-
Member of the Western New York State All-Star Team, football and basketball
in high school.
-
Graduated Tonawanda High School.
-
1941 Paratrooper, 101st Airborne Division
-
Served in the military form 1942 - 1945
-
Received a Silver Star and a Purple Heart during the Battle of the Bulge
-
1947: Class President of Canisius College
-
Inducted into the Canisius College Hall of Fame
-
Joined LeMoyne College staff as a teacher, basketball coach, and athletic director: 1948
-
LeMoyne College Athletic Director for 43 years.
-
Coached LeMoyne College basketball for twenty-seven seasons; participated in seven NCAA post-season tournaments,
compiling
a 327-219 (.599) record.
-
Inducted into the LeMoyne College Hall of Fame.
-
National Catholic Coach of the Year: 1959-1960
-
Member of the NCAA Infractions Committee and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee.
-
Niland was the first non-Division I athletic director appointed to that governing body.
-
Introduced legislation bringing women’s programs under the umbrella of all-male NCAA.
- 1974: Received the Blind Men and Criers annual “Edward J Kearney Award” given to the individual who has given back to the Syracuse community.
-
Received the Victor Hanson Medal: 1982 from Syracuse University’s Hardwood Club.
-
In 2000: LeMoyne College named it’s Athletic Complex in his honor.
-
Died in 2004