Mason Sports

Patriots Win Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship

Janelle Applewhite — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 17:29:26 +0000

Patriots Win Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship Janelle Applewhite Mon, 07/03/2023 - 13:29

Photo by Mason Athletics

The Mason baseball team claimed the 2023 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship with a 6-2 victory over fourth-seeded Saint Louis on Saturday, May 27, at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia. This is the Patriots’ second A-10 title. Mason won its first A-10 title in 2014, the program's first season in the conference.

Mason is making its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance. At press time, the Patriots were headed to the Winston-Salem Regional of the 2023 NCAA Baseball Tournament in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

This season the Patriots won 34 games under first-year head coach and Mason alum Shawn Camp, BA Sociology ’21, the most the team has posted since 2014. Camp played baseball for Mason from 1995 to 1997.

Find out how they did at gomason.com.

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A Hat Trick for Mason Athletics

Janelle Applewhite — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:56:57 +0000

A Hat Trick for Mason Athletics Janelle Applewhite Mon, 07/03/2023 - 11:56

Mason Athletics has been building its leadership roster this spring with the addition of a new athletic director, a new men’s basketball head coach, and the extension of Mason’s women’s basketball head coach’s contract.

Marvin Lewis

Marvin Lewis is the new assistant vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Germantown, Maryland, native boasts 15 years of athletic administrative leadership with various impressive NCAA Division I institutions. Lewis, who begins July 1, assumed senior leadership roles at Georgia Tech, University of Maryland, Georgia State, and most recently at Brown University as the school’s assistant vice president for athletics and recreation/chief operating officer.

Lewis is regarded as one of the nation’s most respected up-and-comers in athletics administration, having been named to the CollegeAD Next Up list in 2017 and the 2018-19 College Athletic Business Management Association (CABMA) Manager of the Year. He successfully completed the prestigious NCAA Pathway Program for aspiring athletics directors and conference commissioners in 2020.

“I am attracted to Mason because of its distinct blend of world-class academics, nationally competitive athletics, and the location in Northern Virginia,” says Lewis. “Mason is everything that is right about higher education, creating diverse and inclusive communities that enhance the experience for all students.”

Tony Skinn

Tony Skinn, BA Communication ’06, was named the 12th head coach in Mason men’s basketball program history. A key starter on Mason’s celebrated 2006 Final Four team and one of the best all-around guards in program history, Skinn returns to his alma mater after nearly a decade of collegiate coaching.

During that decorated coaching career, he’s guided three different programs, including University of Maryland, to the NCAA Tournament, been a part of six 20+ win campaigns, and established himself as a stout recruiter both within the talent-rich Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region, as well as across the country.

“It is with great excitement that I return home to Mason,” Skinn says. “I’ve had some of my greatest memories here and I’m looking forward to making new ones with our fans and our community. Our best days are ahead!”

Vanessa Blair-Lewis

Women’s basketball head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis’s contract has been extended through the 2027-28 season. The extension comes after the Patriots’ rapid improvement under Blair-Lewis’s leadership during her first two seasons in Fairfax.

The team saw victories in back-to-back Atlantic 10 Conference Tournaments while the number of regular season wins increased by double digits in a short time. Blair-Lewis has seen major success with the women’s basketball team as Mason finished 16-15 this season and 8-8 in Atlantic 10 play, the Patriots’ first winning season since 2017-18. In both seasons since her arrival, Blair-Lewis has led the Patriots to a win in the conference tournament, including a run to the A10 quarterfinals this year. In the upcoming 2023-24 season, Mason will return with its top four point scorers.

“In a short period of time, we have built an amazing family environment and a strong culture in which everyone is loved, valued, and respected,” says Blair-Lewis. “I am proud to serve this great university and will continue to make Mason Nation proud. In all we do, excellence is our standard.”

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Mason Names Marvin Lewis Assistant Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

Jeannine Harvey — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 14:55:38 +0000

Mason Names Marvin Lewis Assistant Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jeannine Harvey Wed, 04/19/2023 - 10:55

Fairfax, VA.—��AV President Gregory Washington has named Marvin Lewis as the Patriots’ Assistant Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Lewis, who signed a five-year contract, will become Mason’s sixth athletics director when he begins on July 1.

The Germantown, Maryland, native boasts 15 years of athletic administrative leadership with various impressive NCAA Division I institutions. Lewis assumed senior leadership roles at Georgia Tech, University of Maryland, Georgia State, and most recently at Brown University as the school’s assistant vice president for athletics and recreation/chief operating officer.

“We are pleased to welcome Marvin Lewis to Mason,” Mason President Gregory Washington said. “His strong background in Division I athletics makes him a great choice to take Patriots Athletics to the next level. But, beyond that, what impressed me from the outset in talking with him are the values he holds dear that run similar to our own. We look forward to the great things he will do in setting the standard of excellence for our student-athletes in every way.”

During his tenure at Brown, Lewis led a brand and visual identity refresh, launched new fan engagement initiatives and premium amenities, developed a divisional strategic plan, and implemented a long-term financial model that elevates the baseline student-athlete experience. As a member of the executive leadership team, Lewis led the external relations team focused on revenue generation, fan engagement, strategic communications, and athletics and recreation storytelling. In addition, he oversaw the business and financial operations, facilities and events, human resources and talent development, and equipment operations. He served as sport administrator for several sports, including men’s basketball.

“I am attracted to George Mason because of its distinct blend of world-class academics, nationally competitive athletics, and the location in Northern Virginia. Mason is everything that is right about higher education, creating diverse and inclusive communities that enhance the experience for all students,” said Lewis. “There is tremendous energy and excitement around President Washington's transformational leadership and bold vision for the university and athletics. I am ecstatic to join his leadership team and Mason Nation!”

Lewis has served as an athletic department liaison with the ACC, Big Ten, Ivy League, and the Colonial Athletic Association. Lewis looks forward to partnering with the Atlantic 10 Conference.

“The A10 is one of the best conferences in the country,” added Lewis. “Its diverse membership and presence in competitive media markets makes it extremely attractive for recruits, student-athletes, and fans of highly competitive athletics. My goal is to position Mason to consistently compete for A10 championships.”

He began his rise in athletics administration at Georgia State and later assumed leadership roles at both Georgia State and Maryland. He then spent nearly seven years at his alma mater Georgia Tech as the senior associate athletics director for administration and finance before leaving for Brown in July 2021.

Lewis was also instrumental in the University of Maryland’s transition to the Big Ten Conference. Lewis chaired the Business and Travel Workgroup within the Big Ten Integration Committee, which analyzed the financial impact of the conference transition. He developed the comprehensive 12-year financial model for the Business and Finance Workgroup of the President’s Commission on Big Ten Integration.

A former two-time captain of the Georgia Tech basketball team, Lewis graduated with honors from Georgia Tech in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in management before becoming a licensed CPA. He later earned a master’s degree in taxation from Georgia State in 2008. The guard led the Yellow Jackets to the 2004 national championship game.

Interim Athletic Director Nena Rogers will remain in that role until June 30 before resuming her previous position as senior associate athletic director for academic services and Mason’s Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). Rogers’ strong leadership and continued advocacy for the department and its student-athletes over the past eight months has been critical during a significant transitional period that included the recent hiring of a new men’s basketball coach.

“We cannot thank Nena Rogers enough for her tireless efforts over the past eight months in making sure that our student-athletes continued to have everything they needed to be successful at the highest levels,” Washington said. “��AV will forever be grateful.”

What they are saying about Marvin Lewis

“George Mason is getting an outstanding leader who is very innovative and collaborative. I have had the pleasure of working closely with Marvin the past two years as my sports supervisor. He is a thoughtful leader who has a holistic approach in the development of student-athletes, coaches, and staff. Marvin’s experience as a student-athlete and administrator at the highest level has prepared him to lead and thrive at George Mason.” —Mike Martin, Brown University men’s head basketball coach

“Marvin is a world-class leader who had an immediate impact on my program, and our athletic department here at Brown. He is a winner, a motivator, he’s thoughtful and forward-thinking. He has played at the highest level of collegiate athletics, so he can relate to the D1 demand for peak performance and support. The athletes, coaches, and staff will greatly benefit from his leadership and guidance.” —Kia McNeill, Brown University, women’s head soccer coach

“George Mason hit a home run hiring Marvin Lewis to lead their athletic department. Marvin is an incredible leader of people. Marvin's leadership abilities and qualities will ultimately lead George Mason athletics to the highest level of success not only in the A10, but on a national stage. All coaches, administrators, and student-athletes at George Mason should be so excited to have a person like Marvin Lewis leading the George Mason team.” —Josh Pastner, former head basketball coach at Georgia Tech

"��AV has just landed a bright, dedicated, hardworking, loyal and, most essentially, a morally sound individual to lead the Patriots Athletics Department! Marvin understands commitment from coaches, athletes and students and he understands the significance of developing, then nurturing appropriate lines of communication with the various constituencies he will serve. Marvin’s experiences as a student, as an athlete and as an athletics leader are extraordinary! He possesses a keen sense about the value of outreach to others and how to foster togetherness. His warm and sincere personality, coupled with his enthusiasm and constantly positive outlook, will be a major resource for the entire ��AV community.” —Paul Brazeau, ACC senior associate commissioner/men’s basketball

“I’m really excited for Marvin and his family. This is a great opportunity for him to continue his growth as an outstanding leader. He is a fantastic hire for George Mason. Having worked with Marvin for several years, I found him to be genuine, passionate, and driven to win. He worked tirelessly to provide a great experience for the student-athletes, the resources to compete at the highest levels, and the support necessary for health and well-being.” —Alan Drosky, Georgia Tech head coach, cross country and women's track and field

ABOUT ��AV

��AV is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls nearly 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at gmu.edu.