The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that they signed college free agent DT Eric LeGrand. LeGrand joins the Buccaneers from Rutgers University, where he played in 31 games. During his time with the Scarlet Knights, he recorded 60 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries, before his playing career ended prematurely.

On October 16, 2010, in a game against Army during his junior season, LeGrand suffered fractures of two vertebrae and a serious spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. Despite being told that he would be a quadriplegic and resigned to a ventilator, LeGrand persevered and a mere five weeks after the injury, resumed breathing on his own. Later, he even became able to stand upright with the help of a metal frame.

LeGrand resumed his studies via video conference during the spring 2011 semester and continued to be an impactful member of the Rutgers football team during his senior year. He made his first return to the football field on October 29, 2011, one year after his injury, leading his team and Head Coach Greg Schiano out onto the field at Rutgers’ stadium. LeGrand also joined his fellow seniors on the field for Senior Day festivities prior to kickoff of a win over Cincinnati on November 19.

“Leading up to the draft, I couldn’t help but think that this should’ve been Eric’s draft class,” said Coach Schiano. “This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit, and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men.”

With the courage and determination shown throughout his rehabilitation, LeGrand’s inspirational story has garnered national attention. His return to the football field donned the cover of Sports Illustrated’s 2011 year-end issue, as it was voted the magazine’s Moment of the Year. LeGrand received the Most Courageous Athlete Award from the New Jersey Sports Writers Association in January and will also receive the Unsung Hero Award at the New Jersey Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 9 for his representation of courage, strength and character.

LeGrand is planning to graduate next fall with a degree in labor studies and most recently partnered with IMG to help in continuing his broadcasting career. You can follow Eric’s remarkable recovery through his Twitter feed, @EricLeGrand52. For more information on LeGrand, visit www.scarletknights.com/Believe/.

On Saturday, June 23, 2012, NFL stars and twin brothers, Devin and Jason McCourty are hosting a free football skills clinic for local youth at their former high school, St. Joseph Regional in Montvale, New Jersey. The clinic, which is for children ages 7-14, runs from 9:00am to 3:00pm and will feature football drills and training tips. In addition to Devin and Jason, many of their former college teammates from Rutgers who are currently playing in the NFL will be on hand as well. All attendees will receive an autographed picture of Devin & Jason McCourty and other prizes.

The twin brothers decided to run this free event because they remember what it was like being a kid. “Growing up I would have relished at the opportunity to run around with professional football players and hear their stories,” said Jason McCourty who led all NFL cornerbacks in tackles this season as a member of the Tennessee Titans. “I believe it’s important to do events like this, because it shows kids that there are examples out there of people who made it from similar backgrounds as themselves.”

According to Devin, an All-Pro cornerback for the New England Patriots, it was an easy decision on where to host the event. “We chose St. Joe’s because that’s where we got a chance to better ourselves and really start a path to success. Our mother has been a huge inspiration for us, she worked extremely hard to give us a chance at a good life, so we just want to make her proud.”

To register CLICK HERE as space is limited! Check-in will open at 8:30am on Saturday June 23^rd. Warm-ups begin at 9:00am and the clinic concludes at 3:00pm. The event is for children ages 7-14 and is free of charge. St. Joseph Regional High School is located at 40 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, NJ 07645.

Should you have any questions, please contact Pat Capra at PCapra@lunarsportsgroup.com or via phone at 973-228-5500.

On Monday, May 14, 2012 Miami Dolphins linebacker Jamaal Westerman is hosting a charity Golf Outing benefiting The Ashley Lauren Foundation. The event takes place at Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune, NJ.

The Ashley Lauren Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization whose mission is to provide hope and help for NJ children and their families when facing pediatric cancer. They provide invaluable services for these families including Financial & Material Assistance, Emotional Support, Parties and Outings for the Children, Birthday and Holiday Gifts for the Children and their “Making Dreams Come True” Program.

“I’ve always tried to stay active in the community and offer support whenever possible, said Westerman. I saw an opportunity with this golf outing to have a bigger impact on children and families battling cancer. I’m honored to work with The Ashley Lauren Foundation to raise funds and awareness for their valuable mission.”

The outing, which is presented by Lunar Sports Group, will feature stars from around the NFL including some of Westerman’s former teammates from the New York Jets and former teammates at Rutgers currently playing in the NFL.

The event will begin with a Lunch at 11am followed by a shotgun scramble beginning at 1:00pm. The golfing will be followed by a cocktail hour at 6:00pm and an awards dinner, including a live auction and raffle prizes, at 7pm.

For information regarding Foursome and Sponsorship opportunities visit www.lunarsportsgroup.com or www.ashleylaurenfoundation.org. Contact Pat Capra at PCapra@lunarsportsgroup.com if you have any questions.

Click here for printable version Foursome and Sponsorship Packages

Foursome and Sponsorship Packages

Presenting Sponsor  - $15,000

• Three (3) Foursomes
• Top priority choice of three (3) celebrity golfers
• (Add 1 celebrity to each of your foursomes)
• Company name & logo included on all event signage & inclusion on all PR efforts
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Company name and logo inclusion in Preview videos/vignettes leading up to Event
• Company branding on every gift bag
• Company logo placement Step & Repeat Banner
• Company logo branded on foursome picture frames, distributed to all golfers
• Reserved Seating during Awards Dinner
• Signage on each table during Awards Dinner
• Ten (10) Social Media mentions by Jamaal Westerman on Facebook & Twitter
• Three (3) Tee Box Signs

Associate Sponsor  -  $10,000

• Two (2) Foursomes
• Preferred selection of two (2) remaining celebrity golfers
• (Add one (1) celebrity to each of your foursomes)
• Company name & logo included on event signage & inclusion on all PR efforts
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Company logo placement Step & Repeat Banner
• Reserved Seating during Awards Dinner
• Signage on each table during Awards Dinner
• Five (5) Social Media mentions by Jamaal Westerman on Facebook & Twitter
• Two (2) Tee Box Signs

 Official Cocktail Reception & Awards Dinner Sponsor  - $5,000

• One (1) Foursome
• Preferred selection of one (1) remaining celebrity golfers
  • (Add one (1) celebrity to your foursome)
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Company logo on cocktail napkins during the Cocktail Reception
• Prominent signage displayed at Cocktail Reception and Awards Dinner
• Reserved Seating during Awards Dinner
• Two (2) Tee Box Signs

Golf Cart Sponsor   - $5,000            

• One (1) Foursome
• Preferred selection of one (1) remaining celebrity golfers
  • (Add one (1) celebrity to your foursome)
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Signage prominently displayed on all Golf Carts
• Two (2) Tee Box Signs

Beverage Sponsor  - $3,000

• One Foursome
• Prominent signage displayed at bars and beverage stations on course
• Includes one (1) complimentary Tee Box Sign

Driving Range Sponsor  - $3,000

• One Foursome
• Prominent signage displayed on the Driving Range
• Includes one (1) complimentary Tee Box Sign

Practice Green Sponsor - $3,000           

• One Foursome
• Prominent signage displayed on the Practice Green
• Includes one (1) complimentary Tee Box Sign

BBQ Lunch Sponsor  - $2,500           

• One Foursome
• Company Name & logo appear on each table during BBQ Lunch
• Includes one (1) complimentary Tee Box Sign

$10,000 Putt Contest Sponsor - $2,000           

• One Foursome
• Prominent signage displayed on Green for 10k Putt Contest
• Includes one (1) complimentary Tee Box Sign

Registration Table Sponsor - $1,500           

• One Foursome
• Prominent signage displayed at the Registration Table
• Includes one (1) complimentary Tee Box Sign

Foursome  - $1,200

• Includes one (1) complimentary Tee Box Sign

Gang Green Sponsor  - $1,000

• Includes four (4) Tickets to Cocktail Hour & Awards Dinner
• Four (4) NY Jets Mini Helmets Autographed by Jamaal Westerman

Individual Golfer  - $300

Tee Box Sponsor  - $150

• Prominent Signage displayed on one of the many picturesque Tee Boxes

Cocktail Hour & Awards Dinner Only –  $100

Contact Pat Capra at PCapra@lunarsportsgroup.com if you have any questions.

On May 7, 2012 The Anthony Fasano Foundation Golf Classic returns for its fifth installment. Each and every year, Anthony and his Foundation staff try to raise the bar and this year will be no exception. After spending the last three years at the Upper Montclair Golf Club, the outing has moved locations and will take place this year at The Montclair Golf Club located on 25 Prospect Avenue in West Orange, New Jersey.

Fasano is honored to once again raise funds for REED Academy, a school in Oakland, NJ that serves children with Autism. In September of 2011, REED Academy opened its new home, a brand new school building whose playground is named after Fasano.

Thanks to the support of the community and our sponsors last years outing was another huge success, which included 30 celebrity attendees. Some of the stars included, Miles Austin, Brian Leonard, Brady Quinn, Ricky Williams Shaun O’Hara, Josh Freeman, and Joe Faugno from TLC’s The Cake Boss. The voice of the New York Football Giants, Bob Papa was the emcee for the awards dinner.

SCHEDULE OF DAY’S EVENTS
9:30 AM – SYMANTEC REGISTRATION TABLE OPENS
10:00 AM – BBQ BUFFET LUNCH OPENS
11:30 AM – SHOTGUN START
4:30 PM – COCKTAIL HOUR
5:15 PM – $10,000 PUTTING CONTEST
5:30 PM – AWARDS DINNER

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL NOW

Golf Sponsorship Packages

Presenting Sponsor                                                                                                $20,000

• Three (3) Foursomes
• Top priority choice of three (3) celebrity golfers
• (Add 1 celebrity to each of your foursomes)
• Company name & logo included on all event signage & inclusion on all PR efforts
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Creation of personalized ninety (90) second event video recap for use how Company sees fit including all social media platforms
• Company name and logo inclusion in Preview videos/vignettes leading up to Event
• Company branding on every gift bag
• Company logo placement Step & Repeat Banner
• Company logo branded on foursome picture frames, distributed to all golfers
• Reserved Seating during Awards Dinner
• Signage on each table during Awards Dinner
• Ten (10) Social Media mentions by Anthony Fasano on Facebook & Twitter

Associate Sponsor                                                                                                $15,000

• Three (3) Foursomes
• Preferred selection of two (2) remaining celebrity golfers
• (Add 1 celebrity to two (2) of your three (3) foursomes)
• Company name & logo included on event signage & inclusion on all PR efforts
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Creation of personalized sixty (60) second event video recap for use how Company sees fit including all social media platforms
• Company branding on every gift bags
• Company logo placement Step & Repeat Banner
• Reserved Seating during Awards Dinner
• Signage on each table during Awards Dinner
• Five (5) Social Media mentions by Anthony Fasano on Facebook & Twitter

Official Cocktail Reception & Awards Dinner Sponsor                    $10,000

• Two (2) Foursomes
• Preferred selection of two (2) remaining celebrity golfers
  • (Add one (1) celebrity to both of your foursomes)
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Company logo on cocktail napkins during the Cocktail Reception
• Prominent signage displayed at Cocktail Reception and Awards Dinner
• Reserved Seating during Awards Dinner

Official BBQ Buffet Lunch Sponsor                                                             $7,500                       

• Two (2) Foursomes
• Preferred selection of one (1) remaining celebrity golfer
• (Add 1 celebrity to one of your foursomes)
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Prominent banners with company name & logo displayed at BBQ Buffet Lunch
• Signage on each table during BBQ Buffet Lunch

Golf Cart Sponsor                                                                                                    $7,500                       

• Two (2) Foursomes
• Preferred selection of one (1) remaining celebrity golfer
• (Add 1 celebrity to one of your foursomes)
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Signage prominently displayed on all Golf Carts

$25,000 Hole In One Challenge Sponsor                                                    $5,000                       

• One Foursome
• Preferred selection of one (1) remaining celebrity golfer
• (Add 1 celebrity to your foursome)
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Prominent signage displayed on two (2) holes that host a $25,000 challenge

$10,000 Putt Contest Sponsor (Held during Cocktail Hour)            $5,000

• One Foursome
• Preferred selection of one (1) remaining celebrity golfer
• (Add 1 celebrity to your foursome)
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Prominent signage displayed during Registration & Cocktail Hour

Hole-In-One Sponsor – Automobile                                                             $5,000

• One Foursome
• Preferred selection of one (1) remaining celebrity golfer
• (Add 1 celebrity to your foursome)
• Company logo inclusion in the Official Event Video
• Signage and Company Display on designated hole

Registration Table Sponsor                                                                               $3,500                       

• One Foursome
• Prominent signage displayed at the Registration Table

Driving Range Sponsor                                                                                         $3,500                       

• One Foursome
• Prominent signage displayed on the Driving Range

Practice Green Sponsor                                                                                          $3,500           

• One Foursome
• Prominent signage displayed on the Practice Green

Tee Box Sponsor                                                                                                           $250           

• Prominent Signage displayed on one of the many picturesque Tee Boxes

Foursome                                                                                                                       $2,200

On June 29^th & 30^th, All-Pro Cornerback Devin McCourty of the New England Patriots will host a football skills camp for kids ages 7-16 in Colchester, Vermont.  The two-day camp will include drills & skills training, expert coaching, instructional games and hands on activities with Devin McCourty.

Every player receives a t-shirt and autographed photo of Devin McCourty. Additional photo opportunities will be available.

Cost: Register now and save!! 

• $175   If you register between APRIL 1 – JUNE 1
• $199   If you register between JUNE 1 – JUNE 28
• $250  If you Pay at the Door on JUNE 29, 2012            

Registration:

• Friday, June 29 from 4:00-5:00pm

Camp:

• Friday, June 29 from 5:00-8:00pm
• Saturday, June 30 from 9:00am-12:00pm

Location:

• Colchester High School, 131 Laker Lane, Colchester, VT 05446

Ages:

• 7-16 years old 

If you prefer to pay via check, please make check payable to “Lunar Sports Group” and mail payment to: 

LUNAR SPORTS GROUP

1268 EAST LAKESHORE DR.

COLCHESTER, VT 05446

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Perry at 802-264-5731 or via email at PerryT@csdvt.org

Click here to enroll 1 Camper

Click here to enroll 2 Campers

Click Here to Enroll 3 Campers

SPONSORED BY:
• The Hampton Inn of Colchester – For Reservations Call 802-655-6177
• Cummings Electric
• Mills and Greer Sports and Team Sales Call 802-864-0291 for extra T-Shirts.
• Colchester High School and Youth Football
• Crowley Floors

Dan Hurley has agreed to become the new head coach at Rhode Island and will part ways with Wagner College after just two years at the Staten Island school, as first reported by SNY.tv and CBSSports.com Tuesday morning. After visiting Rhode Island Saturday, Hurley made the decision Monday night upon talking it over with his wife, Andrea, and their two sons, Danny (12) and Andrew (10).

Hurley, 39, will sign a six-year deal worth approximately $4 million. He will be officially introduced at a press conference Wednesday.

“We are thrilled to name Dan Hurley as our new head men’s basketball coach,” Rhode Island athletic director Thorr Bjorn said. “Dan is a proven winner at every level and I am looking forward to partnering with him to build on the solid foundation we have in place. Our goals are to compete for – and win – Atlantic 10 Championships and advance to play in NCAA Tournaments.”

Wagner tried to keep Hurley with a significant pay raise offer, but the opportunity for more money, more exposure and greater competition was simply too much for the former St. Benedict’s Prep coach and son of Naismith Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley of St. Anthony.

Bobby Hurley, Dan’s older brother and a former two-time NCAA champion at Duke, appears likely to follow his brother to the Atlantic 10 as an assistant, although no official statement has been made on the matter. Bobby is mentioned in Rhode Island’s release introducing Dan, but he is not listed as an assistant coach.

“I’d like to thank Dan Hurley and his staff for the many contributions they made to Wagner basketball in their two years here,” Wagner AD Walt Hameline said. “The turnaround they orchestrated was nothing short of phenomenal. With the success we had and the exposure the program generated, we knew Dan would be an attractive candidate for other programs. I am confident that we will attract an outstanding coach who will build on the success of Wagner Seahawk basketball.”

Hameline said a national search will begin immediately. Several early possibilities include Norfolk State head coach Anthony Evans, Cincinnati assistant Darren Savino, a former St. Anthony player, and New Jersey native Scott Adubato, a Florida International assistant.

“I expect he’ll get some calls,” Norfolk State athletic director Marty Miller told The Sporting News in relation to Evans, 40.

Whoever the new coach is will have to maintain Wagner’s strong recruiting class that includes Michigan State transfer Dwaun Anderson, a former Mr. Basketball in Michigan.

In two years under Hurley, Wagner went 38-23, 24-12 in the Northeast Conference. Hurley led Wagner to a 25-6 record this season after the program went 5-26 two years ago. The Seahawks lost in the Northeast Conference semifinals to Robert Morris and were not offered an NIT bid.

Just two years ago, Hurley left St. Benedict’s Prep after compiling a record of 223-21 in nine seasons. Earlier this month, Rhode Island fired coach Jim Baron following a 7-24 season.

“URI is committed to excellence across the board, including intercollegiate athletics,” said David M. Dooley, URI President. “Hiring Dan Hurley as our new head coach in men’s basketball reflects that commitment. We are delighted that Dan shares our vision to build a high quality program that puts the student-athlete first and competes at the highest level, and we are confident that he will be successful here.”

STORY BY: ADAM ZAGORIA (ZAGSBLOG)
MARCH 20, 2012, 10:50AM

Tuesday, March 13th, marked the 3rd Annual Rally at the Alley, hosted by former Rutgers stand-out and Cincinnati Bengals running back Brian Leonard. The event, held at 300 New York, the popular bowling venue at Chelsea Piers, was an amazing evening of sports, fun and excitement. Brian holds this event each year to raise money and awareness for Embrace Kids Foundation, the New Jersey-based not-for-profit organization that provides aid to families of children suffering from cancer, sickle cell disease and other blood disorders.

Many patient families were in attendance last Tuesday, enjoying a night of relaxation, bowling, good food and great company. There were 24 NFL players in attendance, including Brian Leonard, Ray Rice, Andy Dalton and the McCourty twins, and they spent the entire time lifting the spirits of the children and their families. Brian spoke to the crowd abut the spirit of Embrace Kids Foundation, and how the children and their families have made a powerful and emotional impact on him and his fellow players.

It was supposed to be the beginning of something for the head coach and his point guard. How could they have known, 12 years ago this month, that it would take so long to get back? How could Tommy Amaker, one of the hottest young coaches in the country at the time, have foreseen waiting a lifetime to coach another game in the NCAA Tournament? How could Shaheen Holloway, with dreams of playing in the NBA, understand that the lights would never shine as bright on his career as they did before he was left writhing on the court with a wrecked ankle?

But here they are, proof that March is not just about One Shining Moments. It can be a cruel month for anyone in college basketball watching from the outside — especially for the ones who have tasted it.

The coach and his first point guard could have that chance again, and maybe it’s fitting that it can happen in the same year. Amaker knows he’ll see the name Harvard pop up in one of the 68 slots today, the first time the Crimson have reached the tournament since 1946.

Holloway, the top assistant coach at his alma mater, is hopeful. Seton Hall is the ultimate bubble team despite their 20 wins, maybe no better than a coin toss to make the field. All they can do is watch and wait. And pray.

Twelve years ago, the two watched the selection show together. No one expected much from Seton Hall in March 2000, but their run to the Sweet 16 is still the deepest the Pirates have gone in the tournament in the past two decades, and came just at a time when the campus needed a lift after a deadly dormitory fire.

“It’s kind of a blur, to be honest,” Amaker said last week from his office at Harvard. “It’s been a number of years. I’ve been at other jobs — five years here, six years at Michigan …”

His voice trailed off. Twelve years? It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since Amaker was the up-and-coming 35-year-old coach at Seton Hall, one plucked straight off the Duke bench to resurrect the program in South Orange.

The 1999-2000 season was supposed to be a building block, one step toward better things. Amaker had signed the best recruiting class in the country, and the fun would really begin when Eddie Griffin and Andre Barrett got to campus. Or so everyone thought.

“Everyone was already looking forward to the next year,” Holloway said. “We took that as a smack to the face.”

Holloway didn’t have a next year. He was a senior who already had put his name all over the school’s record book, but not in March when it matters the most. But there he was in Buffalo, the ball in his hands and time running down with Seton Hall trailing Oregon by a point in a first-round game.

He went the length of the court, banking in a soft floater with 1.9 seconds left, and the 10th-seeded Pirates had their first upset. They would face Temple, a team that was supposed to give John Chaney his first appearance in the Final Four, two days later. And in that short span, Holloway went from his career highlight to its end.

He severely sprained his ankle just eight minutes into the game. His backup, Ty Shine, would rally Seton Hall to a thrilling overtime win, but the ride would end with a 68-66 loss to Oklahoma State in the Sweet 16. Could the Pirates have gone even further with a healthy Holloway?

“You’re losing your best player,” Amaker said. “Your ball handler. Your speed. Your quickness. Your playmaker. He could get into gaps and find something. It was hard to imagine going on and doing a lot without that component.”

Still, it was hard to find too many disappointed Seton Hall fans, not with that recruiting class. Then the troubled Griffin arrived, a top-10 team imploded at midseason, and Amaker left for Michigan when the season ended. His career has never reached the same heights, and neither has the program he left behind.

Now Amaker steps back into the March glare. There will be few teams that garner more attention in the first weekend of the tournament than Harvard, with that long tournament drought about to end and its former star, Jeremy Lin, an international phenomena with the Knicks.

Amaker built the program slowly, with setbacks along the way, but Holloway isn’t surprised to see him here. “I spent three years with coach,” Holloway said. “He’s a guy that gets a lot out of his players.”

They still keep in touch, usually when they bump into each other on the recruiting trail in the summer. Amaker has watched enough of Seton Hall to know point guard Jordan Theodore is the reason the Pirates have a chance to make the tournament, and to see Holloway’s influence on his senior season.

Will it end with Holloway in the tournament again? Amaker thinks the Pirates have done enough to make the field, and hopes Harvard, after waiting 66 years, isn’t just happy to be there.

“Hopefully, we can make it last a little longer,” Amaker said, “because this time of year, it can be fleeting.”

Story by: Steve Politi

Star Ledger Columnist

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Preaching the value of teamwork to a few hundred landscapers wasn’t the ideal way for Bob Hurley Sr. to spend the afternoon, not when he had a team to coach. But the alternative is always in the back of his mind. Because, without efforts like this, there might not be a team to coach.

So Hurley boarded a flight to Baltimore for a corporate event that brought in a few thousand dollars — a paycheck he would sign over to St. Anthony — and another opportunity to “spread the word a little bit” about his Jersey City school and its financial struggle. “This is a different world now,” the Hall of Fame coach said, “and this is a necessary part of it.”

One year ago this month, Hurley was preparing his undefeated St. Anthony team for the most anticipated high school basketball game in New Jersey history against powerhouse St. Patrick.

Tickets outside the Rutgers Athletic Center went for $75 a pop. HBO and “60 Minutes” had their cameras rolling as St. Anthony pulled away in the fourth quarter for the victory. It was the apex of the greatest rivalry in New Jersey high school sports. It was also the end of it.

That was the news last week, both stunning and predictable: Barring a last-minute reprieve, St. Patrick will close at the end of the school year, leaving a void in the basketball scene and in its Elizabeth community.

Basketball couldn’t save St. Patrick. That is the easy conclusion to reach. All those trophies and banners, all the national attention from its games on ESPN and its players in the NBA, even its own documentary on HBO couldn’t keep the school from closing its doors.

But basketball didn’t save St. Anthony, either. Smart planning did. Generous people did. The efforts, big and small, from a decade of fighting to avoid the fate of too many other Catholic schools.

St. Anthony, which has the same mission and faced the same challenges as St. Patrick, not only survives. It is preparing for a day when its famous head coach decides to hang up his whistle for good.

—–

Maybe the best place to start is Oct. 7, 2002.

USA Today ran a story on the front of its sports section with the headline: “School’s fight for survival” above a photo of the crumbling bingo hall where St. Anthony used to practice.

“Because of a decrease in charitable donations since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,” the newspaper wrote, “St. Anthony’s has fallen into such dire financial straits that it probably will be forced to close at the end of this school year.”

It was a turning point, for the school and the coach. Hurley knew he had to do more than run practices and win games. He had to schmooze CEOs and attend corporate functions, neither of which he was comfortable doing.

And the school knew it could no longer operate like a mom-and-pop grocery store. The deficit between what the school raises in tuition — which was $4,900 per student this school year — and what it costs to keep the doors open is between $1.8 million and $2.3 million.

Nearly all of that comes from private fundraising. A decade ago, St. Anthony had one major event each year: A charity golf tournament that Hurley’s son, former Duke star Bobby Hurley, has held since his days in the NBA. It raises about $125,000.

Now there are beefsteak dinners with celebrity guests. There is a Super Bowl raffle that included two tickets to the game and use of a private jet to get there. There are relationships with companies like J.Crew and UPS, with both contributing to the school and sending its directors to observe the team’s games. There’s even a luncheon scheduled for the women’s guild with author Anna Quindlen scheduled to speak.

“You have to try to do as many different things as you can,” Hurley said, “and appeal to as many different parts of the community as you can.”

This is more than just Hurley, 64, handing over his speaking fees from coaching clinics now. St. Anthony has a development office with four full-time fundraisers and a controller to handle the finances.

The school is hardly secure — not yet, at least. St. Anthony is in the quiet phase of a fundraising project aimed to raise $10 million for an endowment fund, one that would ensure the school would continue long after Hurley is through coaching.

“If we can do that,” Hurley said, “the school has some sustainability.”

• • •

So where did St. Patrick fail where its rival succeeded?

School officials said they tried to raise funds in traditional and creative ways, from an annual Hall of Fame dinner to reaching out to businesses around the Elizabeth docks to even selling naming rights for its gymnasium.

But short of sending out an annual appeals letter, the efforts were not consistent. St. Patrick never had a full-time employee to handle fundraising, a decision that Board of Trustees president Kathy Skrupskis called “a misstep in hindsight.”

As the Archdiocese of Newark announced it was closing the school, St. Patrick was in the process of replacing several members of its Board of Trustees in hopes of adding more representatives from the business community. The school, which is $197,000 in debt, was looking for ideas and influence. “In the last three or four years,” said board member David Conaghan, “even some of our big donors have been hit hard by the economic downturn.”

Then, there are the few prominent alums who never became big donors. There is an undercurrent of anger at the school directed toward its players who went onto the NBA. Al Harrington, a first-round NBA draft pick in 1998, has earned close to $70 million in his 13-year NBA career, and has not consistently given back to the school.

“They’ve done nothing,” Skrupskis said. “I can tell you honestly — Al Harrington, nothing.”

Harrington, through the Denver Nuggets media relations office, said he had reached out to fellow St. Patrick alum and NBA center Samuel Dalembert about helping the school. “If there’s a plan that makes sense for everybody involved,” he said, “we are definitely willing to help.”

Still, hoping an NBA star will write a check with a lot of zeros is hardly a sound business plan. Most players are pulled in dozens of directions once they become pros, and their careers are short.

“It’s a big, big, big mistake if you think you can run a national program and put all these kids in the pros and they’re going to give you money,” said Edwin Leahy, who faces similar challenges as the headmaster at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark. “Because it doesn’t happen.”

Leahy, whose school has five full-time fundraisers, said he informally offered to help St. Patrick, but the school turned him down. St. Patrick, always fiercely independent, chose to forge its own path.

The school has not given up hope. State Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) is working with the

archdiocese to keep the school open, as is Elizabeth mayor Chris Bollwage. Meanwhile, a web page has been launched savestpatrickhighschool.com — to solicit support and donations. As of Friday night, the site had raised $550.

Maybe with a new approach and some much-needed help, St. Patrick can be saved. The model has been there all along: St. Anthony, its rival in Jersey City that knew it would take more than basketball to keep its doors open.

Story from Star-Ledger

Columnist: Steve Politi

Sunday, March 04, 2012

Almost two years ago, Shaheen Holloway stood in the back of a brightly lit Walsh Gym and watched his boss be introduced as the 19th men’s basketball coach in Seton Hall history. During the speech, Kevin Willard acknowledged his top lieutenant, welcoming the former Pirates star with a standing ovation. But there was a piece of Holloway that felt a bit uneasy. Seton Hall’s favorite son had returned home, but to what?

The program was a mess. Uncertainty was everywhere. One by one, boosters, friends and fans greeted Holloway with smiles to his face — while leaving monumental expectations in his lap.
“A lot of alumni and a lot of people were like, ‘You’re going to save the program!’ ” Holloway recalled during a quiet moment in his office last week. “I kept thinking, ‘That’s not going to happen overnight. I’m not playing.’ I’d love to play — believe me — but this was something different. … There was a lot of pressure being back here. “I understand Seton Hall. I understand how people think here.”

In 2000, Shaheen Holloway was the Pirates' point guard and one of the best players in the nation, leading his team to the Sweet 16.

Most never saw the tough kid from Queens with the street brogue as coaching material. He can mumble. Sometimes he talks too fast or doesn’t appear polished enough. Holloway admits as much. But at 35, he is the associate head coach at Seton Hall, using more than the basketball skills that made him a McDonald’s All-American at St. Patrick in Elizabeth and later a legend who led the Pirates to the Sweet 16 in 2000.

He has become a savvy recruiter for Willard, helping sell Seton Hall as an attractive destination for big-time players who were in diapers when he was one of the best players in the country. But he’s also become an assistant players respect. Senior point guard Jordan Theodore calls him “a mentor” and points to the blossoming of their relationship as one of the main reasons for his steady and improved play this season.

So, as Seton Hall tips off this afternoon against Pittsburgh in another game Seton Hall needs to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive, Holloway would love nothing more than to take another step toward that goal. But he knows that it’s a process. One that can take time.
Kind of like coaching. “I always wanted to come back, but it had to be the right time,” he said. “The right coach here … and the right person that I thought could help myself and help them build something. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
• • •
Robin Cunningham had given Shaheen Holloway a piece of paper, a pen, a topic and 20 minutes.
Cunningham, who was in charge of academic support for Seton Hall’s student-athletes, made every player on an official visit write for the allotted time. It wasn’t to see how long they could write or how imaginative they were. The exercise was more of an evaluation and a get-to-know-you process.
So when the big-shot prospect came to the South Orange campus in the fall of 1995, Cunningham was stunned when Holloway walked out after 10 minutes. “I remember thinking, ‘Okay, he just doesn’t get that 20 minutes is 20 minutes,’ ” Cunningham recalled.

She thought she had a prima donna on her hands. At Seton Hall since the early 1980s, Cunningham was part of the fabric of the program, helping tutor players. But she remembered hearing that Holloway was going to announce his college decision on TV — something no one had done before — and thinking he was going to be high-maintenance. But by the time Holloway was a senior, he was pestering her for work.

“When he hurt his ankle in the NCAA Tournament (in 2000) at Syracuse, I remember being in the training room the next day while he was getting treatment,” she said. “The trainer was massaging his ankle and here we were talking about his English project. Once he got turned on to learning and wanting to express himself in another way other than basketball, there was really no stopping him.”

Shaheen Holloway playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany

That was what made the end of Holloway’s playing career so much easier. He had just signed a two-year contract to continue playing in Germany in 2005 when his daughter’s academic needs came calling.

Seeing Shatanik — Holloway became a father at 15 — struggle in school gave him pause. He returned to New Jersey to help get her back on the right path and help raise her with his now-wife, Kim. (Shatanik’s mother is involved, but the two do not live together.) Holloway started by pulling double-duty as a substitute teacher and assistant coach at Bloomfield Tech.

“He’s got a gift of communication,” said former Bloomfield Tech coach Nick Mariniello, now at Hudson Catholic. “I think he was looking for the next part of his life. Seeing the energy and passion he has for his school, is amazing. He’ll be the first to tell you that Seton Hall is very, very important to him and it’s changed his life.”

Shatanik is in her first year at Seton Hall. Holloway doesn’t keep tabs on her, but knows immediately when she’s struggling with schoolwork. Her academic adviser is Cunningham, now the associate dean of freshman studies — something she considers an honor. And it’s one of the reasons she speaks about Holloway like a son.

“He was the last men’s basketball player that I spent a full four years with,” said Cunningham, holding back tears. “When they were renovating the men’s locker room in 2003, they had thrown out the old lockers. One day I saw his locker on the floor and it still had his nameplate on it, so I took it off. It sits on my desk in my office.”
• • •
After his stint at Bloomfield Tech, Holloway made his first move into college coaching: He was hired as an administrative assistant by former Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez. He helped scout, prepare game plans and exchange game tapes. But he wanted more. So when Kevin Willard was hired at Iona in 2007, he heard from Holloway’s high school coach. “Kevin Boyle called me and said he’d be great,” Willard remembered. Holloway was the first player to lift Boyle’s St. Patrick teams to prominence on the national high school basketball scene. Boyle knew his former point guard was itching to do more than be a tape jockey, so he helped arrange the interview. “To leave Seton Hall and go to Iona, that showed maturity,” said Boyle, now the head coach at Montverde Academy in Florida. “That he knew he had a bright future in this career, but that was a really smart move. Knowing that certain guys — down the road, if he has success — are able to kick out guys from assistants to head coaches.”

Shaheen Holloway directs Seton Hall during warm-ups before their game against Rutgers last Wednesday.

Willard was a branch off the Rick Pitino coaching tree, which has spawned numerous head coaches across Division 1. He was also the son of a head coach, Ralph Willard, and had experience at the NBA level, working with the Boston Celtics out of college. Holloway saw the decision to join Willard at Iona as a no-brainer.

“That’s one thing that I really liked when I interviewed him,” Willard said. “He was eager to become a coach and not just a recruiter. He didn’t want to be known just as a guy who spends 90 days on the road and is never around the team, never helping the team. He wanted to develop how to do scouting reports, individual instruction and how to teach the game on the court.”
But the lure of returning home nearly cost Holloway the chance he has now to help rebuild Seton Hall. Four months after being hired by Willard at Iona, Geoff Billet left Gonzalez’s staff to become the head coach at Christian Brothers Academy. “Coach Gonzalez reached out for me to come back here,” Holloway admitted publicly for the first time. “I had an opportunity to come back, and Coach Willard was great. He said, ‘How can I tell you not to go back to your alma mater and try and be a Big East assistant?’ It was a tough decision. I took two or three days, weighed the pros and cons and decided to stay with (Willard).”
• • •
Holloway pulls no punches about his desire to one day be a head coach.
“If you’re a coach and you don’t want to be a head coach — why are you doing this?” he said.
He would like a program to call his own in the future, one where he can put to use all of the advice and training he’s received. He still speaks with George Blaney and Greg Herenda, the men who recruited him to come to Seton Hall. Tommy Amaker, the man who coached him for his final three seasons, provides regular counsel, as do Mariniello and Boyle. And there’s current St. Patrick coach Chris Chevannes, who showed him how to run practices.

So many hands have been involved with molding Holloway’s path. He doesn’t lack for supporters.
“Being home, being from this area, from New York, having a great career at St. Pat’s, having a great career at Seton Hall — and now being able to coach at your school — he’s proud of that,” Mariniello said. “He’s got it together, he really does.”

Holloway knows that in all likelihood, his first chance at being a head coach will come away from South Orange. And he’s okay with that. After all, he’s had to leave to grow before.
“Wherever Shaheen Holloway is going to be, winning is going to be right around the corner — if not on the doorstep,” said Herenda, now the head coach at UMass-Lowell. “That’s just the way the kid is.”

Story By:
Brendan Prunty
The Star-Ledger
Sunday, February 12, 2012