John Parente Named GNAC Executive of the Year

Executive Director of Athletics John Parente has been named the 2011 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Executive of the Year, announced by the conference office at the annual meetings last week.

Under Parente’s leadership, the Wildcats captured the GNAC Commissioner’s cup on both the men’s and women’s side after winning four conference championships (men’s and women’s cross country, women’s volleyball and men’s basketball) during the 2010-11 season.  The Wildcats boasted three All-Americans this past year, a first for the University.

Parente also oversaw tremendous achievements by student-athletes off the field, including a record-breaking year for the annual walk-for-hunger and recognition for the volleyball teams for their work with Special Olympics Rhode Island.