Dominican University dedicated its new turf field and track on September 30, 2023, in honor of long-time University President, Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P., Ph.D. The modern, NCAA regulation-size turf field, with a six-lane track surrounding the field, replaces the old grass field near Forkel Hall. The project also included the installation of permanent bleachers, a press box, and a new scoreboard.

The O’Brien Field was named in recognition of Sr. Mary Eileen’s visionary leadership and service. She served as president from 1978-1987 and again from 1997 to the present day. Under her leadership, the campus expanded and modernized, undergraduate academic programs broadened, and graduate programs in education, business, nursing, OT and PT were established. Sr. Mary Eileen also led the effort for the institution to be upgraded to university status in May 2022.

“Sr. Mary Eileen is not only an amazing leader, but an amazing person. She has been involved and donated her time to many local organizations,” said Steven Sabatini, Chair of the Board of Trustees, at the O’Brien Field Dedication Ceremony. “Given her many years of dedication and service to Dominican University, it is only fitting that this field would bear her name.”

The University’s men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse teams, as well as men’s and women’s cross-country and track and field teams now have a modern track and field on campus and no longer have to frequently travel off campus as they often did when the field was in disrepair. With the increase in games and meets on campus, it is also easier for student spectators to attend events and support Charger athletes.

The Dominican University New York women’s lacrosse team captured its first CACC Tournament Championship on May 7, 2023, with a double overtime victory over the Rams of Thomas Jefferson University 12-11. 

Head Coach Rob Grella said, “Being able to win a CACC Championship is an unforgettable experience.  This team has worked relentlessly over the past two years to become a top program.  It’s a pleasure to coach such a humble and hardworking group of girls and I could not be more proud of them.” 

Dominican got off to a strong start with a 5-1 lead after the first quarter.  The Rams fought their way back in the second quarter by scoring three goals.  The Rams used a strong third quarter to jump out in front over Dominican by scoring six of the first seven goals of the second half.  Dominican ended the run with two late goals in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 10-8.  Madelyn Grella and Grace DeStasio scored the first two goals for the quarter to tie the game at 10-10.  With 8:44 remaining, the Rams got a one goal advantage.  Dominican answered with the tying goal and the game entered overtime. In the second OT Period, Jenna Rigo made a pass to Grella who scored the game-winning goal to secure the title.   DeStasio was named the Most Valuable Player in the tournament. 

The Lady Chargers completed the season 17-2 overall. 

A former NBA executive was the special guest speaker at the 2022-2023 Dominican University NY Basketball Tip-off Dinner.  Kevin Carr, a former NBA Vice President and the Founder and CEO of PRO2CEO LLC, shared the lessons he has learned throughout his life with the men’s and women’s basketball teams.  He was an engaging speaker who held the student’s attention by often yelling out questions to the students and making them repeat the answers. 

Carr explained that he grew up in the projects and his parents had a total of 10 marriages among them. His mom dreamed of a better life and moved the children to Florida so that she could work at Disney.  She successfully built a career for herself there and insisted that Carr read and studied.  Carr’s brother became a college football player, but unfortunately did not have a back-up plan when he was injured, so he dropped out of school.  Carr regrets that his brother didn’t get the help that he needed. 

“What am I saying to you as young student-athletes? Ask for help if you are struggling,” said Carr.  “Talk to your parents, talk to the counselors, talk to the support office, wherever it is, if you have a problem while you are in school.”

Carr encouraged the students not to go to school to play ball, but to go to school to graduate, and stressed that talent is not enough.  By staying focused, and keeping out of trouble, Carr eventually became a successful NBA executive.  However, he later decided to create a new company PRO2CEO so that he could work out of his home and have more time for his family.  PRO2CEO is a is a career transition and business development consulting firm. 

The message to the student-athletes was that there are many ways to be successful in life. “It’s amazing to be an NBA player, but it’s also amazing to be an awesome Dad and awesome son, to be an awesome best friend,” said Carr.   

The Tip-Off Dinner was held at the Pearl River Saloon on November 3, 2022 and is an annual tradition to celebrate the beginning of the basketball season.

Dominican College of Blauvelt Director of Athletics and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Joseph S. Clinton is a 2021-22 NCAA Division II Cushman & Wakefield Athletics Director of the Year recipient. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) made the announcement on March 15, 2022. Clinton and three additional DII honorees will be formally recognized during the NACDA’s 57^th Annual Convention at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 28.

“I am humbled to receive this honor and be recognized as one of the four Athletic Directors of the Year by my Division II peers, ” said Clinton.  “It has been an honor and a blessing to be a part of the Dominican College Community and NCAA Division II athletics.  I look forward to continuing to support the student-athletes of Dominican College in the years to come.”

Clinton is in his 33rd year as director of athletics and his 31st year as head men’s basketball coach.

Since coming to Dominican College in 1989, Clinton has overseen an athletic department that has grown from five sports to 17 sports and made the transition from an NAIA school to an NCAA Division II member.  During his tenure, Dominican College sports have won numerous Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championships, NAIA Championship appearances, ECAC Championships, NCAA Regional Tournament appearances and one NCAA Championship appearance.  In 2004, a local newspaper declared Dominican Athletic programs as one of the best in the tri-state area. 

Clinton has also served on numerous NCAA committees, including serving as the NCAA East Region and National Chair for Division II Baseball and was the East Region Chair of the Men’s Basketball Committee for six years.  He previously served on the NCAA East Region Men’s Golf, Men’s Soccer and Men’s Lacrosse Committees.    Clinton currently serves on the East Region Men’s Basketball Committee.  He is also a member of the National Association of Collegiate Director of Athletics (NACDA), the Athletics Directors Association (ADA) and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

In 1996, he was recognized as the CACC Administrator of the Year. Clinton currently serves as the Second Vice-President of the CACC Director’s Council.

On the court, Clinton’s Chargers have made four straight NCAA East Regional Tournament appearances and five consecutive CACC Tournament Championship appearances, winning two titles.  The Chargers have won 20+ games in four out of the last five years and nine times during his tenure.  His career coaching record currently stands at 486-408.  Clinton is a four-time recipient of the CACC Coach of the Year Award and is a three-time past recipient of the All-Metropolitan Coach of the Year Award.

The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced the 28 winners of the Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year Award (ADOY) . The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges). Winners will be recognized in conjunction with the 57th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, prior to the Featured Session on Tuesday, June 28 at 4 p.m.

The ADOY Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.

Five talented athletes and an enthusiastic basketball manager were inducted into the Dominican College Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony on September 24, 2021, in the Granito Center.  The new inductees included: John Clarke ’75, men’s basketball; Dana Rotio ’08; women’s basketball; Ryan Clancy ’08, men’s soccer; Margaret Porter Hamilton ’12, women’s soccer; Tom Maloney ’10, baseball; and Derek Funsch for service. 

John Clarke ’75, Men’s Basketball

Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Joseph Clinton marveled at Clarke’s statistics and said he asked Clarke’s former teammates to tell him what made Clarke so good. Among the answers, said Clinton, were, “Tenacious, he had a fire that burned inside that he was going to make sure his team won, very skilled player, had every shot in the book…he did amazing things in the clutch, if his team needed him, it was done.”

Clarke ranks fourth all time in men’s basketball history in points with 1,700 career points.  In 77 games, he had 331 total free throws, 609 career field goals, and averaged 23 points per game.

Clarke was a transfer student and said his biggest accomplishment at Dominican College was meeting his wife Dora who was a student here as well. 

Dana Rotio ’08, Women’s Basketball

John Burke, Vice President for Student Development, described Rotio as one of the all-time greatest basketball players at Dominican College because she had the ability and instincts to leap, steal, make things happen, and change the game on a dime.  “And most importantly, every year that Dana was here the program got better,” he said.

Rotio sits eighth all-time in the Sue Heller 1,000 point club with 1,265 career points.  A four-year member of the Lady Chargers she earned both All-CACC and All-Met honors, along with being named the 2007 ECAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.  In her 120 game career she hit 400 career goals, 103 career three-point field goals and 355 career free throws.

At the ceremony, Rotio said she learned so many lessons and values playing at Dominican College that have helped her be successful both on and off the court. “Discipline, leadership, hard work, determination, and resiliency, are some of the other values that were instilled in me during my time as a Lady Charger,” she said.  “I learned that giving up was never an option.  We were physically tough, but we also learned the importance of mental toughness.”

Ryan Clancy ’08, Men’s Soccer

Clancy’s father, Jim, presented his son at the induction ceremony and described him as a natural athlete who began playing soccer in the backyard from the age of three.  He recalled that his son played soccer, basketball, and baseball in high school – but particularly excelled at soccer.

At Dominican College, Clancy was a four year starter on the men’s soccer team.  He ranks second all-time in program history in assists and is fifth in total points and goals scored.  Along with his place in the Charger record book, Clancy was a three-time All-CACC honoree, a three-time CACC All-Tournament pick and a three-time All-Region selection.  He also earned two CACC tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards.

In accepting the honor, Clancy referred to the title of entrepreneur Grant Cardone’s book “Be Obsessed or Be Average.”  He then followed up with this advice, “Whatever you do, be obsessed and if you are not obsessed with it, find something you are obsessed with.  I was obsessed with soccer and it will forever be a big part of my life.” 

Margaret Porter Hamilton ’12, Women’s Soccer

Former Women’s Soccer Coach Phil Fluhr said Hamilton was a fantastic player who was fast, tough, and had both good instincts and soccer intelligence.  “She was so aggressive that in a sense she didn’t show any fear all,” he said. “She just played hard.  She was aggressive.  She dived in a lot.  She challenged and I don’t think anybody could withstand her shoulder charge.”

Hamilton was a two-year team captain and two-time CACC All-Tournament honoree.  She ranks fifth all-time in Lady Chargers history in goals and eighth all-time in career points.  Hamilton earned two All-CACC selections and one All-Region accolades.

In her remarks, Hamilton said, “Everything with Dominican has been special to me.  There’s been a lot of ups and downs and my team has brought me a lot of joy.” 

Tom Maloney ’10, Baseball

Maloney ranks sixth in the Charger 200 hit club with 207 career hits.  Baseball Head Coach Rick Giannetti said the number of hits puts him in an elite club of only 11 players in the history of the program.  “And he was by far our best player on a team that was #1 from day one to the last day of the season,” said Giannetti. 

Maloney was both an all-CACC and All-Region honoree, along with receiving a CACC All-Tournament selection and was on the ECAC Division II All-Star First Team.  Maloney is ninth all-time in Charger history in runs batted in. 

Maloney thanked Coach Giannetti and said they shared a passion for winning.  “I never met somebody who hated losing as much as I did until we met,” said Maloney. 

Derek Funsch, Service

For the past 11 years, Funsch has worked as the men’s basketball team manager.  Funsch thanked the incredible coaches and players for taking him along for an amazing ride.  “Thank you Coach Clinton for taking me under your wing. You have been a mentor, a friend, and you have filled my days here at Dominican College with joy and humor.”

Clinton said Funsch was a great friend, the players love him, and he gets everyone “fired up” during practices and games. “The theme with Derek is the energy, the enthusiasm, the commitment, the loyalty, the responsibility,” said Clinton.  “He is the heart and soul of our team.”