NICK COLLELUORI – TEN YEARS LATER

Ten years. It is hard to believe that 10 years have gone by since the tragic passing of Hofstra Lacrosse player Nick Colleluori due to non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a blood cancer affecting the lymphatic system. If you do not know Nick's story, then prepare to be inspired. If you do know about Nick, prepare to be inspired again.

Nick Colleluori came to Hofstra in 2004 as a freshman from Ridley High School in Pennsylvania. Recruited by former Hofstra Coaches John Danowski and Joe Amplo and he immediately made his mark on both his coaches and teammates.  "Nick had a wonderful personality," said Danowski, now the coach at Duke University. "He was tough. The term relentless described him to a tee." Coach Amplo, now at Marquette, echoed Danowski's sentiments. "Nick was the exact person you would want in your program. You could tell right away that he had this spirit that was captivating. From the moment I met him, I always enjoyed being around him. Others felt that way as well, as he turned into one of the best teammates Hofstra Lacrosse has ever seen." 

Nick saw action in all 16 games during his freshman campaign and was poised for an even bigger role on the team the following season.  In 2005, after some time of not feeling well, came the diagnosis that nobody expected – non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. "I vividly remember the look on his face when he walked into the office accompanied by Coach Danowski and he saw his parents and the team doctor sitting there," said Amplo. "The look in his eyes was that of confusion and fear, but amazingly he instantly changed that into unwavering confidence. I was stunned when he said he wanted to talk to the team moments after finding out he had cancer. The toughness and poise he showed in those moments are some of the most impactful moments of my life."  

Nick immediately began treatment for the disease, but after a 14-month battle that included chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant, he passed away on November 28, 2006. His battle was a study in courage, dignity and the relentless attitude.

In those months of grueling treatments and hospital stays, Nick envisioned a way to help the patients and families who were going through what he and his family were. This was the birth of the HEADstrong Foundation (the name derived from Nick's nickname of Head). Nick even designed the Foundation's logo, sketching it on a napkin in his hospital bed before heading into the operating room for a procedure.

While undergoing treatment, Nick made it his mission to be around his teammates as often as he could during the Pride's 2006 campaign that was one of the best in program history. Hofstra Associate Head Coach Kevin Unterstein recalls how Nick's presence was uplifting for him and his teammates, "Nick was a huge inspiration for our team and a tremendous presence in our locker room. I remember going through that 2006 season and the way he fought and the way he made an effort between his treatment to come out and be on the sidelines and in the locker room. I remember the Head Award that he would give out and everyone on the team fought for it. It wasn't about who scored the most goals, it was about the "Hofstra" plays that he put an emphasis on."

Following the 2006 season, Seth Tierney took over the reins of the Hofstra Lacrosse program and made an immediate effort to connect with Nick. "Nick was a special person," Tierney said. "He had that 'it' factor. One of the tough parts of answering questions about Nick is that I knew him for a very short period of time. But he made a huge impact on me personally. He had the ability to just grab people and to command attention. People looked up to him and when he said something it was powerful. Ten years later the legend of Nick is as strong as it has ever been."

Near the end of his life, Coach Tierney took the team to Nick's home in Pennsylvania to say good bye. Coach Unterstein, who was junior on the team at the time, recalled the visit. "I remember going to his house like it was yesterday. It was tough but what I remember the most about it was his presence and the way he held court and controlled the room. It was an ability he always had, even as a freshman. That day he got the conversations started and put everyone at ease. Through Nick's fight I learned what a team truly is. It is being there for each other and helping each other through difficult situations."

Nick continued to inspire his teammates after his death. In 2008 Hofstra returned to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus, winning the 2008 Colonial Athletic Association championship and members of the team, including Nick's younger brother, Michael, credit him with being a driving force behind their success. "I used to carry Nick's radiation mask and his jersey with us," Michael said. "Winning that title was a moment I will never forget and will always cherish. We had a great group of guys on the team who bought into the system and the team concept. I think Nick's story served as an inspiration and it allowed everyone to work towards our goals and we left it all out on the field. That was definitely a special year for us."

Nick's inspirational story also resonated off the field as well. With the Colleluori Family carrying out Nick's final wishes, the HEADstrong Foundation has grown in leaps and bounds over the last decade and Hofstra University and the Department of Athletics is extremely proud of its association with the Colleluori Family and the Foundation.  

Nick's mother, Cheryl, serves as the president of the HEADstrong Foundation. "It has been a surreal journey and we are so privileged to be able to be involved in this incredible opportunity to give back in Nick's name," she explained. "Nick did this (created HEADstrong) for us. This is a gift and it allows us to keep connected to him. It allows us to meet so many incredible people, so many giving people. Total strangers have connected with us. We have met, through this journey, people just like Nicholas that are battling for their lives yet they remain positive and smiling and they possess that never give up attitude and that is what we need to keep going. They inspire us to keep fighting. This is not easy by any means, but we are willing to make that sacrifice for other people."

A key component is the success of the HEADstrong Foundation, which has raised more than $9 million and has assisted 13,572 patients and their families. "The lacrosse community has been a huge factor in our success and continues to be the encouragement, just as they were 10 years ago when we were going through the most difficult period of our lives," said Cheryl Colleluori. "It started with an idea and the first HEADstrong Tournament we had in 2007 was Coach Tierney's idea. It was just four teams that came together at Ridley High School to pay homage to Nick. It has now turned into eight events that garner national attention and continues to grow. We have now become recognized as the philanthropic arm of the game at the NCAA and high school level. What is funny is that Nick told us this would happen. He said, 'don't question this. These are my brothers and they will always be there' and how right he was to make a statement like that. The lacrosse community means everything to us. They are like our second family. Without the lacrosse community, I honestly don't know if there would be a HEADstrong Foundation. It has opened doors for us just because people can relate to us through the sport." 

Michael Colleluori, the Foundation's vice president, agrees with his mother's assessment, "The support we receive from the lacrosse community is surreal. We had 2200 student-athletes fundraise for us during fall competition. I think that people see the value in giving back and supporting our organization. Ninety cents of every dollar goes right back to people who are fighting cancer. When you show people that kind of impact, it resonates. I also think it is vital for groups to understand that it is important to give back. That is what Nick was all about with this. He wanted people to learn more than just the game, he wanted them to learn about life and that is the roots of our organization." 

Hofstra, led by Coach Tierney, has been at the forefront of the HEADstrong Foundation's efforts. Tierney not only supports the fundraising efforts of the organization, but also does all he can to keep Nick's legacy alive. "The HEADstrong Foundation has had a huge impact on my life and on our program. The color lime green means something completely different now. For our team, playing in the Colleluori Classic Tournament allows us to tell our team what Nick was about, so every year there is a teaching point that Nick provides for us." 

Teaching his team about Nick and his qualities also led to a unique situation each season where one senior is selected to wear Nick's 27 jersey rather than retire the number. As Tierney explained, "Do we want to put something up on a wall and have people see it or do we want to have people keep living it. Each summer the coaches get together and talk about potential candidates for the 27 jersey. Then we narrow the list and have everyone defend their choices until we select the best candidate. I know that there is a great deal of interest amongst the lacrosse community in hearing who will wear the number 27 for us in the spring to carry on Nick's legacy."

Brendan Kavanagh will wear Nick's number in 2017, joining a list of players that includes Finn Sullivan (2016), Ryan Rielly (2015), Anthony Zappone (2014), John Antoniades (2013), Cole Koesterer (2012), Steve DeNapoli (2011) and Adam Swarsen (2010). "Wearing number 27 is important to me because the coaches have put a lot of trust in me to live out Nick's legacy," Kavanagh said. "It is an opportunity to be a fighter, to scrap, to lead, to say the right things at the right times and to make the right play. So many players that I looked up to wore this number in the past and they did a great job representing Nick. I think it is really important for me to carry that on and do the things that Nick did so well."

Hofstra's commitment to Nick and the Colleluori Family also includes the annual Unsung Hero Awards that are presented at the year-end banquet and a memorial golf tournament, but does not end there. Starting in 2017 both the men's and women's lacrosse programs will wear a "Nick" patch on their uniforms; a 27 will be painted on the field at James M. Shuart Stadium; introduce the "27 Club" as an option for the Men's Lacrosse Hofstra Hundred Club, for alums that are less than 10 years out of the program; as part of the Face-off Dinner there would be a commemoration of Nick's passing and a celebration of the outstanding work of the HEADstrong Foundation; invite the eight previous men's lacrosse players that have been given the honor to wear 27 in recognition of Nick to attend the Face-off Dinner;  present the Colleluori Family with a number 27 jersey and patch at the Face-Off Dinner and establish a permanent memorial in the area of Margiotta Hall and the end zone to honor Nick, recognize his plan for the HEADstrong Foundation and to recognize those that have worn the 27 jersey in Nick's honor.

"I did not know Nick, but like so many others, I marvel at the foresight, courage and unselfishness that led Nick to create a blueprint for the HEADstrong Foundation, which has since benefitted thousands of people fighting this disease," commented Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeffrey A. Hathaway. "Nick is an important member of the Hofstra Pride Family and will forever be in our hearts."

Hofstra holds a special place in the Colleluori's hearts as well. Cheryl Colleluori said, "Nick found who he was at Hofstra University and he loved being part of the team and everything it represented. Coach Tierney continues to embrace us and remember Nick. He always has a way to weave Nick and the HEADstrong Foundation into his program so the new players learn about him and his mission. Coach Tierney delivered Nick's eulogy and several of his teammates served as pallbearers at the service. The Athletic Department has embraced us from President Rabinowitz to Director of Athletics Jeff Hathaway and former Athletic Director Jack Hayes. Everyone at Hofstra has gone above and beyond for Nick and our family, keeping him current. It is so heartwarming to know how much Nick mattered and it all started at Hofstra. After Nick passed away, Hofstra Athletics was the backbone that held our family, especially Michael, together and it continues today."

From an idea conceived in a hospital bed to the success it has achieved to date is incredible and that fact is not lost on anyone. "It is amazing to me to see how sustainable and impactful Nick's idea has become," said Coach Amplo. "The impact cannot be described in words, but only seen in the deeds that the HEADstrong Foundation does.  The relentless attitude that the Colleluori Family shows in their pursuit to keep Nick's memory and vision alive is so impressive."

"Nick's legacy is that he is what the Hofstra man is all about," Coach Danowski said. "He was a fighter and he was tough as nails. He was also a joy to be around and he made the guys around him better and that is a rare quality. The HEADstrong Foundation has become a monument to Nick and what he was about." 

"Nick never had a doubt at what this would become," said Cheryl Colleluori. "I did at first, of course, but then it took on a life of its own. That is when I knew it would be something that he predicted. I have something that he had written down with his short term goals. It was important to him to get back to Hofstra and back to the game and his team. But his long term goal was to be a national non-profit with direct service to patients and their families and how right he was to have the insight to see the need and the emotional and financial void that some families experience. We are like the little engine that could and we keep growing and growing. The demand for our services is at an all-time high, but we are just beginning to scratch the surface of what we can do."

Nick Colleluori created the HEADstrong Foundation with the purpose of empowering athletes and igniting students to make a difference. He envisioned all athletes uniting toward a common goal, which was to achieve victory in the fight against cancer. While that victory has not yet been attained, it is much closer now than it was 10 years ago thanks to Nick and his family. Nick had a saying that his family shared, "Make use of the time you have and don't stress the little things. Have a smile and enjoy what you can get out of life." That is what Nick Colleluori was all about. 

For more information on the HEADstrong Foundation, please visit HEADstrong.org.