WELCOME Letter

Dear Loyal Leathernecks: The 2011-12 academic and athletic year was marked by some very interesting, yet not surprising accomplishments as the coaches and staff within Western University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics continue to outperform resources. Academically, student-athletes once again established high honors, exceeding the general student population in terms of semester grade point average and exceeding the general student population in terms of graduation rates. Fiscally, during the past several years, a common theme has been “these are difficult budgetary times.” With an ever changing NCAA Division I landscape, along with a reduction in state funding, financial challenges are constant. Yet, our coaches, staff and administration will continue to work very hard with a promise towards the advancement and stability of our intercollegiate athletics program. The future remains very promising for Western Illinois University Intercollegiate Athletics. Our ultimate goal is to create the very best possible NCAA Division I student-athlete experience, providing resources to remain competitive with our benchmark institutions within our two conferences. Each Leatherneck student-athlete should have a realistic expectation to leave Western Illinois University with a diploma and a championship ring. The mission statement of the Western Illinois Athletics Department is clear and concise, and it’s woven into the fabric of Western Illinois University’s Four Core Values: Academic Excellence, Educational Opportunity, Social Responsibility and Personal Growth. This philosophy will always be the cornerstone of the decision making process within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Western Illinois University. Not every decision results in unanimous support, but the end result will always be focused on the best interest of our student-athletes; academically, athletically and in their personal development. Western has a highly respected athletics tradition, wherein several sport programs have been very successful at the conference, regional, and in some instances, the national level. Moreover, Western’s student-athletes have proven themselves in the classroom, earning superior grade-point averages and nationally competitive graduation rates. Our department has made a firm commitment to remain compliant with NCAA, Missouri Valley Football Conference and regulations. At the same time, there is a strong commitment to gender equity. A gender neutral athletic environment is critical and necessary. The Western Illinois Athletics Department is, and will remain, an honorable NCAA Division I Athletics department. Athletically, our goal is to compete at the highest possible level, which by definition describes all NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics programs. Indeed, the desired result of all Division I athletics competition is victory. It is an extremely intense challenge to be victorious in each and every competition. However, in the end, a Division I intercollegiate sports program is not expected to win on all occasions to be considered successful. Yet, we cannot and will not be successful if we do not intensely strive for victory. In juxtaposition to our Mission Statement, it is imperative that our victories are achieved fairly and with integrity: Honorable Victory! Please review the academic, athletic, and social successes of your 2011-12 Fighting Leathernecks. I trust you will share my pride in the remarkable accomplishments of all our coaches and student-athletes. Sincerely,

Tim M. Van Alstine, Ph.D. 2 Assistant Vice-President and Director of Athletics Table of contents

Department Academic Summary

Individual Academic Honors

Team and Individual Athletic Accomplishments

Team and Individual Athletic Accomplishments

Marketing/ Development

Facilities

Future Facilities Projects

Community Service

Financial Information

Summit League/Missouri Valley Football Conference Realignment Summit League/Missouri Valley Football Conference Summary

Mission Statment 3 Department Academic Summary

►► 3.14 Cumulative Student-Athlete Grade Point Average ►►50.9% Student-athletes with 3.00 GPA or above ►►21.2% Student-athletes earned University Honors (3.60 or above) ►►59 Student-athletes with 4.00 GPA ►►Six of last Seven Semesters GPA above 3.00 ►►Ten consecutive semesters with GPA above general student population GPA ►►’s Graduation Success Rate earned highest Summit League Honors, Fall 2011 ►►Volleyball earns American Volleyball Coaches Academic Award, 1 of 92 nationally (327 teams) ►► earned NCAA recognition for high academic achievement, Top 10% nationally ►►Softball earned Summit League Commissioner Academic Recognition

►►Women’s Track/Cross Country earned Summit League Jimmy Holtschlag, Football Commissioner Academic Recognition ►►28 Football Student-Athletes earned Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic ►►4 Football Student-Athletes earned MVFC Presidents Council Academic Award (most in league) ►►161 Student-Athletes named to the Summit League Academic Team ►►All 20 intercollegiate athletic teams earned APR scores above the NCAA minimum cut score ►►34 Perfect Scores of 1,000 in APR (Graduation and Retention) 4 Individual Academic Honors

►► Jenna Verity, Track/Field, named as finalist ►►Jimmy Holtschlag, Laura Lins, Sadie Webb for a Rhodes Scholarship named to CoSIDA All-Academic Team  First student (student-athlete) from Western Illinois University selected as ►►Six Leathernecks Qualified as Commencement Marshalls finalist  Kyle Glazier, Football ►►Laura Lins, Women’s Soccer, named as  Amy Byers, Track and Field Western Illinois University 2011 Lincoln  Kevin Ross, Men’s Soccer Laureate  Jeffery Liles, Men’s Track and Field  Three of last five years, Lincoln Laureate  Laura Lins, Women’s Soccer honorees have been student-athletes  Laura Schahl, Football Staff  Laura Lins, Women’s Soccer, 2011 ►►Jessica Callahan, , Named as ITA All-  Matt Barr, Football, 2009 Academic Scholar Athlete  Julia Remes, Women’s Soccer, 2007 ►►Mitch Granger, Tennis, Named as ITA All- ►►MVFC PRESIDENTS ACADEMIC AWARD (Most Academic Scholar Athlete honorees within the conference)  Josh Gabelmann, Myers Hendrickson, ►►Samantha Hainline, , Named as National kevin Palermo, Rick Richardson Golf Coaches Association All-America Scholar ►►Jimmy Holtschlag, Football, named Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District ►►Alexa Arent, Golf, Named as National Golf  1 of 8 from the MVFC Coaches Association All-America Scholar  Finalist for Academic All-America ►►Ashley Jeffers, Golf, Named as National Golf ►►MVFC All-Academic Team, First Team Coaches Association All-America Scholar  Jimmy Holtschlag, 4.00 GPA in Exercise Science and Agriculture ►►Jessica Knepp, Golf, Named as National Golf  Myers Hendrickson, 3.90 GPA in Supply Coaches Association All-America Scholar Chain Management  Kevin Palermo, 3.51 GPA in Construction Management ►►MVFC All-Academic Team, Second Team  Mike Harmon, 3.87 GPA in Exercise Science ►►MVFC All-Academic Team, Honorable Mention  Jordan Valle, 3.52 GPA in Accounting ►►Kevin Palermo and Jimmy Holtschlag, Named to FCS ADA’s All-Academic Team Jenna Verity, Track & Field 5 Team and Individual Athletic Accomplishments

►►Men’s Soccer Advances to NCAA Division I National Championship College Cup  5th NCAA appearance: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011 ►►Men’s Soccer Wins 2011 Summit League Tournament ►►Men’s Soccer Wins 2011 Summit League Regular Season Championship ►►Charlie Bales, Men’s Soccer, named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year ►►Charlie Bales, Men’s Soccer, named 2011 Summit League Tournament MVP ►►Michael Castel, Cross Country, earned spot in NCAA Regional Championship ►►Dr. Eric Johnson, Men’s Soccer, Summit League Coach of the Year ►►Ann Miller, Volleyball, named to Summit League All-Freshman team ►►Terriun Crump, Football, named First Team All-Conference, MVFC ►►Kevin Palermo, Football, named Second Team All-Conference, MVFC ►►Dwight Harris, Jimmy Holtschlag, Kieron James, named Honorable Mention, MVFC ►►Nikko Watson, Football, named to MVFC All-Newcomer Team ►►Theon Dixon, Football, named to MVFC All-Newcomer Team ►►Ceola Clark III, , named Defensive Player of the Year  Only Two-Time Winner in League History (2011 and 2012) ►►Ceola Clark III, Basketball, named as National Mid-Major Defensive All-America Team ►►Saule Kontautaite, Basketball, named Summit League Newcomer of the Year

6 Ceola Clark III, Men’s Basketball Team and Individual Athletic Accomplishments

Men’s Basketball advance to Summit League Championship ►► Terell Parks and Obi Emegano named to Summit League All-Newcomer Team ►►Doug Oglivie, named 2011 Summit League Diver of the Year and NCAA Zone Qualifier ►►Sammy Marshall, Softball, NCAA Division I National Champion in Stolen Bases ►►, Basketball, Named as College Insider.com Summit League Coach of the Year ►►Four Track/Field Student-Athletes qualified for NCAA Outdoor Track/Field Championships  Nathaniel Marshall, Jamario Taylor, Dana LaRue, Nichole Manning ►►Men’s Basketball advanced to Summit League Championship Game  Finished season with 18-15 record, most victories since 1996-97 season  Summit League Championship Game was broadcast on national television, ESPN2  Second best overall RPI improvement in NCAA Division I men’s basketball ►►Men’s Basketball participated first ever DivisionI post-season tournament  (CBI) Invitational Tournament  Game was broadcast live on national television, HDNET 7 Marketing/Development

►► In April 2012, received a $250,000 gift commitment (Steve Mills, 1971 Football)  Largest Individual Cash Gift to the University in FY ’12 (non-estate, non-bequest)  Unrestricted cash gift, naming rights for Football Locker Room ►►Launched Leatherneck Club membership drive…..goal is 1,000 members  Currently at 472 members (Athletics Department at 76% membership)  $174,349 raised in cash ►►Increased tailgating opportunities (traditional NCAA Division I game day experience) ►►New website…..on-line ticket sales and on-line donation capability ►►Launched goleathernecks.com mobile web platform, much more fan-friendly/accessible ►►2011 Purple and Gold Gala/Auction generated $60,000 more than 400 people attended ►►Installed new advertising windscreen at John Mackenzie Alumni Soccer Field ►►Installed new advertising windscreen at Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium Artificial turf at ►►$106,750 generated in FY ’12 via Marketing/Promotions/Sponsorships from 33 sponsors

8 New advertising windscreen at John Mackenzie Alumni Soccer Field Facilities

►► Completed artificial turf project at Hanson Field ($1.3 million) ►►Renovated throws/jumps quadrant for men’s and women’s track/field at Hanson Field ►►Added $50,000 new weight room equipment (Purple/Gold Auction proceeds) ►►Completed Office Space for Strength and Conditioning staff ($25,000) Women’s Soccer Locker Room Construction ►►Completed construction on new men’s/women’s basketball practice court ($115,000) ►►Began construction on Women’s Soccer Locker Room ($50,000) ►►Planning began for construction of Women’s Staff Locker Room

Artificial turf at Hanson Field

New advertising windscreen at John Mackenzie Alumni Soccer Field 9 Future Facilities Projects

►► Football Stadium—West side, Press Box, Seating, Offices, Classroom Space ►►Women’s and Men’s Soccer--Press Box, Team Benches, Permanent Seating, Lights ►►Renovation and Expansion of Athletic Training Facilities ►►Renovation/Expansion of Olympic Sport Locker Rooms (/Brophy Hall)

CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Western Illinois Athletics is committed to improving facilities in order to compete 10 with benchmark institutions. Community Service

Leatherneck Student-Athletes volunteered more than 1,300 hours of community service and raised in excess of $7,500 for community charities. Student-athletes also gathered over 3,000 pounds of food for local food banks during the Summit League Food Fight Challenge (total raised was almost 74,000 pounds of food (10 Summit League Schools participating).

Student Athletes volunteering community service CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Western Illinois Athletics is committed to improving facilities in order to compete with benchmark institutions. 11 Financial Information

We will continue to maintain a Funding Sources for “wants, needs, essentials” Leatherneck Athletics: spending philosophy. 21% 26% State Appropriated Funds Student Fees 53% Self-Generated Funds

“These are difficult economic times”… a common theme over the past several years. In FY ’12 the operating budget for intercollegiate athletics was $10.8 million, serving 480 student-athletes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sport programs. Intercollegiate athletics receives its funding from three primary sources: appropriated money from the state, student fees, self-generated revenues. The truth is, we are experiencing a very challenging financial perfect storm. As state revenues continue to be reduced, tuition/scholarship costs continue to increase, along with increases in travel costs and equipment costs, our coaches and student-athletes are expected to do more and more with less and less. In a very few instances, we have been able to successfully “out-perform our resources”. Financially and competitively, it is becoming more and more difficult to keep pace with our benchmark institutions.

Expenditures:

25% 19% Scholarships 18% Personnel 39% Travel All Other

Source: appropriated & local funds 12 Summit League/Missouri Valley Football Conference Realignment

►► Centenary College departed Summit League in June 2011 ►►University of South Dakota joined Summit League in July 2011 ►► departed Summit League in June 2012 ►► departed Summit League in June 2012 ►►University of Nebraska-Omaha joins the Summit League in July 2012 ►►University of South Dakota joins the Missouri Valley Football Conference in July 2012

►►Summit League currently at 9 members in July 2012  Western Illinois University  South Dakota State University  North Dakota State University   IPFW  IUPUI  UMKC  University of Nebraska-Omaha  University of South Dakota ►►Missouri Valley Football Conference currently 10 members in July 2012  Western Illinois University  North Dakota State University  South Dakota State University  Northern Iowa University  Illinois State University  State University  Southern Illinois University  Youngstown State University  Missouri State University  University of South Dakota 13 Summit League/Missouri Valley Football Conference Summary

►►MVFC finished the 2011 season as the #1 conference in the nation per Gridiron Power Index ►►Five (5) MVFC members finished in Top 25 in 2011 Final Gridiron Power Index ►►MVFC member North Dakota State wins 2012 FCS National Championship ►►Summit League Men’s Basketball, all-time best final RPI ranking (#16), peaked at #11 ►►League Record five MBB teams in post-season ►►League Record four WBB teams in post-season ►►Summit League boasted the NCAA MBB active career scoring leader and NCAA 2011-12 season scoring champion ►►Summit League enjoyed six individual NCAA National Champions (Sammy Marshall, Softball) In June 2012, Phase One of the Summit Plan was completed. The Summit Plan, developed five years ago, places emphasis on Presidential Leadership to advance the Summit League, and its members, to be one of the premier mid-major conferences in the country. The Summit Plan focuses on improving student-athlete well- being, academic performance, increasing home attendance, and improving the League’s RPI in all sports. The Summit Plan includes evaluation and review of staffing, budgeting, scholarship allocations, media exposure, and scheduling, within a framework to improve the national prominence of the Summit League. Under Presidential Leadership, Phase II of the Summit Plan has begun effective July 2012.

14 Sammy Marshall, Softball Mission Statement

The Intercollegiate Athletics Department participates fully within the mission of Western Illinois University to provide the premier undergraduate and graduate education among all public universities in Illinois. The Department strives to attract a diverse group of highly qualified student- athletes and, with a focus on their personal welfare, provide those student-athletes with premier academic and athletic experiences. Through coaching, competitions, mentoring, and specialized student- athlete support services, the Department encourages all participants to succeed at the highest possible level in academic programs and athletic competitions. By this dedication to academic and athletic excellence, the Department seeks to build a sense of pride among its student-athletes in representing Western Illinois University.

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