NEW YORK, N.Y. — The City College of New York Department of Athletics & Recreation is expanding its commitment to student-athlete development, education, and well-being through a new 12-week Futures Without Violence training program featuring the Men's Soccer and Women's Volleyball teams.

The pilot program follows a department-wide training session held on June 5, led by Eric McGriff, that provided CCNY Athletics coaches and staff with education on four critical areas: domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Following the training, coaches expressed interest in additional education and resources to strengthen their understanding of prevention strategies and enhance their ability to support student-athletes both within and beyond the competitive environment.

Men's Soccer, led by Head Coach Roger Gonzalez, and Women's Volleyball, led by Head Coach Perla Sanchez, volunteered to become the first CCNY Athletics programs to participate in the extended 12-week program.

The pilot will provide student-athletes with sustained opportunities for education, discussion, and reflection centered on prevention, healthy relationships, accountability, leadership, responsible decision-making, and the role each individual can play in creating a safe and respectful community.

"This represents exactly the type of comprehensive student-athlete development we want to continue building at CCNY," said Director of Athletics & Recreation Duane Bailey. "Our responsibility to our student-athletes extends far beyond their academic and competitive experiences. We want to provide them with the knowledge, resources, and opportunities to develop into responsible leaders who understand the importance of respect, accountability, and caring for the communities around them."

The 12-week program will draw on the expertise of Eric McGriff and Nas Hayes, who will work directly with the participating teams throughout the semester. The extended format is designed to move beyond a single educational session, creating space for continued conversation, learning, reflection, and engagement.

The pilot also represents a continued investment in the work that began with the June 5 department-wide training. Rather than treating that session as a standalone educational opportunity, CCNY Athletics is using the pilot to explore a more sustained approach to prevention education and student-athlete well-being.

"Creating a culture of accountability and care requires more than a single conversation," Bailey said. "It requires consistent education, engagement, and a willingness to have important conversations. We appreciate our campus partners, our coaches, and, most importantly, our student-athletes for embracing this opportunity. Men's Soccer and Women's Volleyball are helping us establish a foundation that we hope can ultimately benefit our entire department."

Throughout the semester, Athletics administrators and program partners will remain engaged with the pilot and evaluate its impact as CCNY considers opportunities to bring similar educational programming to additional teams in the future.

The program is part of CCNY Athletics & Recreation's broader commitment to creating a student-athlete experience centered on academic achievement, competitive excellence, personal development, leadership, accountability, and community responsibility.