Stags AD Gene Doris, 45 Championships, 35 NCAA Berths, Announces Transition Plan
Ƭapp's longstanding and accomplished Director of Athletics, Gene Doris, has announced his plan to leave Fairfield after a 23-year career with the Stags. Doris will remain at Fairfield reporting directly to the President's office during a national search for his replacement. Once a successor is selected by President-elect Mark R. Nemec, PhD, Doris will transition to the role of special advisor to the new athletics director until the conclusion of the calendar year.
“While Gene's transition has long been part of a succession plan he introduced three years ago, we will be sad to see him go,” said Interim President Lynn Babington, PhD, RN. “We are most grateful for all of the work that he has done to enhance the reputation and performance of our Division I Athletic programs.”
In the 23 years under Doris' guidance, Fairfield has boasted consistent success athletically, academically and in the community. The Stags have won 45 conference championships and 58 regular season conference championships culminating with 35 NCAA postseason berths during his tenure. In addition, Fairfield has claimed the overall Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Commissioner's Cup four times, the MAAC Commissioner's Cup for Women's Athletics seven times and the MAAC Commissioner's Cup for Men's Athletics on three occasions.
Academically, Fairfield's student-athletes have set the standard for the MAAC as leaders in graduation rate and NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR). The Stags consistently hold an NCAA Graduation Success Rate over 90 percent with several teams garnering NCAA Public Recognition Awards on an annual basis.
Doris has been instrumental in bringing the national sports spotlight to Fairfield County and the state of Connecticut. Ƭapp has hosted postseason events for NCAA women's basketball in seven seasons and NCAA men's ice hockey on four occasions at Bridgeport's Webster Bank Arena. For his efforts Doris received the Constituent Supporter of the Year Award in 2004 from the Coastal Fairfield County Convention and Visitors Bureau. His legacy will continue in the coming years as Ƭapp is set to host a 2018 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Regional at Webster Bank Arena as well as three NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship events at Rentschler Field from 2019-22.
“Gene has worked tirelessly for Ƭapp for 23 years and elevated Stags Athletics to new heights in competition, in the classroom and in the community," said Dr. Babington. “On behalf of Ƭapp, I would like to thank Gene for his efforts and commend him on all of his accomplishments during his tenure as Director of Athletics.”
A 2016 inductee in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Hall of Fame, Doris has also received the 2010 Division I Northeast Athletic Director of the Year Award and the 2013 Ƭapp Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award during his illustrious career. He is currently the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Committee Chair and has served as ECAC President in addition to stints on numerous NCAA and MAAC committees.
Prior to his arrival at Ƭapp in 1994, Doris was the athletics director at Marist College for five years, during which time the number of intercollegiate athletic teams grew from 14 to 20. Before that, he was an associate athletics director at Fordham University as well as assistant basketball coach under Richard "Digger" Phelps. Doris coached both basketball and baseball at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y. and junior varsity baseball at Archbishop Molloy High School in Jamaica, N.Y. In 2007, Doris was inducted into the Catholic High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame for his contribution to the New York City-based league. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Fordham University.
