RutgersDirector ofAthleticsRobert E. Mulcahy III was named the AstroTurf NortheastAthleticDirector of theYear in the Football Bowl Subdivision by the National Associated of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
“The highest form of respect is when you are honored by your peers, and I am very grateful,” said Mulcahy. “This award goes to everyone in our department: coaches and staff who have worked so hard to bring the athletic department to where it is now. We are committed to continuing this progress.”
In his 10 years at the helm, Mulcahy has authored a period that has evolved into one of the most memorable eras in the history of Rutgers Athletics. Through his leadership and vision, Mulcahy has guided the division to unprecedented accomplishment during his tenure.
Mulcahy, who hired the 2006 National College Football Coach of the Year Greg Schiano, has witnessed the football program play in three consecutive bowl games (two straight bowl victories) for the first time in school history in addition to the $102 million dollar expansion project at Rutgers Stadium that will increase the stadium’s capacity to 56,000.
For the third time in four years, the women’s basketball program reached the Elite Eight in 2007-08 as the team finished second in the Big East.
In the 2006-07 academic year, Rutgers Athletics was rated among the nation’s elite for academic and athletic achievement, with five Scarlet Knight teams ranking in the final Top 25 of their respective sports’ polls, and two more teams narrowly missing.
Along with the success on the field of play, seven sports at Rutgers are ranked in the top 20 percentile nationally in the latest APR figures released by the NCAA in May 2008, headlined by football, women’s tennis and men’s cross country, which are ranked in the top 10 percentile within their sport.According to the report, Rutgers recorded an average APR score of 972 for its 24 sports.
Mulcahy, a graduate of Villanova University (AB in History, 1958), has received several awards from his alma mater, including the Medal of Excellence from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Alumni Medal, and the James “Jumbo” Elliot AchievementAward.Among other honors, his most prized awards include the Knight of St. Gregory medal, received from Pope John Paul II, and the Ellis IslandMedal of Honor.
There are four geographic regions – northeast, southeast, central and west – while the membership is separated into seven categories: Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A); Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA); Division I (formerly Division I-AAA); Division II; Division III; NAIA; and Junior/Community Colleges. One winner was selected in each of the seven categories, for a total of 29 honorees.Winners will receive their awards during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon at NACDA’s 43rd Annual Convention at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
Nominators were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional presidents and conference commissioners. Special Selection Committees composed of current and former directors of athletics, present and past NCAA and NAIA presidents, current and former commissioners and other key athletics administrators voted on nominees for the award.
The Old Bridge Hornets Girls U8 Soccer team capped off their 2008 spring travel season with an undefeated week following an exciting 4-4 tie against Toms River on Saturday. After leading 2-0 at the half on goals by Jessica Schmidt and Shannon Kearns, the Hornets found themselves trailing 3-2. Emily Valazza tied the game at 3, scoring off a rebound from a Julia Sandor shot. Toms River scored once more to take the lead, but the Hornets scored the equalizer on a goal by Kayla Lombardi in the final minute. This followed a 1-0 victory over Marlboro last Thursday night, in which goalkeepers Sierra Stevenson and Kayla Lombardi kept the game scoreless until Trinity Malave nailed the game-winner late in the contest.
The Monroe Falcons Junior Legion baseball team open their league play with an eight-inning 3-2 win over Sayreville last week.
Keith Sanchez and Zach Batchelor pitched superbly to combine for the win. Sanchez went 4 1/3 innings allowing one hit, two unearned runs and striking out eight. Batchelor finished the last 3 2/3 innings and allowed two hits and striking out eight as well. Monroe jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third on a Sanchez solo homer. In the fifth, Sayreville took advantage of a bases-loaded error to take the lead at 2-1. In the seventh inning, Monroe loaded the bases on two walks and a Chris Pritzlaff bunt single. Alex Vizcaino plated the tying run on a sacrifice fly scoring Corey Liebross. In the Monroe half of the eighth inning, Batchelor walked and moved to third on Ted Moke’s double to left center. Batchelor stole home on a wild pitch to give the Falcons the lead for good. Monroe had a total of seven hits, including the Sanchez homer and Moke double. Sal Filiano, Chris Viani, Brian Dooley, Pritzlaff, and Vizcaino added singles during the game. Jimmy Nemeth had two sparkling plays at first base in the bottom of the eighth, while Jimmy Small and Pritzlaff also had nice defensive games.
Monroe faces off with Metuchen, South River and Perth Amboy this week.
The Old Bridge High School tennis program welcomes boys and girls ages 7-17 of all abilities to its summer tennis camp to improve their on-court skills with an emphasis on fun. Players will be divided into small groups with strategies on singles and doubles play.
The camp runs Monday through Thursday 9 a.m to noon the weeks of July 21-24 and Aug. 4-7.
For more information please contact Craig Wood, Old Bridge tennis coach, 732-995-8561, or e-mail cwood @obps.org
U14 Old Bridge Jaguars completed the spring MOSA season with a perfect 10-0 record. The Jaguars capped off their amazing season with a 5-0 win against the Howell United PAL Storm on a blistering hot Sunday afternoon. The only thing hotter than the weather has been the play of the Jaguars. They finished the season with a total of 33 goals and gave up only three goals. They started the season with a string of six shutouts and added two more over the final two games.