Lehigh University Athletics
Men's Lacrosse Partnership announced
4/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh Athletics recently announced the launching of the Lehigh Men’s Lacrosse Partnership, an extension of the Lehigh Athletics Partnership. This new organization will connect, engage and involve former men’s lacrosse student-athletes in a sport-specific community that is aimed at supporting the current student-athletes at Lehigh, while also connecting former teammates with one another.
“This is just a first step, and an exciting one, in a series of steps we have planned to build sport-specific partnerships for each of our varsity sports,” said Bill Griffin, Associate Director of Athletics. “The mission of the Athletics Partnership is to provide a framework and support system that will enable our former student-athletes to remain connected to their Lehigh sports program, and all who participated in it, in a manner that’s fun and impactful for the sport they played.”
Scott Youmans ’95, a former Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, will serve as the Alumni Ambassador for the Men’s Lacrosse Partnership. “This is very important to me for a number of reasons,” Youmans explained. “Lehigh Lacrosse has been wonderful to me, in every aspect of my life; it’s taught me how to deal with adversity and overcome obstacles. I met all of my best friends through Lehigh Lacrosse, I met my wife at Lehigh; Lehigh University and Lehigh Lacrosse have provided so much for me that I owe it to give back to the school and lacrosse program.”
Youmans will work closely with Smith Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kevin Cassese as well as Travis Spencer, a member of the Lehigh Athletics Partnership staff, in the planning, organization and execution of the Lacrosse Partnership’s mission. Also involved in the organization’s infrastructure will be a Communications Chairman, an Events Chairman, a Career Networking Chairman and a Chairman of Program Support. Jeff King ’07 and Jim Gabal ‘05 have committed to fulfilling the lead Events role for the New York City and Washington, D.C. areas, respectively, and Andy Chepaitis ’90 is taking on the head Career Networking position. The organization intends to fill the Communications role and the Program Support role in the near future.
“We are hoping for two things out of the Lacrosse Partnership,” Youmans said. “First, we are hoping that former student-athletes want to give back to Lehigh Lacrosse. As alumni we want to see the program we gave so much to, flourish. Second, we want that family aspect to return. I have very dear feelings for Lehigh Lacrosse and I want others to have those feelings, as well. We also want our alumni to have some fun along the way with this whole thing.”
“The Lehigh Lacrosse Partnership will serve as the lifeblood of our program for many years to come,” explained Cassese. “Lehigh Lacrosse is more than the 40 players and four coaches that make up the current team; Lehigh Lacrosse is an extended family that includes every former player that donned the Brown and White at some point in their playing careers.”
Youmans discussed the relationship he has personally had with the lacrosse program and its members for nearly two decades. “Lehigh Lacrosse feels like family to me. When I was playing I had the chance to get to know the alumni who came before us and we listened to all of the great stories they had about their days in the Brown and White. I was then fortunate enough to play with a tremendous group of men as we made our own lasting memories. Following graduation I became the graduate assistant for the program, and so that introduced me to an entirely new group of lacrosse players.”
“With Scott Youmans serving as the Alumni Ambassador, I believe this family will continue to grow stronger over the next several years,” Cassese said. “The Lehigh Lacrosse Partnership will serve, protect, and support the Lehigh Lacrosse Program. Among other things, it will be the main fundraising arm, the champion of alumni social events planning, and a tremendous resource for internships and job placement for our current student-athletes aspiring to be future leaders in the workplace.”
Having played under former Lehigh coach John McCloskey and later having worked alongside his successor, Chris Wakely, Youmans is well-connected to the Lehigh Lacrosse coaches, and is fast getting to know the current leader. “I owe a lot to Coach McCloskey,” he explained. “He was a fantastic coach, a fantastic motivator, a wonderful friend and it all culminated with him offering me the graduate assistant spot. I only have tremendous things to say about John.”
He continued, “Chris’ first year as head coach was also my year as the graduate assistant and so I was there during the transition period between coaches. Chris is someone that I consider a very good friend of mine. Someone that I can always count on and he can count on me.”
He concluded, “I’m just getting to know Kevin, but let me say this about him. Kevin is the kind of guy you want to hang around. He’s genuine, he’s hard-working, he’s passionate, and he has a clear vision for Lehigh Lacrosse. Those are three fantastic people you are talking about right there. All great teachers, all great motivators.”
The Lacrosse Partnership officially kicked off on Saturday, April 18 as Lehigh welcomed back a large number of alumni, including members of the 1999 Patriot League Championship team, for a pre-game tailgate at Lehigh’s new Mulvihill Golf Learning Center. Former laxers had the chance to hit some golf balls, mingle with their teammates and families, as well as meet new faces and forge new relationships. Later that evening, the entire alumni contingent made its way over to the Ulrich Sports Complex to watch the current Mountain Hawks take on archrival Lafayette in front of a spirited crowd of over 1,500 people.
For more information on the Lehigh Lacrosse Partnership or to become actively involved, please contact Scott Youmans at youmans@zoominternet.net.
