Athletics :: History: Timeline

History of Emerson College Athletics

2007-present Director of Athletics Kristin Parnell Parnell is the first female athletic director. She is a graduate of Emerson’s master's program. She has been with the department for more than 10 years, serving as women’s soccer coach for seven years. In 2008 she initiates the first ever Homecoming Weekend. This effort will reconnect current athletes, staff and coaches with the community of Emerson Alumni/College.	Emerson Captures 2008-2009 GNAC Commissioner's Cup for Women -The Emerson College women's athletic teams earned the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup, emblematic of the top overall program in the Conference during the preceding academic year. 2009 Softball Cops GNAC Title & NCAA Berth - The softball team powered through the GNAC regular season with a 21-3 record to capture the top seed in the GNAC Tournament. The Lions made the top seed pay off as they swept through the double elimination tournament in four games capped by a 2-1 come from behind victory on a walk off single by Bridget Farago '10 to take the title. Emerson was 1-2 in the NCAA Tournament defeating host Endicott College 5-1 in the first round then dropping two heartbreaking losses to Tufts (1-3 in nine innings) and Rhode Island College (0-1). 2009 Women's Lacrosse Captures GNAC Championship - Emerson rolled through the GNAC all season long with a perfect 6-0 record in the regular season and three wins in the conference tournament to take the title. The team at one point won 12 games in a row including sweeping through the conference tournament and defeating Norwich University 18-9 for the championship. The Lions were selected to the ECAC new England Division III Championship Tournament where they defeated Worcester State College before losing a semi-final game to Castleton State College. 2009 Women's Basketball Qualifies for ECAC Tournament - For the first time in the history of the program, the Emerson College Women's Basketball team qualifies for the Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Division III Championship Tournament. The Lions advance to the semi-finals. 2009 Men’s Volleyball- Men's Volleyball is added as the College’s 15th intercollegiate varsity sport. 2008 Quidditch World Cup - For the first time Emerson College competes in an international world championship event. Quidditch, made popular by the Harry Potter novels and films, sweeps colleges across the nation. The championship is held in Middlebury, Vermont. Emerson College places fifth overall of 14 participating teams. 2008 Department New Arrivals- The athletic department adds staff members and coaches. New arrivals include Assistant Athletics Director Jess Adams and Facilities Coordinator Shannon Roberts. Coaching arrivals include Katelyn Haggerty, and Co-Head Coaches of Women's Lacrosse Gale Decker-Wittman and Katie Shannon. 2008 Nicole Bottino Athletic Trainer Arrival 2008 Mason Astley Comes Aboard- Astley arrives to coach men's and women's tennis, in the fall season. 2007 Craig Letourneau Turns Up- Letourneau arrives to coach women's volleyball, and establish a men's program. 2007 First-Ever Emerson Athlete to Receive NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship- Softball player Jen Boyden receives the first post-graduate scholarship from the NCAA ever awarded to an Emerson College player. Nicole Bottino joins the department as an athletic trainer. Suffering injuries in high school, she is inspired and understanding toward athletes.

2002-2007 Director of Athletics Rudy Keeling During Keeling’s tenure Emerson adds Rotch Field and the Piano Row Gymnasium. Emerson lacrosse, soccer, softball, basketball and volleyball now have home venues.	2007 First-Ever NCAA Tournament Play- The Lion's softball team is the first team at Emerson College ever to play in a national championship, and is recognized for the highest aggregate GPA in Division III. The team qualifies for NCAA post-season play by winning the GNAC tournament that season. 2007 Baseball Returns - Baseball is reintroduced as a varsity sport following two years on the club level. 2006 Piano Row Gymnasium- After a four year construction project Piano Row Gymnasium opens for the 2006 Fall season. It is now home court for basketball and volleyball at Emerson. 2005 Dave Hanley Heads Up Baseball- Hanley arrives to coach the men's club baseball team. Within two years he will help restore the program to varsity status. 2004 Rotch Field- Emerson College partners with the City of Boston to renovate Rotch Field. The college invests $4.5 million. The complex opens in the 2005 spring season. The lacrosse, soccer and softball teams have a home field. 2004 Double First All American- Men's basketball all-time leading scorer Rob Hennigan achieves two firsts becoming an All American and Academic All American. 2004 Corey Dawkins Head Athletic Trainer Hired- Dawkins arrives as head athletic trainer. 2004 Emerson Hires Youngest Head Coach- Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Marissa Gelband is likely among the youngest to hold this position at any college in the country. She leaves the position after one year. 2003 John Furey Starts Men's Cross-Country- Furey coaches the men's cross-country team in their first varsity season. The team starts the season strong in their first race. 2003 Women's Lacrosse- Women's lacrosse is added to the list of sports offered at the college. 2003 Jared Scarpaci Saves Men's Soccer- Scarpaci arrives to coach the men's soccer team. He delivers 11 wins in the first season. 2003 Stan Nance and Roger Crosley Join the Team- Two newly created positions further legitimize Emerson's status as a Division III program. A legitimate Division III program must maintain compliance and records for NCAA standards, and sustain growth to enhance participation in the division. Coordinator of Athletic Operations Roger Crosley will be responsible for sports information and NCAA compliance. Associate Director of Athletics and Recruiting Coordinator Stan Nance will be responsible, on a full-time schedule, for recruiting new athletes. 2002 First-Ever Individual NCAA Qualifier- Katrina Kozarek qualifies for the NCAA Cross-Country Championship, a first for individual athletes at Emerson College.

1997-2002 Director of Athletics Rick Bagby On an administrative level Bagby works to develop the planned Rotch Field complex. He is dedicated to giving Emerson athletes a ‘home.’ He also adds full-time coaching staff and restructures the athletic department.	2001 Men's Lacrosse- Men's Lacrosse is offered for the first time, though the team is not officially part of a conference. 2001 Phil McElroy Takes Softball Reigns- Phil McElroy becomes head coach of women's softball. 2000 Castling for Women's Soccer- Women's Soccer Head Coach Kristin Parnell brings her team to the Netherlands. The team plays two matches against regional European teams. 1998 John Furey Fires Up Women's Cross-Country- Furey arrives to coach the women's cross country team. The team takes home the first women's conference championship in Furey's first season.

1994-1997 Director of Athletics Joe Walsh Walsh is instrumental in getting Emerson Athletics into the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. Emerson College is a founding member of the conference.	1997 Emerson Athletics Turns 50- Emerson Athletics reaches its 50th year. Athletic recruiting begins that year. 1994 Hank Smith- Hank Smith arrives at Emerson College with a bold promise. Smith 'guarantees,' the men will win more than half of their games.

1967-1994 Director of Athletics Jim Peckham Peckham serves the department for 25 years at Emerson College. One of the all time great coaches in the sport, Peckham is considered a New England legend of wrestling. After 18 years as the director of athletics at Emerson College he retires. He is recognized in the college’s yearbook, throughout the years, for taking a keen interest in the students on a personal level, regardless of their participation in the athletic program at Emerson College.	1988 Women’s Softball- The first varsity softball team is assembled in the spring. 1987 Women’s Volleyball, Tennis- Women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s tennis are added to the roster of sports offered at Emerson College. 1982 Golf- Golf is added as a sport offered at the college. 1981 Record Intramural Turnout- Intramural softball becomes the sport with the highest participation in Emerson College’s history. Sixteen teams, including staff and faculty, compete. 1976 Peckham Head Coach at Olympics- Jim Peckham serves as the head coach to the United States Greco-Roman Wrestling Team in Montreal. The team brings home a gold medal. 1972 Munich for Peckham- Coach Jim Peckham takes a temporary leave of absence to serve as the assistant coach to the United States Olympic Free-Style Wrestling Team in the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. 1968 Panthers Grow Mane- The school mascot is changed to match the coat of arms. A purple lion replaces the panther. Prior teams were called the Purple Panthers. 1964 Sailing- The Emerson College Athletics Program adds a sailing team to the varsity line-up offered at the college.

1947-1967 Athletic Association A student run activities group supports early competitive athletics between Emerson and other colleges. 1931-1947 Recreation Club The recreation club supports athletic related activities, hiking, roller skating, and volley ball among others.	1951 Emerson’s 1st Conference- According to the 1951 yearbook, a group called the Athletic Association at Emerson College helps establish what is called the Greater Boston Small College Conference. It is one of the earliest sports conferences in Boston. 1951 Women's Basketball- The first women’s basketball team at the college is formed. 1948 Panthers Play Ball- The Purple Panthers basketball team plays the first games against other college teams. A cheering squad is also introduced. 1933 Volleyball First Sport- The first intramural sport is played indoors, on the old campus, at Huntington Hall. Volleyball is organized by what is called the Recreation Club, established in 1931.