By Emerson Cherry, Currier Times Staff///

As the Curry Colonels rolled into the new school year, the athletic department continued to thrive as collective ideas became reality throughout the summer, as well as the beginning of the school year. The push to get more head coaches in athletics to become full-time coaches has started in motion.

Along with the promotion of a few coaches, the Commonwealth Coast Conference is no more. For now on our conference will be referred to as the ‘Conference of New England’ instead of the CCC.

Before Curry promoted more athletic head coaches to full time, around half of the staff was only considered part-time. This, according to Curry Athletic Director Vinnie Eruzione, did not give the coaches an opportunity to connect with the school outside of their own personal sport.

Men’s Soccer head coach, Dr. Peter Mendel, was moved to full-time some time ago and immediately saw an improvement in his ability to lead the team forward.

“For staffing [obligational work within athletics] it took a lot of pressure off,” said Mendel. “Now with more hands on deck things are being done more efficiently…we are able to provide a more supportive and welcoming environment for student athletes.”

Women’s Basketball head coach, Joseph Reedy, was one of the coaches promoted to a full time position. Reedy said becoming full-time was a game changer.

“For me the biggest thing is growing the program, this means being accessible all year round,” said Reedy. “Being here to be supportive, and face to face connections…now being full-time I am able to dedicate and focus 100% of myself to this job and program.”

Along with being able to spend more time on campus, Reedy was also given another responsibility.

“Now being a full-time coach I also am the work study coordinator which allows me to interact with students and get students working the sporting events here on campus,” said Reedy.

You can now find Coach Reedy helping out at sporting events all around campus!

Other coaches that are now full-time include Todd Parsons, Men’s Football; Peter Roundy, Men’s Hockey; Kelly Rider, Women’s Hockey; Lindsey Garvey, Women’s Soccer; Phil Alibrandi, Men’s Basketball; John Carroll, Men’s Lacrosse; McKinley Pippin, Assistant Football Coach; Ryan Ehrets, Assistant Football Coach.

Now that most of the coaches on campus are full-time, Vinnie Eruzione envisions positive outcomes.

“The structure and interaction of the athletic teams is one of the significant items that contributes to student success on those teams,” said Eruzione. “Having a coach on campus for student-athletes to go see and communicate with is vital.”

And bringing more quality athletes is also an important aspect of the role these coaches will play.

“Full-time coaches are key in the recruiting of first-rate student athletes,” said Eruzione. “Having the ability to go out and recruit and visit schools outside of the region is extremely important.”

Eruzione added, “A coach on campus full‐time allows positive interactions with current student‐athletes, faculty, and staff and gives a face to the program. It also will play a major role in the retention of these student-athletes.”

In addition to these new changes, over the summer the formerly known ‘Commonwealth Coast Conference’ is no longer. Curry College is now a part of the Conference of New England which also includes, Endicott College, Gordon College, University of Hartford, Johnson and Wales University (as of 2025-2026 season), Nichols College, Roger Williams University, Suffolk University, University of New England, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Western New England University.

Eruzione said this change is a better reflection on the institutions in the conference.

“There have been so many changes in conference members in the last 20 years that a new name seemed relevant at this time,” said Eruzione.

The formerly known ‘Commonwealth Coast Conference’ was not inclusive to all teams within our league, while ‘Conference of New England’ includes all institutions in our conference.

Athletes are getting excited for their seasons to start, as fall sports are already underway. Winter and Spring sports are in preseason preparing for the start of their sport.

Outside of these student-athlete’s sports, they are also dominating within the classroom as well as the community.

Eruzione stated, “This past semester alone our Student-Athletes overall GPA was a 3.16 and we had an astounding 41 Student-Athletes with a perfect 4.0 GPA and 286 Student-athletes with a GPA of 3.0 or better! Our student-athletes are succeeding in the classroom.”

This year is shaping up to be a successful season for all athletics; make sure to go out and support your Curry Colonels!