July 10, 2006

Garden City, N.Y. - Kate Whalen, who has served as assistant athletic director and softball coach at Adelphi University for the past 13 years, has been named associate commissioner for operations of the East Coast Conference, it was announced today by Edward J. Manetta, Commissioner.

"Our membership is extremely fortunate to have someone with Kate's experience and abilities in this important position," said Manetta. "Her relationships with administrators, coaches, student-athletes and officials across the East Coast Conference, the Northeast region and the entire country will be critical as we continue our growth."

Whalen has more than 20 years experience in collegiate athletics as a student-athlete, coach and administrator. A 1987 graduate of the University of New Haven, Whalen joined Adelphi - an East Coast Conference member institution - in 1993, leading her softball squads to more than 330 victories including eight straight seasons of more than 25 wins from 1999 through 2006. Under Whalen, the Panthers advanced to three NCAA Division II Regionals, including this past season when they finished 33-17 to earn Whalen league Co-Coach of the Year honors.

Whalen was also selected to coach a United States team in Australia as part of USA Athletes International (USAAI) last month. Her USAAI squad won the New South Wales Tournament in Brisbane and Sydney, Australia.

In addition to the softball program's success on the field, Whalen's Panthers have garnered academic accolades as well. Since 1999, 34 players have been named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar-Athletes. In 2004, Adelphi was ranked fourth in the nation, its highest-ever ranking, with a 3.60 cumulative team grade point average.

"Kate was instrumental in bringing growth and stabilization to our women intercollegiate programs at a time strong leadership was needed," said Associate Dean/Director of Athletics Robert E. Hartwell. "She was instrumental in what I feel to be a major and urgently needed Title IX action plan that was presented to the President and Trustee's and ultimately approved. As a coach Kate has given the University an extremely competitive, highly ranked Softball program. She has left her mark on the excellent history of Athletics at Adelphi. We wish her nothing but the best in her newest challenge."

Whalen's duties at the East Coast Conference, formerly known as the NYCAC, will include coordinating and executing all league operations, budgets, NCAA compliance issues, scheduling, NLI program and senior woman's administrator issues. She will also oversee the Conference SAAC initiatives and serve as liaison for all ECC committees.

"I am thrilled about beginning this new phase of my career in collegiate athletics," said Whalen. "I am particularly looking forward to the opportunity to work closely with administrators, coaches and student-athletes across the entire East Coast Conference, to benefit all our member schools in this exciting time for the league."