Men's Basketball | February 26, 2016

PHILADELPHIA - La Salle University is proud to announce that alumnus Stephen Degnan '87 has made a $250,000 commitment to the Men's Basketball program.
 
"La Salle has an unmatched basketball heritage and I am hoping I can do a small part to help the University celebrate the sport, celebrate our tremendous past success, enhance the student experience at the games, create raving fans with irrational devotion to our team, generate passion among our alumni, and ultimately garner more success for both the team and the University as a whole," stated Degnan.
 
The gift will be the anchor for a newly created fund that will be dedicated to men's basketball and will provide funding for unique team travel necessities, non-conference and in-season tournament scheduling demands, and provide revenue above and beyond the existing basketball budget to help the Explorers enjoy some of the same competitive advantages that their opponents do. 
 
It is one of the largest gifts ever made directly to the Men's Basketball program, which dates back to the late 1800s.
 
La Salle President Dr. Colleen Hanycz stated that "the rich history of Men's Basketball program at La Salle spans over one hundred years. I'm thrilled and grateful for Stephen's commitment to our program. This is wonderful for our student athletes. Others have expressed an interest in adding to this fund, which will be program-altering for years to come."
 
Degnan, who also serves on the University's Board of Trustees, hopes that this gift and what he sees as a more concerted effort to promote and celebrate the culture of basketball at La Salle on the administration's part can be a catalyst for programmatic change in the Men's Basketball program.
 
"This is just a start, as I am hoping more alumni will join me in making similar gifts.  Go Explorers and St. John Baptiste De La Salle, pray for us! (and some wins!)"