Class of 1997
Rheal Cormier
Probably the most famous student athlete out of CCRI is Rheal Cormier. Coming from Canada, Cormier came into CCRI, making the most out of his opportunities.
He was a two-time All-American, a unanimous two-time All-New England selection, he was 18-1 overall at CCRI, was NJCAA Player of the Year in 1986, led the nation in strikeouts with 1.53 per inning, led the nation in ERA with it being 0.35 in 76 innings, was the only junior college nominee for the national Dick Howser Award, he was All-Tournament at the NJCAA Division I World Series (with the team finishing 3rd).
In 1996, he became the first Canadian to receive the NJCAA’s Prestigious National Achievement Award and the number is retired at CCRI in honor of him and the only student athlete to receive that honor. Before getting drafted, Cormier pitched for Canada at the 1988 Olympic games in Seoul; beating the USA team and then he again pitched for Canada at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing after his Major League career.
He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and finally made his major debut with them in 1991, being a starter for them. In 1995, he went on to play for the Boston Red Sox, reaching the postseason with them twice. In 1996, he pitched a shutout for the formally known Montreal Expos against the St. Louis Cardinals. Cormier went on to join the Philadelphia Phillies in 2001 and in 2003, he had an 8-0 record with 1.70 ERA in 65 games for the Phillies. He finished his career with the Cincinnati Reds, retiring after the 2007 season.
In his career, he was 71-64, two saves and a 4.03 ERA and is in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Cormier was very involved in his community, being involved with teenage anti-drug and suicide prevention programs in Canada.
Ann Cullen
Coach Vin Cullen is accredited for much of the building of CCRI athletics but if you ask him, he will say that his wife, Mrs. Ann Cullen was “The First Contributor."
Since the start of the program started in 1965, she laundered the uniforms, provided halftime snacks for the teams and officials, would drive players to classes, and she fed the Region XXI basketball committee.
She opened her home to CCRI athletes who sometimes had nowhere to go; always being devoted to her husband and devoted to CCRI and the student athletes she taught, supported, and always cared for.
Doug Haynes
Haynes was one of West Warwick’s most versatile athletes, having a two-sport legacy at CCRI.
For basketball, he was the team’s MVP in both seasons, was a two-time All-New England, and in 1989 he was NJCAA All-American; as well as being a part of the 1,000 points club, finishing with 1,043.
In baseball, he was equally outstanding; he brought the team to 38 wins (28 of them being in a row) in 1988, the team finished 3rd at the NJCAA Division I World Series. As an outfielder, he was a two-time All-New England and ended his career with a .403 batting average.
Haynes continued his passion for basketball after CCRI by coaching. He has been a very successful coach all over the state and before coming back to CCRI to coach the Women’s basketball team in 2018-2019, he was coaching St. Mary’s Academy at Bay View for 18 years, earning Rhode Island Division I Coach of the Year honors seven times there, as well as being named the 2014 National High School Federation Coach of the Year. He also won two state championships, five state runner-up titles and seven division championships.
In 2015, Haynes was the college’s Outstanding Alumni Award recipient and in 2014 he was named the Female Sports Coach of the Year by Words Unlimited. In 2004, he was inducted into West Warwick Athletic Hall of Fame.
Donna Konuch
Donna Konuch joins her sister, Deborah Konuch as the first sisters ever to be inducted into the hall of fame. Coming from Coventry High School, from 1981 to 1983 at CCRI, she was a three-sport standout.
She was named to the NJCAA All-New England teams for all three sports in 1983 (the sports being volleyball, basketball, and softball). In her freshman year, she was named All-Region for basketball and volleyball. Both volleyball teams she was a part of made it to the NJCAA Nationals and was a captain for all three sports in her sophomore year.
Later on, she returned to CCRI as its softball coach and was named NJCAA Regional Co-Coach of the Year in 1993.
Bill O'Brien
The inspirational pivotman on one of CCRI’s most memorable teams, O’Brien’s team orientated approach to basketball is what took CCRI to the Division I semifinals in 1980-1981 and as well as the finals in 1981-1982.
Even though he was paired up against taller defenders, being at 6’4; that didn’t stop him from becoming a part of CCRI’s All-Time Leading Scorers list. As a freshman, he scored 400 points and brought down 234 rebounds, by the time he finished his career, he scored 842 points and over 500 rebounds. the teams finished 20-2 in ‘80-’81 and 22-4 in ‘81-’82.
He was an All-Stater at Mount Pleasant High School. He was second-team All-New England as a freshman and in his sophomore year, he was first-team All-New England.
Art Pontarelli
Coach Pontarelli was a successful baseball coach for CCRI because of his love for baseball, passion for excellence, mastery of coaching, and his dedication to his student athletes. In eight years, the teams he has coached have won over 76% of their games, compiling an incredible 222-69 record.
Under Pontarelli’s coaching, CCRI has gone to eight New England playoffs, won 4 regional titles and had 3 trips to the NJCAA Division I World Series, with the 3rd place finish in ‘88. He was New England Coach of the Year 4 times, was Northeast District Coach of the Year 3 times, and in 1990, he was Colonial States Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
Coach Pontarelli was also honored by the R.I. Baseball Coaches Association twice and was known internally for his instructional camps in Italy, Switzerland, and Canada; he also founded the CCRI Hitting Clinics and the Rhode Island Baseball Academy.
Coach Pontarelli was inducted into Rhode Island College’s Athletic Hall of Fame and was honored by the college after naming their baseball field after his name. He transitioned to pro scouting in 1992 joining the Colorado Rockies and also served as a scout for the New York Mets.
Carol Withers
Withers was the heart of two incredible softball teams at CCRI, being a two-way threat for those teams as well. In her freshman year, she set a former CCRI record of pitching wins, having 13 and the team went 16-9.
As a sophomore, she broke her own record, setting another former record of 15 wins and winning the team’s first Colonial States Conference title in 1989. As a batter in 1989, she was the nation’s second leading hitter, with 36 hits in 60 at-bats, and a .600 average.
Withers was an NJCAA All-American honorable mention, team MVP, and All-New England for both seasons. She ended her career with an impressive 69 career hits, 28 career wins, and a career batting average of .528. She was also an All-New England second-team volleyball player and was a member of the first CCRI women’s basketball team to play in a regional final.
After graduating, she immediately returned to CCRI as an assistant softball coach in 1990.