Finnerty Leadership Award

Peter X. Finnerty Leadership Award

Peter X. Finnerty, former Director of Athletics, Director of Alumni Relations, athlete, professor, coach, and inductee of the Pace University Hall of Fame, established the Athletics and Recreation Program at Pace University in 1947. Mr. Finnerty served the University and its students for over 40 years. He was the Director of Athletics from 1947-88 as well as the men's basketball coach from 1948-60 and the baseball coach from 1948-64. He personified the values of discipline and hard work and, in keeping with the University motto, Opportunitas, committed to helping students realize their potential.

The Peter X. Finnerty Award is presented to a member or members of the Pace University athletics community for outstanding leadership and service to the University or to society as a whole. The individual/s selected shall exemplify those characteristics for which Peter Finnerty was best known: hard work, a spirit of competition, and the ability to serve and lead with integrity and to inspire others to do the same. This honor has only been awarded nine times since its creation.

To nominate someone for the Peter X Finnerty Leadership Award, click here for the nomination form and additional information.

Previous Recipients
2001: Charles F. Jacey Jr. '57
2002: Garrett DeGraff Jr. '68
2013: Dr. Nicholas Catalano PhD
2014: Dr. Joseph Pastore '66
2016: President Stephen J. Friedman
2017: Gene Westmoreland '65
2019: TJ McDonald '85
2022: Alex Rohan '93 and Terri Rohan '96
2023: Elizabeth Hernandez '83
2024: Joseph R. Ianniello '90
2025: Jerry MacAuliffe '86 & Brenda MacAdam McAuliffe '88

2023 Recipient Elizabeth Hernandez
(Pictured below with Director of Athletics Mark Brown)

2022 Recipients Terri Rohan '96 and Alex Rohan '93
(pictured below, accepting the Finnerty Award from Director of Athletics Mark Brown
and Peter X. Finnerty's daughters Mary Kay Samko and Megan Pindyck)

2019 Recipient TJ McDonald '85 (pictured below)

2017 Recipient Gene Westmoreland '65 (pictured below)

Peter X. Finnerty
Director of Athletics 1947-88,
Baseball Coach 1948-60,
Men's Basketball Coach 1948-64