New York Giants Extend Summer Training Camp at UAlbany for Three More Years
By Vinny Reda
The New York Giants and the University at Albany recently announced agreement on a three-year extension of the Giants’ summer training camp at the Albany campus.

“We have said all along how pleased we have been with the facilities and the cooperation we have received from President Hitchcock and her staff here at the University at Albany,” said Giants Executive Vice President John Mara. “This extension is a demonstration of just how pleased we are. We look forward to the continuation of what has been a very positive relationship.”

“This is a very happy day for the University at Albany and the Capital Region,” said University President Karen R. Hitchcock. “The New York Giants have brought increased excitement to the area and greater attention to the University and its outstanding programs. The Giants are wonderful members of the University family now, and we look forward to continuing to work with Executive Vice President Mara and Coach Fassel to make this the best summer training camp in the NFL.”

She added, “The University is extremely fortunate to have an involved and committed corporate partner in the Times Union to making this summer camp a reality.

“I also want to make note of the tremendous support the Giants Summer Training Camp has received from Governor George Pataki, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and the region’s business, government, and community leaders,” she said. “And we cannot ignore the great New York Football Giant fans, who come each year from all parts of the state to experience the Giants’ summer home,” said the President.

Governor Pataki said he was elated but not surprised by the Giants’ decision to continue their association with UAlbany.

“In my conversations with [Giants’ owners] Welling-ton Mara and Bob Tisch, I made it clear that Albany is the best place for the Giants’ summer camp because of the great facilities at the University and the warm hospitality of the people of the Capital Region,” the Governor said. “I am sure it was not a tough call to make. This is great news for the City of Albany and the Capital Region.”

The original agreement between the Giants and UAlbany was signed in March of 1996. It called for the Giants to use the UAlbany facilities for up to five years, through the summer of 2000. Each of the first four years of the Giants’ preseason camp at Albany has drawn an average attendance of 27,000 fans.

Lee McElroy, Jr. Named Director of Athletics and Recreation
By Brian DePasquale
Lee A. McElroy, Jr., Ed.D., who has nearly 30 years of experience in athletic and educational administration, was named director of athletics and recreation by University at Albany President Karen R. Hitchcock July 6. McElroy, who previously was the director of athletics at American University in Washington, D.C., will provide leadership for Albany’s NCAA Division I 19-sport intercollegiate athletics program.

“We are delighted to have a leader who has a national profile combined with deeply infused academic values,” Hitchcock said. “Lee McElroy has an extensive background in intercollegiate athletics as a participant, administrator, and national leader in the NCAA and National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). He is exceptionally well prepared to manage a comprehensive athletics and recreation program. We welcome Lee and his family to the University community and the Capital Region.”

McElroy, who played football at UCLA in the late 1960s, has spent the last four years as American University’s director of athletics. American is a Division I school competing in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). During McElroy’s tenure, the AU athletic department has upgraded to 19 sports, expanded corporate partners by 400 percent, and planned capital projects for a fitness facility, intramural field and soccer stadium. McElroy founded the Eagle Club, the department’s fund-raising arm, and developed a program rated as one of the top ten in the nation in its compliance with NCAA gender equity requirements. During the last three years, the Eagles, under McElroy, reached NCAA championship play in men’s soccer, women’s basketball, women’s volleyball and wrestling, the most appearances in the intercollegiate program’s 106-year history.

McElroy has gained national prominence for his roles with numerous professional organizations and NCAA committees. He is currently involved in the NCAA Degree Completion Program and the Financial Aid Committee. McElroy previously served on two prestigious NCAA committees: Athletics Certification, a select group of university presidents, athletic administrators and faculty athletic representatives who oversee the certification of more than 300 NCAA Division I institutions, and the NCAA Special Committee on Agents and Amateurism.

In 1998, McElroy was named to the NACDA Executive Committee for the University Division, and chair of the Sears Directors Cup Committee. NACDA is in its 34th year and serves as the professional and educational association for more than 6,100 college athletics directors, associates, assistants and commissioners at more than 1,600 institutions in North America. The Sears Directors Cup is the only national award and academic scholarship program to recognize all NCAA and NAIA championship sports for women and men.

“Dr. McElroy has solid professional credentials,” said Vice President for Student Affairs James P. Doellefeld, who chaired the University’s athletic director search process. “He has experience in management and fundraising, and a proven record as an administrator and educator with regard to athletic, scholastic and equity achievement. His national network with NCAA member institutions will lend itself well to advancing the University’s athletics program.”

Previous to taking his post at American, McElroy was the director of athletics at California State University-Sacramento from 1989 to 1996. He led the program’s transition from Division II to Division I and engineered a move to the Big Sky and Big West conferences. He also implemented a strategic plan that developed a corporate partners plan, created an effective fund-raising and marketing program, redesigned academic support services, improved the athletic facilities complex, and provided for campus and community outreach programs.

McElroy, who is married to the former Karen White, earned his bachelor’s degree in education from UCLA in 1970. He later received an M.Ed. from the University of Southern California and an Ed.D. from the University of Houston.

Scott Beeten Named Head Basketball Coach
By Brian DePasquale
Scott Beeten, who has coached at both the collegiate and scholastic levels for nearly 30 years, has been named head men’s basketball coach at the University at Albany, Director of Athletics and Recreation Lee McElroy announced August 1.

Beeten, who previously was the associate head coach at the University of California-Berkeley, becomes the 14th head coach in the UAlbany program’s history. The Great Danes competed at the NCAA Division I level for the first time last year.

“Scott Beeten embodies the qualities needed to run a successful Division I program, and he will represent our University exceptionally well,” McElroy said. “He has tremendous integrity, values the student-athlete, and is committed to the University’s high academic standards. Throughout his career, he has been associated with institutions that have academic missions similar to that of the University at Albany. These schools have also achieved winning traditions. Additionally, his varied experiences as a coach and recruiter provide him with a working knowledge of the national scene.”

Beeten has spent the last three years at California-Berkeley as an associate head coach on Ben Braun’s staff. The Bears, who compete in the Pacific-10 Conference, produced a pair of National Invitation Tournament (NIT) teams during that stretch. California posted its first postseason title, since winning the 1959 NCAA crown, by capturing the ‘99 NIT championship. Cal finished with a 22-11 record, and beat three top 10 schools in the same season for the first time with victories over North Carolina, UCLA and Arizona. In 1999-2000, the Bears reached the NIT quarterfinal round, and fashioned an 18-15 overall mark.

Beeten worked at George Washington University from 1990-97 as the top assistant coach under Mike Jarvis, the current St. John’s head coach. For seven seasons, Beeten handled all game preparation, recruiting and travel, and served as director of summer camp. The Colonials earned three NCAA tournament berths, including a “Sweet 16” appearance in 1993, and received three NIT tournament bids. George Washington was the ‘91 conference runner-up and won the Atlantic-10 Conference’s Western Division in 1996.

Previous to his appointment at George Washington, Beeten was both an associate head coach and assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania for five years during the mid-1980s. The Quakers won the Ivy League title on three occasions in 1984, 1985 and 1987, and played in two NCAA tournaments. During that period, he also was an assistant coach for the gold-medal winning United States squad at the ‘85 Maccabiah Games.

Beeten, 53, received a B.A. in history and a master’s degree in education from Lehigh University, where he was a three-year starter in both basketball and baseball for the Engineers. The St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the Major League Baseball draft. Beeten and his wife, Anita, have two sons, Todd and Chad. Todd played collegiate basketball at Eastern Michigan University.

Beeten takes over for Scott Hicks, who resigned June 6 to accept the head coach position at Loyola College in Maryland. The Great Danes went 11-17 overall in their inaugural Division I campaign in 1999-2000.

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