AD Newsletter with Pat Lyons - August 2018 - Seton Hall University Athletics

August 2018

I don't know about you, Pirates Fans, but I am ready for the 2018-19 season to kick off. And eight days from now we will do exactly that. Our women's soccer program plays its first regular season game on Friday, Aug. 17, and then two days later will play its home opener against Delaware. On Aug. 27, all of our student-athletes will be back for the first day classes, and we'll formally welcome them back with a cookout a few days later.

It's exciting times in South Orange, and I can't wait for the action to all get going!

Be sure to familiarize yourself with our fall schedules using the links below or by downloading our mobile app available both for Android and iOS devices!

Congratulations to All Our BIG EAST All-Academic Team Honorees

The final academic award of 2017-18 was released this week, and we are once again proud and thrilled to announce that 81 percent of our student-athlete population were named to the BIG EAST All-Academic team for producing a 3.0 grade point average or higher during the 2017-18 academic year!

If you are a regular reader of this newsletter, you know how I feel about academic success for our student-athletes, and to have this high a percentage of achievement here at Seton Hall thrills us to no end. We strive to put them on a path towards becoming leaders after graduation, and it all starts with the hard work they put in the classroom.

I'd like to make special mention that 28 of our Class of 2018 graduates completed their careers being named to the BIG EAST All-Academic team all four years!

Thank You for Another Successful Pirate Blue Year

Senior Female Co-Athlete of the Year Sydney Simpson with Pat Lyons

We will go deeper into this in our annual report, but I'd like to take a moment to thank all our Pirate Blue members because we are on track for another successful year of fundraising in 2017-18.

The funds we raise in Pirate Blue help our student-athletes receive the best possible experience here at Seton Hall from the facilities to the support they receive academically. Everything we do is focused on the student-athletes, and none of it would be possible without your support!

Men's Basketball's 2018-19 Non-Conference Schedule is Complete

Student Crowd During Seton Hall-Villanova Game

Our men's basketball program has established itself as one of the premier programs in this region, and we are excited about the team's prospects in 2018-19. The schedule that Coach Willard has put together is reflective of our excitement.

Depending on who we draw in the second and third games of the Wooden Legacy, our team could have nine of its 12 games against teams that posted winning records last season and eight of 12 games against teams that went to national postseason last year. We will welcome Louisville and Rutgers to Prudential Center, face a potential top-10 team in Kentucky at Madison Square Garden and have road games at a pair of Big Ten teams in Nebraska and Maryland.

This is a great schedule, and we need your support at the seven home games that we are hosting (five at Prudential Center, two at Walsh Gymnasium). Season tickets are available for purchase now both online and by phone (973-275-4255), and as I always say, season ticket holders receive the best value for their investment. We hope to see you in your Pirate Blue this season!

P.S. – don't forget to come support us at MSG for the Kentucky game!

Thank You to Our Golf Outing Attendees; Beefsteak Dinner Oct. 25

Golf Outing Foursome Featuring Pat Murray and Kevin Willard

This past Monday, we held our annual Pirate Blue Golf Outing, and thank you to all the supporters who made the trip to Navesink Country Club for a great day. It was a sold-out event, some strong golf was played, we had a successful auction and Coach Willard spoke to the audience about his new coaching staff and the excitement of the upcoming season.

Our next event will be our annual Beefsteak Tip-Off Dinner to usher in the 2018-19 men's & women's basketball seasons on Thursday, Oct. 25. Registration details will be forthcoming in the next few weeks, but please save the date!

GO PIRATES!