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2007
NOTRE DAME
Football
NOTRE DAME ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
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WELCOME FOOTBALL FANS!
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with other alumni—and the University—through your local ND Club.
And remember: ND Club membership isn’t just for alumni. Friends of
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match up with USC, we welcome the ND clubs from California:
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TELL YOUR STORY IN THE ND ALUMNI HISTORY BOOK
In an effort to preserve Notre Dame history—and share the remarkable stories of our alumni—the Alumni Association is accepting submissions for possible inclusion in a new Notre Dame alumni history coffee
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For more information, call ND Alumni Travel at 800-634-2631 or log on
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195
2007
NOTRE DAME
Football
FEATURE STORY
espite a difficult start to the season, women’s soccer
D player
Kerri Hanks is ready to lead the Irish
ONWARD TO VICTORY
I
to a national championship
by Maura K. Sullivan
t is 2:35 on a Thursday afternoon and this reporter is
wandering around Alumni Field looking for Kerri
Hanks, the Irish women’s soccer player she was
supposed to be interviewing five minutes ago, and wishing she had chosen a more definitive meeting place. A few
more minutes of searching and miscommunication, mostly due to the fact that she is a freshman that still does not
know her way around campus, and she and Hanks finally
find each other. Much to her surprise, the first words out
of Hanks’ mouth are an apology about her terrible sense
of direction, rather than annoyance at the mix-up. This first
encounter with Kerri Hanks was a spectacular insight into
the friendly and humble character of this Notre Dame
soccer star.
You cannot mention Kerri Hanks’ name without reference to the amazing statistics and honors that she has
accumulated in her first two years playing for Notre
Dame. She was the recipient of the prestigious Missouri
Athletic Club (M.A.C.) Hermann Trophy, given annually to
the best women’s soccer player in the nation, in 2006 and
is a potential candidate for the award this year as well.
Last season, Hanks joined former North Carolina and
US National Team star Mia Hamm as the only players to
finish a season as national leader in both goals (22) and
assists (22). Most of these goal scoring and assist opportunities have come through her hard work on set plays,
such as corner kicks, penalty kicks and free kicks.
Kerry Hanks led the Irish on a stunning run in the NCAA tournament during the 2006 campaign,
As a true student of the game who often watches finishing runner-up to North Carolina. Hanks’ season earned her the M.A.C. Hermann
European soccer stars like Michael Owens for inspira- Trophy given annually to the best women’s soccer player in the nation.
tion, Hanks has made improving set plays her focus and
With her obvious goal-scoring ability and tenacity on the field,
it has clearly paid off. She is the go-to player for both corner kicks and
penalty kicks for the Irish and in ’06 had 13 assists on corner kicks (8) or comparisons to Mia Hamm are both logical and inevitable for Hanks,
free kicks (5), as well as six goals scored on dead-ball plays (four free who herself feels that she has a long way to go before coming anywhere close to the women she calls the greatest women’s soccer
kicks, two penalty kicks).
In the September 21 game against DePaul, she scored twice off player of our time.
As a player who was invited into training camp with the 2007 U.S.
penalty kicks, in addition to a third goal that gave her the fifth hat trick of
her career. In her two years playing for the Irish, Hanks already has Women’s World Cup team, Hanks has a bright future with the U.S.
accumulated 137 career points (50G-37A), which is the third most of any National Team. Playing with the U-19 National Team since 2002, she has
NCAA Division 1 player after their freshman and sophomore seasons become one of the top scorers in the history of the team with 22 goals in
and the most in nearly 20 years. She also is already 11th in Irish history 30 games and cites winning the ‘02 World Championship with this team
for career points (136; 52 GP/49 GS), 10th in goals (50), 13th in assists (37), as one of her greatest career moments.
Looking ahead to her future in soccer, Hanks plans to make a run for
and one of only 11 to reach 30 goals and 30 assists.
196
2007
NOTRE DAME
KERRY HANKS continued
every ball, looking to make plays and
a spot on the 2008 Olympic team and then keep
encouraging her teammates. Hanks is not
playing to earn a spot on the World Cup team in
the prima donna scorer who sits at midfield
2011, as well as the 2012 Olympic team.
calling for the ball and waiting for the glory.
“It was just such an honor being called up
She is constantly tracking back on defense
and playing with them (U.S. Women’s National
and playing a well-rounded game. A testaTeam) and it opened my eyes to another level of
ment to this fact is the dramatic increase in
play,” Hanks says. “I realized that I have a lot of
her number of assists.
improvements that I need to make if I want
Being a high-profile player who is
to be on that team, but if I continue to work
marked more toughly and often doublehard and just do the best I can, hopefully I’ll
teamed, she has been able to adjust her
have a chance.”
game and set up her teammates for goals.
With the prospect of the women’s profesThe major impact that Hanks has on this
sional league starting up again in 2009, there is
Irish team is undeniable, with Notre Dame
even more opportunity for Hanks to play. She
going 32-0-0 over the last two seasons
also is considering playing in England following
when she scored and 14-4-1 when she did
graduation.
not.
Hanks points to her parents as her greatest
The Allen, Texas, native chose to attend
support and inspiration, saying, “both of my
Notre Dame not only for its nationallyparents are my heroes, I love them so much
ranked soccer program, but also for its acaand I couldn’t have done it without either one of
demics. Finishing her degree in her four
them.”
years here at Notre Dame is a priority for
Hanks’ father’s background playing semiHanks. The sociology major is planning to
professional soccer in England also has been a
coach and give back to the game that she
huge influence on her career and is what she
loves so much once her playing days are
believes to be her greatest advantage over
over.
other players. Having her dad as a personal
“I think it’s so important for high-caliber
“coach” who was always there for advice, Last season, Hanks joined former North Carolina
encouragement and constructive criticism and U.S. National Team star Mia Hamm as the only players to give back to the rest of the kids
players to finish a season as national leader in both
and make sure that they have fun and enjoy
whenever necessary has been a major asset to goals (22) and assists (22).
it,” Hanks says.
her career. With this type of support system
This generous spirit that Hanks possesses obviously carries over to
behind her, there is no doubt that Hanks will succeed wherever the
the field and will be a huge asset to the Fighting Irish throughout the rest
future may lead her.
As a player known for her aggressiveness and tireless effort, her of their season. The team has started out with some difficult losses, but
skills will be invaluable to whatever team she plays with. When watch- is not giving up.
“I have such great expectations for our team, even though we’re not
ing Hanks’ games, she is the player that stands out, always sprinting to
doing so well right now,” she says. “That’s the game of soccer, you’re
going to lose some, you’re going to win some and I still think we have a
great chance of getting in the playoffs and the Final Four.
“I think we’re capable of doing that; we have great expectations of
individuals and of our team as well. We’ll overcome our losses.”
The unselfishness that Hanks exudes is a testament to her character
and the teamwork of all of the girls on the Irish soccer team. When asked
about being national college player of the year last year, Hanks responds
by saying, “Winning that trophy was a great accomplishment, but I
couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”
With the recognition of being such a highly-touted player and talented goal scorer comes significant challenges. This season Hanks has
faced more double teams and players who are just trying to take her out.
Yet, she approaches it with a positive attitude and she realizes that if she
is double-teamed, another player is left open and therein lies the Irish’s
Once her college career finishes,
best opportunities to score.
Hanks looks to continue playing
“I’m willing to give it up, to let my other teammates score,” Hanks
soccer at a professional league or
says. “I want to get to the national championship and win.”
using her knowledge of the game
With leadership like that, the tone is set for the Irish to have a stellar
to teach and coach to others.
second half of their season.
199
2007
NOTRE DAME
Football
FEATURE STORY
ATHLETIC FACILITIES UPDATE
O
I
ver the next several years, the Notre Dame Athletic Department will be working
to upgrade and build new athletic facilities on campus
by Pete LaFleur
equipment for swing analysis, expansive locker rooms, team lounges,
coaches’ offices and an on-site equipment room.
More recently (in April 2007), ground was broken on the southeast corner of campus for the $4.8 million Melissa Cook Softball Stadium—thanks
to a $3 million lead gift from Linda and Paul Demo, parents of Melissa
Cook, a former Irish softball player who was killed in a 2002 Chicago scaffolding accident in 2002. The 1,500-seat Cook Stadium will be ready for
play in the 2008 season and will include locker rooms, restrooms and concessions stands.
Notre Dame alumnus John Arlotta (‘71) and his wife, Bobbie, similarly
have provided the lead gift for a new lacrosse stadium on the Notre Dame
campus. Arlotta Stadium will be a $5 million, 3,000-seat facility, located
east of the Joyce Center, with locker rooms for the men’s and women’s
lacrosse squads, restrooms and concession space. The lighted playing
surface will be artificial turf and two practice fields will be located adjacent to the stadium.
“We fell in love with lacrosse while living in Baltimore and we concluded that the lacrosse programs met several critical goals for our gift to
the University,” says John Arlotta. “Helping the Notre Dame lacrosse
coaches add the final piece to their puzzle in order to compete each year
for a national championship is very exciting for our entire family.”
The Joyce Center—which opened in the late 1960s and is home to
several Notre Dame teams—is set for major renovations to both the south
and north-dome areas, benefiting several Irish varsity teams.
“We don’t spoil our players. We focus on helping them grow into
mature, caring people,” says Notre Dame head women’s basketball
coach Muffet McGraw. “But we also have to modernize our facilities and
remain competitive with peer institutions.”
Plans for the south dome (a.k.a. arena area) involve a $26.3 million
project that has received a $12.5 million leadership gift from Notre Dame
alumnus Philip J. Purcell III (‘69), as well as another major gift of $5 million from Notre Dame graduate Vincent J. Naimoli (‘64). The arena—
Joyce Center Exterior
home to the basketball and volleyball programs—will be named
Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center while the new club/hospitality
area and two outdoor patios will be named for the Naimoli family.
The arena project is set to begin construction in September of 2008.
The first phase will involve construction of a new three-story structure
at the south end of—with a new two-story lobby, the Notre Dame ticket operations (4,500 square feet) and a varsity shop to sell apparel and
souvenirs (3,000 square feet), in addition to a new 16,500-sqare-foot
club seating and hospitality area (with space for some 750 spectators).
Replacement of the arena seating, including complete installation
of chair-back seating, is expected to take place after the commencement exercises in May 2009. The overall project is scheduled for
completion in January 2010 and the arena is expected to re-open by
mid-October 2009, in time for the start of basketball season and the
end of volleyball season.
n order to be a model department in intercollegiate athletics, the University of Notre Dame is seeking to catch up to its peers in two crucial
areas: endowed and expendable financial aid that helps to attract
exceptional student-athletes; and state-of-the-art facilities to be used for varsity practice and competition. To help meet these two primary needs,
approximately $84 million in athletics priorities—including $68.5 million
designated for new athletics facilities—are part of Notre Dame’s current development campaign, Spirit of Notre Dame. The campaign has earmarked
nearly $70 million for athletics facilities, as fundraising efforts over the
coming years will seek to finance a list of planned facilities that touch
nearly every varsity program.
Plans for the bulk of the proposed structures are a byproduct of the
athletics facilities master plan that was created shortly after Notre Dame
athletics director Kevin White was hired in 2000.
“We determined it would be critical for us to remain competitive in
terms of our athletics facilities—and that necessitated significant
research and planning,” says White. “The Spirit of Notre Dame campaign
enables us to look at our physical plant on a long-term projection while
providing the formal, public application of the fundraising efforts that
already were well underway.”
One facility already in place from the athletics master plan is the
96,000-square-foot Guglielmino Athletics Complex, a $23 million facility
that opened in 2005 and serves as the home of the Notre Dame football
program (in addition to including the strength-and-conditioning operation
for the entire athletics department). Shortly after the opening of “The
Gug,” a $2.1 million indoor golf structure—the Robert and Marilyn Rolfs
Family All-Season Golf Facility—opened prior to the 2006-07 season, adjacent to Warren Golf Course. That 10,333-square-foot facility includes an
indoor putting green and chipping area (with bunker), six heated
indoor/outdoor tee stations for driving-range use in all seasons, video
200
2007
NOTRE DAME
ATHLETIC FACILITIES UPDATE continued
“Athletics is an important aspect of
Notre Dame’s tradition,” says Purcell.
“This new facility is not just for the basketball teams—it’s for the entire community. It’s a great time to make this
improvement and it will give our basketball and volleyball teams the type of
home venue they deserve.”
Notre Dame also announced in midSeptember that it had received a $15 million gift from an anonymous donor to
underwrite construction of a permanent
ice arena in the Joyce Center fieldhouse
area (north dome). Tentative plans call
for a $25 million to $30 million stadium
that would create a new home for the
Notre Dame hockey team within the
fieldhouse. The project would include
improved team and fan facilities, such as
locker rooms, concessions, restrooms,
and an increase in seating capacity
within a dedicated space in the fieldhouse—in addition to renovation of the
fencing practice facilities and locker
rooms.
Once funding for the fieldhouse renovation is complete, the University will
work with architects to create a specific design and construction timeline. In
accordance with University policies,
work will begin after the project is fully
funded and designed. The University is
actively seeking additional contributions.
“We’ve always treated the fieldhouse as a multipurpose facility, but our
intention with this gift and project is to
make a full-fledged commitment to a
permanent home for our hockey team,”
says White.
Several other facility projects have
been planned to help bring all of Notre
Dame’s varsity programs into state-ofthe-art settings for their practices and
competition.
“From day one, we’ve talked about
the goal of having every varsity team
achieve a top-five national ranking-and
every day we come closer to making
that a reality, in part through the construction of these new facilities,” says
White. “When we’re finished, we will
have created a brand new athletics
quad, with a completely new look for the
Arlotta Lacrosse Stadium
Soccer Stadium
Melissa Cook Softball Stadium
Outdoor Tennis Stadium
203
entire area to the east and southeast of
the Joyce Center.”
The other planned facilities include:
Labar Artificial Turf Field—This $1.5
million project includes a lead gift from
alumnus John R. “Rees” LaBar (‘53) and
his wife, Carol; these new synthetic, artificial turf practice fields will be used in
times of inclement weather, for football,
lacrosse, soccer and RecSports; the
lighted fields will be located centrally to
the varsity sports fields.
Track and Field Stadium—This $7.5
million project, to be built southeast of the
Joyce Center (near Cook Stadium), will
create a new competition and practice
home for the track and field squads; the
track will meet guidelines for widest possible turns and will feature an inside jogging lane; two synthesized “D” zones
(between the interior track and end zone)
also will be provided at each end; the
project will include a stadium with chairback seating for 4,000, plus locker rooms,
restrooms and concession facilities.
Soccer Stadium—This $5 million
project will create a new permanent
home for the men’s and women’s soccer
teams, with approximately 6,000 seats,
lights, locker rooms, restrooms and concession facilities.
Outdoor Tennis Stadium—This $3 million project will create a new outdoor
playing and practice home for Notre
Dame tennis, with seating for 2,000; it will
replace the 10 Courtney Tennis Center
courts and some spectator seating lost
due to construction of the Guglielmino
Athletics Complex.
Eck Tennis Pavilion Renovation—This
$1.9 million renovation will update the
indoor home of the tennis squads that
originally opened in 1987; the project will
expand locker rooms and coaching
offices and eventually add two more
indoor courts while adding 100 spectator
seats.
Rowing Boathouse—This $1.5 million
project will construct a new boathouse
near the existing boathouse on the St.
Joseph River; the structure will provide
team facilities and boat storage space
for the women’s varsity squad and the
men’s club.
2007
NOTRE DAME
Football
A
FEATURE STORY
CONTINUING THE WINNING TRADITION
A
lumni Coaches Offer Another Advantage for Notre Dame Athletics
by Amanda Bremer
lumni often come back to visit Notre Dame,
whether participating in a home football weekend, observing the changes on campus or passing on the tradition to a next generation Domer. The trend
among returning student-athletes seems to be remaining
for good, as many former players have returned to coach
their respective sports. These alumni are a special part of
the community, and they are a true advantage for the
Fighting Irish.
Assistant coaches play a crucial role on the teams at
Notre Dame. Along with assisting in practice, they are a
critical component to recruiting and a bridge between
the players and the head coach.
Bringing top talent on a consistent basis from all over
the country has been the hallmark for the success of
Irish teams. The individuals most capable of pitching the
school’s prospective student-athletes are those that
have lived, breathed, and bled blue and gold.
The former players now serving as coaches can
describe every aspect of life here that would matter to Lauren Brewster, a 2006 Notre Dame graduate, is in her first season coaching volleyball for
an athlete, because they themselves have experienced the Irish. An All-American under head coach Debbie Brown, Brewster relates with current
life as a student-athlete at Notre Dame. From attending members of the team as she is just two years removed from her playing days.
classes, to doing homework, to playing in games, to travPlaying under or working with
eling around the country, they have experienced what
every head coach in the history of
life is like for a student-athlete and can relate their perFormer Irish Players On
the Notre Dame hockey program,
sonal experiences.
Staff As Assistant Coaches
Slaggert understands what it takes to
“Notre Dame is about tradition, working hard and
be successful and is able to relay that
succeeding. As assistant coaches we can help our
Martin Ingelsby (‘01) - Men’s Basketball
perfectly to recruits, making him one
players along the way throughout their careers, but first
of the top recruiters in the nation. This
and foremost, they have to want to come here and
Niele Ivey (‘00) - Women’s Basketball
is evident with this year’s freshman
understand the level of expectation,” says women’s
North Carey (‘04) - Fencing
class, which was ranked fourth in the
lacrosse assistant Meredith Simon, a 2004 grad.
nation by InsideCollegeHockey.com.
Simon, who was the women’s lacrosse teams’ first,
Mike Haywood (‘87) - Football
Hard work and dedication are
first-team All-American in 2004, finished her career
Ron Powlus (‘98) - Football
essential aspects of being a Notre
with 109 goals and 49 assists while leading Notre Dame
Dame student, but even more indicato a pair of NCAA Tournaments adds, “In our recruiting
Steve Colnitis (‘05) - Men’s Golf
tive of a student-athlete. With the
process we look for individuals who want success both
Andy Slaggert (‘89) - Hockey
demands of practice, games, and
on and off the field at the highest level possible.”
travel, much of an athlete’s time is not
Irish hockey assistant coach Andy Slaggert, a 1989
Meredith Simon (‘04) - Women’s Lacrosse
their own. On top of the rigorous athgraduate, echoes Simon’s thoughts, “At Notre Dame
Chad Riley (‘05) - Men’s Soccer
letic schedule, a Notre Dame acawe are unique and special, yet not for everyone, but
demic course load is added to their
[Notre Dame is] the perfect place for the right kid.”
Jen Buczkowski (‘07) - Women’s Soccer
week. Notre Dame has some of the
Slaggert has been involved with the hockey program
Kris (McCleary) Ganeff (‘99)- Softball
highest admission and academic
since 1986, when he first played for Notre Dame. In 1993
standards in the country and athletes
he returned as an assistant coach. This season he
Lizzy Lemire (‘01) - Softball
are no exception.
begins his 15th year as an assistant coach for the Irish.
206
2007
NOTRE DAME
WINNING TRADITION continued
“You don’t just automatically get accepted
because you can swing a golf club,” says Steve
Colnitis, a former golf team captain and 2005 graduate who returned to serve as an assistant under Jim
Kubinski and the Notre Dame golf program.
Remembering the difficult course load here,
alumni coaches know the player’s academic
stresses. “I don’t miss the tests,” laughs Niele Ivey,
an assistant coach with the women’s basketball
program.
“During busy academic times like midterms, I
can talk to the other coaches and tell them to tone
down practice a little,” relates volleyball assistant
coach Lauren Brewster, a 2006 graduate.
After graduation Brewster began work at a desk
job, but found she missed the game. She was drawn
back to the University when a coaching position
opened up. She thought working at her alma mater
would be “perfect.”
Many assistant coaches are drawn back to Assistant hockey coach Andy Slaggert returned to Notre Dame to pursue a coaching career
after his playing days on the Irish hockey team. Slaggert, who has been on staff for 15 years,
Notre Dame by wanting to coach alongside their
has been a key player in helping head coach Jeff Jackson transition to Notre Dame.
former coaches. Following a five-year stint in the
WNBA and a knee surgery, Ivey joined
many revolve around football, like
the staff at Xavier (Ohio). After recovering from
pep rallies and the student section
her knee surgery, she considered playing overat the football games, student-athseas when she learned of an opening on
letes still want to participate in
the Irish staff.
these activities with the rest of the
“I had a really great relationship with (head
student body.
coach) Muffet (McGraw) and didn’t think I would be
Alumni coaches understand
able to come back, so this was a great opportunity
this, because they were all a part of
for me,” says Ivey.
these events. They feel the spirit of
These player-coach relationships are the model
Notre Dame and recall the great
for the assistant coaches as they adjust to becomfeeling of community when particiing coaches themselves. “I understand what a
pating with the entire student body.
player wants a coach to say or do,” adds Ivey.
“When we are here for home
Ivey’s experience on the collegiate and profesfootball weekends, we give the team
sional levels garners the players’ respect. As a
Saturday off,” says Colnitis.
member of Notre Dame’s 2001 NCAA champiRelationships are one of the keys
onship team and with her WNBA experience she
to success in life. When asked about
is able to teach players what it takes to win at the
their favorite things at Notre Dame,
highest level.
“the people” was a common answer
“The girls really respect me because they see
by all the coaches. This unity allows
the success I achieved as a player and they want to
the team to form a smaller family
reach that level too,” explains the newest coach on Basketball assistant coach Niele Ivey went into
coaching shortly after a knee injury sidelined her
unit within the larger Notre Dame
Muffet McGraw’s staff.
career in the WNBA. Ivey started coaching at Xavier,
family, creating the ultimate feeling
Alumni coaches have an extra ability to relate to
but moved to Notre Dame when she learned about an
of acceptance and love.
players. “Players can come and talk to me about opening on the women’s basketball staff.
Slaggert described that his
certain things because I was there three years
favorite thing about Notre Dame is “after a victory, going into the locker
ago,” comments Brewster.
Simon adds, “If she played at another institution she could semi- room and singing the fight song with the team.”
The truly special people here enrich the experience on an unparalrelate [to the players] but here she can completely relate to any problem
leled level. Alumni coaches are certainly critical, helping foster a winthat they are having.”
Another part of Notre Dame is tradition. Since its’ founding in 1842, ning tradition, years after they played their final game in a Notre Dame
the Fighting Irish have developed an array of customs on campus. While uniform.
207