Women’s Track and Field Coach Laurie Feit-Melnick, center, with, left to right, Mary Pratt, a founder of New Agenda: Northeast Hall of Fame, and Marcia Crooks, chair of the New Agenda: Northeast Hall of Fame.

Women’s track & field/cross country head coach Laurie Feit-Melnick was inducted into the New Agenda: Northeast Hall of Fame on Nov. 6. The New Agenda: Northeast promotes the advancement and recognizes the achievements of girls and women in sports throughout New England.

At URI, Feit-Melnick has been named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year nine times and Rhode Island women’s Coach of the Year four times.

The road to the Final Four in women’s basketball runs through Kingston, as URI’s Ryan Center is hosting the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball East Regional.

Four of the country’s top teams will converge at the Ryan Center on Sunday, March 25 for Sweet Sixteen play. The winners of the two games will then meet on Tuesday, March 27 for a spot in the Final Four.

“We are thrilled to have been chosen to host the 2012 NCAA East Regional Women’s Basketball Championship,” said URI Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn. “I know it is going to provide a tremendous benefit, not only to URI athletics, but the entire University and State of Rhode Island, for that matter. We are looking forward to putting on a first class event and ask all of our alumni and fans to come out and see some great basketball.”

Tickets for all sessions are $50 for adults, $35 for youths and students, and $40 each for groups of 20 or more, and may be purchased at the Ryan Center Box Office. Orders may also be placed over the phone at 401.874.7297 or via the Web through GoRhody.com.

Rhody baseball senior Mike Le Bel is writing a season-long blog for College Baseball Daily. Here is an excerpt from his November entry.

On October 27, 2011, the University of Rhode Island baseball team lost a teammate and a brother, Joseph Paul Ciancola. I want to start by saying that, on behalf of the Rhody baseball team, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ciancola family.

Although under the most unfortunate of circumstances, I recently had the pleasure of meeting Joey’s family, and I now know where he got his smile, strength, and love. Michele Ciancola, Joey’s mother, has been an incredible inspiration to all of us throughout this difficult time. Her strength is unmatched.

Talking with my teammates over the past week has made me realize just how special and how much of a privilege it is to play college baseball. To be able to step on that field and play a game we all share a passion for while building friendships that will last a lifetime off the field has been the best experience of my life.

The Rhody baseball team is a family. Joey was a big part of that, and he will be forever. Each day Joe would walk into the locker room with a big smile on his face, no matter what the circumstance. He was the type of kid that just wanted to make other people happy, make them laugh, and have a good time.

On the field, Joey was a competitor. He worked harder than anyone else. When Joe took the mound, he just had this presence about him—he was calm and confident and knew he would get the job done.

Jim Foster (baseball), John Copeland (men’s track & field), and Tom Drennan, M.A. ’80, (golf) each earned Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors in their respective sports this past spring. Foster, who guided the Rams to their ninth consecutive appearance in the A-10 Championship, earned the award for the first time in his URI career. Copeland, who completed the team trophy sweep with both indoor and outdoor track titles, earned top coaching honors twice in 2010–2011. Drennan, who retired this past May, was tabbed as the top A-10 golf coach after the conference championship tournament.

Women’s tennis player Tristany Leikem was named to the NCAA Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She will assist in generating a student-athlete voice within the NCAA structure while enhancing the total student-athlete experience. Her term runs from July 1, 2011, to July 1, 2013.

The tennis team has eight new courts for the 2011–2012 season. The renovation, which will allow the Rams to host matches on campus for the first time since the 2008–2009 season, was made possible by two significant donor gifts combined with additional University and Athletics Department funding. The new courts will be open to the entire University community.

Rhode Island senior Crystal Bourque earned All-America honors as she finished 16th in the hammer throw at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship hosted by Drake University. A native of Coventry, R.I., Bourque opened with her best toss, recording a distance of 56.94/186-9. She joins Jasmine Jennings ’09 as the only other Rhody women’s track and field performer named an All-American.

On Saturday, June 11, the Friends of Women’s Athletics and Rev. Lynn Baker-Dooley, wife of URI President David M. Dooley, hosted An Evening of Grapes and Grain. The annual event, which was sponsored by South County Hospital Orthopedics Center, helped raise over $26,000 for URI’s women’s athletics programs. Approximately 225 guests attended the function, which featured live music provided by URI students.

On April 30, the Rhode Island baseball team held its fourth annual Autism Awareness fundraiser game to benefit the Autism Project of Rhode Island. The festivities began two hours prior to first pitch, with Cat Country (WCTK, 98.1 FM) on hand to provide music and activities. All kids in attendance were invited onto the field after the game to meet the Rams. In total, the event raised $5,200. The cause is especially important to head coach Jim Foster as his youngest daughter, Delaney, is affected by the developmental disorder. Over the past four years, the URI baseball team has raised over $10,000 for the Autism Project of Rhode Island.

Island captured the 2011 Atlantic 10 Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship, completing a sweep of the indoor and outdoor conference crowns. The Rams compiled 179 points—including 100 on day two—to capture URI’s eighth Atlantic 10 team title. Coach John Copeland earned 2011 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors. URI had four individual gold medalists: Trent Baltzell (decathlon), Wayne Seaton (400m hurdles), Jacob Keeling (javelin), and Rainford Thomas (high jump).

President Dooley and Marissa Norman.

Ten student-athletes and a distinguished alumna were recently honored at the State House. The annual event was hosted by Speaker of the House Gordon D. Fox. The student-athletes Included Kaylen Shimoda (women’s soccer), Ben Eaves (men’s basketball), Matt Rae (football), Andrew Reigstad (men’s track & field), Jhokania De Los Santos (softball), Katie Mangano (women’s swimming), Marissa Norman (women’s track & field), Megan Shoniker (women’s basketball), Michael Tanke (men’s soccer, and John Kelly (golf). Marilyn Picerelli, a former tennis standout at URI, was honored posthumously as this year’s distinguished alumna. Her husband, Bob, and sons James and Peter accepted the award in her honor.

Lilli Falconer

Five student athletes received the Athletic Department’s major awards at the annual Senior Awards Banquet at Quidnessett Country Club. Delroy James (men’s basketball) and David Kennedy (men’s track & field) were co-winners of the Albert LeBoeuf Award; Lilli Falconer (swimming) was presented with the Winifred Keaney Award; and Michael Tanke (men’s soccer) and Jenessa Redfern (rowing) were recognized as winners of the Elizabeth Holmes Award.

L-R, Willie McGinnis, Professor Donald Cunnigen, and Marquis Jones.

Marquis Jones (men’s basketball) and Willie McGinnis (football) were recognized on April 4 at URI’s annual Black Scholar Awards. McGinnis received the Jackie Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, and Jones received the Harvey Robert Turner Award for Outstanding Service to the URI community.

This past season, McGinnis anchored a defensive line that helped propel the Rams to five wins, including a 4-1 mark at Meade Stadium. He tallied 41 tackles. Off the field, McGinnis earned a spot on the CAA All-Academic team.

Jones was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive team. The 6ft. 1in. senior point guard ranked 10th in the league in steals, notching 44 total swipes—a 1.5 steals per game average. Jones also posting a career-high in scoring 11.4 points per game, which ranked second on the team for the 2010–2011 season.

Former URI football player Ibrahim Abdul-Matin ‘98 was keynote speaker at the Awards Ceremony. In 1999 Abdul-Matin won the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Outstanding Leadership and Contribution to the University Community. He has published a best-selling book, Green Deen: What Islam Teaches about Protecting the Planet. Currently, he is a policy advisor in the New York City Mayor’s Office on long term planning and sustainability. For more information, go to uri.edu/hsa/index.html

Senior Megan Shoniker has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District I Women’s Basketball Second Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. A two-year captain for the Rams, Shoniker has excelled in the classroom, posting a 3.44 cumulative GPA as a physical education major. On the court, she is ranked among the top scorers in the country, averaging close to 20 points per game. On Dec. 29, 2010, Shoniker became the 19th Rhode Island women’s basketball player to reach the 1,000 career point milestone. She will finish her career ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in points, 3-pointers made, and assists.

The Rhody football team placed 12 student-athletes on the CAA Academic All-Conference team. In each of the last two years, Rhody has placed 22 players on the Academic All-CAA squad behind only Delaware (26) and Towson (24). Freshman Doug D’Angelo, junior Kyle Elliott, sophomore Michael Farr, junior Louis Feinstein, sophomore Matt Greenhalgh, freshman Jeff Kennedy, senior Tom Lang, freshman Brian Louth, junior Steve Probst, junior Willie McGinnis, junior Matt Rae, and freshman Mike Rinaldi were selected for excellence both in the classroom and on the field. To be eligible for the CAA Football Academic All-Conference Team, a player must be a starter or important reserve and have a cumulative GPA of 3.00-or-better for his entire academic career.

In two seasons in Las Cruces, Needham guided the program to 16 wins, including a nine-win campaign in the program’s inaugural season in 2009. That season, Needham guided NMSU to the postseason, entering the Western Athletic Conference Tournament as the fifth seed. The Aggies finished the season ranked No. 15 in the NCAA in attendance, averaging 1,129 fans for seven home matches. Needham’s teams at New Mexico State were also successful in the classroom. The 2010 squad earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award, after posting a team GPA of 3.33.

After helping to lead her 2008 Canadian Junior National Team to three straight gold medals, freshman forward Emilie Cloutier was named best teammate at the national level in Canada. Playing for the Cégep de Sainte-Foy Dynamiques, Cloutier helped lead her team to three straight national championships—a feat that was only accomplished once before some 40 years ago.

Junior defensive tackle Matt Rae added to his list of career academic honors as he was named to the 13th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team. Rae was one of 52 players selected to the team. The York, Pa., native holds a 3.75 grade point average in biological sciences. This past November, Rae was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District team for the second straight year. At the URI football team’s annual banquet, he earned the A.A. Savastano Scholar-Athlete Award. On the field in 2010, Rae started every game and ranked eighth in the CAA for tackles among defensive lineman. He closed out the 2010 campaign with a career-high eight tackles in a win over nationally ranked Massachusetts. In his final three games he posted 19 tackles.

On Nov. 1 the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee announced that URI has been named one of four regional sites for the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. This will be the first NCAA Championship event to take place at the Ryan Center.

”We are very excited and honored to host the regionals of the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship at the Thomas M. Ryan Center,” said Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn. “It’s a chance for us to showcase the University, our Athletics Department, our women’s basketball program, and the Ryan Center to a national audience.”

“We are committed to providing a first-class experience for our fans, the participating student-athletes, and women’s college basketball fans as a whole,” added Bjorn.

URI was the lone Atlantic 10 institution selected to host NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament games in 2012.

“This is fantastic news not only for our players, our team, and our University but for the state of Rhode Island as a whole,” said Rhody women’s basketball head coach Cathy Inglese. “It will be a great opportunity for our fans to see some of the nation’s elite programs play right here in the Ryan Center.”

In addition to Rhode Island, Fresno State, North Carolina State, and Northern Iowa will also serve as host institutions for regional competition in 2012. Games will take place either Saturday, March 24, and Monday, March 26, or Sunday, March 25, and Tuesday, March 27, 2012 (exact dates to be determined in June 2011).

Mo Zarchen, 90, of Kingston, R.I., died peacefully at home on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. He was director of athletics at URI for 19 years, following six successful years as head coach of basketball at Pratt Institute. He was chairman of the URI Department of Physical Education for 13 years, and is credited with much of the growth of the Department of Athletics and its teams during his administrative tenure.

He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1942 and served in the infantry for three years during World War II. He received several commendations, including two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. As a member of the infantry, he participated in the landing at Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day, the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, and the crossing of the Rhine River at Remagen.

After his military service, he graduated from Rhode Island State College in 1949 and received his master’s degree from Columbia University.

He was the beloved husband of Barbara Tresler Zarchen, M.L.S. ’70. They were married for 56 years. Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Jane Vachon of Wilmington, N.C.; and Ann Knoblock and her husband, Henry, of Sudbury, Mass.; and three grandchildren, Christopher, Caroline, and Sophia Knoblock.

He was a member of the URI University Club, the Dunes Club, and Point Judith Country Club.

Memorial contributions may be made to the URI Foundation in support of The Maurice Zarchen Endowment Fund in Hockey, 79 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881-2023.

The Athletics Department is proud to announce the launch of ExperienceRhody.com. The interactive Web site allows fans to purchase Rhody men’s basketball tickets on a comprehensive interactive platform. Fans are able to view information on season tickets, mini plans, group tickets, suites, and individual game tickets on the site.

The newest class of inductees for the Athletics Hall of Fame includes Ed Bradley ’68, men’s soccer, both as player and coach; Julia Chilicki-Beasley ’94, women’s crew, both as rower and as coach; Tyson Wheeler ’98, men’s basketball; and Bob White, football.

“It’s an honor to induct four of the finest student-athletes in URI history into our Athletics Hall of Fame,” Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn said. ”It will be a special weekend for Ed, Julia, Tyson, and Bob; I congratulate their many athletic achievements. It will also be special for our fans to welcome them home and celebrate their induction into the Hall of Fame.”

The full slate of Hall of Fame events kicks off on Friday, Jan. 21, with an induction ceremony and dinner at Quidnessett Country Club in North Kingstown, R.I. The following afternoon, the Hall of Fame class will be honored at halftime of the men’s basketball game versus La Salle.

A total of 73 Rhode Island student-athletes have been named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the spring 2010 semester. In order to be recognized, each student-athlete must have a semester grade point average of 3.5 or better.

Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn will serve on the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Executive Committee, beginning with the 2010–2011 school year. Bjorn will join fellow athletic directors Paul Schlickmann (Central Connecticut) and Mark Wilson (Tennessee Tech) as the committee’s newest members. The term for each Executive Committee member spans a period of four years.

“I am passionate about women’s athletics and excited to be a part of beginning a new tradition of success for our women’s athletics program and for Friends of Women’s Athletics,” said Baker-Dooley. “I have always been an avid fan—my dad was a ref and an umpire and our children were athletes.”

“Priority Payment Systems is proud and honored to support women’s athletics at URI,“ said John Priore ’87, president and CEO of Priority Payment Systems. “As a former URI student-athlete, I was and still am an avid fan of the women’s sports program and look forward to supporting its continued success.”

Senior Tom Coulombe was named a Second Team All-Northeast Region selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association. He was one of six outfielders from the Northeast to earn the honor. Coulombe finished his junior campaign with a team-best .418 batting average, 41 runs batted in, 28 multiple-hit games and 23 stolen bases. He also recorded 10 multiple RBI games and set a new single-season record at URI with a team-leading 87 hits. An Atlantic 10 Second Team selection, Coulombe also earned A-10 All-Championship honors for the second-straight year as he batted .533 (8-for-15) and got on base at least twice in each URI’s four tournament games.

Kyle Borden and Dan Rossignol were named to the 2010 New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association All-New England team. Borden landed a spot on the First Team while Rossignol was selected to the Second Team. An Atlantic 10 Honorable Mention, Borden batted .333 in his first season with the Rams, recording 39 RBI, 36 runs, 11 doubles and five home runs. He turned in 20 multiple-hit games and drove in multiple runs in 11 separate contests. Rossignol ended the regular season leading the Atlantic 10 with an 8-2 (.800) record. Five of his eight victories came from relief appearances while he fell just one inning shy of picking up his ninth win of the year in a rain-shortened start vs. La Salle at the A-10 Championship. Rossignol ended his four-year career at Rhode Island with a 14-6 record and two saves over 67 career appearances.

Head Coach Joe Trainer and the Rhody football team held their second annual bone marrow registry drive on April 28 on the Quad. Trainer and the football program have partnered with the National Marrow Donor Program to take their efforts to the national level. Over the past two years, URI’s football team has generated over 500 new individuals for the national registry.

The team won the 2010 Atlantic 10 Championship on April 17 on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, N.J. Rhody’s conference championship is its second in the last three years. The Rams won the regatta with 53 points, defeating defending champion Massachusetts, which finished second with 40 points.

Rhody’s varsity eight and second varsity eight each won its race, clocking times of 6:37.08 and 6:46.06, respectively. The Rams varsity eight has claimed first in the last four races. URI also clocked a winning performance in the novice eight with a time of 7:10.07.

Seniors Jenna Hetzell, Becky Cotreau, and Raejean Pearse-Theroux were each named All-Conference First Team, while junior Jenessa Redfern earned All-Conference Second Team honors. Head coach Shelagh Donohoe earned her third Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honor.

Shayna Daugherty (women’s track & field) and James Whalen (men’s track & field) received the Elizabeth Holmes Award presented to the male and female graduating seniors who combine exceptional scholastic achievement with outstanding athletic talent.

Daugherty holds both the URI and Atlantic 10 records in the indoor pentathlon, outdoor heptathlon, and outdoor high jump. A six-time Atlantic 10 individual champion competing in the high jump, pentathlon, and heptathlon, she was named the A-10 Field Performer of the Meet on two occasions—outdoor in 2009, indoor in 2010. Academically, Daugherty was the 2010 Atlantic 10 Indoor Student-Athlete of the Year and also earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Academic All-Division and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors. She had a 3.72 grade-point average and received her degree in communicative disorders.

Whalen has scored in the heptathlon, decathlon, and pole vault at the Atlantic 10 Championship in each of his four years of competition. A two-year team captain, he also set a conference record in the heptathlon and received the A-10’s 2009 Indoor Field Performer of the Year award. A member of the 2009 Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference team, he compiled a 3.66 grade-point average and graduated with a degree in history and secondary education.

Becky Cotreau received the Winifred Keaney Award while

Oliver Palmer took home the Albert LeBoeuf Award. The awards are presented to the most outstanding female and male student-athletes.

Cotreau is a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection in rowing as well as an All-New England Region honoree. She has the best 2,000-meter ERG score on the team and has guided the Rams to the best single-season record in school history with a 25-5 mark. Cotreau had a 3.17 GPA and graduated with a degree in sociology.

Palmer helped lead the URI baseball team to a record-setting 37 wins in 2009. He was an All-New England selection, as well as an Atlantic 10 All-Conference and All-Championship team honoree. Academically, Palmer was named to both the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I First Team and the Atlantic 10 All-Academic squad a season ago. He had a 3.60 GPA and graduated with a degree in communication studies.

Cathy Inglese

Rhode Island women’s basketball head coach Cathy Inglese picked up her 400th career victory as the Rams downed Albany on the road 65-60 on Jan. 2. Inglese, who is in her first year at URI, had previously won 273 games at Boston College and 120 games at Vermont.

Ashley Rivera

Rhody freshman guard Ashley Rivera has also made her mark in her first season at URI. The Massachusetts native has been named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week three times this season. Rivera is just the sixth URI player ever to be named a three-time A-10 Rookie of the Week and the first since Safi Mojidi did so in 2004–2005. In earning her third weekly honor, she joined an elite group of former Rams consisting of Mojidi (URI’s 3-point record holder), Lindsey O’Neil, Jaime Gray (1995–1996 A-10 Rookie of the Year), Rebecca Bright, and Michele Washington (URI’s all-time leading scorer).

Rob Damon

The Sports Network named Rhode Island junior linebacker Rob Damon CAA Football Third Team All-America on January 7. Damon became the first URI player since Joe Casey (2007) to receive All-America honors. In 2009, Damon started every game and led the CAA in tackles, averaging 11.3 tackles per game (124 total tackles). In addition, he posted 14.0 tackles for loss, which ranked fifth in the CAA.

Shawn Leonard

Damon also picked up All-CAA Third Team honors, joining teammates Tim Edger and Shawn Leonard, who received all-conference recognition. Edger earned All-CAA Second Team after he posted a league-best punting average of 41.5 yards per game, while Leonard earned All-CAA Third Team honors following a breakout season where he posted single season career-highs in receptions (47), receiving yards (858) and receiving touchdowns (11). Leonard’s 11 touchdowns were the most by any CAA receiver and his 858 yards receiving were the second-most in the league.

Tim Edger

Off the field, Rhody had 10 players recognized for their work in the classroom. Kyle Elliott, Michael Farr, Louis Feinstein, Matt Greenhalgh, Tom Lang, Willie McGinnis, Matt Rae, D.J. Stefkovich, Greg Wicks and Brandon Williams were selected to the 2009 CAA Football Academic All-Conference Team.

The Rams returns to Meade Stadium for the annual spring game on April 24.

Jim Foster

Rhode Island baseball head coach Jim Foster and former Rhody shortstop Dan Rhault ’09 were honored at the 64th Annual Words Unlimited Awards Banquet on Feb. 21 at The Radisson in Warwick.

Foster was selected as the Men’s Sports Coach of the Year after guiding the Rams to a program-record 37 victories, which included wins over No. 8 Miami, No. 11 Oklahoma State, and No. 25 Ohio State. URI also advanced to the Atlantic 10 championship game. In addition, Foster received honorable mention from CollegeBaseballInsider.com for the organization’s National Coach of the Year award and was named the 2009 New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Division I Coach of the Year. On December 15, 2009, Kendall Rogers of Yahoo! Sports/Rivals.com featured Foster in an article about NCAA Division I baseball’s ”Rising Coaches.”

Dan Rhault

Rhault earned Story of the Year recognition for a story that began when he was four years old and was diagnosed with acute leukemia. After undergoing four years of treatment, including spinal taps and chemotherapy, he finally went into remission. As a freshman, Rhault appeared in 12 games. He recorded just three hits in 24-at-bats, giving him a .125 average. Because of his “never back down” attitude, he improved his batting average each following season, including a .316 his junior year, and a .402 his senior year. His senior year he was an All-New England selection and received the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year award after ranking among the league leaders in almost every statistical category. He led the Rams in RBIs (57), walks (27), home runs (11), grand slams (3), multiple hit games (23), multiple RBI games (14), slugging percentage (.628), and on-base percentage (.472). On the defensive end, Rhault has contributed to 28 double plays and one triple play. This year, Rhault was one of 38 NCAA Division I baseball players named to the watch list for the 2009 Brooks Wallace Award, given to the nation’s top shortstop. In the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, he was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 26th round, 799th overall.

Ashley Evangelista, Kaylen Shimoda, and Dwayne Williams

Two members of the women’s soccer team were honored by the Atlantic 10 for their outstanding play during the 2009 season. Junior Kaylen Shimoda was named to the 2009 Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team. The midfielder from Oakville, Ontario, led the Rams in scoring with 14 points. Shimoda tallied six goals and two assists this past season.

Freshman Ashley Evangelista was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team. The newcomer from Methuen, Mass., tallied eight points on two goals and four assists in her first collegiate season. Evangelista was also named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week on Oct. 9, 2009.

Five Rhode Island men’s soccer players received Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors in voting conducted by the league’s head coaches. Dwayne Williams was one of three defenders selected to the First Team, while midfielders Gary Crooks and Andres Ruiz both earned Second Team honors. Crooks also landed a spot on the All-Academic squad while forwards Erkko Puranen and Thomas Lindroos were honorable mention and All-Rookie selections, respectively.

Gary Crooks, Erkko Puranen, Thomas Lindroos, and Andres Ruiz

During the 2008-09 academic year, GoRhody.com had close to four million page views.

As traditional media coverage shifts toward less coverage, GoRhody.com has picked up the slack. URI’s official athletics Web site has evolved into a multi-faceted information source complete with editorial, video, and historical content.

There is also tremendous synergy between GoRhody.com and the popular social media Web sites Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Teams that maintain blogs on GoRhody.com include women’s basketball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, softball, and volleyball while both Rhody the Ram and the Athletics Department maintain Facebook pages.

Fans can also follow Rhody the Ram and Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn on Twitter, while viewing daily video updates on the official URI Athletic YouTube page.

Matt Rae

Sophomore defensive tackle Matt Rae has been named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSida District II All-Academic First Team. Rae is among 25 players named to the team, which is comprised of NCAA Division I players at both the FCS and FBS subdivision. The York, Pa., native is majoring in biological sciences and has a cumulative grade point average of 3.80. On the field in 2009, Rae has played in eight games and has recorded 22 tackles. Rae will now advance to the national ballot where he will be under consideration for national Academic All-American honors.

Shawn Leonard

Senior wide receiver Shawn Leonard received the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Gold Helmet Award on Nov. 11 in a ceremony held at Harvard University. Leonard received the weekly honor following his performance against nationally-ranked New Hampshire on Nov. 7 when he hauled in 10 catches for 275 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were career-high totals for a single game. Leonard’s 275 receiving yards ranked as the third-best single-game total in school history and are the fifth-highest receiving total in CAA Football history. Additionally, Leonard was selected as the Co-CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 9.

Jim Foster and Thorr Bjorn.

After its record-setting 2009 season, the baseball team was recognized as the Top-Ranked Division I Baseball Team in New England by the BoSox Club, the official booster club of the Boston Red Sox. Head coach Jim Foster and URI Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn were presented with the award at the club’s annual Awards Luncheon on Oct. 2, 2009, at the Newton Marriott.

This past season, the Rams amassed a school-record of 37 victories, including wins over No. 8 Miami, No. 11 Oklahoma State, and No. 25 Ohio State. In defeating the eighth-ranked Hurricanes, URI became the first unranked team to hold Miami scoreless since 2001and the first to shut down the Hurricanes on their home field since 2004.

Nick Greenwood

Oliver Palmer

Dan Hault

Luke Demko

Defeating nationally-ranked teams such as Miami (no. 8), Oklahoma State (no. 11), and Ohio State (no. 25), will get you votes in the national polls.

Amassing a school-record of 37 victories and advancing to the Atlantic 10 championship game by way of downing top-seeded Dayton by seven runs will keep you in the national spotlight.

This is what the 2009 Rams accomplished while putting together what is arguably the best season in Rhode Island baseball history. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to secure one of the coveted at-large bids into the 64-team NCAA tournament.

However, despite seeing their dream come to an abrupt end, what the Rams did this past season was enough to keep people talking. And to win Head Coach Jim Foster recognition as the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association’s Division I Coach of the Year (see story on page 8).Nick Greenwood, Oliver Palmer, Dan Rhault, and Eric Smith were named NEIBA All-Stars. Rhault, the A-10 Player of the Year, also was an ECAC First Team All-Star as well as an honorable mention on the All-Ping! Baseball National Team. Greenwood was an ABCA All-Northeast Region selection and became the first Atlantic 10 baseball player to earn the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

Perhaps most impressive was the respect the Rams were shown in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft with a program-best with four student-athletes hearing their names called.

Smith became URI’s highest-ever MLB draft pick, the first since 2006, when he was selected 60th overall (second round) by the Arizona Diamondbacks. “It was unreal hearing my name announced,” Smith recalled. “It obviously was a dream come true—and an honor to be able to represent the URI program like this.”

Greenwood was next, going to the San Diego Padres in the 14th round (414th overall) followed by Rhault (Tampa Bay Rays, 799th overall, 26th round), and Luke Demko (San Francisco Giants, 867th overall, 29th round).

“URI baseball is a family,” Greenwood explained. “It was nice to be able to share the experience of being drafted with three of my teammates, but the excitement around it all—that’s something that belongs to each and every one of the guys. Everything we accomplished we did together as a team. The pride we all have in this program is impossible to describe.”

At press time, Smith was playing for the Missoula Osprey while Greenwood was in the Eugene Emeralds’ rotation and Rhault was on Princeton Rays’ active roster. Demko was with the Newark Bears, a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball that is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.  

Foster Recieves Honorable Mention for National Coach of the Year
Head Baseball Coach Jim Foster has been recognized by CollegeBaseballInsider.com as an honorable mention selection for the organization’s national Coach of the Year award. A native of Warwick, R.I., Foster has amassed 125 victories in just four years at the helm of the URI program. He has produced five MLB draft picks—including four this past season—and boasts the program’s highest-ever selection as junior Eric Smith was picked 60th overall in the second round of the 2009 draft. Foster also was named the 2009 New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Division I Coach of the Year in voting conducted among the association’s 17 Division I head coaches.

The women’s swimming team was honored by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America as a Scholar All-American team for the 2009 spring semester. Head coach Mick Westkott’s squad compiled a 3.07 grade-point average this past semester. To earn CSCAA Scholar All-American team honors, a swimming team must have a minimum of a 3.00 GPA for the semester.

For the second consecutive year, Mark Stevens was named to the Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar list. Stevens graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.48 in finance. On April 27, he received the Elizabeth Holmes Award that is presented annually to the male and female graduating senior who combines exceptional scholastic achievement with outstanding athletic talent. Stevens closed out his URI career by tying for 12th place at the Atlantic 10 Championship as he helped the squad to a fifth-place finish. The Concord, N.H., native posted his top finish of the 2008-09 season on March 22 at the George Washington Invitational as he placed 2nd and helped the squad to the team title.

Senior Jasmine Jennings became the first URI women’s track and field athlete to earn All-America honors at the NCAA Championship. The Warwick, R.I., native finished 8th overall in the hammer throw with a performance of 197 feet, 4 inches. Her success at the national championship meet capped an outstanding senior season during which she captured the hammer throw titles at the Penn Relays and Atlantic 10 and New England Championships. She earned an automatic spot in the field of the NCAA Championship by virtue of her second place finish at the NCAA East Regional Championship.

Congratulations and welcome to URI.

I am extremely excited to be here, and a lot of that has to do with Thorr Bjorn, his leadership, vision and enthusiasm. I also enjoy the challenge of growing a program and helping to build new traditions. Another draw for me was the ability to compete in the Atlantic 10; the fact that eight teams qualified for the postseason this past year tells you a lot about the quality of the league.

You’ve had tremendous success at Boston College and the University of Vermont. What are your keys to building a successful program?

I believe you have to surround yourself with good people. That starts at the top with the administration and includes working with a super staff. It is also important to reach out to people within the University and community to build that support network. Perhaps most important is to bring in the right student-athletes. It’s vital to have your team play as a group.

What will be your first duty as head coach at URI?

First, I need to get to know the players. I need to explain to them my focus, philosophy, and expectations. I’m also going to reach out to our incoming freshmen with phone calls to introduce myself. Other things I will do? Hire an outstanding staff and hit the recruiting trails.

What should Rhody basketball fans expect from a Cathy Inglese-coached team?

What is your recruiting philosophy?

I look for players who want to make a difference, who want to be a part of something greater than themselves, and who believe in us as much as we believe in them. The vast number of majors we have at URI is a huge plus. The campus is beautiful and the location is ideal. Playing in a strong, competitive conference like the Atlantic 10 is also an excellent selling point.

As proven by your 100 percent graduation rate, you emphasize academics. How have you been able to balance academics and athletics?

Initially when I recruit someone, I stress the academic end of things. My recruits come here to graduate in four years—that is the number one priority. Once they are here, it’s our responsibility to give them what they need to be successful. The academic advising staff is an incredibly important part of our program.

What are your thoughts on the Atlantic 10 Conference?

I really like the A-10. I’ve known Bernadette McGlade [commissioner of the Atlantic 10 Conference] for a long time; she’s a tremendous leader. I also like the geography of the league. The fact that we get to travel outside of the region to places like Charlotte, St. Louis, and Richmond, allows us to expand our recruiting area.