New Jersey Atlantic Conference

NORTHBROOK, IL--Rowan defensive end Matt Hoffman was selected as a finalist for the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team, which honors student-athletes that make a difference on and off the playing field by serving others.

POMONA--Three Richard Stockton student-athletes were recognized as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars by the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. Abad Akhtar of the Stockton cross country and track & field teams, women’s tennis player Ana Estevez and pole vaulter Rachel Joseph received the honors.

WAYNE--William Paterson will honor its legendary former head baseball coach, Jeff Albies, when the University renames its baseball facility in his honor at a ceremony to be held on October 3. The complex, currently known as Pioneer Baseball Park, will be dedicated as Jeff Albies Field prior to the Pioneers’ annual Alumni Game on Homecoming Weekend.  

MONTCLAIR--Former Montclair State pitcher Michael Vitale has signed a minor-league contract with the Seattle Mariners. Vitale becomes the first Red Hawk to sign with an affiliated Major League Baseball club since Michael Vicaro signed with the Colorado Rockies during the 2008 season. Vitale will report to Pulaski, Virginia where he will pitch in the Appalachian Rookie League.

PHILADELPHIA—Nine NJAC student-athletes from Rowan and Rutgers-Camden were selected to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area teams in the sports of softball, women’s lacrosse, women’s track & field, and men’s track & field. All selections were voted on by the sports information offices of the 28 institutions in the Philadelphia Metropolitan area. The nine NJAC selections were highlighted by the naming of Camden’s Robin England and Frank Iwanicki as the women’s and men’s track & field academic performers of the year respectively for the 2009-10 academic year.

MONTCLAIR--The Montclair State Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Patrick Naughter as the new head women’s soccer coach. Naughter becomes the fifth head coach in the history of the program and takes over for Eileen Blair, who stepped down after 12 seasons in May. 

MONTCLAIR--Defensive lineman Chris Merkle became the second Red Hawk to join with the Arena Football League this season when the All-American signed with the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings for the remainder of the season on July 6.

WAYNE--William Paterson student-athletes Dan Jones and Abdoulaye Ouedraogo were selected as Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports-Scholars by Diverse Issues in Higher Education Magazine. 

MONTCLAIR--Montclair State University has been selected as the host for the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championships. MSU will host the Division III championship in 2012 and the combined Division II and Division III championships at Sprague Field in 2013.

SOUTH RIVER--Steve Senko, the Director of Athletics at Rutgers-Newark for 25 years (1960-1985), passed away on June 16, 2010 at Saint Peter’s Medical Center in New Brunswick. Senko enjoyed a coaching and athletic administration career which spanned four decades with all but three years spent on the Rutgers-Newark campus.