More than 75 percent of students are estimated to participate in some form of athletics at Le Moyne. Le Moyne student-athletes have combined to post term cumulative grade-point averages of at least 3.0 in 42 consecutive semesters dating back to 2003 (through spring 2024).[5] Dolphin student-athletes routinely combine for term GPAs of at least 3.3 in addition to completing more than 2,500 hours of community service each year as part of The Le Moyne Way program.
Name origin
As early as the second century, Christians associated the dolphin with love and tenderness. A dolphin appears on the seal of the Bishop of Syracuse, just as it was on the seal of the ancient See of Siracusa. Le Moyne named its teams the Dolphins to encourage students to look to the future, because the dolphin is a sign of comfort and union and fraternal charity. The Dolphin is a constant reminder that Le Moyne is steeped in centuries-old tradition and philosophy.[6]
Athletic directors
Tommy Niland, namesake of the school's athletic complex, was Le Moyne's first athletics director and is the most significant figure in the college's athletics history. He was the first head coach of the freshman basketball team starting in the 1947–48 season, Le Moyne's initial academic year during which all students at the school were freshmen. Niland also coached Le Moyne's varsity basketball team from its inaugural season in 1948–49 until 1973, winning 326 games and going to seven NCAA College Division tournaments. He was also Le Moyne's first varsity baseball coach. After his varsity basketball coaching career ended, Niland remained in his position as Le Moyne's athletics director until his retirement in 1990. Niland also served on various NCAA regional and national committees, including the infractions committee that imposed the death penalty on Southern Methodist University's football program in 1987.[7] Niland's membership on the committee was criticized by the Dallas media, one member of which wrote, "My only suggestion to the NCAA is only people from big-time programs should sit in judgement of big-time cheaters. What could the Le Moyne AD possibly know about downtown Dallas bag men and the going price for high school running backs in Texas?"[8]
Dick Rockwell, a graduate of Ithaca College, won 757 baseball games on the Heights between 1968 and 1996 at the Division I and II levels, going to the Division II national tournament 12 of their last 13 seasons in the division, and becoming a power in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in Division I. Rockwell also served as Le Moyne athletic director from 1990 to 2009.
Following a long career in senior administration at the West Point, Bob Beretta was named director of athletics on January 7, 2021. He is only the fourth director of athletics in the college's history.[9] Beretta led Le Moyne through initiation of the process of reclassifying from Division II to Division I. On June 4, 2024, Beretta resigned to become the athletics director at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure. Beretta's resignation is effective June 21, and the college planned to name an interim director, as the search for a permanent replacement is conducted.[5]
Mike Lindberg, a Le Moyne alumnus from the class of 1979, became the Dolphins' interim athletic director on June 20, 2024. Mike served as the athletic director at Wells College in Aurora, New York from 2014 to 2023. During his tenure, Wells installed a state of the art multi-purpose turf field. Along with the improvement in facilities, Lindberg also saw the Express win a few North Eastern Athletic Conference titles. Previously, he was the associate director of intercollegiate athletics at Ithaca College from 1998 to 2013, where he was a part of various conference championship and NCAA Divsion III national championship teams.[10]
Phil Brown became Le Moyne's new assistant vice president of athletics on January 1, 2025. Brown had overseen facilities and event management, capital projects and equipment staff at Vanderbilt from 2015 to 2024. Prior to his time at Vanderbilt, Brown was an assistant athletic director at Texas A&M–Kingsville. Brown has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Houston and a master's in business administration from Texas A&M–Commerce. He also has a master's degree in sports management from Georgia Southern and is a graduate of the Sport Management Institute Executive Programs conducted at Michigan and Texas.[11]
Le Moyne (in dark jerseys) v Syracuse game in 2010
In 1960, the men's basketball team won the Middle Eastern College Athletic Association Tournament, which was hosted by Saint Peter's College at the Jersey City Armory.[12] Consolation games other than the third-place game were played at the Saint Peter's gym.[13] In the tournament, Le Moyne defeated Saint Peter's, Iona and Long Island to win.[12][14][15]
The Le Moyne men's basketball team gained national attention when it defeated Division I powerhouse Syracuse 82–79 in a November 2009 exhibition game.[16]
Le Moyne had a women's basketball team in the eight-team City League, which called itself the Le Moyne College Girls' Basketball Team, during the 1958–59 season. The team won three of its first four games, and the effort was led by senior Barbara Wood, chairman of the Le Moyne women's athletic association.[17] Lynn Eisenhauer was also a member of the team.[18]
On January 9, 1960, the team defeated the Hancock Field Women's Air Force team, 42–25, at the West Jefferson Street Armory in the opener of a doubleheader that also featured men's team against Clarkson.[19] Sue McCann led Le Moyne with 20 points, while Patty Sue Young and Joanne Pospeich added 10 each.[20]
Le Moyne participated in the Women's Recreation Basketball League during the 1960–61 season.[21]
During the 1961–62 academic year, Le Moyne's women's athletic association organized women's basketball as an intramural sport. Four teams competed in the intramural league: the Seven-Ups, captained by Nan Hurtubise, the Four Freshmen, co-captained by Rose Van Epps and Madeline Welch, the Mufki-Pufkis, captained by Nancy Allen and the Sound Offs led by captain Patty Sue Young. The teams played a six-game schedule, meeting each of the other three teams twice. Games were played on Mondays at the Charles Andrews School.[22] The Seven-Ups were the league champions, and trophies were presented to the winning team members: Nancy Dillon, Rita Ruane, Betty Graf, Emily Hodapp and Rita Amyott. Pat Resch was named most valuable player. Martha del Vecchio won the most improved player award. Rose Van Epps was honored as the most spotsmanlike player. Ruane was elected president of the women's athletic association for the 1962–63 academic year.[23]
Intercollegiate women's varsity basketball was revived at Le Moyne in December 1962. The initial team members were Pat Resch, Carol Collins, Claire Cunnion, Rita Ruane, Dale Amend, Barbara Schlaerth, Nancy Dillon and Bernadette Baecher.[24] Elizabeth Schuchman joined the team before its first game, which was at the Le Moyne Athletic Center against Auburn Community College on February 9, 1963.[25] Led by head coach Sue Gibbons, the Dolphinettes, as they were called, won that opening game, 33–26. Nancy Dillon and Dale Amend led the way with 12 points each. The Dolphinettes also earned a road win against Auburn Community, 48–46, in overtime. Bernie Baecher had 18 points in that game, and Amend added 17. The Dolphinettes dominated Nazareth, 48–6. Le Moyne did not allow a field goal in the game. Freshman Donna Argenbright led the way with 13 points, and Baecher added 11. The Dolphinettes outscored the Syracuse Orangewomen in a mid-season scrimmage. Le Moyne completed their perfect season with a 4–0 record, when they beat Cazenovia, 36–14, on March 16. Amend led the way with 17 points, and Baecher added 11 in the season finale.[26]
Women's basketball was played primarily as an intramural sport at Le Moyne during the 1963–64 academic year.[27] However, a varsity team, captained by Bernadette Baecher, was selected from the intramural players and hosted a Syracuse intramural team in March 1964, but the Dolphinettes were defeated by the Orange.[28] The Le Moyne women's athletic association organized basketball as an intramural sport during the 1964–65 academic year as well.[29]
In fall 1968, plans were announced to field a women's varsity basketball team for the 1968–69 season.[30] However, it is unclear whether this took place. Women's intramural basketball was planned for the 1970–71 academic year. There was hope that enough interest would be expressed to form a varsity team. Cathy Coughlin was the student who took the lead on organizing women's basketball.[31] In November 1970, it was announced that women's intramural and intercollegiate basketball competition would begin in the spring 1971 semester.[32] Tryouts for the women's varsity team were scheduled for December 14, 1970. Games were scheduled against Onondaga Community College, Nazareth and Oswego State.[33] In February 1971, Onondaga Community College was replaced on the schedule by Cazenovia.[34] The Dolphinettes improved their record to 2–0 with a 35–24 win over Oswego State. Patty McCarthy scored 16 points to top Le Moyne's scoring list for the second straight game. A road game at Syracuse was scheduled for March 11.[35]
Le Moyne played five intercollegiate games in the 1971–72 season and finished with an 0–5 record.[36]
An eight-game varsity schedule was planned for the 1972–73 season. The team opened on January 18, 1973, with a 40–31 victory over Cazenovia, led by the hot shooting of Sue Mellie, the strong rebounding of Eileen Brewer and the guard play of Mary Jo Muellner.[37] The second game on the schedule was a home matinee against Siena on January 27, with the men's teams meeting that same evening. Facing a tough zone defense, the Lady Dolphins started 0 for 10 from the floor but still managed to take an early 8–2 lead, after Mellie heated up. Despite a rebounding edge, Le Moyne could not penetrate Siena's zone and were called for 20 fouls compared with only 11 charged to the Indians. The Lady Dolphins fell, 25–23.[38] Mellie scored 16 points to lead the Dolphinettes to a 37–35 road win at Cazenovia on February 1. Beth Ackley's defense sparked a Le Moyne comeback that erased a 10-point deficit and built an eight-point Dolphinettes lead. Le Moyne survived a late Cazenovia run to hold on for the two-point victory. The Dolphinettes fell to 2–2 on the season after suffering a 42–25 home loss to Syracuse on February 3, in which their new uniforms debuted. Previously, the women's team had played in tee-shirts and gym shorts. The Dolphinettes had a game scheduled for February 15 at Syracuse.[36]
Efforts were made to organize a women's varsity basketball team for the 1973–74 season, with tryouts held on November 13.[39]
More than 100 women played intramural basketball at Le Moyne during the 1974–75 academic year.[40]
Le Moyne launched its women's varsity basketball program in earnest during the 1975–76 season, opening with a home game on February 10, 1976, against Nazareth. The Dolphins were coached by Le Moyne athletic director Tommy Niland, who retired as the head coach of the men's team three years earlier after 25 years at the helm. Niland said he wanted to coach the team to get a first-hand look at women's athletics to help him formulate future commitments the school should make to women's sports.[41] The Guppies, as they were called by the student newspaper, fell to Nazareth, 53–28. Wendy Archinald had 10 points and eight blocked shots for Le Moyne.[42]
Official statistics for Dolphins women's basketball only go back to the 1976–77 season.[43][44]
Le Moyne's women's basketball team nearly pulled a shocker before falling to Syracuse 73–70 in an exhibition game at the JMA Wireless Dome on November 3, 2022.
Baseball
After much success in Division II, Le Moyne's baseball team reclassified to Division I in the fall of 1987.[45] The Dolphins rallied in the ninth inning to win their first game as a Division I team, 8–5, at Binghamton on September 10, 1987. Pete Stoyan's single in the final frame drove in the winning run. The Dolphins dropped the second game of the season-opening doubleheader, 4–3.[46]
Lacrosse
Le Moyne has long been a lacrosse power at the Division II level, earning seven men's and women's national championships in the sport. The Dolphins' men's lacrosse team captured its sixth national crown in 2021, under the leadership of head coach Dan Sheehan. Le Moyne registered its lone women's lacrosse national title in 2018.
Athletic facilities
The Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex houses Le Moyne College's athletic teams, visiting competitors, and coaches. Student-athletes use outdoor facilities including the Dick Rockwell Field for baseball, tennis courts, a softball complex and other fields including Ted Grant Field, completed in 2010, an athletic turf complex for lacrosse and soccer. The Niland Complex includes the Henninger Athletic Center, where basketball games and other events take place on Ted Grant Court.
The complex also includes the Dick Rockwell Baseball Field, named for Le Moyne's former baseball coach and athletic director.
The Campus also has trails behind the school that are used by the Cross Country for their home meets and other teams to train on.
The Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex incorporates a 47,000-square-foot (4,400m2) facility with a 25-yard (23m) competition-size swimming pool, fitness center and weight room, a three-court size multi-purpose gym area, an elevated jogging track, and four racquetball courts. It is designed primarily for intramural, recreational use, and personal fitness activities. Students can also use fitness centers which are located in several of the residence halls.
The college participates in thirteen sports on the club level: men's ice hockey, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, women's field hockey, women's basketball, men's rugby, women's rugby, equestrian, fencing, rowing, ultimate frisbee, sailing, and Tae Kwon Do, in addition to cheerleading, with both men and women on the squad. All club teams are given qualified coaches, practice facilities and uniforms.[48]
The college conducts an extensive intramural program with sports and competitors that vary each year. The program usually includes: basketball (men's and women's leagues); flag football (men); indoor soccer (men's, women's and coed leagues); walleyball (coed); racquetball tournaments (coed, men's and women's divisions); volleyball (coed); softball (men's and women's leagues); and inner tube water polo (coed).[49]
The Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the U Sports (OUA's), and, where applicable, in the west division. The university teams are often referred to as the Gryphs, which is short for the school's mascot, Gryph, the gryphon.
Cazenovia College was a private college in Cazenovia, New York. Founded as the Genesee Seminary in 1824 and sponsored by the Methodist Church in 1894, the college adopted the name of Cazenovia Seminary. It was reorganized in 1942 after church sponsorship was withdrawn and was Cazenovia College for Women from 1961 to 1982, when the college became co-educational again. It closed on June 30, 2023, due to poor finances and other economic issues.
Le Moyne College is a private Jesuit college mostly in DeWitt Town, New York. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1946 and named after Jesuit missionary Simon Le Moyne. Le Moyne was the first co-educational Jesuit college in the United States.
The 1966 NCAA College Division basketball tournament involved 36 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA College Division basketball as a culmination of the 1965–66 NCAA College Division men's basketball season. It was won by Kentucky Wesleyan College, with Kentucky Wesleyan's Sam Smith named Most Outstanding Player.
The Hobart Statesmen are composed of 15 teams representing Hobart and William Smith Colleges in intercollegiate athletics, including men's alpine skiing, basketball, baseball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, sailing, soccer, squash, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. The Statesmen compete in the NCAA Division III and are members of the Liberty League for all sports except men's volleyball, men's ice hockey (NEHC), and men's lacrosse, which competes in NCAA Division I, as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
The Colby Mules are the varsity and club athletic teams of Colby College, a liberal arts college located in Waterville, Maine. Colby's varsity teams compete in the New England Small College Athletic Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The college offers 32 varsity teams, plus club sports, intramural sports called I-play.
Patrick Jonathan Beilein is an American former basketball player and current coach. He is the head coach of the Baldwinsville Bees boys varsity basketball team in Baldwinsville, New York.
The Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball program is the men's college basketball team of Le Moyne College. The Dolphins compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Northeast Conference and are currently coached by Nate Champion. The Dolphins have played their home games on Ted Grant Court at the Le Moyne Events Center in DeWitt, New York since 1962. The Dolphins are currently transitioning to Division I and are ineligible to participate in the NCAA tournament until the 2027–28 season.
The Le Moyne Dolphins women's basketball program is the women's college basketball team of Le Moyne College. The Dolphins compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the Northeast Conference and are currently coached by Mary Grimes. The Dolphins have played their home games on Ted Grant Court at the Le Moyne Events Center in DeWitt, New York. After years of playing in the Northeast-10 Conference in NCAA Division II, the Dolphins are currently transitioning to Division I and are ineligible to participate in the NCAA tournament until the 2027–28 season.
The Le Moyne Events Center is a multi-purpose arena in DeWitt, New York, United States, that serves as the home arena for the Le Moyne Dolphins women's basketball and volleyball, and men's basketball teams on the campus of Le Moyne College. The venue is sometimes identified as the Event Center.
The history of Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball from 1948 to 1958 begins with the inception of the men's varsity basketball program at Le Moyne College. Le Moyne had seven winning seasons and only two losing seasons during their first 10 years. They participated in a postseason tournament, the Utica Optimist Club Invitational, in only their second season. The Dolphins won the Utica tournament three times: in 1950, 1951 and 1952. Le Moyne participated in the National Catholic Invitational Tournament twice, finishing third in 1951, and reaching the quarterfinals in 1952. Although the Dolphins were classified as a small college program by the Associated Press until 1956, when the school became an NCAA College Division member, Le Moyne played 74 games against major/University Division programs during their initial 10 years, going 25–49. The Dolphins were led by head coach Tommy Niland, who mentored the team for its first 25 years. Their team captain for the first three seasons, Don Savage went on to play in the NBA.
The history of Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball from 1958 to 1960 includes the Dolphins' first two appearances in the NCCA tournament. Led by Dick Lynch, Bob Hollembaek and Chuck Sammons, Le Moyne won a share of the 1959 Middle Eastern College Athletic Association (MECAA) championship, the first conference title in program history and earned the first of what would be seven NCAA tournament bids over a span of 11 seasons. Lynch, John Caveny and Bill Stanley led the Dolphins to the outright MECAA championship in 1960, and a second consecutive tournament berth. Head coach Tommy Niland was named MECAA coach of the year for both 1959 and 1960. The Dolphins were 18–6 in 1958–59, reaching the Sweet 16 of the 1959 tournament, and 13–5 in 1959–60, finishing fourth in their region in the 1960 tournament. Lynch was named first-team all-MECAA in both seasons.
The history of Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball from 1960 to 1963 includes the Dolphins' championship at the 1960 Middle Eastern College Athletic Association (MECAA) Invitational Tournament and the opening of their on-campus home venue, now known as the Le Moyne Events Center. The Dolphins won their third MECAA championship in 1962, when Bill Stanley became the first Le Moyne player to win a conference player of the year award.
The 2024–25 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team represents the University of Notre Dame, located in Notre Dame, Indiana, in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team is led by head coach Micah Shrewsberry in his second season as head coach and plays home games at the on-campus Joyce Center as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The history of Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball from 1963 to 1966 includes the Dolphins' three consecutive appearances in the NCAA College Division tournament. Led by sophomore Gary DeYulia and senior Tom Cooney, Le Moyne reached the Sweet 16 of the 1964 tournament. Tom Mullen and Dan Frawley provided a strong inside game to complement DeYulia's scoring, and the Dolphins repeated as conference champions but lost in the first round of the 1965 tournament. Head coach Tommy Niland was named conference coach of the year in both 1964 and 1965. As a senior, DeYulia was conference player of the year and teamed with Mullen to lead the Dolphins to a berth in the 1966 tournament, with regional games hosted by Le Moyne for the second straight year. Le Moyne finished third in Section B of the Northeast Region. The Dolphins were 52–17 between the 1963–64 and 1965–66 seasons, including a 7–2 record against University Division opponents.
The history of Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball from 1966 to 1969 includes two appearances in the NCAA tournament by the Dolphins. After Le Moyne was plagued by academic suspensions and struggled to an 11–10 record in 1966–67, the Dolphins rebounded to earn an at-large bid to the 1968 NCAA tournament under the leadership of senior captain Gerry McDermott. However, with McDermott slowed by a late-season leg injury, the Dolphins fell in the first round. Junior Tom Downey led Le Moyne to a share of the Middle Eastern College Athletic Association (MECAA) championship and a bid to host the regionals of the 1969 NCAA tournament. However, the Dolphins' shooting went cold in the second half of their first-round game, and they were eliminated, despite strong efforts from Chuck Brady and Matt Fallis. Le Moyne's strong play against University Division opponents continued, as the Dolphins won two games against such foes in each of the three seasons.
The history of Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball from 1969 to 1973 includes the final four years of the coaching reign of Tommy Niland, Le Moyne's head coach since the inception of the program in 1948, and the career of Phil Harlow, one of the Dolphins' all-time greatest players. Le Moyne did not earn a postseason berth but did win the Middle Eastern College Athletic Association (MECAA) championship in 1972–73, Niland's final season, with an undefeated league record. In 1969–70, the Dolphins failed to earn a win against a University Division opponent, the first time since the 1956 split of the NCAA into divisions they were unable to do so. In 1970–71, Le Moyne suffered their first losing season in 19 years. Harlow finished his collegiate career as Le Moyne's all-time scoring leader. As of 2025, Niland remains the program's all-time leader in wins as a head coach.
The history of Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball from 1973 to 1979 includes the coaching reign of Tom Cooney. Although Le Moyne did not have a losing record in any of the six seasons under Cooney and had an overall record of 82–63, the Dolphins failed to reach the postseason. Rick May became the first Le Moyne player to record 1,000 career rebounds as a senior during the 1973–74 season. The Middle Eastern College Athletic Association (MECAA), the conference in which Le Moyne had been a member since 1955, dissolved following the 1975–76 season. Coach Cooney's first recruiting class turned out to be his best, producing a 15–7 record as seniors in the 1976–77 season. They were led by John Lauer and Pete Hogan, both of whom ended their careers in the top six among Le Moyne's all-time leading scorers. Although the Dolphins were not selected for the 1977 NCAA tournament, Le Moyne athletic director Tommy Niland believed they deserved a bid, and that the best 32 teams were not chosen. The Dolphins played their first ever game against Division I power Syracuse, located only four miles away, during the 1977–78 season. Jene Grey, who was selected in the 1979 NBA draft, finished his Dolphins career as the program's second leading all-time scorer and rebounder.
The history of Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball from 1973 to 1979 includes the head coaching reign of Mike Lee. His inaugural season was the worst in the history of Le Moyne men's basketball, and the Dolphins repeated the feat with an even worse season in Lee's sophomore campaign. Le Moyne's final season under Lee was their best during his tenure. Players recruited by Lee, including Wright Lassiter, Paul Galvin and Bobby Chestnut, would go on to play keys roles in more successful Dolphin teams after Lee's departure.
↑ "Women Liberate Athletics". The Piper. Vol.2, no.2. Le Moyne College. October 5, 1970. p.4. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
↑ "WAA News Notes". The Piper. Vol.2, no.5. Le Moyne College. November 20, 1970. p.7. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
↑ "WAA News Notes". The Piper. Vol.2, no.6. Le Moyne College. December 11, 1970. p.8. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
↑ "WAA News". The Piper. Vol.2, no.7. Le Moyne College. February 5, 1971. p.4. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
↑ "Lady Dolphins 2–0". The Piper. Vol.2, no.11. Le Moyne College. March 12, 1971. p.8. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
1 2 Randall, Kathe; Muellner, Mary Joe (February 9, 1973). "Dolphinettes Split in Court Action". The Piper. Vol.4, no.14. Le Moyne College. p.7. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
↑ Randall, Kathe; Muellner, Mary Joe (February 2, 1973). "Lady Dolphins Lose Close One". The Piper. Vol.4, no.13. Le Moyne College. p.7. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
↑ "Girls' Varsity Basketball". The Piper. Vol.5, no.8. Le Moyne College. November 9, 1973. p.8. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
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