the university of toledo department of intercollegiate athletics

the university of toledo department of intercollegiate athletics 1

MISSION STATEMENT “The University of Toledo Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is committed to providing a broad-based athletics program for men and women that strives for academic and competitive excellence at conference, regional and national levels. ” 2

Athletics “Big Audacious Goal” To establish UT as a nationally recognized leader in the preparation of students for life beyond their athletic careers; in academic, social, decision making and other aspects of responsible living. 3

Academic Excellence • UT won the 2011 -12 Mid-American Conference Institutional Academic Achievement Award given annually to the athletic program with the highest overall grade point average. For the academic year, UT’s 351 student-athletes posted a GPA of 3. 171. It is the first time that the Rockets have won the award. • Rocket student-athletes earned a school-record 3. 167 GPA for 2011 fall semester, and then followed that up with a record-shattering 3. 266 GPA in the spring. Women’s volleyball had the highest team GPA last spring with a 3. 641 mark. 4

Academic Excellence (continued) • Fourteen out of UT’s fifteen sport programs had team GPAs of 3. 0 or above last spring, and every program had a team GPA of at least 2. 9. • Twenty-six student-athletes earned perfect 4. 0 GPAs in Spring 2012, while nearly 41% (133 of 327) earned a spot on the Dean’s List (3. 50+ GPA), and a record 71% earned at least a 3. 0 GPA. • UT student-athletes have now earned better than a 3. 1 GPA for seven consecutive semesters. 5

Competitive Excellence • Cartwright Award: The Rockets won the Cartwright Award, which is presented annually to the Mid-American Conference school with the highest degree of excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship. This is the first time UT has received the honor, which was first awarded following the 2008 -09 school year. • Women’s Athletics: The Rocket women won the Jacoby Trophy as the top women’s athletic program in the Mid-American Conference. It was the first time in the 30 -year history of the trophy that UT took first place. • Women’s Cross Country: The women’s cross country team won its second consecutive MAC Championship and earned its second-ever NCAA Championship Meet appearance. The Rockets placed third at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional hosted by UT at Ottawa Park Golf Course, and then took 21 st place at the NCAA Championship Meet, the highest finish ever by a MAC school. • Women’s Soccer: The soccer team went 14 -7 -2 and won its fourth MAC Championship Tournament title and earned its fourth trip to the NCAA 6 Tournament.

Competitive Excellence (CONTINUED) • Football: The football team defeated Air Force, 42 -41, at the Military Bowl in Washington, D. C. to finish with a 9 -4 mark. UT was 7 -1 in MAC play and earned a West Division co-championship. • Women’s Swimming and Diving: Women’s swimming won the 2012 MAC Championship Meet, its second league title in three seasons. • Women’s Basketball: The women’s basketball team were MAC West Division co-champions, compiling a 24 -10 record and advancing to the Elite Eight of the 2012 WNIT. • Men’s Basketball: The men’s basketball team won nineteen games in 2011 -12, an increase of fifteen victories from the previous season, the second-largest improvement in the nation. The Rockets won their firstround game in the CIT Tournament, UT’s first post-season victory since 2001. 7

Competitive Excellence (CONTINUED) • Women’s Track and Field: The women’s track and field team finished in second place at both the indoor and outdoor MAC Championship Meets, the best finish in school history in both events. Emma Kertesz was named MVP of both the indoor and outdoor meets, capturing first place in four distance events. • Baseball: The baseball team won its first-ever MAC West Division title with a 19 -8 league mark. • MAC Coaches of the Year: Three UT head coaches were named MAC Coach of the Year: Kevin Hadsell (women’s cross country), Brad Evans (women’s soccer), and Liz Hinkleman (women’s swimming). 8

Public Relations within the Community Broad-based Exposure • Ten UT football games were carried on national or regional television, five of which were on ESPN network. • Numerous basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball and softball games were televised locally on BCSN. • A total of 317 local TV affiliates from around the country gave some coverage to the Rockets’ appearance in the Military Bowl on December 28. • Women’s basketball ranked first in the MAC in attendance for the 22 nd consecutive season, and ranked 25 th in the nation, averaging 3, 748 fans per game. The Rockets averaged more than twice as many fans as the second-best school in the MAC and out-drew ten out of twelve men’s programs in the league. 9

Public Relations within the Community Broad-based Exposure (continued) • Football ranked second in the MAC in attendance, averaging more than 22, 000 fans per home game. The Rockets also set a school record in season tickets with 11, 792. • Men’s basketball also ranked second in the MAC in attendance, averaging 3, 770 fans per game. • UT student-athletes participated in countless hours of volunteer community service. • Women’s basketball raised more than $18, 000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Northwest Ohio in its annual “Pink” game. 10

Human Development Diversity: Working with Human Resources and the Office of Equity and Diversity, we strive to hire and train a staff which reflects the diversity of our student-athletes and the University community. NCAA Life. Skills: Commitment to Academics, Athletics, Personal, Career Development, Service • Alcohol Awareness (CHOICES Grant) • Gambling (Michael Franzese) • Inclusion and Respect – Dave Pallone (former MLB umpire) • Hazing and Social Media (Janet Judge, J. D. ) • Speaking Specialists • After. Sport – Career Development • Career Athletes – Career Networking • Numerous Community Service Projects – Over 30 different projects in 2011 -12 • Creating a “Welcoming” Culture 11

Challenges • Being Non-BCS (Big 10, PAC 10, ACC, SEC, Big East, Big 12) • Fundraising/Ticket Sales – Due to current economic climate – set football season ticket sales record. • Continuing Public Relations Strategic Efforts • How do we continue to improve upon our successes in: – Academics – Competition – Human Development/Personal Growth 12

Thank you Comments? 13