2025-2026
As I reflect on an outstanding year for Stonehill Athletics, I am struck by the incredible impact philanthropy continues to have on our student-athletes and our community. The successes we celebrated in 2026 on the field, in the classroom, and across campus were made possible through the unwavering support of alumni, parents, friends, and donors like you.
A major highlight was the Stonehill Women’s Lacrosse team capturing the 2026 NEC Championship. It was a proud moment for the program and a powerful example of what can be achieved when talented student-athletes are supported by a community invested in their success.
This spirit of investment was further amplified through the launch of Built to Rise, Stonehill’s comprehensive fundraising campaign for athletics. The campaign is creating new opportunities to strengthen athletics through new and improved facilities and student-athlete development programs. The enhancements we are making on our campus demonstrate our ongoing goal to inspire growth and enhance the campus experience for all members of our community.
The generosity of supporters like you reached new heights during the 2025-2026 season, which became the most successful fundraising year in the history of Stonehill Athletics. That record-setting support will have a lasting impact on every one of our programs. Philanthropy helps us recruit and retain outstanding student-athletes, provide transformational experiences, and ensure our teams have the resources necessary to compete at the highest level.
This year also marked a groundbreaking moment with Stonehill’s acquisition of the Easton Country Club. This new partnership reflects a commitment to increase opportunities for our students on the golf course and in the business of golf, while strengthening the College’s presence within the local community. The course will serve as a new homebase for the women’s golf team and lay a foundation for the launch of a new men’s golf program, which will begin competing during the 2027–2028 season.
What makes me proudest, however, is not measured by championships or fundraising records alone. It is the way our student-athletes represent Stonehill every day. They excel in the classroom, contribute to their communities, and compete with integrity, while embracing the values that make this institution so special.
Thank you for your belief in Stonehill Athletics. Together, we are building something truly special and ensuring that future generations of Skyhawks are Built to Rise.
Go Skyhawks!
Dean O'Keefe '94
Director of Athletics, Stonehill College
For all athletes
More than doubling our FY25 fundraising
This April 29, 2026 was Stonehill’s Day of Light and Hope, a powerful campus-wide celebration that brought together student-athletes, alumni, and supporters to reflect on the collective impact of the Stonehill community. The event highlighted the role of philanthropy in advancing opportunities for student-athletes and strengthening the future of Stonehill Athletics. We raised a record-breaking $163,121 for Stonehill Athletics.
The launch of Stonehill's Built to Rise campaign—an ambitious $50 million effort to elevate Division I athletics through new facilities, including the Tom & Kathleen Bogan Arena, Athletic Fields Complex, and expanded opportunities for students—took place on May 14, 2026 in the Pettit Atrium in the Shields Science Center.
The event brought together Stonehill Trustees, alumni, students, coaches and supporters for an evening filled with energy and shared purpose.
Emcee Duke Castiglione ’96, lead sports anchor at WCVB Channel 5, set the tone by connecting the campaign to the bigger picture, noting “how investing in athletics can transform the student experience, enhance our community and elevate Stonehill as a whole.” He framed the night as both a celebration and an invitation to support Built to Rise. That impact came into focus through the voice of Grace Murphy ’26, women's lacrosse captain and NEC Offensive Player of the Year, who reflected on her Stonehill journey, “From the home playoff games and historic wins at W.B. Mason Stadium to raising the NEC championship trophy, being a Skyhawk has allowed me to excel not only on the field but off the field as a leader and member of the community." To date, the fundraising initiative has secured $22.5 million in commitments.
In September 2025, Stonehill established the Paul Finn '71 Head Football Coach Endowment Fund. This fund creates a newly named coaching position, serving as an enduring tribute to the football program Finn helped form in 1970. It also marks the first-ever endowed role within Stonehill Athletics, now held by Head Football Coach Eli Gardner. Finn was a founding member of Stonehill's club football team, the Knights, which paved the way for football to become a varsity sport in 1988. He has remained a dedicated supporter of the program since his time on the field. His longstanding commitment has paralleled the team's growth over the decades, culminating in its 2022 transition to NCAA Division I as a member of the NEC.
Establishing the football club and putting together the first season with a full schedule has been one of the most enduring accomplishments of my life. I want to give back to the program what the program gave to me.
Over my time at Stonehill College, I have been truly blessed to be part of something that has shaped me far beyond baseball. Stonehill has been a special place in my life and being on the baseball team has helped me grow not only as a player, but also as a person.
Stonehill became so much more than just a school… it’s where I found my confidence, built lifelong friendships, and discovered my voice.
Stonehill has shaped me into a confident person, especially with my role on the equestrian team, pushed me to become a better leader and communicator. I have had to learn the balance of the team, academics, and my personal life which taught me more about time management and how to focus under pressure.
In Spring 2026, Stonehill induced 52 student-athletes who achieved junior academic standing after their fourth full-time semester and maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher to Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society.
NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR)
Named to the NEC honor roll
Posted a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA: Phoenix Sward ’27 (football), Ethan Marquis ’28 (men’s soccer), Dani Lomuscio ’28 (women’s soccer), Sam Lloyd ’28 (volleyball), Isabella Galusha ’28 (women's cross country) and Elisabeth Joudy ’28 (women's cross country)
Named to the NEC honor roll
Posted a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA: Norbu Jenpa ’28 (men's basketball), Emma Kawai ’29 (women's swimming and diving), Gwen Kutchel ’29 (women's swimming and diving), Isabella Galusha ’28 (women's cross country) and Elisabeth Joudy ’28 (women's track and field).
Named to the NEC honor roll
Posted a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA: Dan Lang ’27 (baseball), Mark Kröll ’26 (men's tennis), Isabella Galusha ’28 (women's track & field) and Elisabeth Joudy ’28 (women's track & field)
Stonehill Athletics celebrated its 10th Annual Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony, recognizing student-athletes for excellence in performance, leadership, and community impact. The event highlighted major honors including Athletic Director Awards, the Matthew McDonough Spirit Award, and the Ken LeGrice Community Service Award, reflecting the department’s commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes both on and off the field. The recorded stream of the event is available on YouTube.
Zachary Aben '28, a leader on the Men’s Ice Hockey Team and a Sport Management Major, was named an Engaged Athlete Fellow by The Team, a national program that empowers a diverse class of motivated student athletes to strengthen nonpartisan civic participation on their teams, their campuses, and their broader communities. Through his project, Zachary hosted a field-day event called “Together We Fly” on Stonehill’s campus for local youth groups with complex health needs. The event provided a fun, inclusive environment where kids tried different sports, built their confidence, and experienced the joy of being part of a team—opportunities they may not always have access to. Rooted in inclusion, community, and connection, Zachary’s work creates spaces where every young athlete can feel supported and inspired.
Lacrosse athlete Neave Bowman '28 was named a 2025 Class of Student Athlete Advocate for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a program that empowers college student-athletes to use their Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) platforms to promote the organization's mission to honor first responders, military veterans and their families.
“I’ve grown up with a firefighter for a dad and I’ve been in and out of the firehouse. I’ve witnessed the sacrifices that they make every day.”
Stonehill College participated in the national Team IMPACT All In 5K held on October 19, 2025. The college helped the national campaign raise over $220,000 across 125 participating campuses with over 2,400 people participating. The Stonehill community ran, walked, and rolled in support of Team IMPACT's mission to pair children facing serious illnesses with college athletic teams.
Through a partnership among the Wellness Coalition, Athletics, and the KyleCares Foundation, sport psychology experts Dr. Jonathon Jenkins and Dr. Kim O’Brien provided training for coaches and student-athletes focused on mental health and performance called, “From Chaos to Composure: How to Craft a Winning Mentality for Sport and Life.” Topics included emotional awareness, resilience, help-seeking behaviors, and strategies for supporting athlete well-being. Each athletic team, as well as various staff, received a copy of Mentality Wins: The Athlete’s Playbook for Thriving in Sport and Life, extending the impact of the program beyond the training sessions.
Thanks to your generous support, this year we crossed the goal-line and officially made it into the endzone raising over $430,000 for the Chip Salyards '88 Memorial Pavilion. While attending Stonehill, Chip played football all four years and served as senior captain, and after graduation, he returned as an assistant football coach. Unfortunately, Chip’s life was tragically cut short at the young age of 56 after a short battle with an aggressive form of cancer. As a tribute to Chip’s commitment and generosity to Stonehill, his friends and family are building a social gathering place for people to come together before, during, and after sporting events on campus to share stories and create lasting memories. Groundbreaking on the Pavilion will begin soon, and we cannot wait to host you at a future event.
The track and field program hosted the Matt Shaw ’19 Memorial 4x800, bringing together athletes and the broader community to honor tradition, competition, and sportsmanship in memory of Matt who passed away from glioblastoma in July 2025. The event served as a meaningful tribute while showcasing Stonehill’s commitment to hosting impactful athletic events.
The men’s track and field team won the invitational and at the end of the meet, the team honored Shaw by running in his favorite race, the 4x800 relay.
In 2026, Stonehill expanded its campus footprint with the purchase of the Easton Country Club, creating new opportunities to enhance student life, athletics, and community engagement. The property positions the College for future growth, including potential athletic facilities and expanded programming. The purchase will also advance athletics by providing a new homebase for the Stonehill women’s golf team and laying a foundation for the launch of a new men’s golf program, which will begin NCAA Division I competition during the 2027–2028 season.
As part of Reunion 2026, alumni, families and friends gathered for a special Built to Rise event—Coffee and Conversations with President John Denning, C.S.C., and Stonehill Coaches. The session offered an engaging opportunity for the Stonehill community, including athletes across generations, to connect over their shared interest in athletics and the College’s bold vision for the future. Featured speakers were Zachary Aben '28, Men’s Hockey Player, Trisha Brown, Women’s Basketball Coach, Eli Gardner, Football Coach, Dean O’Keefe '94, Director of Athletics, and Lee-J Mirasolo, Women’s Ice Hockey Coach. You can listen to the full conversation on the Stonehill Stories podcast.
Thank you for investing in champions on and off the field. We are built to rise – now rise with us!
Your support of Athletics at Stonehill allows us to:
We can’t wait to see you at a game or event this year!
Thank you for your support of the GoHill Fund for Stonehill Athletics
