Viive Rebane Andrea Holmes - Binghamton University Bearcats

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atHletIc aDMInIstRatIon
patriCk
elliott
DIRECTOR OF
ATHLETICS
Binghamton University President C. Peter Magrath
introduced Patrick Elliott as the school’s eighth director
of athletics on October 6. Elliott, who was most
recently the director of athletics at Saint Peter’s College,
begins his appointment on Nov. 14.
“I am thrilled for Binghamton University that we have persuaded a first-class person to serve
as our athletics director,” said Magrath.
In his three-year tenure at Saint Peter’s, Elliott spearheaded rapid growth that culminated
with the school’s most successful athletics year in 2010-11. He administered an annual budget
of $12 million for the school’s 19-sport program that resides in the Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference. Last year, Saint Peter’s produced four conference championship teams, highlighted
by the men’s basketball team, which captured the MAAC title, won 20 games and advanced
to the NCAA tournament as the No. 14 seed. In addition to the athletics success, Saint Peter’s
had two teams receive NCAA public recognition for their top-10 percent standing in Academic
Progress Rate (APR) and more than one-third of the student-athletes achieved a 3.3 or higher
GPA during the 2011 spring semester. Buoyed by Elliott’s academic initiatives, the overall
student-athlete grade-point average for the fall semester rose to an all-time high of 3.03 and
that average climbed to a record 3.1 GPA for the spring.
“I am honored to have been given this tremendous opportunity to lead and build upon
Binghamton University’s tradition of athletic success,” said Elliott. “I understand the importance
of excellence on both the field of competition and in the classroom and I am looking forward to
working with our student-athletes, staff and coaches to reach new levels of success in all areas.”
Prior to arriving at Saint Peter’s, Elliott served six plus years at St. John’s University in the
position of senior associate athletics director for finance, planning and operations. He began
his administrative career at his alma mater, Seton Hall University, where he served as assistant
director of athletics for facilities and operations, and then as associate director of athletics for
finance and operations.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in management and industrial relations from Seton Hall in
1989, Elliott joined the department as an assistant men’s basketball coach under P.J. Carlesimo,
working with him for five years. While with the Pirates, he helped lead the team to 105 wins
and four Big East championships, assisting with recruiting and scouting, and in-game and
practice coaching. During that time, he earned a master’s degree in education.
Elliott and his wife, Maria, who was born and raised in Binghamton, have three sons:
Dominick, John and Matthew.
jim norris
RETIRING AD/
SPECIAL ASST. TO
THE PRESIDENT FOR
ATHLETICS
Jim Norris, BU’s director of athletics for two and
a half years, turns over the reigns in November and
retires in December after 21 years of service to the
University.
Norris is a lifelong Binghamton resident in his 21st year at the University. With an unwavering
devotion to the institution, he has spearheaded a revitalization of BU’s core mission of
intercollegiate athletics and his energetic, hands-on leadership has paved the way for BU
student-athletes and staff to “Make an Impact” on campus and in the community.
He has initiated department-wide strategic planning and efficiency standards. Under his
direction, coaches and staff have participated in committee work on a wide range of topics
including diversity, student-athlete welfare, academic and athletic excellence, campus and
community relations, facilities, compliance and maximizing resources.
He has been a positive role model in the community, stemming from decades of coaching
area youth and reinforced through countless speaking engagements and volunteer activities.
Norris’ enthusiasm and personal accountability quickly carried over to the staff and studentathletes,
who enjoyed one of the finest years in the program’s Division I history in 2009-10.
Several of the achievements under Norris’ leadership include:
• The overall student-athlete grade-point average in the last two years (3.13 and 3.12)
represent the two highest GPAs in program history
• More than two-thirds of BU athletes produced a 3.0 or higher GPA in 2010-11; more than
one-third had a 3.5 or higher
• The program finished in the top-half of the 2010-11 America East Commissioner’s Cup for
the eighth straight year
• Student-athletes and staff volunteered countless hours in the community and launched
the CFES Bearcat Buddies Program in 2010-11
Norris has played a vital role in the growth of Binghamton’s athletics program from its
Division III roots to its present status as a comprehensive and successful Division I program. Prior
to being promoted to director of athletics, Norris served as a senior associate athletics director
with direct oversight to 19 of the University’s 21 sport teams, the Sports Medicine Division, and
the Strength and Conditioning program.
Prior to assuming his present duties, Norris spent nine years with the Binghamton men’s
basketball program during which time BU enjoyed four of their most successful seasons in
school history in terms of total wins. Norris helped build a top-notch Division III program in the
early 90s, and then took the head coaching reigns during the University’s historic transition to
Division II.
In all, Norris has coached basketball for close to thirty years, including eight seasons with
the Chenango Forks High School boys’ varsity team, where he racked up more than 100 wins.
Prior to taking over full-time at Binghamton in August 1996, Norris spent 17 years as a park and
recreation administrator for the City of Binghamton and Broome County.
Norris is a 1979 graduate of SUNY Cortland, where he received a bachelor’s degree in physical
education, and a master’s degree in recreation.
Norris has offered his time for countless speaking engagements in the Southern Tier and
serves on the Broome County Arena/Forum Board of Directors. Additionally, he has been actively
involved with the youth basketball program at St. Paul’s Church. In the spring of 2001, he was
honored with the prestigious Service to Mankind award by the Binghamton-Vestal Sertoma
Club, and was one of 50 people featured in the first edition of Faces of the Southern Tier.
He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Binghamton.
B i n g h a m t o n U n i v e r s i t y B a s k e t B a l l