But there are key things Battista can point to lure in quality hockey players and quality students. Lombra, who is also an associate dean in Penn State's liberal arts college, coordinates the team's academic counseling program. It consists of eight volunteer academic counselors who are each responsible for four or five students. That's not to say people like Al Murdoch at Iowa State don't care about academics. But Joe makes it clear.
Academics come first.
The club was reeling when Battista, who played for the Icers from 1978-82, was lured back to Happy Valley by former club sports director Vance McCullough to coach the Icers in 1987. Games were marred by too many brawls. Attendance was low. The team's overall GPA was 2.35. When Battista entered the picture, he worked with Lombra and Dr. Paul Cohen, the team's long-time faculty advisor, to build the club's current academic advising program.