July 15, 2010

Mercy College Earns NCAA Coaching Enhancement Grant

Mercy College Earns NCAA Division II Coaching Enhancement Grant

Mercy College is one of 18 Division II schools from across the country that has been awarded a Coaching Enhancement grant by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in order to create new assistant coaching positions.

The every-other-year grants were established to address access, recruitment, selection and long-term success of women, ethnic minorities and other individuals in Division II. The program seeks to overcome hiring barriers by providing funds that help schools create assistant coaching positions.

“We continue to push our department forward,” said Pat Kennedy, Director of Athletics at Mercy College. “Diversity has always been vital to our success, and we remain committed to providing opportunities to everyone, regardless of race or gender.”

The NCAA’s selection committee is composed of institutional personnel who decide the grant recipients. Selections occur every two years and are based on an institution’s demonstrated commitment to diversity and history of inclusiveness. 

The position created must be a new, full-time assistant coach position, not an existing one. The Mavericks have been approved for an assistant women’s lacrosse coach who will also double as an equipment manager.

Following are the grant recipients for 2010-11 and 2011-12:

  • Bloomsburg – assistant men’s and women’s swimming coach
  • Indiana (Pennsylvania) – assistant softball coach
  • Mercy – assistant women’s lacrosse coach and equipment coordinator
  • Montevallo – assistant women’s volleyball coach
  • Saint Augustine’s – assistant women’s cross country and track and field coach
  • Texas A&M-Kingsville – assistant track and field and cross country coach
  • Winona State – assistant track and field coach (jumps)
  • Fort Lewis – assistant women’s soccer coach
  • Grand Valley State – assistant women’s lacrosse coach
  • Midwestern State – assistant women’s soccer coach
  • Nebraska-Omaha – assistant strength and conditioning coach
  • Quincy – assistant football coach
  • West Texas A&M – assistant men’s and women track and field coach
  • Lincoln (Missouri) – assistant men’s and women’s golf coach
  • Clark Atlanta – assistant softball coach/recruiting coordinator
  • Glenville State – assistant women’s track coach
  • Minnesota State Mankato – assistant women’s swimming and diving coach
  • Northwood – assistant women’s basketball coach