GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Thursday afternoon, the Messiah Athletics Department announced Patrick Berthelette as the first-ever Athletic Communications Coordinator in department history. Berthelette steps into the Messiah Athletic Communications department after two years as a Graduate Assistant at Salisbury University where he graduated with his Master's in Education. Berthelette will begin his new role with the Falcons on Aug. 1.
"We are so excited to bring Patrick on board," said Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Events, Matthew Fenton. "His passion for the Division III experience combined with his previous work at Salisbury as a Graduate Assistant and Marymount as a student-worker sets him up extremely well to impact our department in a big way."
As mentioned, Berthelette comes to Grantham by way of Salisbury University where he worked with many of the Sea Gulls' nationally ranked programs. This past spring he played a major role in the promotion and support of the men's lacrosse team that claimed the program's 13th National Championship this past May. During his two years with the Sea Gulls, Salisbury claimed 11 Conference Championships with five different programs advancing to at least the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
"The opportunity to work with some of the best teams in the country is something that really excites me," said Berthelette earlier this week. "Messiah is a school that reminds me a lot of where I went to undergrad at Marymount University. That type of family feel has me really excited. I've been welcomed already by everyone I've met, and I can't wait to meet the rest of the coaches and great student-athletes."
A 2019 graduate of Marymount University in Arlington, Va., Berthelette graduated with a degree in Communications and a minor in Business Administration. During his time in Arlington, Berthelette was a pitcher on the Saints' baseball team, making 41 appearances and logging 54 innings on the hill. He also served as a sports broadcaster for numerous Marymount live streamed events.
Berthelette will help the Falcons break new ground, stepping into the newly created role of full-time assistant within the Athletic Communications office.
"I'm really excited. I love working in sports and being the first one to step into this role at Messiah is exciting too," said Berthelette of his new position. "I get a chance to set the mark for what this role can do. I'm looking forward to coming in and working hard. I hope to get off to a great start and really help the department grow as a whole. I'm just ready to get started.""
Berthelette will begin his tenure at Messiah on Aug. 1, in time for the start of the 2023-24 academic year. The first events of the new year are scheduled to take place on Sept. 1 with women's soccer hosting the first home event of the year at 7:30 p.m. on Shoemaker Field against the University of Puget Sound.
