Lonergan Receives Catholic University's Highest Honor

By Chris McManes

Friday, May 21, 2004

Mike Lonergan, who recently completed a successful 12-year run as head men’s basketball coach at Catholic University, was honored at CUA’s 2004 graduation with the university’s highest award, the President’s Medal.

The honor – given for extraordinary service to the Church, nation and university – recognizes those people who, by the content of their character and the witness of their lives, share the vision and exemplify the ideals of the university.

Lonergan, who became an assistant coach at the University of Maryland last month, coached the Cardinals from 1992-2004 and guided the team to nine NCAA Tournaments, including the last seven. After advancing to the Elite Eight in 2000, his team won the NCAA Division III national championship in 2001 and he was a consensus choice for National Coach of the Year. He is most proud that during his entire tenure, all of his players graduated.

Lonergan is the nation’s only college basketball coach at any level to guide his team to a regular-season conference championships each of the past seven years. The National Association of Basketball Coaches recognized him for the feat in San Antonio in April. The Cards dominated the Capital Athletic Conference with an 88-10 (.898) league record since 1997-98.

Lonergan, a 1988 CUA graduate, received the award from university President, the Very Rev. David M. O’Connell on May 15. As Father O’Connell and Lonergan stood onstage, Victor Nakas, CUA’s executive director of public relations, told the Class of 2004 that, “Coach Lonergan is well known for expecting nothing less than the best of his players, requiring them to exhibit strong character and personal integrity. By setting and adhering to these high standards, he has guided the development of his players as well-rounded individuals – athletes, students and citizens.

“Through his vision, commitment and leadership, Michael Lonergan has secured his place in the university’s history in the company of the institution’s finest coaches, students and employees.”

Lonergan was joined by fellow President’s Medal honoree, Monsignor Paul A. Lenz, executive director of the Black and Indian Mission Office, Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions. Monsignor Lenz was instrumental in securing a $1-million endowed scholarship for the university from the bureau to enable deserving Catholic Native Americans to pursue undergraduate studies.

Here’s the entire transcript of Lonergan’s President’s Medal ceremony:

Mr. Nakas (stage left): The President's Medal is the highest honor awarded by Catholic University. It is a recognition of the embodiment of the mission and spirit of the university by an individual person as evidenced through truly outstanding achievement in an area or areas of endeavor consonant with the mission and spirit of the university.

I ask that Michael T. Lonergan please join the president at center stage to receive the president’s medal.

Michael T. Lonergan has proven himself to be an exceptional leader and mentor to countless student-athletes. A 1988 student-athlete graduate of The Catholic University of America, Mr. Lonergan served as head coach of the CUA Men’s Basketball Team from 1992 to spring 2004. He is the only coach in the nation, in any division, to lead his team to seven straight regular-season conference championships.

Coach Lonergan is well known for expecting nothing less than the best of his players, requiring them to exhibit strong character and personal integrity. By setting and adhering to these high standards, he has guided the development of his players as well-rounded individuals — athletes, students and citizens. Through his vision, commitment and leadership, Michael Lonergan has secured his place in the university’s history in the company of the institution’s finest coaches, students and employees.

Coach Lonergan’s illustrious career at alma mater includes the highest winning percentage in Cardinals basketball history. He is perhaps best known for his 2000-2001 season, a year of “destiny” which culminated in an NCAA Division III National Championship for the underdog Cardinals. That year he was named National Coach of the Year. In addition, he has been recognized as Capital Athletic Conference Coach of the Year four times. In 2000, Coach Lonergan was presented the first-ever Jack Bruen Award for “unending dedication to the game of basketball” and in 2001 he received the CUA Young Alumni Merit Award.

Michael Lonergan has been a role model on and off the basketball court. He is active with the Knights of Columbus, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Special Olympics and the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer program.

For Coach Lonergan basketball is not only his personal passion; it is also a family affair. He is married to the former Maggie Meagher, CUA Women’s Head Basketball Coach, with whom he shares two beautiful children, Jack and Margaret.

It is fitting that, as he ends his tenure at CUA and in recognition of his unwavering support for the mission of the University and the goals of Division III athletics, The Catholic University of America confer on Michael T. Lonergan its highest honor, the President’s Medal.