Welcome back, student-athletes! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you already and I want to thank you for the warm welcome you’ve given me and Lyn. Being back on campus is really special for us. We are a sports family (maybe not on the field, but certainly in the stands!) and we’re so looking forward to watching you all compete in the amazing athletic venues we have here at Rensselaer.
Athletics play an integral role in Rensselaer’s campus life by promoting teamwork and collaborative learning, as well as fostering pride, community, loyalty, and legacy.
We are also so excited to welcome back our fans and supporters this year. While the pandemic prevented many of them from being on campus the last two seasons, our dedicated student-athletes, as well as your coaches and the entire athletics staff, have remained committed to excellence in all things mind, body, and spirit.
Being back on campus has certainly gotten us excited about what is occurring here at RPI! More specifically, as I learned more about what our athletics department and student-athletes accomplished in 2021-22, I became even more excited, but perhaps most importantly; PROUD. Proud of what you accomplish on the field of play, but also what you do off the field. Among the highlights to mention are:
- Nearly 175 All-League members
- 9 Liberty League Year-End Performers and
- 3 Rookies of the Year
- 3 Liberty League Team Champions and
- 3 Runner-Up Teams
- 7 Liberty League Tournament Participants
- 5 NCAA Championship/Tournament Teams and
- 13 Individual Qualifiers
- 13 National All-America honorees
- And 316 garnered All-Academic recognition, highlighted by
- 4 National Academic All-Americans
The academic successes demonstrate just how expertly you balance the rigors of a Rensselaer education with the intense demands of playing a college sport.
Rensselaer’s talented coaches also inspire success, both on and off the field. In the 2021-22 season, five teams boasted Liberty League Coaching Staffs of the Year.
I’m very impressed by your dedication to our community with all you do, such as assisting with Sidewalk Warriors of Troy or the Catholic Charities food distributions, aiding with Special Olympics, or participating in reading programs at schools. You continue to demonstrate you are servant leaders and I say thank you!
So, it is with great pride and enthusiasm that I welcome you all back for another exciting season of Engineers athletics. Best wishes and Let’s Go Red!