Philadelphia, Pa. - (5/18/2016) – Is it the majestic architecture, the great locality to both city and suburb, rigorous academic programs, or the smiling faces and hellos that greet you at every turn on campus? If one was to peruse the current rosters on GriffinAthletics.com one might recognize an abundance of alumni who have returned to the "College on two hills", begging the question; what it is about Chestnut Hill College that brings so many former student-athletes back to the sidelines and hallowed halls of Fournier, Martino, and St. Joseph's?
 
Jessica Day '07 – Asst. AD for Academic Success & Comm. Engagement
After a standout career with the Griffin softball program, Jessica Day returned to her alma mater as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academic Success and Community Engagement before the 2015-2016 scholastic year. Following a two-year stint at Philadelphia University, where she served as the Area Coordinator of Judicial Affairs (2013-2014) and Assistant Director of Housing and Judicial Affairs (2014-2015), she is tasked with counseling and assisting Griffin student-athletes in every facet of their collegiate experience.
 
"Being a DIII/DII student-athlete, I was able to focus on my leadership skills and dive into academic interests, while still getting to play a sport I love. Some of my favorite memories were having people sit on the hill and watch our softball games. I look forward to being a spectator on the hill to watch the team this spring."
 
"I'm thrilled to be back as a part of the staff. I was really excited to give back to Chestnut Hill, as the Chestnut Hill community helped shape who I am in a lot of ways. I couldn't have gone to college anywhere else and been able to achieve the same things I was able to do here at CHC. It's been super exciting to meet the new teams and see how much positive energy and presence they have on campus."
 



Stephanie Williams '07 – Assistant Women's Soccer Coach
A member of Chestnut Hill College's inaugural women's soccer team and a veteran of two National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournaments, Stephanie Williams joined her alma mater's coaching staff as an assistant prior to the 2008 season, the Griffins' second as a member of NCAA Division II. The 2003 Coach's Award winner and an all-conference selection as a freshman, Williams finished her career ranked eighth in school history in assists (11), 11th in goals (11), and tied for 11th in points (32).
 


Julian McFadden '10- Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
After a 1,000-point career at Chestnut Hill College, Julian McFadden joined the men's basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach in October of 2010. McFadden was the program's third 1,000-point scorer, totaling 1,117 points in four years under Head Coach Jesse Balcer. He graduated from Chestnut Hill College in the spring of 2010 with a bachelor's degree in marketing and management.
 
"More than anything, the sense of family hasn't changed from 2006 to now. From the day I arrived as a scrawny freshman guard to a first year coaching novice, Chestnut Hill has been more than a college experience; it's been home. As a freshman going to the NEAC (North East Athletics Conference) Championship and seeing what it truly takes to be a winner altered my thinking as a player and future coach. I cherish the time as a player for coach Balcer and the lessons learned through brotherhood (and fatherhood). The school has really grown from the "Undefeated Football Team" to it's actually inception of a football team. The educational and sports programs have really grown and flourished in the past few years. I truly look forward to the CHC future. Not just for its growth, but the new members that will be welcomed into our CHC family." 
 





Julian Fernandez '11 – Head Men's Soccer Coach
A three-year starting midfielder for the Chestnut Hill College men's soccer team (2008-2010), Julian Fernandez joined the Chestnut Hill College men's soccer coaching staff as an assistant prior to the 2014 season and took over as head coach before the 2015 campaign. Prior to Chestnut Hill College, Fernandez accrued a wealth of coaching experience at the club level.
 
"It is great to be back at the place that gave me so much and it is great to bring in student-athletes that will experience the same things I did as an undergrad. It's also very meaningful to be part of the growth of the program you were a part of. A lot has changed. I would say that the increased presence that athletics has taken is great to see.
 








D.J. Santoro '11 – Assistant Baseball Coach
Santoro joined the Chestnut Hill College baseball coaching staff as an assistant coach after a four-year playing career as a member of the inaugural 2008 Griffins. A two-year captain, Santoro served as the program's starting third baseman from 2008-2011 while contributing a stern eye for the strike zone and a propensity for getting on base. He earned the 2008 Baseball Coach's Award after batting .289 (35-for-121) with 17 runs-batted-in (RBI) as a 40-game starter at the hot corner.
 
"First, is Coach Spratt. He has helped me grow throughout the past eight years, not just as a baseball player but as a person. Even after I was done playing and I began coaching, he has played a major role in influencing who I am as a person. He is one of those people that you want in your life because of that great and positive influence."
 
"Second, is the growth of the program. Seeing it start from nothing back in 2008 with a 7-34 record and grow into what it has become today has been an incredible experience. I can truly say that I have had a rare experience. There are very few coaches and players that can say they have been a part of a program since its inception, playing in its first playoff game, its 100th win, and now making it to the CACC Championship two out of the last three years."
 
"And finally, I have met so many great people. I have made friends at Chestnut Hill College that were in my wedding and others who have influenced my life in so many positive ways. I want to continue to build and create new relationships at Chestnut Hill College, a place that I have great respect for."
 
Lauren Riiff '12 – Assistant Women's Soccer Coach
Assistant Coach Lauren Riiff joined her alma mater's coaching staff in 2014 following a historic career with the Chestnut Hill College women's soccer team (2008-2011). The program's all-time leader in several offensive categories and a two-time Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Player of the Year (2009 & 2011), Riiff became the first Daktronics Inc. All-American in the history of Chestnut Hill College Athletics in 2011. That year, she also earned All-East Region First Team recognition and garnered a Second Team All-Region selection from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Riiff was a four-time CACC All-Conference choice and earned a second NSCAA All-Region nod as a junior.
 










Jesse Daywalt '12 – Assistant Baseball Coach
Assistant Coach Jesse Daywalt joined the Chestnut Hill College staff in 2012 after an accolade-laden collegiate career as the Griffins second baseman. He is a two-time selection to the Daktronics Inc. All-East Region Second Team and the All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference First Team, while earning recognition on several all-academic teams, including the 2011-2012 CACC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year.
 











Jack McGinley '12 – Assistant Baseball Coach
Jack McGinley '12 joined Coach Spratt's staff as an assistant prior to the 2016 season. McGinley was a four-year (2009-2012) relief pitcher for the Griffins, accumulating 47.2 innings of work over his collegiate career. He was part the Griffins' first two Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship Tournament runs and ranks seventh all-time in appearances (41).
 












Dan Morgan '12 – Assistant Baseball Coach
A four-year member of the Chestnut Hill College baseball team, Dan Morgan '12 joined Coach Spratt's staff as an assistant prior to the 2016 season. In 29 appearances (14 starts, 85.1 innings pitched), Morgan contributed a 5-5 record and a save on a 3.48 earned-run-average (ERA), which ranks him fourth all-time.
 
"Bob Spratt and the Chestnut Hill baseball program's growth is what brought me back to CHC. Seeing the very beginning of the program and what it is today, made me truly miss CHC baseball. While the mentality and structure of the program have not changed since 2012, when I joined the team, a lot has changed for the good and I hope to be a part of a championship season in 2016." 
 








Brandon Williams '12 – Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
After a 1,000-point collegiate career at Chestnut Hill College, Brandon Williams returned to the Griffin bench in 2013-2014 to coach alongside his mentor, Head Coach Jesse Balcer. Like Balcer, Williams is a graduate of Abington Friends School where in two years he led the Kangaroos to a 20-1 record and the 2005-2006 Friends School League Championship.
 












Lindsay Alexander '13 – Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
One of the top players in Chestnut Hill College women's basketball history, Lindsay Alexander returned to her alma mater to become an assistant under first-year head coach Michael West before the 2015-2016 season. A four-year starter and two-year captain at forward, Alexander was a three-time all-conference selection who finished her stellar career with 1,116 points and 603 rebounds.
 
"It is an incredible feeling coming back to my old home, Chestnut Hill College, to work as an assistant coach for the Women's Basketball team. I am extremely grateful to be given an opportunity to begin my dream of coaching college basketball at the same place where I pursued my collegiate basketball career."
 
"The environment has been welcoming and close-knit since the first time I stepped onto campus. I am glad to see that same welcoming feeling is still present. The constant comradery and love displayed by individuals at Chestnut Hill radiates into our basketball program, creating amazing relationships between the team and staff."

"The small-school environment was beneficial to my education in the aspect that I was able to build close relationships with my professors, a few of which that have turned into my current mentors and friends still to this day. Not only was I able to bond with my professors, but many of the

friendships created throughout my education at Chestnut Hill have provided me with some of my best friends. As a two-sport student-athlete at Chestnut Hill, I was always supported in participating in two sports while working towards my academic goals."
 
Some of my favorite memories include all-nighters in the library, sledding down the hill next to New Hall (currently Fitzsimmons Hall) during snowstorms, and the many dances throughout the years. Being back on the sidelines at Sorgenti Arena to create even more memories with an exceptional group of young ladies and work with a very talented staff is a dream come true."
 

Brianne Timony '13 – Head Women's Lacrosse Coach
A four-year starter and two-time All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) selection, Brianne Timony '13 joined the Chestnut Hill College women's lacrosse coaching staff as an assistant prior to the 2015 season. Timony earned All-CACC First Team honors and an IWLCA DeBeer DII North/South All-Star team selection in her senior season (2013), when she became the sixth member of the Chestnut Hill College women's lacrosse 100-goal club.
 











Michael Goldstein '13 – Assistant Men's Soccer Coach
After four seasons as the starting goalkeeper for Chestnut Hill College, 2009-2012, Goldstein joined the men's soccer coaching staff as an assistant in 2013. He was a two-year captain and Coach's Award winner in both his freshman and senior seasons, before finishing his collegiate career as the Griffins all-timer leader in saves (282), wins (18), and shutouts (12).
 
"I think the positive experience I had as a student-athlete at CHC really contributed to me staying as a professional. I wanted to share my experiences with future student-athletes, as well as help them to experience a lot of the same. It's easy to recruit incoming players when you can speak honestly and truthfully about the school and your experiences. I think the recruits and their parents appreciate that.
 
""As a student-athlete here, I had an awesome experience. I was able to be a part of the group that started to change the direction the program was heading, and was able to see that change happen. I became a significantly better player over the course of the four years, as well as learned a lot of lessons off the field. On top of that, the education, friendships, and memories made all made my experience at CHC unforgettable. It was a huge regret not getting to win a CACC Championship as a player here, so having the opportunity to go for it again as a coach made the decision that much easier as well. Getting the opportunity to coach the sport I love, back at the school which already has given me so much was a really an easy choice for me to make, and I am thankful for the opportunity. And I'm not the only one as the level of play amongst all the sports has consistently increased since my time at CHC. We have sports in almost every season competing heavily for conference titles. With tennis, baseball, and soccer being right on the doorstep, it's great to see a winning culture spreading across all the programs."
 
"One memory that stands out to me will always be my senior night. The support I received, not just from my family, but from my team, my fellow Griffins, teachers, and even the opposing team, will remain one of my favorite memories as a student-athlete. For me, it summed up what in meant to be a Chestnut Hill College student-athlete."
 
Taylor Trevisan (Grad-Student '13-14) – Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Following an impressive Most Valuable Player (MVP) graduate season (2013-2014) in which he led the Griffins in scoring (14.5 PPG) and rebounding (6.3 PRG), Taylor Trevisan joined Coach Balcer's staff as an assistant prior to the 2014-2015 campaign. Trevisan came to Chestnut Hill College after four-year walk-on career at St. Joseph's University, where he garnered the Hawk's Robert O'Neill Memorial Most Improved Player Award as a senior (2012-2013) with 19 minutes, 14 points (1.4/game), four rebounds, two assists, and a steal over ten games.
 
"While I only went to graduate school here, in that short time I quickly came to understand what a tight knit community Chestnut Hill was. People cared about more than just the win-loss record and cared about you as a person. It wasn't just come to practice or come do your job, you got to know everyone and what makes them who they are, and I think that is why so many, including myself, have come back. It is a great opportunity for many to grow and continue their careers while being around people they have come to know and love on more than just a co-worker basis."
 





Robert Stocklin '14 – Assistant Men's Soccer Coach
After a four-year playing career at Chestnut Hill College (2010-2013), Robert Stocklin joined the men's soccer coaching ranks as an assistant prior to the 2014 season.





Manuel Ceniceros '14 – Assistant Men's Tennis Coach
Manuel Ceniceros joined the Chestnut Hill College men's tennis coaching staff in the fall of 2014, after completing a solid collegiate career with the Griffins. He was the first Griffin to reach 100 career wins, doing so in the April 16th Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) finale against Philadelphia University. Ceniceros finished his collegiate career with 104 wins, amassing 45 dual-match singles wins, 51 dual-match doubles wins, and eight individual tournament wins over his four years with the Scarlet and Gold.
 


Rich Cavazza '14 – Assistant Baseball Coach
Assistant Coach Rich Cavazza returned to his alma mater's staff prior to the 2016 season. A three-year member of the Chestnut Hill College pitching staff (2012-2014), Cavazza spent the summer of 2015 as a reliever with the Watertown Bucks of the North Country Baseball League (NCBL).
 
"I chose to come back to Chestnut Hill because from the beginning of my collegiate career I had bought into the program and believed in it. This program has and will continue to accomplish great things and I want to continue to be a part of it in any way I can."
 









Melissa Marotta '15 – Assistant Women's Soccer Coach
Immediately following a four-year playing career (2011-2014) with the Chestnut Hill College women's soccer program, Melissa Marotta joined the coaching ranks at her alma mater prior to the 2015 campaign. A two-year starter in the defensive backfield, Marotta served as team co-captain in 2014.


 
Michael McLaughlin '15 – Assistant Baseball Coach
One of the most accomplished players in Chestnut Hill College baseball history, Michael McLaughlin joined Head Coach Robert Spratt's staff as an assistant immediately following a standout four-year career with the Scarlet and Gold (2012-2015). The strong-armed outfielder left the program as the all-time leader in stolen bases (75) and doubles (29) and second all-time in hits (168).