleading squad, dance team, and mascot. These groups perform at all men's and women's home basketball games, as well as some other athletic contests and University events.
[edit] Stags in the Stands
Stags in the Stands, founded by Marco Ambrosio '07 in 2005, is a new organization looking to bring back the intense Stag spirit that was around back in the 1970s when students clad in red poured into Alumni Hall and created one of the region's best home court advantages.
[edit] All-Americans
- Joe DeSantis '79 (All-America, Basketball)
- Tony George '86 (All-America, Basketball)
- Abby Ward '00 (All-America, Honorable Mention, Women's Soccer)
- Jim Lopusznick '00 (All-America, 1st Team, Football Gazette)
- CJ Kemp '03, (All-America, Honorable Mention, Lacrosse)
- Meghan King '04 (CoSIDA Academic All-America District I Second Team, Soccer)
- Tara Hansen '06 (Academic All-America, 2nd Team, Softball)
- Greg Downing '07 (All-America, Honorable Mention, Lacrosse)
[edit] Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame
The Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 to honor those alumni who achieved excellence and distinguished themselves in Fairfield's athletic programs. Each year inductees are selected through a nomination process by the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and honored at a Fall induction ceremony.
[edit] Athletic Directors
- George Bisacca
- Don Cook
- Chappy Memminger
- Gene Doris
