A List 10/8/01 NEW SLU BASEBALL FIELD TO BE NAMED FOR COACH FAY CANTON - St. Lawrence University will this fall begin construction of a new baseball facility, to be named Thomas Fay Field, honoring Fay, professor of sport studies and exercise science and head baseball coach. It is expected that the field will be ready for use during the spring season in 2002. The cost of the field's construction, some $456,000, has been raised in gifts to the University. It includes a lead gift of $300,000 from University Trustee Jay Ireland and his wife, Valerie Lanigan Ireland, both members of the Class of 1977. They, along with donors Theodore Rosen '48, Vincent Pacilio '84, Kirk Dempsey '78 and James Robison '72, in consultation with the University, chose to honor Fay by naming the field for him. The project does not yet include construction of enhancements such as fencing, dugouts, seating and batting tunnels; those additions will be constructed when additional gift commitments are secured. University President Daniel F. Sullivan commented, "This will be the newest addition or renovation to the series of enhancements we have made to our recreation and athletics facilities, allowing us to construct a highly competitive field. Tom has long wished for a field on which his students could practice and compete to the best of their ability, especially in the brief, often damp, North Country spring seasons. I know he never imagined coaching on a field that bore his name. I'm extremely pleased that the benefactors of this project chose to honor him in this way, and extend to them the thanks of the entire St. Lawrence community." Fay began his career at St. Lawrence in 1972. A graduate of Ithaca College, where he was a three-sport athlete, he earned his master's degree at St. Lawrence and the Ph.D. from Boston University in 1982. Fay has produced six conference championships and has taken the Saints to the ECAC tournament twice and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament once during the 1990's. The all-time win leader in St. Lawrence baseball coaching history, he has had nearly 400 victories to date throughout his career. In addition, Fay has been active in organizations promoting physical education in New York State and with the NCAA.-30- Back To News Releases Back to St. Lawrence Homepage