FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
ATHLETICS AT FORDHAM PREP
A Q & A with Sal Annunziata ’ 11
Sal Annunziata ’ 11 returned to his alma mater as Athletic Director in the summer of 2023 after holding similar roles at both Regis High School and Cardinal Hayes High School . After a stellar high-school baseball career he attended Seton Hall University and starred for the Pirates . Annunziata also spent multiple summers playing in the highly competitive Cape Cod League .
The Prep currently offers
Q : 18 unique varsity sports . Why is it important to offer such a wealth and breadth of opportunities for students to participate in interscholastic athletics ?
What attracts studentathletes from around the
Q : tri-state area to our program and makes them want to suit up for the Rams ?”?
Each year , we have a
Q : number of student-athletes go on to play at the collegiate level at competitive academic institutions . What does Fordham Prep do that prepares them so well for that experience ?
How has high-school
Q : athletics changed since you attended Prep ? What does the future of Fordham Prep athletics look like to you ?
Offering a variety of sports is essential to ensure a competitive and balanced athletic
A : experience for all student-athletes at the Prep . The lessons learned through athletics during a student ’ s four years are an invaluable part of our mission . We want to ensure that every student has the opportunity to participate in a varsity sport if they so choose . I have two brothers who also attended the Prep and we all played different sports . That is one of the special aspects of Fordham Prep Athletics : opportunity for everyone to be a part of a program that fits them best .
To start , sharing the Rose Hill campus with Fordham University gives our student-athletes
A : a unique opportunity to practice and play on high-level NCAA Division I facilities . Numerous teams travel during their seasons . These trips provide experiences that will last beyond the high school years . This year alone , Rams traveled to Portugal , Ireland , Puerto Rico , California , Miami , and South Carolina . Over 70 % of our student body will participate in a sport during their time at the Prep . Our offerings speak to student-athletes of all types . Finally , I would say our college placement is excellent . Coaches , teachers , and counselors put a lot of time and effort into ensuring proper placement for our student athletes from both an academic and athletic standpoint . Colleges know that Fordham Prep student-athletes are , in the truest sense of the word , outstanding students and high-caliber athletes .
Fordham Prep prepares our student-athletes to be successful at all types of schools .
A : The recruiting process can be intimidating . We spend a lot of time with each student to assess what would be the right fit for them — academically , geographically , institutionally , and athletically . This individualized attention to each student is a big reason for our success . It is also very Ignatian , which permeates everything we do at the Prep . I know that our coaches are very gratified when they help one of their players , through training , encouragement , or relationships with collegiate staff , achieve their dream of continuing their careers after high school .
All aspects of the high-school experience go through periods of change . However , there
A : have been dramatic changes in high-school athletics over the last five to ten years . Social media , live streaming capabilities , name / image / likeness ( NIL ) contracts — are now standard practices in high-school athletics . This was certainly not the case when I was at the Prep not so long ago . These have enhanced the ability for Fordham Prep to promote our studentathletes and athletic program to both college coaches and prospective families . In addition , upgrades to athletic facilities continue to be an area of focus of all high schools . One need look no further than the Prep ’ s new Fitness and Wellness Center to see that continual improvement of the physical plant and access is vital to our strategic athletic goals .
One thing that has not changed , however , is the wonderful community that exists here at the Prep . The community exists due to the care and dedication of our entire coaching staff and the support of our administration , faculty and staff , parents , and alumni .
The Athletic Department is committed to offering the best possible experience for each student-athlete . That this mission is fully supported by the entire Fordham Prep community , it is exciting to think about what the future holds for the Rams .
SUMMER 2024 VOLUME 44 , ISSUE 2 3