Information Provided By Saint Anselm Sports
Information
Manchester, N.H. -- After 35 years as a coach and administrator
with Saint Anselm athletics, Ed Cannon will step down as athletics
director and join College Advancement as a special fundraiser for
athletics. Drew Litz, associate dean of students, will serve as
interim director while a search for Ed's replacement is conducted.
The transition will occur July 1.
"The college is extremely grateful to Ed for his many years of
service, during which he broke records as the men's soccer coach,
guided the growth of varsity sports, and oversaw the construction
of new facilities," says Father Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B.,
president of Saint Anselm. "Ed has made indelible contributions to
every facet of the College's athletics program. Perhaps most
important are the enduring relationships he developed with athletes
as he instilled in them what it means to be a successful
student-athlete at Saint Anselm College."
"It has been my privilege to serve this college as athletics
director and coach," says Ed Cannon. "I am grateful to the college
for the many wonderful opportunities I have enjoyed over the years
and to the outstanding athletes, coaches and colleagues with whom
it has been my privilege and joy to work. As I move to College
Advancement, I intend to support the athletics program in a new way
by helping to provide the means to sustain and develop
inter-collegiate sports at Saint Anselm."
Ed joined the college in 1974 as assistant coach of the men's
soccer team, after attending the Worcester Polytechnic Institute
where he was a two-time All American soccer player and is a charter
member of the Hall of Fame.
The following year, he became head soccer coach and started
amassing the record of the most wins for any coach in Hawks
history. Before he stepped down in 2004, he led his teams to a
remarkable 272 victories. His teams captured six regular-season
Northeast-10 titles, six Northeast-10 Tournament championships, and
two ECAC Division II championships. He was named as the
Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year six times, and in three
of his last four seasons the program ranked among the top 25
Division II programs in the nation.
Ed became Saint Anselm's eighth director of athletics in 2000.
Prior to that, and while building his incredible coaching record,
he had served as assistant athletics director for 22 years and then
associate director.
During his tenure, the number of varsity sports at the college
swelled to 20, with more than 400 students wearing the Hawks jersey
every year. He presided over an unprecedented growth and
improvement of Saint Anselm's athletic facilities, including the
renovation of Sullivan Park into one of the finest college baseball
fields in New England, the construction of Sullivan Arena for men's
and women's hockey, and the development of Grappone Stadium for the
return of Hawks football.
He also has served college athletics on a larger scale, serving
twice on both the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Rules Committee and
the NCAA Men's Soccer Championships Committee.
"Ed will be missed as a leader and mentor for Saint Anselm
athletes," says Joseph Horton, vice president of student affairs.
"But we look forward to benefitting from his service and experience
in a different way. As the Advancement Gift Officer in charge of
raising money for athletics, he will provide new and vital support
to the program he helped create."
Saint Anselm: 'Ed Cannon Steps Down as Saint Anselm Director of Athletics'
Posted: Jun 26, 2009