UAlbany Athletics: A Division I Success Story

By Brian DePasquale (June 29, 2007)

Jamar Wilson

With eight America East conference championships and five teams in NCAA Tournament appearances, the 2006-07 season was UAlbany athletics' most celebrated since the University moved to NCAA Division I level in 1999. Conference titles were won by men's basketball, volleyball, men's indoor track, baseball, softball, men's lacrosse, men's outdoor track, and women's outdoor track.

The Great Danes finished second in the America East Conference Commissioner's Cup standings, a measure of overall sports success, in the closest margin of victory in conference history. Women's indoor track and women's lacrosse recorded runner-up finishes bolstering UAlbany's Commissioner's Cup point total.

UAlbany boasted 53 all-conference selections, while 46 student-athletes were named to conference all-academic teams. And five student-athletes received the State University of New York Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete Awards.

Alyssa Lotmore

University at Albany Officer in Charge Susan Herbst assessed the situation recently: "Excellence in athletics must be accompanied by academic excellence, and on that level this has been a terrific year at UAlbany. That sort of success is immeasurable for the spirit of a university community, and in turn draws more and better students to UAlbany."

Lee A. McElroy Jr., director of athletics and vice president for athletic administration, said, "We have a dedicated and committed group of student-athletes, coaches, and staff. The enhanced quality, talent, and skills of these groups coupled with tremendous support from campus administration are both directly related to our success and the consistency of performance both on and off the field of play." Five of this year's UAlbany teams have been listed among the Top 100 in the nation for their high academic standards.

Volleyball, men's basketball, men's lacrosse, softball, and baseball competed in NCAA tournaments. Ranked second nationally for six consecutive weeks during the season, the men's lacrosse team recorded the school's first-ever NCAA Division I victory and advanced to the quarterfinal round. Softball posted a pair of NCAA wins in reaching the Hempstead Regional final, and men's basketball made its second consecutive trip to the national tournament. Volleyball garnered an NCAA berth for the second time in three years, while baseball made its first NCAA appearance. UAlbany was the site for an NCAA Division I Tournament event for the first time in school history, when it hosted volleyball's first and second rounds and an opening-round men's lacrosse contest.

Individual athletes were recognized across the nation -- Jamar Wilson, the basketball program's all-time scorer, was voted to the Associated Press All-America Team in the honorable mention category for the second straight year. Colin Disch, a linebacker on the football team, became the third UAlbany player to be named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division I-AA All-America Team. Joe Greene and Marc Pallozzi earned track and field All-America recognition for the second consecutive year.

In addition, Stephan Hall, a two-time Academic All-American in men's soccer, and Alyssa Lotmore, an America East Conference track and field champion, have been awarded NCAA postgraduate scholarships.

In its Division I history, UAlbany has won 25 conference championships and produced 12 NCAA Tournament teams.