SHANNON SLIGO NAMED MEN'S LACROSSE COACH

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (October 30, 2006)- American International College Director of Athletics Richard Bedard announced Monday that Shannon Sligo, a native of South Hadley, Mass.,  has been named head men's lacrosse coach, effective immediately.  Sligo, who is the first full-time coach in program history, has served as the assistant men's lacrosse coach at Amherst College for the past four years.

"We look forward to Shannon leading our men's lacrosse program at AIC," said Bedard.  "He is well known in the local lacrosse community, and his contacts in the area will be beneficial as we look to build our program."

For the past four seasons, Sligo has served as the Lord Jeffs' assistant coach, helping lead the team to back-to-back 11 win seasons in 2004 and 2005.  While at Amherst, Sligo assisted head coach Tom Carmean with scouting opponents, developing game plans and practices, as well as working on player personnel matchups.

An accomplished player, Sligo was a four-year member of the men's lacrosse team at Eastern Connecticut State University from 1997-2000.  With the Warriors, Sligo was a two-time All-American defenseman, three-time All-New England selection and four time team MVP.  He still holds the school record for career ground balls at ECSU with 282.  A three-year captain, Sligo led the Warriors to three Pilgrim League championships.  He graduated from ECSU in 2000 with a degree in Sociology.

Sligo has worked as a counselor at several lacrosse camps, most notably camps at the University of Massachusetts and Roger Williams University.

The AIC men's lacrosse program will take a one-year hiatus from the playing field in the spring of 2007, giving Sligo the opportunity to devote his full energies to recruiting during the 2006-07 academic year.  The Yellow Jackets will return to a full Northeast-10 schedule in the spring of 2008.