LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Pat Genovese upon the occasion of
her induction as a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Class of
2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
outstanding athletes and coaches who distinguish themselves through
their exceptional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the
highest level of personal achievement; and
WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved
only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, nurtured by
dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical develop-
ment of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of
fair play and competition; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
congratulate Pat Genovese upon the occasion of her induction as a member
of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Class of 2009; this auspicious
induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2009, at The
Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley, Maryland; and
WHEREAS, The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame was established in 1957 to
honor men and women, past and present, who by their deeds as players,
coaches, officials and/or contributors, and by the example of their
lives, personify the great contribution of lacrosse to our way of life;
more than 325 lacrosse greats are honored in this Hall of Fame, which is
located along with the Lacrosse Museum at US Lacrosse Headquarters in
Baltimore, Maryland; and
WHEREAS, William Smith College Lacrosse Coach Patricia (Pat) Price
Genovese is a three-time NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year
and is the only person to stand at the helm of the Heron lacrosse
program; no collegiate lacrosse coach (men's or women's) has more wins
than Pat Genovese who boasts a career mark of 362-133-1, for an
outstanding .731 winning percentage; and
WHEREAS, While her career win total and winning percentage is impres-
sive, it is Pat Genovese's mentorship of thousands of Heron student-ath-
letes, on and off the field, and the positive influence she has had on
their growth that defines her as a truly great coach; the ripple effect
of her coaching has spread throughout the lacrosse world as many of her
former players have gone on to coach lacrosse at the youth, club, high
school, and collegiate level; and
WHEREAS, Pat Genovese has tutored 94 lacrosse All-Americans, while
seven of her charges have earned the prestigious National Player of the
Year Award; she has led the Herons to 16 NCAA Tournament berths, advanc-
ing to the national semifinals 11 times and the national championship
game five times; she has also coached William Smith to two ECAC regional
tournament championships, in 1985 and 2001; and
WHEREAS, Named the Liberty League Coach of the Year in 2003 and again
in 2006, Pat Genovese's William Smith teams have won three Liberty Leag-
ue regular season championships and two Liberty League Tournament titles
over the past eight years, and only once in that time has her team
finished out of the top three in the league; her 2009 team was 11-4
overall (6-2 in the Liberty League) and ranked 13th in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Pat Genovese is a magna cum laude graduate of SUNY Cortland,
and earned her Master's degree from Ithaca College; she was inducted
into the Cortland "C" Club Hall of Fame in 1990, the Rochester/ Western

New York Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1998, the William Smith Athletics Hall
of Honor in 1999, and the Green Mountain College Hall of Fame in 2008;
and
WHEREAS, A three-time coach of the North-South All-Star Game, in 2007
Pat Genovese also received the NYSWCAA Service Award for her contrib-
utions to women's athletics; and
WHEREAS, Pat Genovese also coached the William Smith field hockey team
from 1971 through 1987, leading them to three state titles, an NCAA
regional title, and a trip to its first NCAA Division III title game in
1987; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her coaching duties, Pat Genovese serves as an
Assistant Director of Athletics at William Smith; she plays an integral
role in the Department's fundraising, overseeing the Heron Society's
Corporate Alliance Program; she was also a central figure in the manage-
ment of the 2006 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship which was
hosted by William Smith; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and William Smith Lacrosse Coach Pat Genovese has clear-
ly made a contribution to the spirit of excellence which is a tradition
of her college; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Pat Genovese upon the occasion of her induction as a member
of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Class of 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Pat Genovese, William Smith College, Geneva, New York.