Academic excellence and athletic achievement took center court at the November 28 Men’s Basketball game against Framingham State. Bryant University Lecturer of Marketing and Management Mehreen Pasha and Professor of Anthropology Alex Perullo were celebrated as honorary coaches for the 2022-23 season and the Bulldogs claimed victory, 98 to 44.

Lauren Chapman, associate director of academic advising for student-athletes at Bryant, says the honorary coach designation was introduced five years ago. Coaches are selected based on their academic connections to the student-athletes, many of whom are enrolled in their courses. The chosen faculty members are notified and receive hand-delivered invitations to serve as honorary coaches from members of the team, with Tupper the Bulldog as their escort.

“It was something myself and the basketball coaches came up with as a way to help bridge the gap between faculty and athletics,” Chapman says, adding that Women’s Basketball plans to announce their honorary coaches in the spring.

In the week leading up to the November 28 game, Pasha and Perullo attended a men’s basketball practice, chatted with players, took a tour of the athletics facilities, and went home with Bulldog swag. The night of the match, the faculty members were honored with a commemorative basketball signed by the team. The celebration of Bryant’s academic and athletic excellence continued with a half-time ceremony for student-athletes who earned spots on this semester’s Dean’s List.