The Fairfield University Department of Athletics had 71 student-athletes named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Academic Honor Roll for 2008-09. In addition to those numbers 24 student-athletes were also recognized by the America East Conference (field hockey) and ECAC Lacrosse League for their academic success during the season.
To be eligible for the MAAC Academic Honor Roll, an athlete must hold a grade point average of 3.20 or higher on a 4.0 scale and be in his or her second year of athletic eligibility. The Honor Roll is open to both full-time and associate members of the MAAC with athletes represented in all 24 sports that the conference sponsors. A total of 990 athletes were honored for their achievements both academically and athletically.
During the Spring 2009 semester, 222 Fairfield student-athletes recorded grade point averages (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Of those 222 student-athletes, nine had perfect 4.0 GPAs. In addition, 87 student-athletes qualified for the University's Dean's List, achieving at least a 3.5 GPA.
The Stags earned numerous individual national accolades for their work in the classroom during the academic year. Women's soccer player Ahna Johnson earned ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-America selected by CoSida, as well as being named to the All-District First Team. She was also recognized by the National Soccer Coaches of America Association (NSCAA) as a Scholar All-America First Team and Scholar All-East Region First Team selection. Baseball player Chris Horning was voted to the ESPN The Magazine All-District Second Team this season as well.
The field hockey team earned the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I National Academic Team Award. In addition, eight players, Megan Ambrose, Sarah Borton, Taylor Callahan, Kaitlyn Devlin, Emily Janis, Kristen McManus, Carly McCullough and Jill Piacquadio, earned NFHCA National Academic Squad honors.
Five Stag athletic teams, baseball, men's cross country, men's and women's tennis and softball, were recognized by the NCAA as their Division I sports teams earned public recognition awards for their latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. These teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports. The public recognition awards are part of the broad Division I academic reform effort.
The cross country team also earned the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team Award, while the women's swimming and diving team was recognized with the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American Award in both the Fall and Spring semesters.
Fairfield earned the league's highest honor in 2008-09 captured the MAAC Commissioner's Cup which is awarded annually as a symbol of overall excellence in athletics in the 24 championship athletic events conducted within the conference. Each institution is scored in all championships that it fields a varsity team. However, only the scores from the men's and women's basketball participation, plus the other top six men's and other top six women's championships shall be used to determine an institution's total points.
It marked the Stags third overall Commissioner's Cup win, while winning the women's Commissioner's Cup for the seventh time.
Fairfield had four team's advance to the NCAA Tournament on the strength of MAAC Championships. The women's lacrosse team won both the regular season and tournament crown, while men's and women's soccer and women's tennis earned MAAC Tournament titles. The Stags volleyball, men's tennis and softball teams all won regular season titles in league play as well.
