McElroy said, “I especially want to thank the many, many student-athletes who provided countless positive experiences that I will treasure for a long, long time. They never failed to be a source of great inspiration and were a constant source of professional and personal pride. URI can be very proud of who they are and who they will become.
“During the last two years, the University greatly improved the student-athlete experience and saw accomplishments that will benefit the athletic mission and programs for many, many years. I appreciate President Carothers’ support in these efforts. I also enjoyed working with and having the support of Vice Presidents Bob Beagle and Tom Dougan; faculty athletic representative Dr. Yngve Ramstad; the Athletic Advisory Board and Rhode Island Rams Athletics Association.”
President Carothers said, “Tom is the most knowledgeable Director of Athletics I have known. I want to thank Tom for his tireless work on behalf of all student-athletes, his efforts at beginning the process of change and in his work in establishing a platform for future change under the next director. I wish him well.”
During McElroy’s tenure, URI’s accomplishments included successful NCAA recertification, the development of a Title IX compliance plan, record annual athletic contributions, Meade Stadium enhancements (including the new west stands), the creation of a department-wide strength and conditioning program and the first-ever participation in the NCAA baseball championship. URI’s athletes were awarded two NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships, a highlight among a wide array of individual academic achievements by student-athletes. Under his leadership, URI won the 2005 A-10 Men’s Commissioner’s Cup. McElroy also hired a number of exciting new coaches, whose teams are already achieving success.
McElroy was named director of athletics in July 2004 following three years as deputy director of athletics at the University of Connecticut and 20 years at The Big East Conference, lastly as senior associate commissioner.