Springfield College
Encyclopedia
Springfield College is a private, coeducational university
located in the City of Springfield
, Massachusetts
. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball
was invented. Professor James Naismith
invented the game in 1891 when Springfield College was known as the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School.
Springfield College's campus is located on the City of Springfield's second largest body of water, (following the Connecticut River
,) Watershops Pond. It lies approximately two miles from Springfield's urban Metro Center
district, the site of its central business district and entertainment district. There are two main sections to the main campus, and eleven satellite campuses around the United States
that offer courses, especially in the School of Human Services. Campus locations include: Houston; San Diego
; Tampa
; Boston; Manchester, New Hampshire
; St. Johnsbury, Vermont
; Charleston, South Carolina
, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
; Los Angeles
, and Wilmington, Delaware
.
Springfield College is best known for its programs in the allied health sciences, human and social services, sports movement activities, and arts and sciences. The mission of Springfield College is to "educate students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to humanity —" a concept defined by the school as "Humanics".
under the founding head of the Physical Education department Luther Gulick Jr.
in 1891. Gulick is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which is named for Naismith.
Alumnus William G. Morgan
, invented of the game of volleyball
.
On February 9, 2008 the Springfield Wrestling team achieved their 900th victory. Springfield College joined Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and Oregon State as the only schools to have achieved this milestone.
Stagg Field serves as the College's main athletic field; it was named after former coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg
who briefly coached Springfield and went on to play a pivotal role in the development of modern football. The baseball
team plays at Berry-Allen Field.
In 1940 Springfield was one of eight teams to make the 1940 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
.
In 2006 and 2007, the school hosted the NCAA
Division III Women's Basketball Final Four
.
The Men's Volleyball team has 6 national titles since the inception of the Division III national championship in 1998, under Head Coach Charlie Sullivan.
The Springfield College Women's Basketball team of 2004–2005, made the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division 3 basketball tournament.
Women's basketball, coached by Noami Graves, has won several conference tournament championships, including the season of 2006.
Springfield College graduates Rusty Jones G '86 and Jon Torine '95 participated in Super Bowl XLI
as the Head Strength and Conditioning coaches of the Chicago Bears
and Indianapolis Colts
, respectively.
The Springfield College Women's Field Hockey Team has won the NEWMAC (New England Women's and Men's Athetic Conference) title for the past five consecutive years (2004–2008).
The men's lacrosse team competes in the Pilgrim League
, where it has won the conference championship in 2010, 2009 and 2008.
Springfield's Women's Swimming and Diving Team has won the NEWMAC Conference title for ten consecutive years (2001–2010) in the Division III Conference.
Springfield's Mens's soccer team were voted National College Champions by the Intercollegiate Soccer Football Association in 1946, 1947 and 1957. This was before the NCAA championship soccer tournament in 1959.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in the City of Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
was invented. Professor James Naismith
James Naismith
The first game of "Basket Ball" was played in December 1891. In a handwritten report, Naismith described the circumstances of the inaugural match; in contrast to modern basketball, the players played nine versus nine, handled a soccer ball, not a basketball, and instead of shooting at two hoops,...
invented the game in 1891 when Springfield College was known as the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School.
Springfield College's campus is located on the City of Springfield's second largest body of water, (following the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
,) Watershops Pond. It lies approximately two miles from Springfield's urban Metro Center
Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
Metro Center is the original colonial settlement of Springfield, Massachusetts, located beside a bend in the Connecticut River. As of 2011, Metro Center features a majority of Western Massachusetts' most important cultural, business, and civic venues...
district, the site of its central business district and entertainment district. There are two main sections to the main campus, and eleven satellite campuses around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that offer courses, especially in the School of Human Services. Campus locations include: Houston; San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
; Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
; Boston; Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
; St. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census. St. Johnsbury is located approximately northwest of the Connecticut River and south of the Canadian border.St...
; Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
; Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
.
Springfield College is best known for its programs in the allied health sciences, human and social services, sports movement activities, and arts and sciences. The mission of Springfield College is to "educate students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to humanity —" a concept defined by the school as "Humanics".
Athletics
Springfield College is known as the "Birthplace of Basketball", a game created by alumnus and faculty member James NaismithJames Naismith
The first game of "Basket Ball" was played in December 1891. In a handwritten report, Naismith described the circumstances of the inaugural match; in contrast to modern basketball, the players played nine versus nine, handled a soccer ball, not a basketball, and instead of shooting at two hoops,...
under the founding head of the Physical Education department Luther Gulick Jr.
Luther Gulick (physician)
Luther Halsey Gulick, Jr. MD was an American physical education instructor, international basketball official, and founder with his wife of the Camp Fire Girls, an international youth organization now known as Camp Fire USA.-Life:...
in 1891. Gulick is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which is named for Naismith.
Alumnus William G. Morgan
William G. Morgan
William G. Morgan was the inventor of volleyball, originally called "Mintonette". He was born in Lockport, New York, USA. He met James Naismith, inventor of basketball, while Morgan was studying at Springfield College, Massachusetts in 1892. Like Naismith, Morgan pursued a career in Physical...
, invented of the game of volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
.
On February 9, 2008 the Springfield Wrestling team achieved their 900th victory. Springfield College joined Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and Oregon State as the only schools to have achieved this milestone.
Stagg Field serves as the College's main athletic field; it was named after former coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
who briefly coached Springfield and went on to play a pivotal role in the development of modern football. The baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team plays at Berry-Allen Field.
In 1940 Springfield was one of eight teams to make the 1940 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1940 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1940 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 8 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the participating champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 20, 1940, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Kansas City, Missouri...
.
In 2006 and 2007, the school hosted the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division III Women's Basketball Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
.
The Men's Volleyball team has 6 national titles since the inception of the Division III national championship in 1998, under Head Coach Charlie Sullivan.
The Springfield College Women's Basketball team of 2004–2005, made the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division 3 basketball tournament.
Women's basketball, coached by Noami Graves, has won several conference tournament championships, including the season of 2006.
Springfield College graduates Rusty Jones G '86 and Jon Torine '95 participated in Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
as the Head Strength and Conditioning coaches of the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, respectively.
The Springfield College Women's Field Hockey Team has won the NEWMAC (New England Women's and Men's Athetic Conference) title for the past five consecutive years (2004–2008).
The men's lacrosse team competes in the Pilgrim League
Pilgrim League
The Pilgrim Lacrosse League is an NCAA Division III men's college lacrosse conference that has member schools in Massachusetts.-Members:The member schools are:* Babson College* Clark University* Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
, where it has won the conference championship in 2010, 2009 and 2008.
Springfield's Women's Swimming and Diving Team has won the NEWMAC Conference title for ten consecutive years (2001–2010) in the Division III Conference.
Springfield's Mens's soccer team were voted National College Champions by the Intercollegiate Soccer Football Association in 1946, 1947 and 1957. This was before the NCAA championship soccer tournament in 1959.
Notable alumni
- John AllaireJohn AllaireJohn Allaire is the current strength and conditioning coordinator for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League.-College:Allaire received his bachelor's degree in science in health fitness from Springfield College.-External links:*-References:...
— Buffalo Bills Strength and Conditioning Coach since 2006 - Harold AmosHarold AmosHarold Amos was an American microbiologist and professor. He taught at Harvard Medical School for nearly fifty years and was the first African American department chair of the school. He also inspired hundreds of minorities to become medical doctors.Amos was born in Pennsauken, New Jersey. He...
— microbiologist and professor - Jeff BlatnickJeff BlatnickJeff Blatnick is a former American Super Heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler and sports commentator. He won NCAA Division II heavyweight wrestling championships in 1978 and 1979 and an Olympic gold in 1984. As a commentator, Blatnick worked UFC 4 through UFC 32 for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
— 1984 Olympic gold medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling - Raymond CastellaniRaymond CastellaniRaymond Jay Castellani was born in Albany, New York on February 13, 1933. He is a former character actor, Skid Row alcoholic, and from humble beginnings in 1987, the founder of the Frontline Foundation, which serves meals to the homeless on the Los Angeles Skid Row.In 1995, Castellani received...
— did not graduate; actor, activist on Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
' Skid RowSkid rowA skid row or skid road is a run-down or dilapidated urban area with a large, impoverished population. The term originally referred literally to a path along which working men skidded logs. Its current sense appears to have originated in the Pacific Northwest... - John CenaJohn CenaJohn Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
— World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE) star, was a college football star, a team captain and All-American center, earned a degree in exercise physiology - Nancy E. Gary — (ScB 1958) dean of Albany Medical CollegeAlbany Medical CollegeAlbany Medical College is a medical school located in Albany, New York, United States. It was founded in 1839 by Amos Dean, Dr. Thomas Hun and others, and is one of the oldest medical schools in the nation...
and Executive Vice President of the Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesUniformed Services University of the Health SciencesThe Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is a health science university run by the U.S. federal government. The primary mission of the school is to prepare graduates for service to the U.S. at home and abroad in the medical corps....
and Dean of its F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine. - Wayne GrangerWayne GrangerWayne Allan Granger is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , Minnesota Twins , St. Louis Cardinals , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox , Houston Astros and Montreal Expos...
— former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcherRelief pitcherA relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
and National LeagueNational LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
saves leader in 1970 - Davis Hart, physician & English channel swimming world record holder, 1972.
- Don HoDon HoDonald Tai Loy "Don" Ho was a Hawaiian and traditional pop musician, singer and entertainer.-Life and career:Ho, of Chinese, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Dutch, and German descent, was born in the small Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako, but he grew up in Kāneohe on the windward side of the island of Oahu...
— Hawaiian musician and entertainer (attended for one year) - Rusty JonesRusty Jones (American football coach)Rusty Jones is the current strength and conditioning coordinator for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.-Coaching career:Jones' National Football League career began in 1985 with the Buffalo Bills. Jones coached for the Bills for 20 NFL seasons before joining the Chicago Bears on...
, strength and conditioning coach for the Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Rob Lasorsa: 1982 Track & Field All American - Founder and President of National Throws Coaches Association
- James NaismithJames NaismithThe first game of "Basket Ball" was played in December 1891. In a handwritten report, Naismith described the circumstances of the inaugural match; in contrast to modern basketball, the players played nine versus nine, handled a soccer ball, not a basketball, and instead of shooting at two hoops,...
— Canadian faculty member, invented basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
in 1891 - Erin PacErin PacErin Pac is an American bobsledder who has competed since 2002. She won two medals in the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event at the FIBT World Championships with a silver in 2007 and a bronze in 2008....
— bronze medal winner in bobsled at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics - Manuel Rivera-OrtizManuel Rivera-OrtizManuel Rivera-Ortiz is an American documentary photographer of Puerto Rican descent, the author of several photographic collections and the recipient of a number of awards. He is best known for his documentary photographs of people's living conditions in less developed countries...
— did not graduate; documentary photographer; attended classes at Springfield Colleges as part of the Massachusetts Migrant Education summer program, where he was offered his first courses in photography and film development. - Steve SpagnuoloSteve SpagnuoloSteven Christopher Spagnuolo is the current head coach of the St. Louis Rams. He was previously the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants from January 2007 to January 2009, and also served for eight years under defensive coordinator Jim Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles.-Early years:Born...
, class of 1982, became head coach of the National Football League's St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in 2009 - Tom WaddellTom WaddellDr. Tom Waddell was the gay American sportsman who founded the international sporting event called the Gay Games, which was named such after the United States Olympic Committee sued Dr. Waddell for using the word "Olympic" in the original name "Gay Olympics". The Gay Games are held every four...
— alumnus, physician and founder of Gay GamesGay GamesThe Gay Games is the world's largest sporting and cultural event organized by and specifically for LGBT athletes, artists, musicians, and others. It welcomes participants of every sexual orientation and every skill level... - Glenn Warner
- Mike WoicikMike WoicikMike Woicik is an American football strength and conditioning coach for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He holds the record for Super Bowl rings won by a coach with six, winning three with the Cowboys and three with the New England Patriots...
— former football coach (1978–79) and current coach for the New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. - Bill Yorzyk, physician & only USA swimming gold medalist in 1956 Olympics, 200M butterfly.