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Ask the AD Summer Edition
1. Gerry F. (Delaware)
Dr. McNeil, with the hiring of Coach Figlio as the new field hockey coach, how do you expect the team to be this season? What qualities made you decide to hire her?
MM: Gerry-
We are excited about the new field hockey head coach, Carli Figlio. She brings to the Monmouth table many new ideas and lots of passion for the game. She had a stellar career at Kent State and that experience will help us immensely. She has surrounded herself with young, talented assistant coaches and boasts a very impressive freshman class, her first at the helm. I know her expectations are high, and we share her enthusiasm for the game. We also know that transition is often difficult and takes time. We will be excited with each win, and patient with each loss. I think the program is in very good hands and we will see the success of her hard work sooner than later. We are also very excited about the new field hockey surface that is being prepared. Look for our news about that field in the very near future.
2. Hawkfan 22 (West Long Branch)
What does MU have planned for the ground breaking ceremony for the MAC?
MM: 2Hawkfan22,
We have an official ground breaking ceremony scheduled for September 8th, at 12 noon, just east of Kessler Field on the spot where the new MAC will soon be seen. There will be some important people speaking about the project and students, fans, trustees, and the President will all be on hand for this special moment. Obviously we are all very excited to see the shovel in the ground (and there will be an actual shovel and dirt turned!). The groundbreaking will be the first of many magical moments as the building begins to emerge into a long-sought reality.
3. Danny (Westchester)
Other than the MAC are there any other plans for renovations to the athletic facilities at Monmouth?
MM: Danny-
We have a master plan for renovation and additions to the athletics facilities at Monmouth. We just completed a bleacher and press box project at the baseball field. It looks terrific, more like a D-I facility, with an actual covered press box. We plan to webstream baseball games, along with football, men's and women's basketball and lacrosse. We are making an improvement on our field hockey field this summer. That surface will be improved and hopefully we will be using it in October. We have plans to improve Kessler stands and public areas. We also must eventually house the athletics offices nearer the MAC, Boylan and Kessler. We want to improve the public spaces for softball and field hockey fans. All of these, though, will wait until the MAC has been completed and we have a chance to catch our breath, and take our turn as the university continues to improve all of its facilities.
4. Brendan (Oceanport)
Do you think the NEC is any closer to getting a bid to the I-AA Playoffs after quality wins by Monmouth, Albany and Central Connecticut?
MM: Brendan-
Yes, I do beleive the NEC is getting closer to a bid for the I-AA playoffs (now called the Football Championship Sub-Division, as compared to the Bowl Championship Sub-Division). Our commissioner, Brenda Weare, has done a terrific job of arguing for this opportunity. She left no stone unturned and has forced the membership to come forward with a solution. The Championships Cabinet of the NCAA (the governing structure acronyms) has prepared a solution, that unfortunately involves spending more money for the Championship in I-AA football. This will go before the NCAA budget committee this fall. We will anxiously await that decision. We are hoping for a positive response. If not, we do have an alternative plan, and will continue to press our request. There is no reason to keep us out of this opportunity and I beleive our case will be won eventually. That being said, it is imperative that the NEC schools, including Monmouth, continue to play competitively against quality outside competition and gain credence for the quality of our football.
