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THE SAINTS FOOTBALL PROGRAM
A new era of football began at St. Lawrence University in January of 2001 when Chris Phelps was named the head coach of the Saints football team, a move that paralleled the completion of Leckonby Stadium in the summer of 2000. After a rebuilding period, Phelps set a new benchmark for St. Lawrence football in 2006. The Saints finished the season 5-4, their first winning season since 1991. The Saints earned a thrilling win over Johns Hopkins University and a season-highlighting 42-38 victory over the 2005 Northeast Bowl Champions and league foe Renesselaer Engineers. Seven Saints received All-League honors, including two First-Team All-Liberty League players and quarterback Matt Bezio was twice named ECAC Offensive Player of the Week. The Saints look to continue to raise the bar of excellence in 2007.
The Saints, a regional power in the 1970s and 1980s with three NCAA appearances, now play in beautiful new Leckonby Stadium, featuring a natural turf field, a new grandstand and brand new press box facilities. The program also welcomed a modernized fitness and weight training center that accompanied the completion of Newell Field House in the summer of 2001.
Phelps is a 1991 graduate of St. Lawrence University and still holds the school-record for career all-purpose yards. He served as the receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of New Hampshire before returning to his alma mater. Phelps' coaching resume includes a stint as head coach at Siena College in 1999 and 2000 as well as assistant coaching positions at Hobart College and the University of Albany.
Phelps serves as the head coach and offensive coordinator for the Saints. Behind a solid work ethic, attention to detail and a dedicated coaching staff, Phelps has helped to significantly increase the number of players in the Saints program. His eye for talent has shone brightly as the Saints have had 46 all-league players during his tenure at St. Lawrence. The Saints head coach owns an 13-45 record at St. Lawrence, as the Saints finished the 2006 season 5-4, their first winning record since 1991.
Phelps and his staff achieved success in 2006 with a young group of talent. The Saints 2006 roster included 46 freshman, all of whom look to return for the 2007 season. The Saints will return their top two receivers from 2006, Brett Young and Mike O'Donnell, both First-Team All-Liberty League players in 2006. A junior, Young is a three-time All-Liberty League team member. In 2006 he caught 42 passes for 535 yards and five touchdowns. O'Donnell, the Saints leading receiver for the past two years caught 29 passes for 652 yards and eight touchdowns.
Defensive coordinator Kevin Farr has rebuilt the Saints defense into one of the best in the conference, with St.Lawrence players consistently among the defensive leaders in the conference. In his first five seasons on the Saints staff, his defenses have produced 19 all-league players. In 2006, the Saints ranked second in the Liberty League in pass defense.
St. Lawrence is a charter member of the Liberty League - formerly the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association. The league includes founding institutions Clarkson University, Hamilton College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the University of Rochester, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, St.Lawrence University, Skidmore College and Union College. Vassar College became a full member of the league in 2000-2001. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Worcester Polytechnic Institute joined the league in the fall of 2004 as associate members for football only. With the expansion of the football league from five to eight teams, the Liberty League will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Football Tournament.
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