A History of Stonehill College Basketball

Stonehill College, located in Easton, Massachusetts, has a rich history deeply intertwined with the Congregation of Holy Cross. Authorized by the commonwealth of Massachusetts on June 20, 1948, the institution emerged from the former estate of Frederick Lothrop Ames, carrying forward a legacy of education rooted in Catholic tradition. This article delves into the history of Stonehill College basketball, tracing its evolution and highlighting key moments.

The Origins of Stonehill College

The story of Stonehill College begins with the Congregation of Holy Cross, established in France in 1837 by Rev. Basil Moreau, C.S.C. Members of the Congregation first arrived in the United States in 1841, led by Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., who founded the University of Notre Dame. In 1933, at the invitation of the Most Reverend James Cassidy, Bishop of Fall River, Holy Cross priests came to Massachusetts to found a seminary.

The seminary's growing enrollment prompted the search for larger facilities, leading them to the estate of Frederick Lothrop Ames in North Easton in the autumn of 1934. Ames, a Harvard graduate and successful businessman, had built the "Stone House Hill House" estate in 1905. The estate included a 50-room mansion, a gymnasium, a squash court, a garage, a conservatory, barns, and maintenance buildings.

The Congregation finalized the purchase of the 350-acre estate on October 17, 1935. From 1935 to 1948, it served as the home of the Seminary of Our Lady of Holy Cross and the Mission Band of the Holy Cross Fathers. During World War II, the Navy utilized the Ames Flying Field, also part of the property, for training exercises.

The Birth of Stonehill College

Following World War II, Rev. Thomas C. Duffy, C.S.C., spearheaded the effort to establish Stonehill College. Under the terms of the Amended Charter (certified on June 30, 1948), the College was authorized to award degrees and academic honors, excluding medical degrees. Rev. George Benaglia, C.S.C., was appointed as the first president of the College.

Read also: Stonehill College Guide

In September 1948, Stonehill welcomed its first class of 134 men, offering bachelor's degrees in the arts and sciences at an annual tuition of $420. A curriculum in business administration followed a year later. The "Big House," the original Ames mansion, was officially named Donahue Hall in 1963, honoring Rev. James Wesley Donahue, C.S.C., who authorized the purchase of the Ames Estate.

Early Athletic Programs: Basketball Takes Center Stage

Athletic programs began with basketball in 1948, expanding to include boxing, baseball, and tennis. In February 1949, the Science Building, later named the Tracy Science Building, became the first of many buildings constructed by the College.

Growth and Evolution

Under the leadership of Rev. Francis Boland, C.S.C., who became president in July 1949, enrollment increased, and extracurricular activities flourished. Stonehill graduated its first class of 64 men in 1952. The 1950s saw continued growth, with the dedication of the Lourdes Grotto in 1953 and the opening of Holly Cross Hall in 1957.

Rev. Richard Sullivan, C.S.C., the College’s fourth president, brought significant changes, including accreditation in 1959 and the completion of a new library in 1962. Cardinal O’Hara Hall, the College’s first residence hall, opened in 1961. Women were first admitted to the college during Boland's presidency.

Expansion and New Programs

The late 1960s and early 1970s saw the construction of Commonwealth (1968) and Colonial Courts (1970), offering a new concept in college housing. Academic and extra-curricular programs grew, with the establishment of WSHL, the College’s new FM radio station, the Greasepaint Players, and the Riding Club. In 1970, the degree-granting Evening College was established.

Read also: Stonehill College Overview

A Shift in Governance

In 1972, responsibility for the College was transferred to an elected Board of Trustees. Under Rev. Ernest Bartell, C.S.C., the College Center was built (1973), the Anthony E. Casino Wing was added to the Library (1976), and Hemingway Auditorium was remodeled and expanded to become Hemingway Theatre (1973).

The MacPáidín Era

Rev. Bartell resigned in August 1977, and Mr. C. James Cleary was appointed interim president. In 1978, (Fr.) MacPháidín became the longest-serving president in the College's history (1978-2000). His tenure brought growth and recognition to the College, with the addition of 20 buildings to the physical plant.

New residence halls were built, the David Ames Clock Farm was acquired, and the Education Building (1983) and Stanger Hall (1986) were constructed. In 1988, the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex was built, followed by the Joseph W. Martin, Jr. Institute for Law and Society in 1990.

Continued Growth and Commitment

During the 1980s, the College devoted more funds to athletics and added several women’s sports. The curriculum expanded, and new study abroad initiatives were introduced. Fr. MacPháidín’s administration also established a secure fiscal base and completed the College’s first Capital Campaign.

The Cregan Presidency

After 22 years as president, (Fr.) MacPháidín stepped down in 2000, and Rev. Mark Cregan, C.S.C., was inaugurated as Stonehill’s ninth president. Fr. Cregan has worked to enhance Stonehill’s academic profile and modernized the College’s governance structure.

Read also: Academics at Stonehill

Stonehill Skyhawks Basketball: A Legacy of Competition

The Stonehill Skyhawks men's basketball team, formerly known as the Stonehill Chieftains, represents Stonehill College. The Skyhawks currently compete in the Division I Northeast Conference as of July 1, 2022. Due to the NCAA's policy on reclassifying programs, the Skyhawks were not eligible to compete in the NCAA tournament or the NIT until the 2026-27 season. The Skyhawks appeared in the NCAA Division II tournament fifteen times, showcasing their competitive spirit and dedication to the sport.

Notable Achievements and Records

The Skyhawks have achieved several milestones in their basketball history. Some notable accomplishments include:

Last Time Stonehill … PLAYED IN NCAA TOURNAMENT: West Liberty 75 vs.
MADE THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: Jefferson U. vs.
WON IN OVERTIME: Bridgeport 63 at Stonehill 65 OT (Dec.
LOST IN OVERTIME: Stonehill 71 vs. Fairfield 73 OT (Nov.
PLAYED DOUBLE OVERTIME: Bentley 73 at Stonehill 66 2OT (Dec.
PLAYED TRIPLE OVERTIME: Stonehill 90 at Central Connecticut State 94 3OT (Feb.
PLAYED A RANKED OPPONENT: Stonehill 57 vs #16/#14 Iowa State 96; (Nov.
PLAYED A P5 OPPONENT: Stonehill 57 vs #16/#14 Iowa State 96; (Nov.
WON BY 50+: Thomas (ME) 48 at Stonehill 100 (Nov.
WON BY 40-49: Stonehill 101 vs. Northern Vermont-Johnson (Dec.
SCORED 100+: Stonehill 101 vs. Northern Vermont-Johnson (Dec.
BOTH TEAMS SCORED 100+: Stonehill 100 vs.
SCORED 90-99 POINTS: UNH 83 at Stonehill 90 (Dec.
SCORED LESS THAN 50: Stonehill 41 at Central Connecticut State 67 (Feb.
ALLOWED 100 OR MORE: Stonehill 67 at #17 Kentucky 101; (Nov.
ALLOWED 49 OR LESS: Thomas (ME) 48 at Stonehill 100 (Nov.
SHOT UNDER 35% FG: UMass Lowell 75 at Stonehill 64 (32.9%) (Nov.
HELD OPPONENT UNDER 30% FG: (11/3/25) Stonehill 100 vs Thomas (ME) (23.7%) (Nov.
MADE 10 3-POINT FG: UMass Lowell 75 at Stonehill 64 (11 3PT) (Nov.
MADE 15 OR MORE 3-POINT FG: Lindenwood 75 vs. Stonehill 74 (15 3PT) (Nov.
DID NOT MAKE A 3-POINT FG: Stonehill 73 vs.
SHOT 100% FROM THE FT LINE (Min. 15 att): Wagner 61 at Stonehill 73 (22-22 FT) (Jan.
ATTEMPTED 40 FREE THROWS: Adelphi 64 vs.
MADE 30 FREE THROWS: Adelphi 64 vs.
HAD 50 OR MORE REBOUNDS: Thomas (ME) 48 at Stonehill 100 (56 Rebounds) (Nov.
HAD 25 OR LESS REBOUNDS: (1/10/25) Stonehill 60 (25 Rebounds) vs. LIU 70 (Jan.
HAD 20-24 ASSISTS: Thomas (ME) 48 at Stonehill 100 (21 Assists) (Nov.
HAD 25 OR MORE ASSISTS: #RV Saint Rose 71 at Stonehill 97 (26 assists) (Jan.
HAD 20 OR MORE TURNOVERS: Stonehill 57 (21 turnovers) at URI 80 (Nov.
MADE 15 OR MORE STEALS: Stonehill 81 (15 steals) vs Framingham State 62 (Nov.
BLOCKED 10 OR MORE SHOTS: Caldwell 42 at Stonehill 59 (10 blocks) (Nov.

Individual Player Achievements

Several Stonehill basketball players have achieved individual milestones:

SCORED 50 OR MORE: Mike Allocco (52 points) vs.
SCORED 30-29: Louie Semona (33 points) vs.
SCORED 25-29: Hermann Koffi (27 points) at DePaul; (Nov.
SCORED 20-24: Davante Hackett (24 points) vs. Lafayette; (Nov.
HIT 9 THREE POINT FG: Shaun Fein (9, 3PT FG) vs. Bentley; (Jan.
HIT 8 THREE POINT FG: Will Moreton (8, 3PT FG) vs. Franklin Pierce; (Feb.
HIT 7 THREE POINT FG: Hermann Koffi(7, 3PT FG) vs. DePaul; (Nov.
HIT 6 THREE POINT FG: Max Zegarowski (6, 3PT FG) vs. FDU; (Jan.
MADE 15 FREE THROWS: Isaiah Burnett(15-17 FT) vs. Holy Cross; (Nov.
HAD 20+ REBOUNDS: Ryan Logan (20 rebounds) vs. St. Anselm (Nov.
HAD 15-19 REBOUNDS: Todd Brogna (15 rebounds) vs. Bryant; (Nov.
HAD 10+ ASSISTS: Todd Brogna vs Mercyhurst; (Feb.
HAD 7 STEALS: Isaiah Burnett vs. Saint Francis; (Feb.
HAD 5 STEALS: Davante Hackett at Bryant; (Dec.
REGISTERED A DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Ridvan Tutic (13 points, 11 rebounds) vs. Northern Vt. - Johnson (Dec.
TWO PLAYERS HAD 20+ POINTS: Josh Morgan (25 points) and Todd Brogna (20 points) vs. Saint Francis; (Nov.
THREE PLAYERS HAD 20 POINTS: Will Moreton (29 points), Ryan Roach (24points), Brandon Twitty (23 points) at #14/18 SNHU (Dec.

Stonehill College Today

As the College moves further into the new millennium, it continues its tradition of co-education with 2,300 students, 90 percent of whom live on campus. The undergraduate program offers 32 major programs in the liberal arts, natural science, and business, with over 120 faculty members, 81 percent of whom hold doctoral degrees. Since its first commencement exercises in 1952, the College has graduated more than 20,000 students.

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