June 7, 2013

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University associate vice president of student affairs for athletic alumni relations and external affairs/athletic director emeritus Frank McLaughlin was one of 50 sports figures to be honored at the inaugural Irish Sports 50 awards presented by the Irish Voice newspaper Thursday night in Manhattan at the American Irish Historical Society on Fifth Avenue.

McLaughlin, who was inducted into the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame in January, was also recently featured in Lohud.com's My Neighborhood series. To watch the video, click here.

After serving as the Director of Athletics for over 25 years, McLaughlin was promoted to associate vice president of student affairs for athletic alumni relations and external affairs/athletic director emeritus in May of 2012. In his new position, McLaughlin's responsibilities include providing leadership for institutional efforts focused on athletic alumni relations, fundraising and external athletic affairs as well as supporting the overall University fundraising and campaign efforts with a special focus on intercollegiate athletics. He works closely with varsity coaches and athletic department staff in identifying fundraising needs and opportunities for individual programs, and advancing efforts in support of same.

McLaughlin has been at Fordham since taking over as the athletic director at his alma mater in 1985. After serving as the athletic director for 13 years, McLaughlin was promoted to executive director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation in the spring of 1998.

Under McLaughlin's tenure, the Fordham University athletic department has experienced numerous changes. Among those has been the renovation of the Bahoshy Softball Field, a new football locker room, new basketball locker rooms and renovations to the Rose Hill Gym, Jack Coffey Field and the Murphy Field complex. Both fields have been resurfaced with state of the art FieldTurf, with Coffey Field adding lights, a baseball press box and a new scoreboard. Murphy Field, a multi-purpose athletic facility, added tennis courts, a softball field, and a soccer, football and recreational field, all lighted. Under McLaughlin's watch, the athletic department constructed the Walsh Training Center, the first varsity training center at Fordham dedicated exclusively to student-athletes.

During McLaughlin's time as athletic director, the Rams experienced success both on and off the playing fields, winning 26 conference championships, including the 2011 Atlantic 10 softball title, the 2010 Atlantic 10 Women's Swimming Championship, and two Patriot League football championships.

In the classroom during McLaughlin's tenure, Fordham student-athletes maintained tremendous graduation rates, annually ranking among the tops in the nation and among the Atlantic 10 schools. Fordham annually ranks among the leaders in the number of student-athletes named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and has routinely been among the national leaders in NCAA Academic Progress Rates, ranking 18th in the country in 2011. Fordham also underwent NCAA recertification three times while McLaughlin was athletic director, passing each time with flying colors.

A 1969 Fordham graduate and standout basketball student-athlete, McLaughlin captained the Rams during his senior season and was drafted by the New York Knicks following graduation. During his junior and season seasons, the Rams went undefeated at home, winning 23 straight games in the Rose Hill Gym with victories over Syracuse, Boston College, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Massachusetts, Georgetown and Pittsburgh. Both squads advanced to the NIT with the 1967-68 team winning a first round game over Duquesne.

McLaughlin went on to become an assistant coach at the College of the Holy Cross and after a season there returned to Fordham as an assistant under Richard "Digger" Phelps in 1970-1971, helping the Rams to a 26-3 record (.897) and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Fordham finished the season with a ranking of ninth in the nation.

After following Phelps to Notre Dame in 1971, McLaughlin was named the head coach at Harvard University in 1977, where he remained for eight years. In his final season he compiled a 15-9 mark, and currently ranks fourth in both seasons and wins in Crimson history.

McLaughlin has served as the president of the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association (MIBA) which was responsible for the preseason and postseason National Invitation Tournaments. He was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Bronx Special Olympics, and was voted to the Catholic High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1988. McLaughlin is also a member of the Fordham University Kiwanis Club.

McLaughlin and his wife, Susan, have three daughters: Tara Marie (a 1999 Fordham graduate), Mary Heather, (a 2002 Fordham graduate) and Colleen Patrice (a 2005 Fordham graduate). The McLaughlins reside in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.