Special events/announcements
Women’s basketball coach Shapiro Ord hired
Binghamton University formally introduced Bethann Shapiro Ord as its new head women’s basketball coach at a press conference on Friday afternoon in the TAU Room of the Events Center. She is the 14th head coach in the 45-year history of the women’s basketball program.
Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger and Athletic Director Patrick Elliott introduced Shapiro Ord, who then spoke of her passion for joining the Bearcats.
“It’s such a fantastic honor to stand before you today as Binghamton’s new women’s basketball coach,” Shapiro Ord said. “I am really looking forward to the opportunity to coach an amazing group of young ladies. I can’t tell you enough how excited I am.”
Stenger and Elliott each praised Shapiro Ord as being a top-notch candidate when they began the hiring search last month.
“We are extremely excited to introduce Bethann Shapiro Ord as our new women’s basketball coach,” Stenger said. “Her name was at the top of the list when we knew we were facing a coaching search. She is the right person at the right time to be here at Binghamton University.”
“This is huge for Binghamton Athletics,” Elliott said. “When I first talked to her, it was evident that I was dealing with a very special individual. She is a proven, successful basketball coach and an even better person.”
Athletics hosts 29th Annual Golf Tournament
The Binghamton Bearcats Athletic Association (BBAA) hosted its 29th annual Matthews Auto Bearcats Golf Classic at the Links at Hiawatha Landing this past Thursday. The goal of the event was to raise money for the general scholarship fund and 224 golfers took part in the event. The $53,000 raised was the largest single-year total in the history of the tournament.
The support was just as solid in terms of corporate partners, with over 30 organizations sponsoring the event. In addition to Matthews Auto as the title sponsor, other major sponsors included Newman Development Group, Binghamton University Dining Services, ADPRO Sports, Visions Federal Credit Union, BSN Sports and Hinman, Howard & Kattell.
“The Matthews Auto Bearcats Golf Classic was once again a very successful event thanks to the numerous sponsors and participants,” said Deputy Athletic Director Dennis Kalina. “We are extremely fortunate and grateful for the generous community who support the 450 Bearcat student-athletes.”
In the morning session, which had a Captain and Crew format, the winning score of 55 was turned in by the team from the Matthews Auto Group. The afternoon session had a Texas Scramble format and the winning quartet was Bob Sisolak, Matt Feldman, Ron Simkulet, Kyle Nedlik with a score of 123.
The tournament also featured a hole-in-one by Matt Walsh. During the afternoon round, Walsh aced the 149-yard No. 3 hole.
Binghamton athletics to host contemporary issues summit
The Binghamton University athletics department is excited to announce it will host the first Contemporary Athletics Issues Summit for coaches and administrators in both high school and collegiate athletics. The inaugural conference is scheduled to take place Wednesday, August 1 and Thursday, August 2, on the Binghamton University campus.
The focus of the summit is to enhance communication within athletic departments and collaborate with the main campus and community. Clinicians in the areas of collegiate athletics, athletics trainers, and mental-health professionals will address how empirically based techniques can foster an environment that empowers student-athletes and staff. Key topics will include leadership, mental health, substance use, the evolution of coaching to understand the unique needs of emerging adults.
The cost of registration is $125 per individual and $500 for institutions bringing five or more people. The event will kick off Thursday evening with an opening panel featuring America East Conference Commissioner Amy Huchthausen, Binghamton University Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott as well as Head Men’s Soccer Coach Paul Marco and professor in the School of Management, Shelley Dionne.
For more information or to sign up for the summit, visit our website. Individuals can also contact Assistant Athletics Director Linda Reynolds at lreynold@binghamton.edu or 607-777-6975 with any questions.
Hausler Broadcast Studio dedicated
The Binghamton University Athletics Department formally dedicated its ESPN3 broadcast studio as the Hausler Broadcast Studio this past week. The dedication was in honor of the Hausler family’s gift to the athletics department. Their donation purchased equipment and provided funding for game day operations to broadcast all Bearcat men’s & women’s soccer and lacrosse home games on the ESPN3 and ESPN+ platforms.
The Hausler family includes Class of 1992 alums Eric and Sari. Eric was a member of the Binghamton club lacrosse program a decade before the inception of the current intercollegiate men’s lacrosse program.
“Eric and Sari set the tone as alumni leaders who give back to support the next generation of student-athletes at Binghamton. By putting their family’s name on the broadcast studio, we are showing the thousands of visitors we receive annually to the Events Center, that our alumni believe in our Athletics Department and the mission we have to develop amazing student-athletes and industry leaders of tomorrow.” Patrick Elliott, Director of Athletics
Binghamton’s broadcast studio was established in the fall of 2016. Currently, all Bearcat home basketball, soccer and lacrosse games are part of its ESPN production package.
In the eight years prior to the broadcast studio, the athletics department streamed home games through the PAK Network and AmericaEast.TV. Home baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling and special events remain streamed through the athletics communications office, in partnership with AmericaEast.TV.
Renovated softball complex opens
The Binghamton softball team arrived back on campus Sunday night in a great mood – for more reasons than one.
The Bearcats took a huge three-game series at Maine with two victories over the weekend. After an off day on Monday, they were finally able to practice on their field at the Bearcats Sports Complex Tuesday morning.
Upgrades to the Bearcats Sports Complex include a turf outfield and warning track. In addition, there is a hilltopper infield mix, which will allow the team to practice earlier in the spring.
The Bearcats are in the final week of the regular season, with home games against Albany (Wednesday) and Hartford (Friday and Saturday). In addition, Binghamton will host the America East Tournament next week, marking the third year in a row it is the home team for the conference’s championship event.
“We’ve been looking forward to getting out here and seeing how the field is,” head coach Michelle Johnston said. “We’ve come off the road after a big series win and its great knowing that we will be at home the next few weeks.”
Binghamton’s game versus Albany starts at 3 p.m. The Bearcats will honor longtime Binghamton Campus Dining Service employee Doug Thomas prior to the game. He is retiring this month and will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Bearcats’ weekend series against Hartford is scheduled to begin with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Friday followed by a single game at noon on Saturday.
Next week’s America East Tournament will run Wednesday-Saturday. It will mark the fourth time in five years that the Bearcats have hosted the event.
The Bearcats Sports Complex opened in 2013. Since then, Binghamton has gone 44-25 at home, including a 29-11 mark in America East Conference games. During that stretch, the Bearcats have won the 2015 America East title as well as the past two regular-season conference championships.
Former elite Binghamton University quartet inducted into Greater Binghamton Hall of Fame
Four former Binghamton University standouts will be enshrined into the Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame Monday night downtown at the Doubletree by Hilton. Among the 2018 induction class are Michael Starke, tennis coach and sport pioneer; Mark Gumble, NCAA wrestling champion and coach; Chris Coleman, NCAA All-American sprinter and Olympian; and Jason Goldman, a two-time All-American and member of a world championship USA wrestling team.
Each is already a member of Binghamton’s Athletics Hall of Fame.
The fourth annual event will feature keynote speaker Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, NBA Hall of Famer.