Brother Thomas Scanlan, FSC Named Member of MAAC Honor Roll

Brother Thomas Scanlan, FSC Named Member of MAAC Honor Roll

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MAAC Sports

Edison, N.J. - Former Manhattan College President and long standing member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference President's Council, Brother Thomas Scanlan, FSC, will be the first MAAC Honoree to be recognized at the 2013 MAAC Honor Roll Dinner on March 8, 2013 at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The MAAC Honor Roll takes place in conjunction with the 2013 MAAC Basketball Championships at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

"From the time I came on board as Commissioner in 1988, Brother Scanlan provided guidance to me and leadership within the MAAC Council of Presidents to move the Conference forward on a series of important initiatives that have assisted in the growth of the league," noted Richard J. Ensor, MAAC Commissioner. "These initiatives included the foundation of the current ESPN agreement, the Disney Sports partnership and many other marketing and branding programs that he oversaw as chair of the MAAC's Marketing and Broadcast Committee for some 20 plus years. It is appropriate that he become the first MAAC honoree in the league's Basketball Hall of Fame exhibit."

A section of The MAAC Experience exhibit which highlights the MAAC and its member institutions in the Basketball Hall of Fame will be dedicated to Brother Scanlan's achievements through his tenure with the MAAC. Brother Scanlan will join 20 other honorees from MAAC institutions at a private dinner at the Hall of Fame on their Court of Dreams.

During Brother Scanlan's 22 years serving as President of Manhattan College he led athletics to a new level. He launched the women's soccer, men's lacrosse and women's lacrosse programs, while also leading the development of  Manhattan's state-of-the-art multipurpose turf facility at Gaelic Park. Brother Scanlan ensured that academics were not compromised during his time at Manhattan, a testament to the hundreds of All-Academic MAAC athletes that went through the program.

"During Brother Thomas' presidency at Manhattan College he implemented strategies to better the College's athletic programs, while also proposing and supporting significant initiatives within the MAAC that exist today," noted Robert Byrnes, Manhattan College Director of Athletics. "He invested in scholarships, staffing and facility upgrades at Manhattan. He also championed the combined MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships at one venue that exists today, the MAAC Disney experience, and the Conference's ever increasing television opportunities with ESPN for all MAAC institutions. Brother Thomas is Manhattan's champion who helped make the MAAC the great conference it is today."

During his presidency, the Jaspers won 72 MAAC post-season championships and 18 MAAC regular-season titles. The men's basketball team reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in decades and reached the Round of 32 twice with victories over Oklahoma in 1995 and Florida in 2004. In 1995, Manhattan became the first MAAC basketball program in league's history to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Jaspers also took home two Commissioner Cups during Brother Scanlan's tenure in 2002-03 and 2003-04.

"The Manhattan Community celebrates this much deserved honor for its former president, Thomas Scanlan, FSC," said Dr. Brennan O'Donnell, Manhattan College President. "A strong supporter of intercollegiate athletics, Brother Thomas's long and hard work on behalf of the Conference and its member institutions make him an excellent choice as the first MAAC Honoree inducted to the Hall of Fame."

Brother Scanlan was the named the 18th President of Manhattan College in 1987 and served as the Chair of the MAAC Marketing and Television Committee from 1988 until he retired as President in 2009. During his time on the Marketing and Television Committee, Brother Scanlan played a key role in expanding the MAAC Television and multimedia efforts including the extension of MAAC broadcasts on ESPNU. He endorsed the MAAC's partnership with Disney that still exists to this day. Brother Scanlan was a proponent and initiator of the MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships playing at the same venue with all member institutions invited. Brother Scanlan served as a member of the NCAA Division I AA/AAA Presidential Advisory Group as well.