Putnam 

native earns 

NCAA Div. III Communications

Award

By Ron P. Coderre

Mark Therrien, Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s assistant sports information director, was recently honored when he was selected as the recipient of the U. S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association NCAA Division III Excellence in Communication Award for track & field.  In his first full year as a full-time member of the WPI sports information  staff, Therrien almost exclusively handles coverage and social media duties for both men and women at the school.

“Therrien understands that this in not only promoting the hard work of the student-athlete, but is helping promote the program to potential recruits,” said Brian Chabot head Track & Field coach for the Engineers.  “He is always seeking out different award programs where our student athlete’s performances in the classroom or on the track and field can be highlighted.  He is well deserving of the Excellence in Communications Award.”

Additionally, Therrien has been a fixture at numerous NCAA Championships, including four national title games.  He’s also worked various contests for colleges such as Holy Cross, UConn, Brown University, Providence College, Harvard University, Nichols College and Rhode Island College.

The versatile Therrien has served as statistician for the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Northeast Regional, produced tournament notes for the Division I/II/III Men’s Lacrosse Championships and served as a local committee member and ticket manager for the 2011 Division III Field Hockey semifinals and finals.  He was also a photography steward for the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship opening rounds in 2010.

Therrien has also found time to be the publicity director for the Worcester Area College Basketball Association (WACBA) for two years.  He’s been a major off-field contributor to the East Side American Legion Post #201 baseball team for six years.

A 1999 Putnam High School graduate, Therrien was a freshman in an Algebra I class taught by Jim Bartolomei when he was recruited to be the scorekeeper for the Clipper basketball team.  He accepted the position, which coincidentally coincided with coach Tony Falzarano’s 400th coaching victory that eventually has led him to full-time status as assistant sports information director at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Therrien’s route to his current position took a number of twists and turns since graduating from Putnam but each time opportunity knocked the determined 2007 Worcester State University Business grad answered the call.  Prior to arriving at WPI, Therrien spent two years in the Sports Information Office at Nichols College in Dudley.  He’s also worked at three different colleges, Indiana Institute of Technology, Eastern Connecticut State University and Worcester State University during his academic career.  At WSU he received the inaugural Athletics Service award.