Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame
MIKE D'AMATO
Mike D'Amato, a 1968 graduate of Hofstra University, was a standout athlete in both football and lacrosse while playing for Hall of Fame Coach Howdy Myers in both sports.An attackman on the lacrosse squad, Mike was a second team All-American as a senior in 1968 after leading Hofstra with 34 goals and 15 assists. He was also named to the North-South Senior All-Star game that season. In 1967 he was a Laurie Cox Division All-Star after tallying a team-high 32 goals and 18 assists.
On the gridiron, Mike was a defensive back and a kick and punt returner. He was a Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star in 1966 and 1967. As a senior Mike recorded three interceptions and averaged 23.3 yards per kickoff return. A two-time co-captain, Coach Myers called him "the finest defensive back he has ever coached."
Mike was drafted by the New York Jets in the 10th round of the 1968 draft and was a member of the 1969 Super Bowl Championship team.
After retiring from the NFL, Mike spent 27 years as an executive of Transleisure companies, serving as vice president for sales and marketing of the largest helicopter service in the Northeast. He was also president and vice chairman of the board of A-Drive Corporation.
In 1998 he returned to Hofstra as executive assistant to the president and went on to serve as vice president for development for five years until taking the position of special assistant to the president for alumni affairs in September 2005.
Mike has been an active member of the Hofstra Pride Club and has served on its board. He has also been active in the Marty Lyons Foundation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Carlin/Rudolph Endowed Scholarship Committee, the Joe Namath March of Dimes Golf Tournament Committee, the National Football League Retired Players Association and NFL Alumni Association. Â
