Former Stepinac HS Coach Gene Doris Inducted Into Ecac Hall Of Fame

DANBURY, Conn. – The former Stepinac High School head basketball coach and current Fairfield University Athletic Director Gene Doris and Fordham Athletic Director Emeritus Frank McLaughlin, who served 27 years as AD, were among the inductees into the ECAC Hall of Fame at a gala on Friday in Danbury‎.

Gene Doris (left) and Frank McLaughlin were among the inductees into the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Hall of Fame on Friday.
Photo Credit: *John Cirillo*

Nicole Briggs

04/21/2016 4:30 a.m.

Doris coached 11 seasons at Stepinac in White Plains, including the 1985 championship team. Both Doris and McLaughlin served as assistant coaches to Digger Phelps on the memorable 1971 Fordham team ranked ninth nationally. Doris also served as Marist Athletic Director prior to arriving at Fairfield. ‎

The 2016 class represents a diverse group of former student-athletes, coaches, administrators, teams, officials and support staff from across decades. Honorees have been selected for outstanding achievements, service, dedication, commitment and contributions to the ECAC and its member institutions.

“We are excited to induct this group of people into the ECAC Hall of Fame,” said President and CEO Dr. Kevin T. McGinniss. “These individuals have been incredible assets to the ECAC over the years and will now be recognized for their exceptional accomplishments and influence on intercollegiate athletics."

Fairfield Athletics has flourished under the guidance of Doris, who is in his 22nd year as the director of athletics. His responsibilities include overseeing the varsity athletic program. In 2010, Doris was named the Division I Athletics Director of the Year for the Northeast at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). He also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. Under his leadership, the varsity athletic program has undergone many changes, including increasing the number of varsity sports to 20 and the improvement of athletic facilities, a softball field, an artificial turf field and the construction of a multi-million dollar athletic facility.

Since 1938, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has emerged as the nation's largest Conference. The ECAC has grown considerably from its charter membership of 58, boasting over 300 member schools in Divisions I, II and III. In the 2015-16 academic year, the ECAC will host nearly 100 championships in 32 men’s and women's sports.

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