Fairleigh Dickinson University baseball standout Matt Maher (Peekskill, NY/JFK Catholic) (Peekskill, NY) was named First Team Academic All-America®, announced Tuesday, May 26.  In conjunction with the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and ESPN the Magazine, the senior outfielder was the lone Northeast Conference and University Division, District II talent recognized.

Maher, who hit .339, concluded his career boasting program records of 651 career at-bats, 201 hits, and 71 stolen bases.  His 45 runs this spring (career total of 123, fifth all-time) are tied for the fourth-highest single-season total, with his 30 stolen bases claiming sixth place and rank 19th in the nation.  Within the league, Maher finished in the Top 10 of four listings: 10 hit by pitches (second); swipes (second place); seven sacrifice bunts (tied for second); and runs (tied for ninth place).  Meanwhile, the Knights compiled a 16-34 record overall.

In 2009, the senior garnered Second Team All-NEC and Second Team All-New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association (NJCBA) outfielder prestige.  Last year, the NJCBA named him to its First Team.  After walking onto the squad, his 2006 campaign produced All-Rookie Team accolades.

Representing a two-time First Team Academic All-America® District II selection, Maher collected Third Team All-America® honors last spring.  In the classroom, the communication major ? who graduated last week from the Metropolitan Campus ? boasts a 3.95 cumulative grade point average.  Last spring, Maher was named NEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and is up for nomination once again.

At the Fairleigh Dickinson 54th Annual Athletics Awards Banquet, the four-year starter received the George Braun Alumni Leadership Award for his success on the diamond and in the classroom.  Maher ? who also earned FDU's Robert Metz Award, given to the male senior student-athlete sporting the highest cumulative grade point average upon graduation ? worked as an intern for the Department of Athletic Communications, and also provided play-by-play for the first season of web-casted athletic home games. 

He remains active in the Communication Honor Society, as he has helped organize multiple programs for the past two years.  Additionally, Maher was a co-writer of the script and developed an original score for the film "Awake," which won the Campus Movie Festival's "Best Drama” category and advanced to the Northern Regional Finale at The Tribeca Grand Hotel Screening Room in New York City.

The Academic All-America® University Division first team honorees notched an average GPA of 3.86.  For a complete list of all three University and College Division teams, please scroll down.

According to the CoSIDA web site, “to be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve; maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00; have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution; and be nominated by his/her Sports Information Director.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

ESPN The Magazine ? winner of the 2006 and 2003 National Magazine Award for General Excellence ? is a provocative and innovative sports publication.  Full of insight, analysis, impact and wit, the oversized biweekly with a circulation of 1.9 million looks ahead to give fans a unique perspective on the world of sports.

For more information about the Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com.”

University Division Academic All-America of the Year Voting