University Athletic Director Resigns
Milton E. Richards, director of athletics and recreation, tendered his resignation on Oct. 9 . The announcement was made by Vice President for Student Affairs James P. Doellefeld.
Richards, who has served in the position since July 1993 and has been instrumental in the program�s restructuring during this decade, cited an important personal matter as his reason.
"We thank Milt for his vision and energy during the University�s transition from Division III to II, and next year to Division I," Doellefeld said. "He will stay with the University in the short term, and will work on special projects with regard to athletics marketing and development. The University remains fully committed to excellence in athletics, the move to Division I in 1999-2000, and the current development of a strong recreation program.
Gail Cummings-Danson, interim assistant vice president for student affairs, will have responsibility for athletics while the matter of an interim athletics director is under advisement, Doellefeld said. A national search for a director of athletics will commence shortly.
Richards, 40, worked at 11 years at Kansas State University and Temple University prior to accepting his position at Albany. In May 1994, he was instrumental in the move to the NCAA Division II level from Division III, and was able to gain membership into the New England Collegiate Conference for the 1995-96 academic year. He also found a home for the football team in the Eastern Football Conference, and for field hockey and football, as Division I programs, in the Northeast Conference in 1999.
His leadership was a key factor in the May 1997 announcement to upgrade Albany�s 19-sport intercollegiate program for men and women to Division I, and he aided the University�s efforts to bring the New York Giants football training camp to campus.
Gridders Get Back to Winning Ways
Greg Garrett rushed for 81 yards and caught a 65-yard touchdown pass, and Ben Kelcey scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead Albany to a 24-6 victory over Merrimack last Saturday evening.
Garrett, a junior tailback, broke a scoreless tie with 3:57 left in the second quarter, when he took an Eric Williams� screen pass and danced through the Merrimack defense on a 65-yard pass-and-run play. Albany blocked two punts and one field goal on the night, and used Shcree Lewis� punt block late in third period to set up a 32-yard field goal by Deron Regev. Kelcey handed the Great Danes a 17-0 lead with 13:11 remaining when he pounced on a mishandled punt snap in the end zone for a touchdown.
"We survived," said Albany coach Bob Ford, whose team is off to a 4-1 start for the third consecutive season. "The conditions were miserable for both sides, but our special teams made some big plays and we were able to hang on to the wet football."
Albany Men Win Cross-Country Invitational
Ben Wright, Mike Kiernan and Brendan Howell were all among the top-10 finishers leading Albany to the men�s title at the 32nd annual Albany Invitational on Saturday at the University�s campus course. Middlebury was first among 19 women�s teams, while the Great Danes placed seventh.
Wright, a junior, was third in the R.K. Munsey Purple Varsity Race, running the 8,000-meter layout in 25:33. Marist�s Michael Melfi was first across the line in 24:58. Sophomore Mike Kiernan (25:54) was ninth and led a pack of Great Danes � Brendan Howell (10th), Jamie Rodriguez (11th) and Rob Naughter (13th) that gave Albany 42 points to Marist�s second place 52 and Binghamton�s 104.
Andrea Viger posted UA�s top result in the Women�s Purple Varsity Race. Her time of 19:23 over 5,000 meters was good for eighth place. Middlebury�s Jessica Johnston won the individual title (18:56) in leading her team to a convincing victory.
Losing Steak Over for Women�s Soccer
Ashley Mendicino scored what proved to be the winning goal at 54:30 in the second half, and Albany ended a 12-match losing streak with a 2-1 victory at New Haven on Sept. 30. The Great Danes then defeated Russell Sage (3-1) to go 2-9 on the season.
Albany took a 1-0 lead at the 34:02 mark, when Jessica Ruglis netted the loose ball in front. Mendicino, a freshman midfielder, sent a 25-yard blast to the left of goalkeeper Megan Kilbride for her second goal of the season and a two-goal cushion.
Hirings Aid Two Sports, Promotion and Microphone
Janel Hollar, a former standout guard at Siena College, has been named an assisistant women�s basketball coach. Jennifer Petersen is now an graduate assistant track and field coach, Jennifer Chiera graduate assistant for tickets and promotions, and Al Shibley public address announcer for football and basketball.
Hollar was a third-team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference point guard, and led Siena to a 20-8 record and the MAAC regular-season title in 1997-98. A two-time team captain, she ranked 14th nationally among the NCAA Division I assists leaders with a 6.61 average as a senior.
Men�s Soccer Win Streak Five and Out
Russell Di Benedetto scored with 13 seconds left in the second overtime period as Albany posted its fifth straight win with a 2-1 New England Collegiate Conference triumph at Massachusetts-Lowell on Oct. 3. Albany (6-5, NECC 3-3) had that string of victories snapped in last Saturday�s 7-1 loss to Southern Connecticut State, rated 14th nationally in Division II.
Di Benedetto, a senior sweeper back who was playing with 30 stitches in his forehead, scored off Jon Brainard�s corner kick to end the Mass.-Lowell contest in sudden death at 119:47.
Albany�s men�s and women�s basketball programs announced their schedules as the final season at the NCAA Division II level approaches. The Great Danes, who begin practice on Saturday, Oct. 17, step up to Division I status in 1999-2000.
The Albany men will play three Division I opponents and an 18-game New England Collegiate Conference slate. The Danes open at Duquesne University, a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, on Saturday, Nov. 14, and also travel to Toledo (Nov. 21) and Arkansas-Little Rock (Nov. 23). Albany�s opener with Duquesne will be the first meeting with a Division I program since 1981-82.
The Albany women also have Division I teams on their 26-game schedule. The Great Danes will appear in the St. John�s Classic on Nov. 20-21, and meet the host school in the opening round. Houston and Georgia Southern complete the tournament field. In addition, Albany appears in the Capital Key Classic on Dec. 29-30, and is at Nebraska-Kearney�s Regency Inn Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 27-28.