Late Irish distance runner Ryan Shay (shown here winning the NCAA 10,000-meter title in 2001) will be profiled in a segment on the ESPN magazine show <i>E:60</i> Tuesday at 7 p.m. (ET).

Seton Hall SAAC to Support Ryan Shay Memorial Fund at Seton Hall/Notre Dame Men's Basketball Game

Feb. 5, 2008

NEWARK, N.J. – On Saturday November 3, 2007, Notre Dame, the BIG EAST and the running community lost a true competitor and friend. Nine-time All-American Ryan Shay collapsed and died suddenly while competing in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Ryan was a former distance standout while at Notre Dame and had made a successful transition to the marathon by winning the 2003 U.S. Marathon Championships.

Ryan Shay had touched the lives of many people. As a college athlete he left a lasting mark at Notre Dame. As a professional athlete he was well liked and respected in the profession.

Joe Piane, Ryan’s college coach at Notre Dame said, “Ryan was the most tenacious competitor I have ever had the honor to coach. If we ever needed to pick up a point in the standings or a win, we could turn to Ryan Shay and he would deliver.”

Ryan leaves behind his wife, Alicia (Craig) Shay, as well as his parents Joe and Susan Shay and seven siblings. Ryan and his wife Alicia were recently married in July.

When told of the death of a fellow BIG EAST competitor the Seton Hall Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) decided to hold a collection for the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund. Beth Troutman, a woman’s soccer player and SAAC Secretary, remembers the pain felt by the women’s soccer team and all of the Seton Hall community when, in June of 2006, they lost one of their own. Mary Jennings, a soccer player, succumbed after a hard fought battle with cancer.

“We felt that we could show support to the Shay family and the Notre Dame family by honoring Ryan by asking for contributions from the Seton Hall and Notre Dame fans at the men’s basketball game between those teams on February 6th.”

The Seton Hall SAAC will have several tables set up at Prudential Center during the men’s basketball game between Seton Hall and Notre Dame. Please stop by to contribute to the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund to help remember a fellow student-athlete who left an indelible mark at Notre Dame and the BIG EAST.

–ND–