LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Fran McCaffery upon the occasion
of his designation for special recognition by Catholic Charities Care-
giver Support Services

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding individuals whose professional lives, personal endeavors and
community service are an example and inspiration to their colleagues,
friends, and family; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late Fran McCaffery upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by Catholic Charities Caregiver Support Services; this
auspicious occasion will be celebrated at the organization's 23rd Anni-
versary Celebration, to be held on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at The
Carondelet Hospitality Center, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham, New
York; and
WHEREAS, An inspiration for the families served by Catholic Charities
Caregiver Support Services, and for the organization itself, Fran McCaf-
fery is the Head Basketball Coach at Siena College; and
WHEREAS, Fran McCaffery's five years at Siena have been the best in
its 70-year storied history; he led the Saints on an incredible run that
ended with three straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champion-
ships and NCAA Tournament appearances; under his leadership, Siena
became the only men's basketball program in the country to win its regu-
lar season and postseason title the last three years; and
WHEREAS, Coach McCaffery's Siena Saints owned a 112-51 record in his
five years with the program; after orchestrating the fifth greatest
turnaround in all of Division I in his first year, he led Siena to a
20-win season and a MAAC Championship game appearance in his second
season at the helm; in 2007-08, Siena took the biggest step forward
under his direction, earning the MAAC Regular-Season and Tournament
Championship as well as an NCAA Tournament First Round win over Vander-
bilt; in 2008-09, Siena repeated the feat, winning the regular-season
title outright before capturing the MAAC Tournament crown and went on to
defeat Ohio State 74-72 in double overtime in one of the NCAA Tourna-
ment's most exciting games; and
WHEREAS, This past season, Fran McCaffery led Siena to its fourth
straight 20-win season, something never before done in program history;
Siena ran away with the league title, clinching the No. 1 seed in the
MAAC Tournament on February 8 with four conference games remaining;
Siena won the 2010 MAAC Championship with a 72-65 overtime win against
Fairfield and proceeded to its third consecutive NCAA Tournament; and
WHEREAS, Named the NABC District I Coach of the Year in 2010, Fran
McCaffery was also the 2009 MAAC Coach of the Year; he is the third
winningest coach by percentage in league history (68-22, .756) and is
the only coach to guide a MAAC program to two NCAA Tournament wins; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, Fran McCaffery became just the 31st coach (15th
active) to take three different programs to the "Big Dance", and he is
the first to do so with three programs from one-bid leagues; he also
boasts a 100 per cent graduation rate among student-athletes he has
recruited who have exhausted their eligibility during his tenure; and
WHEREAS, Prior to his becoming the Head Coach at Siena College, Fran
McCaffery was the Head Coach at UNC-Greensboro; prior to his arrival at
Greensboro, he was an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the

University of Notre Dame for 11 seasons; at the age of 26, he was the
nation's youngest Division I Head Coach at Lehigh University (1985-88);
and
WHEREAS, In 1982, Fran McCaffery earned a Bachelor of Science degree
from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of
Pennsylvania; he received his Master's degree in Education from Lehigh
in 1985; while at the University of Pennsylvania he lettered three years
as point guard on the men's basketball team; and
WHEREAS, A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fran McCaffery
attended LaSalle High School; he and his wife, Margaret, have four chil-
dren: sons, Connor, Patrick and Jonathan, and a daughter, Marit; the
McCaffery's have been actively involved in Coaches vs. Cancer in the
Capital Region and beyond; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his professional and communi-
ty service, a period of constructive involvement, Fran McCaffery has
stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor, and has earned the
respect and admiration of his colleagues, family and friends; rare
indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the bene-
fit of others which Fran McCaffery has displayed throughout his life;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire
State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Fran McCaffery upon the occasion of his designation for
special recognition by Catholic Charities Caregiver Support Services;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Fran McCaffery.