Holy Cross is committed to maintaining compliance with the rules of the NCAA. Coaches, administrators, and other staff members must follow NCAA regulations. Complete conformity with the rules, however, extends beyond the Holy Cross campus. Crusader alumni, friends and fans must also cooperate with the College in its compliance efforts.
Student-Athlete Handbook in PDF Format
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Recruiting Rules for Prospective Student-Athletes
Who is a prospective student-athlete?
A prospective student-athlete ("prospect") is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospect if Holy Cross provides the individual (or the individual's relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the College does not provide to prospective students generally.
When are telephone calls to prospects allowed?
In sports other than football, basketball, and hockey, Holy Cross staff members may not telephone a prospect (or the prospect's relatives or legal guardians) prior to July 1 following the prospect's completion of the junior year in high school. After July 1, coaching staff members may telephone a prospect once per week (measured Sunday through Saturday). The once-per-week limit applies to the entire institution.
When may a prospect call Holy Cross coaches?
Holy Cross coaching staff members may receive telephone calls placed by a prospect at the prospect's own expense at any time, including before July 1 following the prospect's junior year in high school.
Do prospects need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
The NCAA mandates that all student-athletes interested in competing at the Division I or II level must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Prospective student-athletes may register online at https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/student/index_student.html.
May prospects visit the Holy Cross campus?
An official visit is a visit that is financed in whole or in part by Holy Cross. A prospect may not make more than five expense-paid visits to NCAA member institutions, regardless of the number of sports in which the prospect is involved. A prospect may only make one official visit to a single institution. An institution may not provide an expense-paid visit to a prospect who has not presented the institution with a high school (or college) academic transcript and a score from a PSAT, an SAT, a PACTPlus, or an ACT test taken on a national testing date under national testing conditions. A prospect may not be provided an expense-paid visit earlier than the opening day of classes of the prospect's senior year in high school.
Prospective student-athletes must register online with the NCAA Eligibility Center prior to making an official visit to campus.
An unofficial visit is a visit made at the prospect's own expense. A prospect may visit an institution's campus at the prospect's own expense an unlimited number of times and may make an unofficial visit before his or her senior year in high school.
Rules for Representatives of Holy Cross' Athletics Interests
Holy Cross is held accountable for the actions of "representatives of athletic interests" such as alumni, friends, and fans. NCAA rules violations by representatives could jeopardize Crusader athletic programs.
Who is a representative of Holy Cross' athletics interests?
A representative of Holy Cross' athletics interests is:
- An individual who is known by a member of the Holy Cross administration to have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization that promotes the Holy Cross athletics program.
- An individual who has made financial contributions to the Holy Cross athletics program, the Crusader Athletics Fund or the Holy Cross Varsity Club.
- An individual who has assisted (or who has been asked by the athletic department) to assist in the recruitment of prospects.
- An individual who has provided benefits to current student-athletes and their families.
- An individual who has been involved otherwise in promoting the Holy Cross athletics program.
Who can recruit for Holy Cross?
Holy Cross coaches are the only individuals permitted to recruit for the Crusaders. In order to recruit off-campus, Holy Cross coaches must first take an NCAA Coaches Certification Exam. Only those coaches who have been certified may contact or evaluate any prospective student-athletes off-campus. Coaches must be certified on an annual basis.
NCAA Recruiting Guidelines for Representatives of Holy Cross' Athletics Interests
Representatives of the College's athletics interests may not make in-person, on- or off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect or the prospect's relatives or legal guardians. This includes e-mail, fax transmission, telephone calls, letters, or contact on- or off-campus with a prospect or his or her parents.
Furthermore, representatives of the College's athletic interests:
- MAY NOT contact high school coaches, principals, or counselors in an attempt to evaluate prospects.
- MAY NOT visit prospects' schools to pick up transcripts or films.
- MAY NOT provide any transportation to prospects.
- MAY NOT provide prospects or their parents or guardians with tickets to Holy Cross athletic events.
- MAY NOT entertain or contact prospects during official visits.
- MAY NOT pay or arrange payment of transportation costs incurred by relatives or friends of a prospect visiting the campus.
- MAY NOT contact an enrolled student-athlete at another institution for the purpose of encouraging transfer to Holy Cross and participation in its athletics program.
MAY speak to prospects on the telephone ONLY IF the prospect initiates the call and the call is not for recruitment purposes. Representatives must refer questions about the Holy Cross athletics program to the athletic department staff.
| SPORT | Head Coach | Office Phone | E-Mail Link |
| BASEBALL | Greg DiCenzo | (508) 793-2753 | E-Mail DiCenzo |
| BASKETBALL (M) | Ralph Willard | (508) 793-2323 | E-Mail Willard |
| BASKETBALL (W) | Bill Gibbons | (508) 793-3429 | E-Mail Gibbons |
| CROSS COUNTRY & TRACK (M) | Jim Kavanagh | (508) 793-2317 | E-Mail Kavanagh |
| CROSS COUNTRY & TRACK (W) | Egetta Alfonso | (508) 793-2315 | E-Mail Alfonso |
| FIELD HOCKEY | Alicia Hawk | (508) 793-2319 | E-Mail Hawk |
| FOOTBALL | Tom Gilmore | (508) 793-2584 | E-Mail Gilmore |
| GOLF (M&W) | Bob Molt | (508) 793-2571 | E-Mail Molt |
| ICE HOCKEY (M) | Paul Pearl | (508) 793-2326 | E-Mail Pearl |
| ICE HOCKEY (W) | Peter VanBuskirk | (508) 793-3407 | E-Mail VanBuskirk |
| LACROSSE (M) | Adam Pascal | (508) 793-2674 | E-Mail Pascal |
| LACROSSE (W) | Stephanie Ridolfi | (508) 793-3682 | E-Mail Ridolfi |
| ROWING (W) | Patrick Diggins | (508) 793-3340 | E-Mail Diggins |
| ROWING (M) | Todd Pearson | (508) 793-3340 | E-Mail Pearson |
| SOCCER (M) | Elvis Comrie | (508) 793-2726 | E-Mail Comrie |
| SOCCER (W) | Deb Flaherty | (508) 793-3624 | E-Mail Flaherty |
| SOFTBALL | Brian Claypool | (508) 793-3627 | E-Mail Claypool |
| SWIMMING & DIVING (M&W) | Barry Parenteau | (508) 793-3430 | E-Mail Parenteau |
| TENNIS (M&W) | Michael Lucas | (508) 793-3626 | E-Mail Lucas |
| VOLLEYBALL | Marritt Cafarchia | (508) 793-3623 | E-Mail Cafarchia |
Who is a student-athlete?
A student-athlete is a student who was recruited by a member of the athletics staff or other representative of athletics interests with the ultimate goal of the student's participation in intercollegiate athletics. Any other student becomes a student-athlete when he or she reports for any varsity team.
What benefits may representatives of Holy Cross' athletics interests provide to student-athletes?
Student-athletes and their parents are prohibited from receiving extra benefits from Holy Cross employees or representatives of the College's athletics interests. As a general rule, "extra benefits" are those benefits that are not available to the student body and their families. Any student-athlete who receives an award, extra benefit, or expense allowance not authorized by NCAA legislation becomes ineligible for competition in his or her sport.
Representatives of the College's athletic interests:
MAY NOT treat student-athletes to a meal at a restaurant or to entertainment services.
MAY NOT provide student-athletes with transportation or access to an automobile.
MAY NOT arrange for a special discount, payment plan, or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing) or a service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning) for student-athletes.
MAY NOT loan money, arrange for a loan, guarantee a bond, sign or cosign a note with an outside agency for student-athletes.
- MAY provide employment at regular rates of pay for similar employees during the summer or other permissible work periods.
MAY provide a team or student-athlete an occasional family home meal provided the meals take place in the representatives' home and they are restricted to special occasions.
