HomeSPORTSA New Face Takes over Saint Rose Athletics

A New Face Takes over Saint Rose Athletics

By DAVID MEISTER
Sports Editor

The Golden Knights have had one person at the helm for over 40 years, and at the beginning of this semester, a new era began in athletics. 

Capital Region native Lori Anctil took over as the new athletic director on Aug. 26 after the retirement of longtime AD Cathy Haker.  Anctil previously served as the deputy director of athletics at Siena College. 

“This area is home for me,” said Anctil.

Coming into the job, she saw where Saint Rose could go but also wanted to preserve the legacy of her predecessor.

 “I see a lot of potential here at Saint Rose,” said Anctil. “I appreciate what [Haker] has done and she built a strong foundation for me.”

Her goal for her first year is to “create the best possible experiences for student athletes.”

Someone who has worked hand in hand with the Golden Knights is head women’s basketball coach and Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor Karen Haag. Haag said she was involved in the transition and said that Anctil  “Lori is passionate and energetic and I know she is going to do great things here.” 

“She didn’t come in to make sweeping changes,” said Haag.

Michael Wearne, a senior on the men’s basketball team, serves as the chair for SAAC for 2019 through 2020. He too supports Anctil’s goal for her inaugural year.

 “Being the chair this year I really want to build a strong relationship between the new AD and the student athletes,” said Wearne.

Anctil is no stranger to working in collegiate athletics. Prior to her job at Siena, she served as the director of men’s basketball operations at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. She also wore many hats when she worked with the Saints, she had her hand and worked alongside numerous departments, ranging from compliance, athletic training, to enrollment and financial aid. 

“She is more than ready to be an athletic director,” said John D’Argenio, Siena’s director athletics. He pointed to not only her involvement in many different arenas, but also to the way she approached her work. “We always had a good exchange of ideas.”

Anctil’s work at Siena helped to mold her into who she is today and gives credit to her roots. “He [D’Argenio] was instrumental in developing my career,” she said.

Anctil says that she kept her eye on this position and when Haker retired; she wanted to go for it and saw it as the “perfect opportunity.” She went on to say that Siena was very supportive of her during the transition between there and Saint Rose.

Despite Anctil’s long career in college athletics, this was not always the goal for her. She said that she originally wanted to be a lawyer. She has a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from the University at Buffalo. She then re-enrolled there to pursue a master’s in higher education administration. Despite the career change, she knew what she liked. 

“I don’t know what it’s like to not work on a college campus,” said Anctil.

With that experience in mind, Anctil recognizes what she has inherited and has a goal this year to “elevate the programs that we have,” said Anctil.

Wearne is excited to work with the new leadership and is optimistic about what’s to come. 

My first impressions of Lori are great, she is such a passionate woman who you can tell is extremely excited about her role as the newly appointed AD and it’s all about Saint Rose pride, which I absolutely love,” said Wearne. Haag also echoed Wearne’s statement, as she said that Anctil is “terrific.”

Anctil is keeping the focus this year on the student athletes and she says that the number one goal is for them to earn their degrees. She also wants the athletes to show their support to other groups on campus and to support each other.

Wearne also wants the focus to be on the student athletes but to also help the athletics department in any way she can. 

“We hope to have better representation around campus and aim to bring more student energy to games and events happening for our student athletes,” said Wearne. He also wants both Anctil and his fellow athletes to form a strong bond together. 

“I like to think that Lori and the student athletes can stay connected and really work together to build the ideal environment for every student and student athlete on campus,” he said. “Getting more people to attend events and games only makes the campus more exciting for everyone.”

Having them front and center will be a key part of Anctil’s first year at the helm and she wants the Saint Rose community to know what she is with them all the way.

 “I will do what I can to make the Golden Knights better,” Anctil said. Her former boss also agrees that she will be able to help Saint Rose. “They (Saint Rose) have someone who is passionate,” D’Argenio said. He went on to say that Anctil is someone who is compassionate and will put her best foot forward here.

With the fall sports season now underway, the spotlight is on Anctil and she is ready to rise up and embrace her new role in the campus community. 

“I am a Golden Knight,” Anctil said. 

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