Ken Kopecky, Ph.D. ’65

In early February 2020, Ken Kopecky, Ph.D. ’65, informed the University that he had decided to set some funds aside in his estate for the future benefit of Assumption students. A few months later, during the low point of the pandemic, Kopecky called the University Advancement Office and said, “Why wait? We need to help the students who are here now, as well as those who will arrive at Assumption in the future.”

At Kopecky’s request, the University established the Economics Student Development Fund to provide resources for students majoring in economics, finance, and international business.

Kopecky, an economics major who earned his doctorate in economics before beginning his career at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC, was greatly inspired by his mentor, Professor Emeritus George Doyle, Ph.D., and deeply appreciated the close relationships he developed with many other professors and fellow students. Kopecky, who became an economics and finance professor himself, hopes the Economics Student Development Fund will inspire and advance undergraduate opportunities for current and future students.

For more information on how you can support Assumption with a legacy gift, contact Melanie Demarais at 508.767.7332 or visit assumption.edu/plannedgiving.

Assumption Introduces CLASS of 2021

IN NOVEMBER, THE UNIVERSITY’S DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS HONORED A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO IMPACTED THE ATHLETICS PROGRAM DURING THEIR TIME AT THE INSTITUTION. THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS WERE INDUCTED INTO THE CLASS OF 2021 ASSUMPTION ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME.

1 / GERRY BABINEAU ’69

Babineau, a decorated Track & Field athlete, played a vital role in the program’s elevation from the club level to NCAA varsity status. In addition to his leadership skills, Babineau holds a number of athletic records, including for the 100-yard dash that he set at the New England Small College Championships.

2 / JOHN CARROLL ’93

Throughout his career on the Men’s Basketball team, Carroll set school records in career threepointers and most three-pointers in a season. With his leadership on the court, the Greyhounds finished first in the Northeast-10 Conference three seasons in a row, captured one NE10 Championship title, and made two NCAA regional appearances.

3 / CHARDE FLOYD ’08

Floyd was a standout forward on the Assumption Women’s Basketball team for four seasons, collecting accolades such as NE10 Conference Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Rookie Team following her first season with the Greyhounds. Floyd became the fourth Greyhound in program history to reach both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career during her senior season, when she was named the NE10 Defensive Player of the Year. Floyd is the 12th leading scorer in program history (1,212 career points) and holds multiple top-10 records, including third in career free throws (378) and fourth in career rebounds (1,056).

4 / CHRIS GROGAN ’06

Over his four seasons as a starter on the Football team, Grogan earned much recognition including NE10 All-Conference Team, First Team All-New England, ECAC Honorable Mention, and All-Worcester Team. Grogan ranks fourth in career defensive tackles in the Assumption Football record book with 357.

5 / JIM MULLEN ’78

After graduation, Mullen served the Department of Athletics in a number of roles, retiring as the Assumption assistant director of athletics for operations in May 2016 after 19 years of service to the institution. He graduated with a degree in history and a minor in education and served as a four-year team manager for the Men’s Basketball, Football, and Baseball programs.

6 / JULIE PHIPPS ’00

Though she spent just two seasons at Assumption, Phipps holds the Assumption Softball records in career batting average (.513) and career slugging percentage (.788) and was a member of two of the most successful softball teams in program history, winning two NE10 Conference Championships and an ECAC Championship. Phipps was named an NCAA DII Second Team All-American, was an NE10 All-Star twice, and was the NCAA DII National Batting Champion in 1999.

7

/ STEVE SANTUCCI ’93

Santucci, a standout on the Baseball team, was named the NE10 Player of the Year as a senior and to the All-New England Team all three seasons with the Greyhounds. He is ranked second in career batting average (.432), career slugging percentage (.711), and runs in a season (57), and holds the record for stolen bases (31). In 1993, Santucci was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 19th round.

8

/ MIKE WISNIEWSKI ’69

Wisniewski holds the record for the highest winning percentage (78.9) with a 15-4 career record on the mound for the Baseball team. He earned three of the 12 total 1-0 victories in Assumption program history and was the first Baseball student-athlete to win the MVP Award as a junior and senior.

9 / 1970–71 MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

The 1970–71 Men’s Basketball team is one of the winningest teams in program history, winning the NCAA Regional Championship that year. This was the first Assumption team to win the New England NCAA Regionals and the first to make an NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance. Seven members of the squad are individual Hall of Fame members including: Bob Austin (HOF Class of 1997), Michael Boylan (HOF Class of 1979), Neal Burgess (HOF Class of 1997), Serge DeBari (HOF Class of 1978), Jacob Jones (HOF Class of 1977), Jeff Scott (HOF Class of 2014), and Dan Small (HOF Class of 1981). Other members of the team include Tom Arsenault ’74, Bob Bourque ’73, Tom Mack ’71, Brian O’Brien ’71, Mike Parichuk ’72, Bill Pederson ’72, Tim Shea ’72, Jim Small ’72, Cliff Smith ’73, and coaches Joe O’Brien, Charles Aleksiewicz, Bob Boule, and Bob Hunter.

Greyhounds Ice Hockey Team Thriving in New, Modern Training & Competition Facility

THIS SEASON, THE ASSUMPTION MEN’S ICE HOCKEY TEAM HAS A NEW HOME, THE FIDELITY BANK WORCESTER ICE CENTER, A PREMIER FACILITY LOCATED IN THE HEART OF WORCESTER’S CANAL DISTRICT, FOR THE 2021–22 SEASON AND BEYOND.

“Being able to call the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center our new home rink enhances our student-athletes’ experience with two state-of-the-art sheets of ice and our own locker room,” said Michael Looney ’12, head coach of the Assumption Men’s Ice Hockey program. “Additionally, the Ice Center’s location right in the heart of the city is an excellent venue for alumni gatherings and a strategic location to meaningfully engage with the Worcester community.”

The Greyhounds share the facility with a number of the city’s elite hockey teams, including the Worcester Railers Hockey Club. While Looney said he is appreciative of their years and the memories made at the Buffone Arena, he’s excited “to see alumni come back and reflect on the growth of the Assumption Hockey program,” he said. “The Ice Hockey program has an over-100-year history as a sponsored sport at Assumption, and the reaction to our move to the Worcester Ice Center from former teammates, players, parents, and friends of the program has been extremely positive. We look forward to pushing on to raise a championship banner at the Worcester Ice Center.”

As part of the agreement, the University has access to year-round locker rooms as well as home ice for practices and games. All Assumption students will benefit from the partnership; Campus Recreation may host events, such as open skates and broomball, a recreational ice game played with brooms, and the Ice Skating Club will also make use of the space.

“Assumption University is pleased to partner with the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center, an excellent facility which will provide our Men’s Ice Hockey program with a modern and attractive venue to train and compete,” said Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., president of Assumption University. “Through a continued renaissance of downtown Worcester, a burgeoning sports destination is in development that will welcome countless visitors to the city. Assumption is proud to contribute to the city’s revitalization by providing additional opportunities for our student-athletes and Assumption fans to watch our Men’s Hockey program compete against other colleges and universities in the Northeast-10.”

The Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center is a 100,000-square-foot twin-sheet ice facility that houses youth, high school, junior, and collegiate players in addition to a strength & conditioning center, physical therapy center, sports pro-shop, full-service tap room, concessions, and ancillary tenants.

Field Hockey Completes Historic Season

Greyhounds Win First NE10 Championship After Undefeated Regular Season

This fall, the Assumption Field Hockey team had its best season in program history, winning its first-ever Northeast-10 Championship and earning the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship. Perhaps even more impressive, the Greyhounds finished the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record, just the fifth time in the last 20 years a field hockey team has gone undefeated during regular season conference action. And although the Hounds’ historic season ended with a loss in the NCAA Division II national semifinals against West Chester University, it was certainly a season for the record books.

“This year was remarkable for so many reasons. We broke a lot of records and made a lot of memories that we all will cherish,” said Ann Lahey, who completed her 11th season as head coach of Assumption’s Field Hockey team. “I have had talented groups in the past, but this team was able to capitalize on the opportunities presented, and I was always amazed with their ability to win. … We didn’t crush the competition; we won difficult games in the last minutes of play and in overtime. I trusted that the team would pull through, and they believed in themselves.”

The Greyhounds were crowned the NE10 Conference Regular Season Champions and ranked first in goals allowed (8) and second in goals scored (52). The team also collected several NE10 records: Lahey was named Field Hockey Coach of the Year,

Kylie Gargiulo ’22 was named Goalkeeper of the Year, and Jenna Graf ’22 was named Defensive Player of the Year.

“I am so proud of Coach Lahey and the entire Field Hockey team,” said Christine Lowthert, Ed.D., director of Assumption Athletics. “Throughout my time at Assumption, I have watched this team grow and develop – both on and off the field. Each year, the team continues to improve and dominate its opponents. In 2019, we got a taste of the NCAAs but this year – this historic year – we had a commanding presence in the Final Four. The hard work of the coaches and student-athletes propelled this team, and I am looking forward to future seasons.”

In the last decade, the Assumption Field Hockey program has gone from a winless season (0-18 in 2010) to one game away from a national championship. Coach Lahey arrived at Assumption in 2011 following its winless 2010 season. Though the team went 1-14 in her inaugural season, she led the Greyhounds to a seven-win turnaround in 2012 as they went 8-10. The turnaround was the second biggest in NCAA Division II history, and Coach Lahey was named NE10 Coach of the Year by her peers. That season, the team also held the record for most fan attendance in the nation for Division II Field Hockey.

Two years later, in 2014, the 12-7 Hounds advanced to the NE10 Conference Tournament for the first time in over a decade. Ranked No. 9 in the final

“These players were nothing but impressive all season. In addition to an undefeated record, these studentathletes were winners both on and off the field, displaying leadership skills in the classroom as well as in the locker room.”

National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA)

Division II National Poll, the team earned the No. 5 seed in the league tournament and was regionally ranked for much of the season. The Greyhounds have made the NE10 tournament every season since. Each season, the Field Hockey team continues to improve. In their last full season in 2019 (the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic), the team went 16-5 and were undefeated at home (9-0). The team earned a spot in the NCAA DII National Tournament, where they lost in the first round.

“I know that every member of the program since 2011 played an important role in building what we were able to accomplish this year,” said Lahey.

Lahey said the team was successful this season because of the efforts and focus of the players despite the limitations caused by COVID in the last two years; the support of the families, alumnae, and her coaching staff, Rylie Hammond and John Griffin; as well as the fifth-year graduate students “who decided to come back and finish what they started. I know without their leadership this season would not have been the same,” she said.

 Football finished the 2021 regular season with a 5-5 record overall and a 5-3 mark in conference play. They earned their first victory of the season at home over Pace University on September 18 and went on to win their next two games including an overtime road game against Franklin Pierce University and a shutout against Southern Connecticut State University. Isaiah Huff ’23 earned NE10 Special Teams Player of the Week twice this season and tied Deonte Harris (now playing for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints) for the second longest kick return in program history (99 yards). The team defeated Saint Anselm College 44-35 on Homecoming/Senior Day, with quarterback Jacob Cady ’23 subsequently winning Offensive Player of the Week. Captain Khaleed Exum-Strong ’22, a running back, was named the 2021 NE10 Most Valuable Player and earned a spot on the All Conference First Team after a stellar season; he played all 10 games, rushing for a total of 1,228 yards, and scoring nine touchdowns.

Tighe Beck ’22, Tobias Liska ’22, and Huff were all named to the NE10 All Conference First Team Offense, while Matthew Ringstaff ’22 earned a spot on the All Conference Second Team Offense.