General Athletics Phone: 732.987.2683
General Athletics Fax: 732.987.2002
Director of Athletics & Recreation
732-987-2685 | liesmanl@georgian.edu
Laura B. Liesman was named Georgian Court University's Director of Athletics & Recreation in September 2003. A native of Aurora, Illinois, she received a bachelor of arts degree in sociology with a business concentration from Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, and a master of science in sports management from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.
In just a short time at GCU, Liesman has already guided the athletics program to new heights. She has worked hand-in-hand with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, making it a dynamic entity on campus. Her vision for GCU is to continue to increase the number of student-athletes, while gaining more exposure for the program in the media and the general public. With her guidance, GCU is building a new state-of-the-art recreation, wellness and athletics complex, which will become the new home of GCU Athletics in Fall 2008.
Prior to GCU, Liesman worked at the College of Saint Benedict as assistant director of athletics/director of summer camps. She had been associated with the CSB Athletic department since 2001, with duties including marketing, fund raising, promotions, summer camps, and compliance. Her accomplishments included expanding the colleges Blazer Backer program, CSBs Blazer Open Golf Outing, and increasing camp revenue each year.
Liesman holds memberships in the National Association of Collegiate Womens Athletic Administrators (NACWAA), the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), and the Division II Athletic Directors Association. She is a 2003 graduate of the NACWAA/HERS Institute for Administrative Advancement.
 Shelana Poindexter
Associate Director of Athletics/Compliance and Student-Athlete Welfare
732.987.2472 | poindexters@georgian.edu
Shelana Poindexter was named Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and Student-Athlete Welfare in July, 2008 after spending the previous two years as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator at Abilene Christian University in Texas. Poindexter’s duties included determining eligibility and academic progress for ACU student-athletes in compliance with NCAA, Lone Star Conference and ACU rules. She was also in charge of educating coaches and staff of NCAA and LSC rules, interpreting those rules and developing and implementing rules education programs. She was also the Student-athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor as well as the CHAMPS/Life Skills coordinator, duties that she will continue here at GCU. Poindexter also served as a NCAA Division II Leadership Academy Facilitator.
Prior to joining the ACU staff, Poindexter was an administrative intern for the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA). From June 2005 to May 2006 she helped maintain the membership databases and convention registration databases along with handling all aspects of NACWAA communication.
Shelana completed her master’s degree in Organizational and Human Resource Development at ACU in December 2007. She also received her Bachelor of Business Administration from ACU in May 2004. After graduation, she went to work for Mechanics and Farmers Bank, Inc corporate offices in Durham, NC as a marketing assistant.
As a student-athlete at ACU, Poindexter was a member of the ACU women’s track and field team, competing in the shot put and discus. As a junior she finished third in the LSC Championship Meet in the discus.
Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Information & Operations
732.987.2690 | mckibbenc@georgian.edu
Christopher McKibben was named Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Information and Operations in January, 2008 after spending the previous two-and-a-half years with the American Red Cross. This opportunity with the Lions gives McKibben the chance to return to his true passion ... athletics.
Chris worked six seasons in professional baseball, including four (2000-03) as Media Relations Director with the New Britain (CT) Rock Cats, the AA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. In 2003, Chris had the privilege of serving as Media Relations Director of the Eastern League All-Star Game at New Britain Stadium, an event that was broadcast nationwide, while drawing over 100 media representatives and dozens of Major League Baseball dignitaries.
Prior to joining the Rock Cats, McKibben served two years as a media relations intern with the Eastern League of Professional Baseball, Inc. in Portland, ME. A native of Middletown, NJ, McKibben earned a bachelor's degree in Media Relations from the University of Southern Maine with a journalism concentration.
Chris and his wife, Rachel, reside in Middletown with their two children, Trevor and Paige.
 Joe Friedrich
Head Athletic Trainer
732.987.2687 (office) 732.690.7664 (work cell) 732.987.2031 (fax) | friedrichj@georgian.edu
More Athletic Training Info
Friedrich joined the Georgian Court University athletic staff in September 2007. He will be taking on various duties as Head Athletic Trainer for the Lions. He will also be splitting time with the Assistant Trainer in regards to game-day coverage for all sports.
Prior to joining the GCU community, Friedrich served as the certified athletic trainer at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, New Jersey. In the summer of 2007, he worked with the Atlantic City Surf, an independent minor league baseball club in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, Friedrich earned a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Kinesiology with an Athletic Training option. During his professional preparation through Penn State’s accredited athletic training program, Friedrich had the opportunity to work with Penn State athletes on the track and field, lacrosse, and rugby teams.
He is a certified instructor for the American Red Cross for First Aid and CPR for both the professional and lay responder and is preparing to take the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam offered through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Friedrich is licensed as an athletic trainer in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania and is a member of both the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
He currently resides in Absecon, New Jersey, with his wife, Alicia, and makes the daily commute to Lakewood.
 Jodi Anderson
Assistant Athletic Trainer
732.987.2777 | andersonj@georgian.edu
More Athletic Training Info
Jodi joined the Georgian Court University Athletics staff in January of 2008. Prior to moving to New Jersey, Jodi worked over 8 years for the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria, MN as a Certified Athletic Trainer. Her job duties included providing athletic training coverage to two local high schools, rehabilitating patients in clinical setting and coordinating an Athletic Enhancement program for athletes that included Sportsmetrics. The Athletic Enhancement program is an intense training program designed to increase the speed, agility, strength and power of the athlete while incorporating injury prevention techniques. Sportsmetrics is an injury prevention program scientifically designed to reduce knee injuries in the female athlete.
Jodi is a Minnesota native who received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Athletic Training and a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Health Fitness from Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN) in 1998. She became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) in 2003 and worked for Summit Sports Training Center as a Performance Coach in Cherry Hill, NJ just prior to joining the GCU community. Jodi has been an Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B) and an American Red Cross Instructor since 1999; she is also member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Jodi resides in Marlton, NJ. She enjoys the outdoors by spending time on the water, bicycling, snowmobiling, snowboarding, deer hunting, camping and riding her motorcycle. She also enjoys attending country music concerts, watching football and spending time with family and friends.
Athletic Secretary
732.987.2683 | williamsm@georgian.edu
An established member of the Georgian Court University family for over 7 years, Mary Williams transferred to the Department of Athletics and Recreation from the S. Mary Joseph Cunningham Library in August 2004. An enthusiastic fan of sports and student-athletes, Williams brings a diverse experience in youth athletics to her new position.
Having an unusual perspective of Georgian Court University, Williams is not only a staff member, but graduated this past May with her bachelor's degree in Psychology, minoring in Women’s Studies. She will pursue her Masters in School Psychology at Georgian Court, beginning classes this Fall. In addition to that view of the university, her daughter Nicole is a Business student at GCU and will graduate this May.
Her son Tony is a student-athlete at Howell High School and will graduate in June.
Faculty Athletic Representative
732.987.2776 | gallagherc@georgian.edu
Claire Gallagher, Ed.D., is a professor in the School of Education, where her areas are secondary math and science curriculum and instruction. She has been a member of the GCU community for ten years, also serving as the faculty athletic representative.
Gallagher holds a bachelor's degree in marine biology, a master's degree in secondary science education, a master's degree in architecture and a doctorate in architecture education. She holds New Jersey Teaching Certifications in Math (K-12) and Science (K-12), as well as a Supervisor's Certificate, and is an internationally recognized authority on built environment education. Her particular research focuses on the effect of the built environment on the visual and spatial thinking skills of children, and on the connections between pedagogy and school design.
At GCU she uses her expertise in the development of interdisciplinary curricula and inquiry-based teaching strategies with which she infuses the courses she teaches.
Her efforts with the GCU student-athletes has helped bridge the gap between the classroom and the playing field.
Basketball - Head Coach
732.987.2605 | curtisv@georgian.edu
2008-09 marks Coach Curtis' send season with Georgian Court University after guiding the Lions to a 7-20 record in her initial campaign of 2007-08. Curtis comes to GCU via Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania where she guided the Lady Eagles for the past three seasons. Following a 4-23 record in her first season, the Lady Eagles posted the third most improved team in the nation in 2005 with a record of 17-9. The 2005 season was the first winning season for Lock Haven in a decade.
Curtis began her career in college athletics as a student-athlete at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). While there, Valerie was a starter and leading scorer for the Firebirds. In 1993, Curtis led NCAA Division II women’s basketball averaging 6.1 steals per game (135 total). She still ranks second in the nation’s single-season chart for steals. Having finished her collegiate career averaging 4.7 steals per game (318 steals), Valerie ranks third on the NCAA’s all-time list in steals average. While leading her team in 1995 to a record of 20-6, the University of the District of Columbia made a berth into the 1995 NCAA Division II tournament.
Following her stellar collegiate career, Coach Curtis joined the UDC coaching staff as an assistant coach. Curtis served as assistant for two seasons from 1995-1997. Along with assistant coaching, Valerie served as the coordinator of Martha’s Table Adolescent Program, which counseled and motivated disadvantaged teens as a project site director of the Communities in Schools program in Washington, D.C. Curtis also administrated and implemented the development of the D.C. Reads program at selected elementary schools.
In 1998, Curtis joined Fresno State as Assistant Coach. For four years, she served as recruiting coordinator and opponent scout. Curtis also led pre-season and post-season conditioning while serving as student-athlete academic advisor. Curtis returned to the East in 2002 serving as an assistant basketball coach at Lock Haven. Following the 2003-2004 season, Curtis took over the reigns and assumed the position of head basketball coach.
Prior to attending UDC, Curtis served in the United States Navy for four years. At the University of the District of Columbia, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Health Education in 1996 and a Master’s of Science degree in Public Administration in 1998.
Coach Curtis will serve as Head Basketball Coach as well as implementing the NCAA Division II’s Community Engagement Initiative on Georgian Court’s campus. The Division II initiative focuses on the interaction between Division II institutions and their local communities. The goal of the platform is to engage Georgian Court’s community actively in the life of our campus as it is a key component of the development of our students.
Cross Country - Head Coach
732.987.2696 | lanzk@georgian.edu
Bringing over 27 years of cross-country experience as a competitor and coach, Kerwin Lanz has served 10 seasons as head coach at GCU. Emphasizing teamwork as his core principle in coaching, Lanz has been effective in developing GCU's cross-country athletes both physically and mentally for success.
Lanz's success has earned him CACC Coach of the Year honors six times (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006 & 2007). Prior to his endeavors at GCU, Lanz served as Head Indoor Coach at Manalapan High School for 15 years, where he doubled as the schools Girls Cross-Country Head Coach for 11 seasons. He also is USATF Level I and II Certified, with concentrations in endurance running, sprints, hurdles, and jumps. Lanz also authored, "The Mental Edge for Track Competition," a mental training program for track and field.
Despite his competitive edge, Lanz never loses sight of his main goals: discipline, cooperation, self-respect, self-sufficiency, and most of all, enjoyment. He graduated with a Bachelors in Arts in education from East Carolina University, and later completed his Masters in Education at Rutgers University.
Lacrosse - Head Coach
732.987.2789 | migliorisim@georgian.edu
A native of Brick, New Jersey, Migliorisi made his collegiate head coaching debut for the Lions in 2007. Boasting a team of 15 freshmen and three upperclassmen, he led the Lions to an 11-7 record and a trip to the ECAC Finals. giving he and GCU the best record for a first-year program in Divisions I, II, and III of the NCAA.
In 2008, the Lions placed in the Top-10 in 18 different NCAA categories and finished 11-5 against very competitive competition. GCU, having played as an independent program for its first two seasons, will join the CACC in 2009 as they face off against conference foes Chestnut Hill College, Dominican College, Holy Family University, Philadelphia University, and Wilmington University, vying for the inaugural conference championship.
No stranger to starting programs, Migliorisi spent six seasons (2000-05) as the head girls' lacrosse coach at St. Rose High School in Belmar, NJ, guiding that program since its inception. Under Migliorisi's tutelage, St. Rose asscended to a #3 ranking in the Shore Conference and reached the Final Four in the State Tournament three straight seasons (03-05).
"Miggs" also doubled as head girls' soccer coach at Shore Regional High School in Oceanport, NJ from 1999-2007. Migliorisi took over a struggling program that finished 2-15 the year before his arrival and, in one year, led the squad to the division championship. Overall, Mike brought home five division crowns and two state titles while earning two Coach of the Year awards.
A 1988 graduate of William Paterson University, Migliorisi received a Bachelors Degree in movement science before attaining a master's degree in administration and supervision and principal certification at Jersey City State College (New Jersey City University) in 1996. Aside from his coaching background, Migliorisi has been a teacher for the past 17 years, the last 13 at Howell Township High School in Howell, NJ.
An avid surfer, lifeguard, and fitness guru, Migliorisi was a world finalist in the 1994 Lifeguard Olympics in New Quay, England. Migliorisis accolades include 21 USA medals in lifeguard competition, as well as 54 Gold, 38 Silver, and 22 Bronze medals in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. He is the founder of Aqua Serve Lifeguards, a company he operated for 15 years until 2003.
Migliorisi and his wife, Cindy, have a daughter, Carlee, and a son, Tyler. They currently reside in Manasquan.
Soccer - Head Coach
732.987.2695 | moorejames@georgian.edu
Coach Moore is entering his fourth year at the helm of the Georgian Court soccer program. Under his leadership the Lions have emerged as a perennial power in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. In 2007 the Lions won a school record 14 games and played in the ECAC Championship game. Georgian Court finished ranked in the Top 10 of both the NCAA and the NSCAA Regional polls. The Lions have a .602 winning percentage in the past two seasons, which ranks them among the best in the New England region.
Moore took over at Georgian Court prior to the 2005 season and immediately begun the process of rebuilding the once proud program. After struggling to a 2-14-1 season in 2005, he returned in 2006 with eleven new players and led the team to an 11-7-3 record. The 8.5 game improvement was the largest in the nation in 2006. For this, Coach Moore was named the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year. Since he has taken over the GCU program he has recruited and developed six All- CACC players.
Along with coaching at Georgian Court, Moore is a Senior Staff Member of Celtic Elite. Where he trains various youth teams and is charged with developing the organizations goaltenders. He also individually trains youth players, as well as directs the Georgian Court University summer soccer camp.
Before coming to Georgian Court, Moore served as an assistant coach at Bryant University for six seasons. While at Bryant, Moore played a crucial role in turning around a Bulldog program which had not posted a winning season since 1993, helping the team earn its first national ranking and first NCAA Tournament bid in 2001. Bryant won 48 games in four seasons from 2001 to 2004 with Moore on the staff.
A graduate of Providence College in 1996, Moore made his foray into coaching soon after, obtaining an assistant women’s coaching position at his alma mater in 1998. While at Providence, Moore served as a student assistant on the 1993 team that won the Big East Championship and went to the Sweet 16 in the National Tournament.
Moore has earned both a National and Advanced National License from the NSCAA and has been a member of that organization since 1993. Moore has been on the NSCAA Regional Poll committee since 2005. He has also coached the Rhode Island Olympic Developmental Program and, in 2005, his U-15 team became the first small state team to make the Regional Final Four. He also won three Rhode Island State Championships with his RI Rays from 2003-2005.
Originally from Melville, NY., Moore and his wife, Kate currently reside in Burlington, New Jersey with their daughter Meghan.
 Jeff Franquet
Softball - Head Coach
732.987.2697 | franquetj@georgian.edu
A native of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Franquet is no stranger to collegiate athletics. Franquet led the Lions Softball squad to their first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship and first-ever NCAA Division II Regional Tournament in his first year as head coach. For his efforts, Franquet was selected the 2007 CACC Softball Coach of the Year.
Previously, Franquet compiled a record of 170-146 while coaching the Central Florida Community College Patriots from 1999-2001 and the Jacksonville University Dolphins from 2003-2005.
No stranger to the diamond, Franquet has coached for the past nineteen years. His accomplishments at Jacksonville University include victories over top-notch programs like Florida State, UMass and Hofstra. Franquet has produced two 1st Team Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) All-Conference players and two 1st Team ASUN All-Freshmen.
A 1992 graduate of Mansfield University, Franquet received a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts. Aside from his coaching background, Franquet has many accolades on the diamond as a player. Throughout his 21-year softball career, which includes 4 years of professional ball, Franquet has earned 16 MVP Honors, played in two world championships, nine national championships, as well as 15 regional and 17 state championships.
Franquet and his wife, Brooke, have a daughter, Madison. They currently reside in Beverly, New Jersey.
Tennis - Head Coach
732.987.2698 | ballingalla@georgian.edu
Entering her third season with the Lions, Ballingall comes to GCU from Ocean County College, where she had served as the head women's tennis coach since 2003. While at OCC Ballingall helped establish the Viking program to one of the top teams in New Jersey. In addition to coaching collegiately, Ballingall has owned and operated the Ocean Tennis Center Inc. in Toms River for the past 17 years. She offers group and private instruction for all ages, as well as a full-service tennis pro shop.
Ballingall is a certified tennis instructor with the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) since 1989 and the U.S. Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). She also holds a USTA Level 2 Sports Science Competency certificate. She is also a member of the United States Tennis Association and the Prince Elite National Team.
In addition to her business, Ballingall has also served in many capacities for the United States Tennis Association at the local, sectional, and national levels. She has served as a speaker at national USTA conferences. Ballingall has also taken an interest in the local tennis circuit. She can be credited with forming the local United States Tennis Association (USTA) Adult Leagues now continuing throughout the shore. She has organized a local World Team Tennis League, as well as hosted a regional event featuring Billie Jean King.
When she is not concentrating on developing others' tennis careers, Ballingall enjoys spending time with her husband, Ken, and daughter, Danielle.
Volleyball - Head Coach
732.987.2699 | casadof@georgian.edu
Francisco Casado is entering his fifth season as the head volleyball coach for Georgian Court University. Since 2003, GCU has improved steadily over the past four years. After going 4-20 overall in 2002, the team posted a 27-8 regular season mark in 2007, including an 18-0 record in conference play,while winning the CACC conference championship in back-to-back seasons (2006-07). The reigning CACC Co-Coach Of The Year led the Lions to the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament twice. This monumental accomplishment was the first of its kind for the GCU volleyball program.
Casado began his coaching career in the early 1990‘s working for the Borinquen Coquis Volleyball Club for the 13-14 boys, which won a silver medal while representing Puerto Rico at the Junior Olympics in San Jose, California. Additionally, he has coached at several clubs and amateur organizations in the 1990s, including a volunteer position with the Police Athletic League as an athletic instructor and volleyball coach. He also served as a coach with the Keystone Region Volleyball Association from 2000-2002.
With the support of several parents and local community leaders, Coach Francisco Casado founded the The Jersey Shore Volleyball Club (JSVBC) in 2002. The club was organized as a member of the Garden Empire Volleyball Association and United State Volleyball Association (USVA), which was the first USVA youth program to evolve in the Jersey Shore area. Furthermore, these and many other organizations have applauded and learned from the accomplished leaders of the JSVBC. In recent years, JSVBC players have consistently thrived to the top of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are ranked amongst the state and national leaders in volleyball.
On December 9, 2007, The High Performance Volleyball Academy, a lifelong dream of Casado, was made possible thanks to the effort of friends and family. The HPVBA in Lakewood, NJ is the largest volleyball center in the entire northeast and, since the grand opening, over 14,000 athletes have played here with over 120,000 people having entered its doors.
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