PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Pace University Director of Athletics Mark Brown announced today that Mike and Kerry Winn have made a lead gift to establish the Joe O'Donnell Endowed Fund for Pace Women's Soccer. The endowment, named in honor of Pace's former Director of Athletics who passed away this June, will be used to supplement and enhance the areas of most need for the women's soccer program.
 
"We are incredibly appreciative of what Mike has done for our program and for the leadership he and Kerry have displayed in honoring Joe's legacy," said Brown. "Not only have they created an endowment to honor Joe in perpetuity, but in doing so they are inspiring others to do the same. Joe always put the student-athlete first and provided the highest level experiences for Pace Athletics."
 
O'Donnell served as Director of Athletics from 1997 to 2011, and was a 2016 Pace Athletics Hall of Fame inductee. He oversaw one of the most successful eras in Pace Athletics history, which included 27 NCAA tournament appearances, involving three NCAA Regional Championships, three NCAA Elite 8 runs and three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances. O'Donnell also administered eight Northeast-10 Regular Season titles, eight NE10 Tournament Championships and two ECAC Championships. He was responsible for adding the women's soccer and men's and women's swimming and diving programs.
 
"Joe was a special person who believed in and supported his student-athletes and staff," said Winn, now in his 20^th year as Head Women's Soccer Coach and 13^th as Associate Athletics Director. "He provided me and so many of our alumni the opportunity to become better people through the college athletics experience. Kerry and I will always be thankful for the support that Joe and his beloved wife Marie provided our family and we are excited for Joe's memory to live on with the soccer program that he founded."
 
O'Donnell added women's soccer in 1998, hiring Winn as the program's first coach. He recently notched his 150^th career victory and led the team to its best start in program history. The Setters are currently 9-4 overall this year and have garnered their first-ever national rankings, reaching as high as No. 19. Pace returns to action on Saturday, October 19, when they host Saint Anselm College on Senior Night at 6 p.m.
 
Supporters can contribute to the newly created fund by visiting www.pace.edu/settersclub and choosing the Joe O'Donnell Endowed Fund for Pace Women's Soccer when making a gift.
 
About Pace University Athletics
Pace University is an NCAA Division II member of the Northeast-10 Conference that sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, along with cheer and dance teams and a Pep Band.  In 2018-19, Pace student-athletes posted a cumulative grade-point average of 3.26. In addition, four Setter teams— baseball, field hockey, and men's and women's swimming and diving —earned NE10 Academic Excellence Awards in recognition of achieving the highest GPA in their respective sports. In competition, Pace teams won over 60 percent of their contests this past year and have made 17 NCAA appearances since 2011. In 2015-16, the department unveiled a multi-million dollar facility upgrade that includes two new turf fields. In addition, the new state-of-the-art 14,010 square foot Ianniello Field House recently opened with new locker rooms, new strength and conditioning facilities and a sports medicine component.