Saints Athletics benefits from young alumni returning to assist.
The Saints are not unique in looking within the Laurentian community to find the support they need for athletic programs that continue to evolve. Four assistant coaches—Ellie Jones ’16, Jeremy Vautour ’16, Lucy Stillman ’19, and Alexander Emmons ’22—have made St. Lawrence a part of their early career resumes and bring a unique understanding of the student-athletes they support.
“It is a wonderful opportunity when our alumni want to return to help our programs continue to improve,” says Bob Durocher, senior associate vice president for Athletics. “Their love of the University and passion for their sport is a great combination to bring to any program.”
“It is a wonderful opportunity when our alumni want to return to help our programs continue to improve. Their love of the University and passion for their sport is a great combination to bring to any program.”
–Senior Associate Vice President for Athletics Bob Durocher
Jones joined the St. Lawrence University women’s rowing staff as a graduate assistant coach in August 2019. She returned to her alma mater after spending two years as interim head coach and assistant men’s rowing coach at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While with the Diplomats, she oversaw the men’s and women’s rowing teams, recruited student-athletes, created training and practice plans, and managed the program budgets.
“Ellie continues a tradition of former Saints rowers who have returned to St. Lawrence as assistant coaches,” says Nick Hughes, director of rowing and women’s rowing head coach. “Not only was Ellie an accomplished rower, but, this time around, Ellie also brings a wealth of coaching experience.” In a truly interdisciplinary fashion, Jones also assists the alpine skiing program as an assistant coach.
In August 2021, Vautour returned to his alma mater to join the St. Lawrence University men’s lacrosse coaching staff as a graduate assistant coach. As a Saints lacrosse player, Vautour served as a team captain and earned First Team All-Liberty League, ECAC Metro/Upstate All-Region, and IMLCA All-North Region honors. The Hampton, New Brunswick, native ranks first on the Saints’ all-time scoring list with 64 goals in a season.
Vautour also brings several years of coaching experience to St. Lawrence, having served as the team’s offensive coordinator for the New Brunswick Canada Games in 2020. He has coached several junior teams for the New Brunswick Jr. A Mavericks from 2017 to 2019 and served as their general manager from 2019-2021.
Graduating cum laude, Stillman has brought the expertise of her student-athlete success, especially her undergraduate minor in sports studies and exercise science and her athletic experience as a former captain for the Saints field hockey team, to St. Lawrence. As a Liberty League All-Academic, Stillman understands the challenge of balancing the student with the athlete and can be a role model for ambition on the field and in the classroom.
The newcomer is Emmons, who joined the St. Lawrence University football staff in August after serving as a student manager. Emmons is working with the Saints receivers this season. During his undergraduate career at St. Lawrence, he worked with Michael Schuckers, professor and department chair of mathematics, computer science, and statistics, to create a model to predict career success and value based on NFL Combine data. It’s a skill set he can use to help the Saints football program inform strategic adjustments and game-planning.
“These alumni also bring so much knowledge about our academic programs and an understanding of the University and Canton community,” adds Durocher. “Everything about their involvement is value added to our student-athlete experience.”
