HN Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
ALBAN
For Immediate Release For Further Information
July 30, 2007 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY NAMES SAMSON BROWN ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH
Albany, N.Y. — University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced today the hiring of
Samson Brown as assistant coach. Brown, a former Great Danes’ free safety, will coach the outside
linebackers and recruit in the areas of New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island.
Brown previously coached the tight ends and assisted with special teams at Hofstra University.
He served as an intern coach for two years at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Division III program,
and one season at Siena College. At Rensselaer, Brown worked with the defensive backs, wide
receivers and special teams.
Brown, who also interned with the New York Giants’ scouting department, was a four-time All-
Northeast Conference defensive back at UAlbany. He totaled 52 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two
interceptions in leading the Great Danes to the 2002 conference championship. Brown, a first-team
All-NEC selection on three occasions, finished his career ranked among the school’s all-time tackles
leaders with 240.
Brown, 27, earned a B.A. in information science and policy from UAlbany in 2003. He has also
worked as a professional recruiter for Aerotek Architecture and Engineering in New York.
COLIN DISCH, SAM PAGANO & MICHAEL DUNGEY CHOSEN FOOTBALL CAPTAINS
Albany, N.Y. — University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced today that Colin Disch,
Sam Pagano and Michael Dungey have been voted team captains for the 2007 season. The Great
Danes begin practice on Monday, Aug. 6. UAlbany opens its schedule at Colgate on Sept. 1.
Disch, a senior inside linebacker from North Plainfield, N.J., is the third player in the program’s
history to be selected as a captain three times. Arnie Will (1973-75) and Frank Sarcone (1985-87)
also served in that role three years ina row. Disch was chosen to the AFCA FCS/I-AA All-America
squad as a junior, and was tabbed as the Football Gazette |-AA Mid-Major Linebacker of the Year for
the second consecutive year. He accounted for 103 tackles, including 11 for a loss, in earning the
NEC defensive player of the year award for the second straight season.
Dungey, a senior defensive tackle from Rochester, N.Y., was named to the 2006 Football
Gazette Mid-Major All-America second team and was a first-team All-NEC selection. He had 34
tackles with two sacks and eight tackles for a loss. The Great Danes were ranked in the top-five
nationally in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.
Pagano, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound left guard, has appeared in 29 career games on UAlbany’s
offensive line. He was chosen second team mid-major All-America by Football Gazette and named
to the All-NEC second team. The Great Danes averaged 296.0 total yards and 193.7 rushing yards
against conference opponents.
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
July 27, 2007 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
B
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UALBANY BASKETBALL TRAVELS TO BARBADOS FOR FOUR-GAME FOREIGN TOUR
Albany, N.Y. — The University at Albany men’s basketball team will embark on a four-day foreign tour
to Barbados, beginning August 31, as announced today by Director of Athletics and Vice President
Lee McElroy. Barbados is an island in the Caribbean, with a population of 279,254, and is located
270 miles northeast of Venezuela on the South American continent.
The Great Danes will depart from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Aug.
31. The UAlbany travel group will stay at Crystal Cove Resort in St. James, Barbados and return to
the United States on Sept. 3. UAlbany meets league champion Lumber Company Lakers in the first
of four exhibition games on Friday evening. The Great Danes face the Combined Club All-Stars on
Saturday, before playing a pair of contests on Sunday, Sept. 2.
“This tour will not only provide an educational experience but give our team a jump-start on the
2007-08 season,” explained UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose program has reached the 20-win mark
in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1990. “We will have an opportunity to practice for
several days prior to the trip and then gain game experience. This will be a great way for the team to
bond on and off the court.”
In 2006-07, UAlbany reached the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season as the
America East Conference champion. Brent Wilson, a third-team all-conference forward, leads a
@aour of seven letterwinners who are back from last year's 23-10 squad. Brian Lillis, the league's
defensive player of the year, and Jon lati, one of the program’s all-time leading three-point shooters,
also return. This year’s roster includes seven newcomers.
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UAlbany Basketball’s Barbados Tour Schedule
Friday, Aug. 31 Lumber Company Lakers 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 1 Combined Club All-Stars 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 2 Tridents 9:00 a.m.
Sunday, Sept. 2 Combined Club All-Stars 8:00 p.m.
HG.
Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
B For Immediate Release For Further Information
AL N July 25, 2007 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
IWLCA RECOGNIZES UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY WOMEN’S LACROSSE PROGRAM
Albany, N.Y. — The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Association (IWLCA) has recognized
the University at Albany program as a Division | Merit Squad. The Great Danes led all NCAA Division
| institutions with a team grade point average of 3.45. Atlantic Coast Conference schools Virginia
Tech (38.44) and Duke (3.43) were second and third, respectively, among the 41 lacrosse programs
that were honored.
In Division |, 157 women from 57 schools were named to the 2007 IWLCA Academic Honor
Roll. UAlbany, national champion Northwestern and Sacred Heart each had six student-athletes
selected. The Great Danes on the list include Kate Fontana, Brittany Scott, Jen Daly, Katelyn
Primomo, Leslie Russell and Teresa Strano. Fontana, Daly and Russell made the academic honor
roll for the second straight year.
Fontana, a senior midfielder, had a 3.71 GPA in criminal justice with a dual minor in Spanish
and biology. She was named first-team All-America East Conference and second-team All-Northeast
Region as a senior. Fontana, the school’s all-time scorer with 156 goals and 36 assists, received the
2007 ECAC Merit Medal and Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete Award.
Primomo posted a 3.56 GPA in a dual major of biology and sociology. She was chosen to the
All-America East first team for the second year in a row as a midfielder. Daly, a second-team all-
conference goalkeeper, was voted to the America East all-championship squad after recording 15
@>2es in the tournament final against Boston University. Daly, who is the school’s career save leader
with 676, had a 3.85 GPA in mathematics with a minor in computer science.
Scott, a junior midfielder, had a 3.53 GPA in psychology with a minor in education. She was a
Starter in all 17 games and totaled 16 goals and five assists. Russell, a senior, was in the starting
lineup in 11 of 15 games played in the midfield. She registered a 3.83 in biology. Strano, who made
11 starts in 16 appearances as a defender, posted a 3.63 in Spanish with a minor in business
administration.
The Great Danes, who tied the program’s Division | mark for single-season victories, advanced
to the America East championship game for the first time in the their history after upending top-seed
Stony Brook in the semifinal round.
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
July 24, 2007 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
JOE GRASSIA RECEIVES CAPITAL DISTRICT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
Mohonasen High Graduate Will Be Honored at Giants Media Day on Thursday
Albany, N.Y. — Joe Grassia is the recipient of the Capital District Student Scholarship, sponsored by
New York Giants Football, Inc. and the University at Albany, as Vice President and Director of
Athletics Lee McElroy announced today. Grassia will be recognized as part of a welcome program at
Giants Media Day on Thursday, July 26.
The Giants Media Day program is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. under a tent on the UAlbany
campus’ Dutch Quad Field. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin will offer welcome remarks.
Grassia, who will attend UAlbany in the fall and play football for head coach Bob Ford, was
twice selected Class A third-team all-state by the New York State Sportswriters Association as a
linebacker and defensive end at Mohonasen High School. He was chosen first-team All-Area by the
Daily Gazette when he accounted for 75 tackles and three sacks as a senior. A native of
Schenectady, N.Y., Grassia also rushed for 350 yards and five touchdowns as a fullback. He was
named first-team All-Area by the Albany Times Union as a junior.
} Grassia plans to study business administration and play inside linebacker for the Great Danes.
His parents are Paul and Patty Grassia. He has one sister, Elvira, and one brother, Paul.
The Capital District Student Scholarship provides Grassia with a monetary award equivalent to
the tuition costs of four years at the University at Albany. The Giants are training on the UAlbany
campus for the 12th consecutive summer. The first practice sessions will be held on Saturday, July
28 and continue through Thursday, August 23.
GIANTS CAMP BLOOD DRIVE: The New York Giants and UAlbany will team up with the New York
Blood Center to conduct a blood drive on the first day of training camp ... A mobile blood center will
be located on the east side of UAlbany’s SEFCU Arena, adjacent to the Giants practice fields, from
8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 28 ... Each day, New York Blood Center must collect 2,000
units of lifesaving blood to treat patients in hospitals across New York and New Jersey ... Donors
must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health ... For more
information, visit their Web site, www.nybloodcenter.org ...
TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Giants training camp parking passes are available at UAlbany’s Athletic
Merchandise Store, located in the SEFCU Arena Lobby ... An all-session training camp parking pass
is $15.00 ... Dutch Quad Lot is the primary parking facility for the public ... The training camp
schedule can be accessed through www.giants.com or www.ualbanysports.com ... The Giants Fan
Information Line (518-442-7369) provides general and ticket information, an updated daily schedule,
and directions to the UAlbany campus ...
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AN Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 2
ALBAN
For Immediate Release For Further Information
July 24, 2007 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
UALBANY PLACES 159 ON AMERICA EAST WINTER-SPRING ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL
Boston, Mass. — University at Albany’s Kate Fontana has been named the America East Conference
Scholar-Athlete for women’s lacrosse, while Mike Ammann and Jessica Ortman earned the top award
in men’s lacrosse and women’s indoor track, respectively. UAlbany placed 159 student-athletes on
the conference’s winter-spring academic honor roll as announced by the league office.
A committee of athletic administrators and NCAA Faculty Athletic Representatives chose an
honoree in each of the winter and spring championship sports. Each honoree, named America East
Scholar-Athlete, was a starter or prominent reserve and carries a minimum cumulative grade point
average of 3.20. The America East academic honor roll members earned a 3.0 or higher during the
winter and spring seasons. Commissioner's Honor Roll members have a 3.5 GPA or higher.
Fontana, who graduated in May with a B.S. in criminal justice with a dual minor in Spanish and
biology, posted a 3.71 cumulative GPA. She was the 2007 ECAC Merit Medal recipient as UAlbany’s
top senior female student-athlete. A two-time Chancellors Scholar-Athlete Award winner, Fontana
became the first UAlbany women’s lacrosse athlete to be voted All-America East Conference four
times, including three first-team selections. She finished her career as the school’s all-time scorer
with 192 points (156 goals, 36 assists). Fontana, who was the team’s leading scorer as a senior, led
the Great Danes to their first-ever America East championship appearance.
Ammann, a junior midfielder, has a 3.91 GPA in accounting with a dual minor in business
@_aninistration and mathematics. He was voted to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Men’s At-Large
District | All-Academic Team and made the America East men’s lacrosse all-academic squad. A
second-team all-conference selection, Ammann totaled 11 goals and 20 assists in leading UAlbany to
its fourth America East championship in the last five years. He had a career-high five assists in the
championship against UMBC and scored twice in an NCAA first-round win against Loyola. UAlbany
(15-3) set a school record for victories and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time.
Ortman, a sophomore, recorded a 3.91 cumulative GPA in communication. She was named
the 2007 America East Conference Most Outstanding Track Performer at the indoor championship.
Ortman, the first UAlbany women’s athlete to earn the award, finished first in the 1,000-meter run with
a school-record 2:50.74. She was also first in the mile run and competed on the first-place 4x800
relay that established a championship record of 9:02.66. Ortman also placed second in the 800-
meters at the ECAC Championships and Collegiate Invitational, wnere she ran a school-record
2:07.34. She was chosen to the A-East indoor track all-academic team.
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2006-07 America East Conference Winter-Spring Academic Honor Roll
Baseball -- Peter Eichner, Stephen Sayre, Brendan Rowland, Nathaniel Toussaint, Leo Corvino, Dan Koegel, Christopher
Ott*, David Noble*, Tobi Adeyemi*
Men's Basketball -- Brett Gifford, Brian Connelly, Reid Anderson, Brian Lillis*, Michael Yocum*
Women's Basketball -- Joy Sterling, Kristin Higy, Tanya James, Sherrilyn Mikus, Gia Sanders, Devran Tanacan, Kirsten
Peterson’, Kelly Martinson”
Qomen's Golf -- Sun Hwa Kim, Tracey Berns, Jessica Signorelli*
Men's Lacrosse -- Caleb Stratton, Corey Small, Eric Wolf, Frank Resetarits, John Alpizar, Brendan Gleason, Mark
Cometti, Gregory Beach, Garrett Pediley, Matthew Green, Craig McDonald, Daniel Barnes, Liam Gleason, Marc Smith,
Brian Grodotzke, Paul Guzzone, A.J. Babnik*, Dennis Headrick*, Mark Phelan*, Steven Ammann’, Michael Ammann*
MORE
UAlbany Sports 2-2-2
Women's Lacrosse -- Jessica Forbes, Stacey Brown, Julie Bush*, Katharine Neer*, Leslie Russell*, Katelyn Primomo’,
Domenica Lo Re*, Kathleen Fontana’, Christina Smith*, Sarah Spillett*, Renee Levitin*, Rory Redmond’, Jane Bush",
Teresa Strano’, Brittany Scott*, Jennifer Daly*
Softball -- Marissa Powell, Leanne Tillman, Leah Mcintosh, Shane Pais, Bailey Van Deest, Meagan Butsch, Laura
Gremillion*, Casey Halloran*, Nicole Kothe*, Amber Maisonet*, Kelly Ogden*
Women's Tennis -- Aimee Kern*, Amanda Hall*, Kimberly Westcott*, Kimberly Weltman’*, Christina Suarez*
Men's Indoor Track -- Michael Lynch, Andrew Overbaugh, Drew Harrison, Justin Collishaw, Joseph Belokopitsky,
Ricardo Estremera, Raymond Gilman, Sean Gelinas, Jonathan Hilbert, Mitchel Troise, Renauld Buck, Bryan Lasky’,
Nicholas Assini*, Valete Graham’*, Raphael Jean Baptiste*, Anthony Basile*, Chase Frazer*
Women's Indoor Track -- Traequanda Brock, Jenna Ortman, Tashia Alexander, Georgina Torchon, Octavia Clarkson,
Melissa Lee, Jessica Chichester, Arina Gerasimova, Brenna Militello, Ashley Vives, Sarah Charles*, Valerie Maingan’,
Aleksandra Palak*, Amy Morrison*, Jennifer Gurrant*, Adanna Andrews’, Jessica Ortman*, Samantha Forey*, Natasha
Torres*, Anisha Andrews*, Candice Mann*, Alyssa Lotmore*, Laine Sefick*
Men's Outdoor Track -- Michael Lynch, Andrew Overbaugh, Drew Harrison, Justin Collishaw, Joseph Belokopitsky,
Ricardo Estremera, Raymond Gilman, Sean Gelinas, Jonathan Hilbert, Mitchel Troise, Renauld Buck, Bryan Lasky’,
Nicholas Assini*, Valete Graham’*, Raphael Jean Baptiste*, Anthony Basile*, Chase Frazer*
Women's Outdoor Track -- Traequanda Brock, Jenna Ortman, Tashia Alexander, Georgina Torchon, Octavia Clarkson,
Melissa Lee, Jessica Chichester, Arina Gerasimova, Brenna Militello, Zuliana Fontanez, Ashley Vives, Sarah Charles’,
Valerie Maingan*, Aleksandra Palak*, Amy Morrison*, Jennifer Gurrant*, Adanna Andrews”*, Jessica Ortman*, Samantha
Forey*, Natasha Torres*, Anisha Andrews’*, Candice Mann*, Alyssa Lotmore’*, Laine Sefick*
*America East Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll Member
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
July 7, 2007 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
JOHN MOORE WINS 800-METERS’ BRONZE MEDAL AT PAN AMERICAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sao Paulo, Brazil — University at Albany’s John Moore (Fonda-Fultonville H.S.) won the bronze medal in the
800-meter run at the 14th Pan American Junior Athletics Championships on Saturday afternoon. Moore rana
season-best 1:49.17 to finish third in the championship race, more than one second lower than his previous top
effort at USA Junior Nationals.
“lam ecstatic,”,said Moore, who had to hold off Canada’s Darren Mazzei for the bronze after
challenging for the lead at the top of the stretch. “I jumped for joy and gave a fist pump at the finish. It got
really physical (between the runners) in the stretch, but | didn’t get flustered. | am grateful for the U.S. team’s
support. | have come away from this with a lot of confidence.”
Andrew Heaney, the Ontario record holder from Toronto’s Cardinal Newman High School, was first
across the finish line in 1:48.52, while Jamal James, who will be a sophomore at Louisiana State University this
fall, placed second in 1:48.87. James, a native of Trinidad & Tobago and the reigning Southeastern
Conference (SEC) champion, recorded the best qualifying time in Friday’s semifinal round.
Moore, a 19-year-old who just completed his freshman year at UAlbany, finished second in his
semifinal heat the previous day with a time of 1:50.48 to advance to the 800m final. He took second at USA
Juniors to qualify for the Pan American Championships as the first alternate. He was named to the USA squad
after junior national champion Cory Primm was unable to attend. Moore captured the 2006 New York State
Division Il Boys’ state title and was third in the 800-meters at both the 2007 America East Conference indoor
and outdoor championships.
@ The USA team consists of 70 athletes — 35 men and 35 women. The roster for the U.S. was based on
»)
erformances at last month’s USA Junior Nationals, a competition for athletes ranging from 14 to 19 years-old.
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Pan American Junior Championships Men’s 800-Meter Run Final
1. Andrew Heaney (Canada), 1:48.52, 2. Jamaal James (Trinidad & Tobago), 1:48.87, 3. John Moore (USA),
1:49.17, 4. Darren Mazzei (Canada), 1:49.17, 5. Lutimar Abreu Paes (Brazil), 1:50.01, 6. Andre Thomas
(Jamaica), 1:51.04, 7. Jose Rogerio Figueira (Brazil), 1:51.72, 8. Hesiber Landaeta Aponte (Venezuela),
Vette
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
July 6, 2007 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
JOHN MOORE ADVANCES TO 800-METERS FINAL AT PAN AMERICAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sao Paulo, Brazil — University at Albany’s John Moore (Fonda-Fultonville H.S.) advanced to the 800-meter run
championship race at the 2007 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships on Friday afternoon. Moore
finished second in his semifinal heat with a time of 1:50.48.
Moore, a 19-year-old who recently completed his freshman year, will compete in Saturday’s final at
4:10 p.m. ET. Andrew Heaney, who recently established the Ontario 800m record at Toronto’s Cardinal
Newman High School, was first in the second semifinal in 1:50.10. Moore’s performance was his second-best
effort of the season. He previously ran 1:50.21 at USA Junior Nationals.
“| was really nervous and tight at the line,” said Moore, who led his semifinal through 600 meters. “I ran
my best race, but after | got passed with 50 meters to go | knew not to try and get him because | had what |
needed to qualify. This is my first international competition, so it is pretty hard to describe. | thought | loved
running, but this experience has increased my motivation (for the future).”
Jamal James, a Trinidad & Tobago native, posted the best time in qualifying when he won the first
semifinal in 1:49.75. James, who will be a sophomore at Louisiana State University in the fall, is the reigning
Southeastern Conference (SEC) champion in the indoor and outdoor 800-meter run.
Moore finished second at the USA Juniors to qualify for the Pan American Championships as the first
alternate. He was named to the USA squad after junior national champion Cory Primm was unable to attend.
Moore captured the 2006 New York State Division II Boys’ state title and was third in the 800-meters at both
the 2007 America East Conference indoor and outdoor championships.
@. The USA team consists of 70 athletes — 35 men and 35 women. The roster for the U.S. was based on
erformances at USA Junior Nationals in June, a competition for athletes ranging from 14 to 19 years-old.
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Pan American Junior Championships Men’s 800-Meter Run
(Semifinal #1)
1. Jamaal James (Trinidad & Tobago), 1:49.75*, 2. Darren Mazzei (Canada), 1:50.09*, 3. Jose Rogerio
Figueira (Brazil), 1:50.37", 4. Andre Thomas (Jamaica)*, 1:50.45, 5. Luciano Almirin (Argentina), 1:53.21, 6.
Confesor De La Rose (Domincan Republic), 1:53.80, 8. Joan Merdina Ortiz (Colombia), 1:55.04.
(Semifinal #2)
1. Andrew Heaney (Canada), 1:50.10*, 2. John Moore (USA), 1:50.48*, 3. Lutimar Abreu Paes (Brazil),
1:50.77", 4. Hesiber Landaeta Aponte (Venezuela), 1:51.82*, 5. Dwayne Ferguson (Bahamas), 1:53.39, 6.
Daniel Palma (Chile), 1:53.62, 7. Diego Rincon (Colombia), 1:54.09, 8. Rodrigo Navarro (Peru), 1:56.61.
“qualified for Saturday’s championship
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
July 6, 2007 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
UALBANY’S SCOTT MARR NAMED USILA DIVISION | NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Baltimore, Md. — University at Albany’s Scott Marr has been named the 2007 USILA Division |
National Lacrosse Coach of the Year as announced by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse
Association. Marr led the Great Danes to the program’s fourth America East Conference
championship in the last five years and first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament’s quarterfinal
round.
UAlbany set a school record for single-season victories with a 15-3 campaign, including a
perfect 10-0 mark at home. The Great Danes opened the schedule with an 11-game win streak, the
longest since the program became a varsity sport in 1970. UAlbany registered seven top-20 wins,
the most ever in a Division | season, including an 8-7 victory over eventual national champion Johns
Hopkins.
The Great Danes, who were ranked No. 2 nationally in the USILA coaches’ poll for six
consecutive weeks, defeated UMBC, 15-14, for their fourth America East championship. Marr’s
squad has reached the conference tournament final six years in a row. UAlbany recorded the athletic
programs first-ever NCAA Division | Tournament victory in a 19-10 decision over Loyola on May 13
at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes were then edged in a memorable overtime game against top-
@ankea Cornell in the NCAA quarterfinals.
UAlbany ranked second among the NCAA leaders in scoring offense at 13.78 goals per game.
Frank Resetarits, the first Great Dane to be selected in the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft,
was voted to the USILA All-America first team. Jordan Levine (second team), Merrick Thomson (third
team) and Brett Queener (honorable mention) joined him on the USILA squad. Thomson and
Resetarits, a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, are one-two on the school’s all-time scoring list.
“This is an award for the whole program,” Marr said. “It is certainly an honor to be recognized
by your peers. But it has taken a lot of people within our athletic department to get this program off
the ground and headed in the right direction. | am grateful to our coaching staff and the student-
athletes for their hard work.”
In his seven years at UAlbany, Marr has a 65-43 career record for a .602 winning percentage.
His teams have won 10 or more games four times and advanced to NCAA tournament play in 2003,
2004, 2005 and 2007. Marr, who previously was an assistant at Maryland and Delaware, and played
as a collegian at Johns Hopkins, was chosen the America East Conference Coach of the Year in
2002 and 2007.
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