Farmingdale Athletics: Establishing a Culture of Winning and Belonging

By Gabriel Lizarazo. Farmingdale State College, October 27, 2025

Farmingdale State College’s athletics department has developed more than a championship-winning team; it has developed a sense of belonging, academic achievement, and community involvement. Acknowledging that it is a “culture of winning,” Farmingdale’s athletic environment is also one of inclusiveness and giving back, according to Athletic Director Tom Azzara. “Our athletes come from all walks of life and reflect the diversity of our student body,” said Azzara.

In the past year, some of Farmingdale’s sports teams have become quite successful, spanning various programs. The men’s golf division won its seventh successive conference title, and women's tennis went into the finals last fall. They’ve performed well on the greens as well as running and passing in the sun. The college won eight conference titles last year and placed second in the Skyline Conference President’s Cup, which honors the most competitive athletic programs in the 12 schools involved.

Apart from playing, Farmingdale also focuses on academics for each one of the student-athletes. Azzara said athletes each year have GPAs, retention, and graduation rates that are higher than the general student population. Its student-athlete support system includes study halls, a way to track achievement, and an academic counselor dedicated to student athletes. “We monitor them throughout the semester,” he said. “If there’s any issue, academic or personal, we make sure they get the help they need, whether that’s through tutoring or counseling.”

The department also operates a life skills program that prepares student-athletes for success outside college. There have been recently hosted workshops covering LinkedIn networking, time management, and career development. “We teach our seniors how to connect with alumni and start building professional networks,” Azzara said. When it comes to hiring coaches, Azzara is pursuing educators as much as he is strategists. “Coaching is part of teaching,” he said. “We want people who care about their players, who fit our culture, and who help them stay engaged and happy here.”

Farmingdale athletics have also grown beyond NCAA programs, as the campus recreation program now offers 14 intramural and club sports, including flag football, cricket, and motorsports. Commuter students need to remain engaged in campus life, and through these programs, they do. Civic engagement is still a focus. “It’s challenging because we’re a commuter school,” Azzara said, “but we’ve done a really nice job attracting youth leagues and local organizations. The more we give back, the more people understand Farmingdale athletics.”

Social media has also changed the way the college engages with its fans and recruits. Every team now has its own accounts, posting on-the-fly updates, stats, and highlights.  “It’s changed everything,” Azzara said. “From recruiting announcements to live feeds, it’s how everyone follows us now.” While this is the case, the athletic department continues to insist on a responsibility-based approach. Student-athletes now sign a social media conduct form, so they are representing Farmingdale in the best possible light online. As Azzara said, “Our students are athletes, scholars, and leaders. We expect them to be role models, and they make coming to work every day a pleasure.”