Iona College alumni play a vital role in adding to and maintaining the college’s prestigious academic and athletic programs.  From academic scholarships and financial aid to renovations of athletic facilities, alumni contributions help to create a positive “Iona Experience” for the Iona College community. 

Proudly supporting Iona’s 21 Division I sports teams and general athletic programs is an organization of devoted college friends and alumni: the Iona College Goal Club.  “Annual membership to the Goal Club provides the needed equipment, facility upgrades, team transportation and academic support services for our student-athletes,” the Goal Club webpage explains at www.icgaels.com.  

“The Goal Club supports our nearly 350 Division I athletes,” explains sophomore swimmer Kara Nowakowski, “through contributions by individual members and through fundraisers such as raffles in which the athletes themselves sell raffle tickets to support their individual teams.”

The origins of the Goal Club date back to 1965 when the Iona College Basketball Team practiced out at the O’Connell Gymnasium, the Building of World War II Vintage,—a facility in which opponents would refuse to play.  Instead, opposing teams would request to hold games at Iona Prep, attesting to the quality of Iona’s athletic facility.  After a devastating loss against DePaul in Dec. 1965, then Coach Jim McDermott joined forces with other alumni to revitalize the state of the athletic program at Iona.

At first the club—initially called the Iona 5ers—was used for recruiting purposes, “‘more eyes’ in helping the staff look for prospects who might be over-looked by other schools,” explains icgaels.com.  It was obvious, however, that while additional scouts for potential athletes was greatly helpful, the true issue plaguing the athletic program was the need for a new facility; “One Ionian sports editor stated in his column that the “cardboard coliseum” known as the O’Connell Gymnasium had to go.”

In 1970, Iona President Br. John Driscoll commenced the college’s building campaign with the Iona 5ers as the central contributing organization.  “The dream for a competitive athletic facility was finally realized,” says icgaels.com, “when the John A. Mulcahy Campus Event Center opened in 1974.”  Two years later, the 5ers looked to expand in terms of more events and locations, so they decided to change the group’s name to the Goal Club and have thus engaged in supporting Iona’s various sports teams.

“Since the Goal Club’s inception, the alumni body has raised directly or in part an estimated $2.5 million,” which has been used to benefit Iona’s student-athletes, the organization’s website explains.  Since 2001, the Goal Club as vastly expanded in size and has garnered increased contributions from members and alumni.  The Goal Club’s “accomplishments are testimony to the commitment made by its members to always have a student-athlete program that the Iona Community and its neighbors will always look upon with favor,” says icgeals.com.

The Goal Club is always happy to accept new members and prospective members should consult the Goal Club’s website on icgeals.com to print out an application for membership.  Not only will members enjoy the benefits of the club including top Goal Club merchandise as well as post-season tournament tickets, but will have the opportunity to make a difference for student-athletes and the Iona Community as a whole.