TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 215 Centerview Drive, Suite 115 Men’s Contacts ...... IFC Brentwood, TN 37027 Table of Contents ...... 1 Media Information ...... 2 Phone - (615) 371-1698 OVC Style Guide ...... 3 Ohio Valley Conference ...... 4-5 FAX - (615) 891-1682 OVC Honors and Awards ...... 6 www.OVCSports.com Ohio Valley Conference Staff ...... 7-10 Conference Alignments ...... 11 2014 NCAA Women’s Final Four...... 12-13 OVC Basketball Venues ...... 14-15 ESPN+...... 16 STAFF Men’s Basketball Information Introduction Page ...... 17 Men’s Basketball Notes ...... 18-19 Beth DeBauche, Commissioner Composite Schedule ...... 20-21 Austin Peay ...... 22-23 Kate Barnett, Assistant Commissioner for Championships & Compliance Belmont ...... 24-25 E-mail: [email protected] Eastern ...... 26-27 Eastern ...... 28-29 Jacksonville State ...... 30-31 Stephanie Castera Assistant Commissioner for Institutional Services/SWA Morehead State ...... 32-33 E-mail: [email protected] Murray State ...... 34-35 Southeast Missouri ...... 36-37 Brian Pulley, Assistant Commissioner for External Aff airs SIUE ...... 38-39 Tennessee State ...... 40-41 E-mail: [email protected] Tennessee Tech ...... 42-43 UT Martin ...... 44-45 Kyle Schwartz, Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications 2017-18 All-OVC Teams ...... 46 E-mail: [email protected] Superlatives, Players of the Week, NCAA Stats ...... 47 Overall Team Statistics ...... 48-49 Conference-Only Team Statistics ...... 50-51 Travis Tellitocci, Asst. Commissioner for Football, Basketball & Offi ciating Overall Individual Statistics ...... 52-53 E-mail: [email protected] Year-by-Year Final Standings ...... 54-55 Team Champions/Individuals Honors ...... 56-57 Lauren Berst, Director of Administration OVC Coaches of the Year ...... 58 E-mail: [email protected] All-Conference Teams ...... 59-61 Record Book ...... 62-63 Career and Season Top 10’s ...... 64-65 Heather Brown, Director of Communications Year-by-Year Statistical Leaders ...... 66-67 E-mail: [email protected] All-Time Players of the Week ...... 68-71 All-Time OVC Preseason Polls ...... 72-73 Bryce Robinson, Director of Digital Media OVC Tournament ...... 74-75 All-Time Tournament Results ...... 76-77 E-mail: [email protected] All-Time All-Tournament Teams ...... 78 Tournament Records ...... 79 Jonathan Owens, Assistant Director of Championships & Administration Postseason History ...... 80-84 E-mail: [email protected] NCAA Bracket ...... 85 OVC Players in the NBA Draft ...... 86 OVC Teams All-Time in the AP Top 25 ...... 87 Jon Kuka, General Manager - OVC IMG Sports Marketing Wilson ...... 88 E-mail: [email protected] Embassy Suites/Sun Belt Bakery ...... 89 Dunn Hospitality ...... 90 Curtis Shaw, Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Offi cials Women’s Basketball Information E-mail: [email protected] Introduction Page ...... 91 Women’s Basketball Notes...... 92-93 Composite Schedule ...... 94-95 Lisa Mattingly Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Offi cials Austin Peay ...... 96-97 E-mail: [email protected] Belmont ...... 98-99 Eastern Illinois ...... 100-101 Eastern Kentucky ...... 102-103 Jacksonville State ...... 104-105 Morehead State ...... 106-107 MEMBERSHIP Murray State ...... 108-109 Southeast Missouri ...... 110-111 Austin Peay State University - Clarksville, Tenn. SIUE ...... 112-113 Tennessee State ...... 114-115 Member since 1962 Tennessee Tech ...... 116-117 UT Martin ...... 118-119 - Nashville, Tenn. 2017-18 All-OVC Teams ...... 120 Member since 2012 Superlatives, Players of the Week, NCAA Stats ...... 121 Overall Team Statistics ...... 122-123 Eastern Illinois University - Charleston, Ill. Conference-Only Team Statistics ...... 124-125 Overall Individual Statistics ...... 126-127 Member since 1996 Year-by-Year Final Standings ...... 128-130 Team Champions/Individual Honors ...... 131 Eastern Kentucky University - Richmond, Ky. All-Conference Teams ...... 132-134 Member since 1948 Record Book ...... 135-136 Career and Season Top 10’s ...... 137-138 Jacksonville State University - Jacksonville, Ala. Year-by-Year Statistical Leaders ...... 139-140 All-Time Players of the Week ...... 141-145 Member since 2003 All-Time OVC Preseason Polls ...... 146-147 OVC Tournament ...... 148-149 Morehead State University - Morehead, Ky. All-Time Tournament Results ...... 150-152 Member since 1948 All-Time All-Tournament Teams ...... 153 Tournament Records ...... 154 - Murray, Ky. Postseason History ...... 155-156 NCAA Bracket ...... 157 Member since 1948 Jostens ...... 158 Southeast Missouri State University - Cape Girardeau, Mo. Member since 1991 CREDITS University Edwardsville - Edwardsville, Ill. This 2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide was written, designed Member since 2008 and edited by Kyle Schwartz, Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communica- tions, and Heather Brown, Director of Communications. Assistance provided by Tennessee State University - Nashville, Tenn. and a special thanks to the sports information directors at the 12 OVC member Member since 1986 institutions for providing content and assistance.

Tennessee Technological University - Cookeville, Tenn. The guide is available at OVCSports.com as a PDF download. Upon request it Member since 1949 is also available on CD. The CD also contains the PDF media guides of all 12 OVC schools as well as a Logo/Headshot Library of the Conference offi ce and University of Tennessee at Martin - Martin, Tenn. member institutions. To request a copy, contact Kyle Schwartz or Heather Brown Member since 1992 in the OVC offi ce.

2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide • 1 SCHOOL WEBSITES Ohio Valley Conference ...... www.OVCSports.com MEDIA INFORMATION Austin Peay ...... www.LetsGoPeay.com Belmont ...... www.BelmontBruins.com OVC COMMUNICATIONS OVC AND SOCIAL MEDIA Eastern Illinois ...... www.EIUpanthers.com For more information on the OVC during Media and fans can get the latest updates Eastern Kentucky ...... www.EKUSports.com Jacksonville State ...... www.JSUGamecockSports.com the year, please contact the OVC Com- on Ohio Valley Conference happenings by Murray State ...... www.GoRacers.com munications Department. Kyle Schwartz, using the social media outlets including Southeast Missouri ...... www.GoSoutheast.com Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snap- SIUE ...... www.siuecougars.com Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Tennessee State ...... www.TSUTigers.com Communications, serves as the men’s chat. Followers and fans of the OVC on Tennessee Tech ...... www.TTUSports.com basketball contact and can be reached at each application will get breaking news UT Martin ...... www.UTMSports.com (615) 690-6685 or [email protected]. fi rst and have the chance to access spe- Heather Brown, Director of Communica- cial content and receive special deals. OVC GAMES ON THE RADIO/INTERNET The OVC can be found on Twitter at http:// Austin Peay tions, serves as the women’s basketball On the Radio ..WVRY105.1, WKFN (540AM), 100.7 FM contact and can be reached at (615) 690- www.twitter.com/ovcsports, Facebook On the Internet...... www.LetsGoPeay.com 6687 or [email protected]. at http://www.facebook.com/ovcsports Talent ...... Scott Chase, Van Stokes Belmont and on Instagram and Snapchat with the On the Radio ...... 104.5 The Zone (m) OVCSPORTS.COM handle “ovcsports.” The OVC also has a On the Internet...... www.BelmontBruins.com The offi cial Website of the Ohio Valley YouTube channel (http://www.YouTube. Talent ...... Kevin Ingram (m), Rich Tiner (w) Eastern Illinois Conference is OVCSports.com. The com/ohiovalleyconference) for the latest On the Radio ...... Hit Mix 88.9 (WEIU) website is a direct partnership with SIDE- videos and a blog located at http://www. On the Internet...... www.weiuhitmix.net Talent ...... Mike Bradd, Jack Ashmore (m), ARM Sports. The Website contains all the OVCExtra.com. Rob Calhoun (w) latest news on the conference including Eastern Kentucky releases, statistics and standings. OVC TOURNAMENT CREDENTIALS On the Radio ...... WCYO-FM 100.7 (m) WEKY-AM 1340 (w) The 2019 OVC Tournament will be held On the Internet...... www.wcyofm.com (m) ONLINE PRESS BOX March 6-9 at the Ford Center in Evansville, www.wekyam.com (w) Indiana. The deadline to request creden- Talent ...... Greg Stotelmyer, Jim Tirey The OVC Basketball Online Press Box is Jacksonville State a one-stop shop for gathering information tials for the event is MONDAY, MARCH 4 On the Radio ...... WLJS-FM 91.9 about the OVC and its member schools. AT 3 P.M. CT. Once again ALL creden- On the Internet...... www.jsu.edu/92j Talent ...... Mike Parris Media can access it at www.OVCSports. tialling will be conducted online through Morehead State com/basketballpressbox or via links on Sport Systems. Complete information on On the Radio ...... WIVY-FM (96.3) the process will be available in January at On the Internet...... www.MSUEagles.com the Men’s or Women’s Basketball pages Talent ...... Chuck Mraz (m), Jason Blanton (w) at OVCSports.com. There you will fi nd OVCSports.com. NO credentials will be Murray State important related fi les and links for every mailed; instead they can be picked up in- On the Radio ...... WFGE-FM 103.7 (m) WNBS 1340 (w) OVC school in one place. person at the Ford Center Media Entrance. On the Internet...... www.GoRacers.com Talent ...... Neal Bradley (m), Jeremy Rose (w) OVC CHAMPIONSHIP/PARKING INFO Southeast Missouri ESPN+ On the Radio ....ESPN 92.9 FM, Real Rock 99.3 FM Beginning this year, ESPN+ became the There is no on-site media parking available On the Internet...... www.espn929.com exclusive home for live web streamed at the Ford Center. We encourage meida Talent ...... Erik Sean, Jess Bolen SIUE athletic contests involving OVC schools. to use the lot behind the Old National On the Radio ...... WSIE FM 88.7 ESPN+ is a multi-sport, direct-to-consum- Events Plaza (nicknamed “Back 40”) that On the Internet...... www.SIUECougarNetwork.com contains 1,100 parking spaces which are Talent ...... Joe Pott er subscription streaming service from The Tennessee State Walt Disney Company Direct-to-Consum- free during Ford Center events. That lot is On the Radio ...... 102.1 FM “The Light” er & International segment and ESPN. It two blocks Northeast of the Ford Center On the Internet...... http://thelightnashville.com Talent ...... Greg Pogue, Albert Dawson off ers fans thousands of additional live and bounded by SE 9th Street and Walnut Tennessee Tech events, on-demand content and original Street. There are also several city-owned On the Radio ...... WHUB AM 1400 programming not available on ESPN’s garages in close proximity to the arena. On the Internet...... www.TTUSports.com Talent ...... Roger Ealey linear TV or digital networks. ESPN+ is UT Martin an integrated part of the completely re- On the Radio ...... WCMT-FM 101.3 On the Internet...... www.UTMSports.com designed ESPN App and also available Talent ...... Tom Britt, Chris Brinkley through ESPN.com. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ through the ESPN App for just Note: All above radio listings are Flagship stations only and does not include radio network affi liates. $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year).

OVC PRESS BOX PHONE NUMBERS OVC BASKETBALL SPOTLIGHT Austin Peay ...... (931) 221-7155/7156 From January through March the OVC Belmont ...... (615) 460-8554 produces a three-minute OVC Basketball Eastern Illinois ...... (217) 581-5135 Eastern Kentucky ...... (859) 622-5908 Spotlight segment that highlights the hap- Jacksonville State ...... (256) 782-5583 penings of basketball around the Confer- Morehead State ...... (606) 783-2500 Murray State ...... (270) 809-5551 ence. The segment airs locally in Nashville Southeast Missouri ...... (573) 651-5014 and in select OVC markets (any stations SIUE ...... (618) 650-2188 interested in carrying the free segment Tennessee State ...... (615) 963-7616 Tennessee Tech ...... (931) 372-6077/6078 can contact Kyle Schwartz). The sege- UT Martin ...... (731) 881-7694 ment is also available weekly on the OVC Soundcloud page at www.Soundcloud. com/OVCsports. 2 • 2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE STYLE GUIDE Offi cial Institution Name Preferred Athletics Unacceptable Usages Colors: PMS (RGB) “Nickname” Reference

Austin Peay State University Austin Peay, APSU Austin Peay State, AP 200 Red (196, 30, 58) “Governors” or “Govs” Lady Governors, Lady Govs

Belmont University Belmont Lady Bruins Red 186 (206, 17, 38) “Bruins” Blue 281 (0, 40, 104)

Eastern Illinois University Eastern Illinois, EIU Lady Panthers Blue 661C (0, 53, 148) “Panthers” Cool Gray 4C (187, 188, 188)

Eastern Kentucky University Eastern Kentucky, EKU Lady Colonels 209 Maroon (117, 38, 61) “Colonels” 429 Gray (173, 175, 170)

Jacksonville State University Jacksonville State, JSU Jacksonville, Jack State 186 Red (206, 17, 38) “Gamecocks” Jax State Lady Gamecocks 122 Gold (255, 212, 81)

Morehead State University Morehead State, MSU Morehead, MU 286 Blue (0, 56, 168) “Eagles” Lady Eagles 116 Gold (252, 209, 22)

Murray State University Murray State, MSU Murray, Lady Racers 123 Gold (255, 198, 30) “Racers” 289 Blue (0, 38, 73)

Southeast Missouri State University Southeast Missouri State --- 186 Red (206, 17, 38) “Redhawks” Southeast Missouri, Southeast 05 Cool Grey (41, 39, 40) SEMO

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville SIUE (preferred) Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 485 Red (216, 30, 5) “Cougars” SIU Edwardsville SIU-E 462 Dark Brown (90, 70, 42) 7505 Brown (134, 100, 67) 465 Gold (182, 152, 93), 7504 Light Brown (148, 120, 92)

Tennessee State University Tennessee State, TSU --- Refl ex Blue (0, 20, 137) “Tigers”, “Lady Tigers” (WBB only), “Tigerbelles” (W-Track only)

Tennessee Technological University Tennessee Tech, TTU, Tech Tenn. Tech, TT 266 Purple (109, 40, 170) “Golden Eagles” 109 Gold (249, 214, 22)

The University of Tennessee at Martin UT Martin, UTM Tennessee-Martin 289 Blue (0, 38, 73) “Skyhawks” UT-Martin, Martin 151 Orange (247, 127, 0)

Ohio Valley Conference Ohio Valley, OVC Valley 194 Maroon (156, 36, 63) 874 Gold (136, 119, 68)

Above are the primary logos for the Ohio Valley Conference member institutions. All logos are trademarks of their respective universities.

This reference is intended only for media-related, non-commercial use. For more information or to request access to logos, contact Kyle Schwartz, Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations, at the Ohio Valley Conference at (615) 690-6685 or [email protected].

2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide • 3 Now in its 71st year, the Ohio Valley Conference continues to build on the success that has made OVC was one of just nine conferences nationally to win a NCAA Tournament game in each season it the nation’s eighth-oldest NCAA Division I conference. and one of only three non-BCS leagues (joining the Atlantic 10 and WCC) to do so. In May 2011 the Conference expanded for the second time in four years, adding Belmont University In 2013-14 Murray State won fi ve games to claim the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament which began competition in the 2012-13 academic year. The addition of Belmont gave the OVC 12 (CIT) and in the process became the fi rst OVC men’s basketball team to ever play games in the month members, the most the league has had at one time in its illustrious history. The move added a second of April. team in the city of Nashville and was the fi rst addition to the league since Southern Illinois University The 2014-15 season saw fi ve OVC men’s basketball teams earn postseason bids, the most in Edwardsville joined in 2008. Subsequently, the league has shown its stability over the past decade, league history, and a year later (2015-16) that number was eclipsed with six teams making national seeing only one member institution depart over the past 18 years. postseason tournaments. Entering 2017-18 OVC men’s basketball teams have at least one national The 2009-10 school year saw a change in leadership as Beth DeBauche was named the seventh postseason tournament victory in nine-straight postseasons, an all-time league record. full-time Commissioner in league history on July 28, 2009. The last three commissioners of the OVC In 2007-08, UT Martin guard became the fi rst men’s Division I player to record a have moved onto jobs as the commissioner of the Big Ten, Big 12 and the Mid-American Confer- quadruple-double in a game, when he registered 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals ences. in a victory over Central Baptist College. Hudson, who ranked fourth in scoring nationally as a junior, The OVC’s proud history dates back to 1948, but seeds for the new league were actually planted returned for his senior season in 2008-09 and was second nationally in scoring (behind Davidson’s in 1941. It was then that Roy Stewart, the athletics director at Murray State, Charles “Turkey” Hughes, Stephen Curry) at 27.5 points a contest. Hudson earned numerous honors (including OVC Player the athletics director at Eastern Kentucky, and Kelly Thompson, the public relations director at Western of the Year and OVC Male Athlete of the Year in each 2008 and 2009 and All-American status from Kentucky, fi rst broached the idea of forming a new conference. Discussions were put on hold by World several outlets) before being drafted by the with the No. 58 pick of the 2009 NBA Draft. War II, but reemerged February 27-28, 1948 at the Kentucky Hotel in Louisville as the three original During the 2010-11 year, Faried, the nation’s leading rebounder during the season, became the institutions combined with Morehead State, Louisville and Evansville to form the OVC. NCAA’s Modern Era (since 1973) career rebounding leader, totaling 1,673 rebounds which passed In the 1950s, the OVC became a pioneer on a much more signifi cant scale socially. During times Tim Duncan for the record (he is 11th all-time in NCAA history). Faried also fi nished his career with of racial segregation, league member Morehead State became one of the fi rst non-traditionally black 86 double-doubles, second all-time to only Duncan. He is one of only six players in NCAA history to mid-southern institutions to accept a black student. In 1958 Marshall Banks earned athletically-related fi nish with 2,000-plus career points (2,009) and 1,600-plus career rebounds. Faried was drafted 22nd aid at Morehead, which signed a second black athlete, Howard Murphy, a year later. In 1961 Murphy overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2011 NBA Draft, becoming the fi rst OVC player selected in the earned all-conference recognition as a halfback in football. With racial barriers broken, the rest of the fi rst round since Tennessee State’s Carlos Rogers 1994. institutions in the league began to provide educational and athletic opportunities to African-Americans. Murray State guard , a fi rst-team All-American in 2011-12, capped his illustrious After Title IX legislation passed in 1972, women’s athletics began a rebirth on the national scene career in 2012-13 by becoming just the 17th player in OVC history to score 2,000 or more career as the NCAA began sponsoring and marketing women’s sports. Recognizing the need to provide points. Canaan, who was a key part of Murray State NCAA Tournament victories in both 2010 and increased opportunities for female athletes, the OVC began formulating plans for women’s athletics 2012, earned a pair of OVC Player of the Year honors (2012 and 2013) during his career as well as in 1975 and established women’s championships in the sports of basketball, tennis and track in 1977, being named OVC Freshman of the Year (2010), OVC Tournament MVP (2010) and OVC Male Athlete with cross country and volleyball added over the next four years. Those sports were initially governed of the Year (2012). He was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the 34th overall pick (No. 2 pick of by the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), but the overall strength of women’s the second round) of the 2013 NBA Draft. programs in the league was demonstrated by the automatic bids the OVC instantly received when In 2014-15 Murray State became just the fi fth OVC men’s team to complete a perfect Conference the NCAA became the governing body in 1982. The conference added women’s golf and softball in season (16-0). The Racers were led by sophomore who was named OVC Men’s 1994 and women’s soccer in 1998. Basketball Player of the Year, OVC Male Athlete of the Year and earned third-team All-American In 1955, the OVC became only the second six-member league nationally to earn an automatic honors from CBSSports.com. Following the season Payne declared for the NBA Draft, becoming the bid to the prestigious NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, which, at that time, was limited to only 24 fi rst sophomore in OVC history to do so and one of just four OVC players all-time to enter and stay participants. The Conference quickly proved worthy of that bid, as Morehead State defeated Marshall in the draft with eligibility remaining. Payne was selected in the lottery by the Oklahoma City Thunder (107-92) and Wayne State (95-84) in the 1956 tournament. (pick No. 14 overall), making him just the ninth First Round NBA Draft pick in OVC history. Fifteen years later, former OVC member Western Kentucky became the fi rst and only Conference Austin Peay made history in winning the 2016 OVC Men’s Basketball Tournament as the Governors team to reach the Final Four. The Hilltoppers defeated Jacksonville, Kentucky and Ohio State before became the fi rst No. 8 seed to claim the championship. APSU had to win its two regular season games losing to Villanova in double overtime in the national semifi nals. WKU went on to fi nish in third place just to qualify for the event and then won four games in four days to capture its fi fth tournament crown. after beating Kansas 77-75 in the consolation game. Along the way the Govs topped a No. 5 seed, No. 4 seed, No. 1 seed and No. 2 seed and were paced Since that time, the OVC has recorded some of the biggest upsets in the history of the NCAA by MVP Chris Horton who averaged 22.5 points, 14.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists/game during the event Tournament. Perhaps the most famous moment came in 1987, when Austin Peay came from fourth including a 37-, 21- and 30-point, 16-rebounds performance during the run. place in the regular season to win the OVC Tournament and earn the league’s automatic bid. The In 2016, former Belmont All-American and 2012-13 OVC Co-Player of the Year became Governors drew powerful Illinois, and were such big underdogs, that ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale the fi rst former OVC player to advance to the NBA Finals since former Tennessee State star Anthony promised to stand on his head if APSU won the game. After a 68-67 victory over the Illini, and a narrow Mason played for the New York Knicks in 1994. Clark was part of a Golden State Warriors team that 90-87 overtime loss to eventual Final Four participant Providence in the second round, Vitale made won an NBA record 73 regular season games but lost in Game 7 of the Finals. A year later, Clark good on his promise in a visit to Clarksville two months later. was part of the Warriors team that topped Cleveland to win the 2017 NBA Championship, becoming Murray State added to the OVC’s string of upsets in 1988 when it knocked off 14th-ranked North the fi rst OVC player to win the crown since 1970-71 (Murray State’s Dick Cunningham and Western Carolina State, 78-75. The Racers’ M&M Boys - Jeff Martin and Don Mann - combined for 39 points Kentucky’s Greg Smith with the ). in the win. MSU nearly went on to the Sweet 16 that year, losing to eventual national champion Kan- Belmont’s fi nished his career in 2016-17 with a 66.7 career fi eld goal percentage, sas, 61-58. A bank shot by Mann that would’ve given the Racers a one-point lead rolled off the rim tops in OVC history and fourth all-time in Division I history. Bradds capped his career with back-to-back with three seconds left. In 1990 as a No. 16 seed, Murray State took No. 1 seed Michigan State into OVC Player of the Year awards in addition to being named 2016-17 OVC Co-Male Athlete of the Year. overtime before falling 75-71; that game still marks the closest a No. 16 seed has come to knocking Through its 70 years, 13 teams have won or shared the league’s regular season men’s basketball off a No. 1 in men’s tournament action. More recently, Murray State has dominated the OVC Tourna- title. Murray State heads the list with a Conference-record 25 outright or shared basketball crowns. ment, reaching the championship game every year in the 1990’s. The Racers’ 15 OVC Tournament Other past champions include former member Western Kentucky (19), Morehead State (9), Austin Championships are the most among all OVC schools. Peay (8), Eastern Kentucky (6), Tennessee Tech (5), former member Middle Tennessee (5), Belmont After former member Middle Tennessee State won a fi rst round game in 1989, the league had a (4), Tennessee State (2), former member East Tennessee State (2), Southeast Missouri State (1), UT drought as no other OVC team won a NCAA Tournament game for the next 19 years. But Morehead Martin (1) and former member Akron (1). State, coming off a thrilling double overtime OVC Tournament victory over Austin Peay, topped Alabama Among the coaching greats in men’s basketball have been Western Kentucky’s E.A. Diddle, who State 58-43 in the 2009 Opening Round game at University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The retired with 759 victories and 10 OVC titles; John Oldham, who was a member of the very fi rst All-OVC game was played in front of an Opening Round record crowd of 11,346 and included many MSU fans squad and went on to win seven OVC crowns during his coaching tenure at Tennessee Tech and who made the three-hour drive from Morehead for the game. Western Kentucky; Paul McBrayer, who guided Eastern Kentucky to 219 wins and three OVC crowns; In 2009-10, Murray State made OVC history by winning a record 31 games (31-5) on its way to the and Cal Luther, who is the only person in Conference history to win men’s basketball Coach of the Year league’s regular season and tournament championships. In the fi rst round of the NCAA Tournament, honors at two league schools - Murray State and UT Martin. Following the 2016-17 season, Austin the No. 13 seed Racers topped Vanderbilt in thrilling fashion when senior Danero Thomas hit a jumper Peay’s Dave Loos retired as the winningest coach in OVC history (he passed Luther for that crown in as time expired to lift MSU to a 66-65 victory. It marked the fi rst OVC team to advance to the second 2009-10). Loos, a fi ve-time OVC Coach of the Year, fi nished his career with 420 wins in 27 years at round of the NCAA Tournament since 1989 and snapped a skid of 71-straight loses to Southeastern Austin Peay (including a 258-194 OVC record) and 502 total wins in 31 years as a head coach. Loos Conference foes (dating back to 2000-01). In the second round, the Racers pushed eventual national was inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame in 2018. runner-up Butler to the brink before losing 54-52. There have been an equal number of great players including Western Kentucky’s , In 2010-11 Morehead State would make it three NCAA Tournament wins in as many years for who is the only three-time OVC Player of the Year. Several players have won OVC Player of the Year the league and got a bit of revenge for the 2009 tournament loss to Louisville in the process. After honors twice: Western Kentucky’s Jim McDaniels (1969-70 and 1970-71), Murray State’s fi nishing second in the regular season and winning the OVC Tournament Championship, the No. 13 (1971-72, 1972-73), Jeff Martin (1987-88, 1988-89), (1989-90, 1990-91) and Marcus seeded Eagles were shipped to Denver to play the in-state foe Cardinals. MSU jumped out to a 15-2 Brown (1994-95, 1995-96), Austin Peay’s Otis Howard (1976-77, 1977-78), Middle Tennessee’s Jerry advantage but were down four points (61-57) with just over a minute to play in regulation. After two Beck (1980-81, 1981-82), Akron’s (1982-83, 1983-84), Tennessee State’s Carlos Rog- free throws from two-time OVC Player of the Year , the Eagles held for one fi nal shot ers (1992-93, 1993-94), UT Martin’s Lester Hudson (2007-08, 2008-09), Morehead State’s Kenneth attempt and senior Demonte Harper pulled up off a cross-over dribble to nail a 3-pointer with 4.3 Faried (2009-10, 2010-11) and Murray State’s Isaiah Canaan (2011-12, 2012-13). seconds left that gave Morehead State a 62-61 lead. UofL had one last attempt but Faried blocked The OVC also has the honor of being the only conference to boast the nation’s leaders in scoring, the Cardinals last shot, giving MSU the win, its fi rst over Louisville since the 1956-57 season. rebounding and assists all in one season. That feat was accomplished in 1991-92 by Morehead State’s In 2011-12 Murray State put together one of the greatest seasons in OVC history, beginning the (28.1 ppg), Murray State’s Popeye Jones (14.4 rpg) and Tennessee Tech’s Van Usher year 23-0 (an all-time OVC best) and being ranked as high as No. 7 in the coaches poll on Feb. 6. The (8.8 apg). squad was the fi rst OVC team to be nationally-ranked since Murray State was ranked in 1997-98; in In 2018, the OVC once again served as host for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Champion- addition, the top 10 ranking was the fi rst for an OVC team since the 1970-71 campaign (WKU). The ship First and Second Rounds at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It marked the fourth-time the OVC Racers would top nationally-ranked Memphis and Saint Mary’s during the season and win the league’s served as hosts of the event (2000, 2005, 2012 and 2018). regular season and tournament championships. MSU earned a No. 6 seed in NCAA Tournament, the Tennessee Tech has won or shared 18 regular-season women’s basketball championships in addition highest-ever seed for an OVC team since the NCAA began seeding the fi eld in 1979. The Racers to nine OVC Tournament crowns; both are tops in OVC history. UT Martin added its name to the list would top Colorado State 58-41 in the second round before falling to Marquette in the third round. of championship by capturing its fi rst OVC Tournament title in 2011 and also winning championships Murray State would win 31 games overall, tying the OVC all-time record the Racers set in 2009-10. in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The Skyhawks became just the fourth team in OVC history (and fi rst since After the Murray State win in 2011-12, the league had won NCAA Tournament games in four- Austin Peay from 2000-03) to win four-straight tournament titles. In 2016 Belmont won its fi rst-ever straight seasons, something that had never happened in league history (three-game winning streaks OVC Tournament Championship, a feat it repeated in 2017 and 2018. from 1960-62 and 1987-89 had been the previous best streaks). Over that time period (2009-12) the Several coaches have made their mark in the history of OVC women’s basketball. Former Tennessee FORMER COMMISSIONERS OF THE OVC

Art Guepe Paul Dietzel Bob Vanatta Jim Delany Dan Beebe Dr. Jon Steinbrecher (1963-75) (1975-76) (1976-79) (1979-89) (1989-2003) (2003-09)

4 • 2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide Tech coach Marynell Meadors posted an amazing 363-139 (72.3%) record at Tech, becoming the fi rst competed in fi ve Winter Olympics in bobsled (winning a bronze medal in 2002) and coached the 2010 woman in NCAA or AIAW history to win 300 games at the same institution, while former Tennessee United States bobsled team to its fi rst gold medal since 1948. Former Morehead State football and State skipper Teresa Phillips earned National Coach of the Year honors from USA Today in 1990 for Eastern Kentucky track and fi eld athlete Dallas Robinson competed with the U.S. bobsled team during turning around the Lady Tigers’ program before going on to lead TSU to the NCAA Tournament in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. In addition, some of the greatest players in professional sports were 1994 and 1995. Tennessee Tech coach Bill Worrell capped a stellar 20-year career in 2005-06 and educated at OVC institutions. The list includes former greats such as football’s Phil Simms (Morehead was inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame in 2007; he compiled a 408-190 record while leading the State) and Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois), basketball’s Clem Haskins (Western Kentucky) and Bubba Golden Eagles to an unprecedented 16 OVC regular-season titles and eight NCAA Tournament ap- Wells (Austin Peay) and two-sport star Steve Hamilton (Morehead State) to present-day standouts like pearances, including fi ve straight from 1989-93. Larry Joe Inman, who retired at the conclusion of the basketball player Kenneth Faried (Morehead State) and Robert Covington (Tennessee State), football 2007-08 season and was inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame in 2009, won more than 100 games at player Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois) and baseball players A.J. Ellis (Austin Peay) and Shawn both Middle Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky, and earned OVC Coach of the Year honors a record Kelley (Austin Peay). Hamilton is the only athlete to ever play in the NCAA Basketball Championship, eight times - fi ve times at EKU and three at MTSU. In 2012-13 Inman came out of retirement to take a World Series () and an NBA Championship Series (Los the Tennessee State job; in 2014-15 he led the Lady Tigers to its fi rst OVC Tournament Championship Angeles Lakers). since 1995. Inman once again retired following the 2016-17 season, with 545 career victories. The playing fi eld is not the only place where OVC athletes are working hard. The league also Many great players have graced the hardwood over the years, including former OVC Players of recognizes excellence in the classroom. Six Scholar-Athlete Awards are presented yearly to male and the Year Brooke Armistead and Gerlonda Hardin from Austin Peay, Pam Chambers, Jerilynn Harper, female athletes, while others are commended for their academic success by being Medal of Honor Cheryl Taylor, Angela Moorehead, Roschelle Vaughn, Diane Seng, Janet Holt and Emily Christian recipients or earning a spot on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Additionally, the league annually from Tennessee Tech; Morehead State’s Donna Murphy, Priscilla Blackford and Chynna Bozeman; presents one institutional Academic Achievement Award, as well as separate team awards in each Eastern Kentucky’s Kim Mays; Southeast Missouri’s Gray C. Harris; Murray State’s Ashley Hayes; Conference-sponsored sport. Since the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and UT Martin’s Heather Butler and Jasmine Newsome. Academic All-America program began, the Ohio Valley Conference has had 275 student-athletes Morehead State center Brittany Pittman set new school, league and NCAA standards for blocked honored with the award, including 81 over the last eight years (2010-18). shots in 2008-09. Pittman swatted 164 shots during the season, setting a new NCAA single-season Through the early years of the league, administrators wrestled with fan behavior due to the close record (which has since been broken). proximity of the Conference members and the intense rivalries which developed. Just as it did de- In 2012-13 the UT Martin duo of Jasmine Newsome and Heather Butler fi nished fi fth and sixth cades ago, the OVC took the leadership role on what has become a national issue. In 1995, the OVC nationally among NCAA scoring leaders. Newsome, the 2012 and 2013 OVC Player of the Year, aver- implemented a fi rst-of-its-kind “Sportsmanship Statement,” a policy which promotes principles of fair aged 22.6 points per game on the way to All-American honors while Butler averaged 22.4 points per play, ethical conduct and respect for one’s opponent. The statement has become a model for others contest. Butler set a NCAA record during the season by connecting on a 3-pointer in her 80th-straight to follow across the nation and has answered the challenge of the NCAA Presidents Commission to game. improve sportsmanship in collegiate athletics. In 2013-14 Butler and Newsome capped their brilliant careers by ranking fi rst and second in scoring Additionally, the OVC annually presents the Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award, in honor of in OVC history. Butler, the 2013-14 OVC Female Athlete of the Year, fi nished her career with 2,865 the former Morehead State student-athlete, coach and athletics director, to a junior or senior student- points, which ranked fi rst in OVC and 16th in NCAA history. She also fi nished her career with 392 athlete with signifi cant athletic contributions who best exemplifi es the characteristics of sportsmanship career 3-pointers (which was tied for the most in NCAA history following her career but now ranks and citizenship. Most recently, the Conference has also implemented the OVC Institutional and Team second) and scored in double fi gures in all 129 career games, which ranks fi fth in NCAA history. Fol- Sportsmanship Awards, which are presented to one institution and 18 sport-specifi c teams voted by lowing the season Butler was signed by the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars where she became the fi rst their peers to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical conduct as outlined by OVC player to make an active WNBA roster. Newsome capped her career with 2,566 points, second the OVC and NCAA. only to Butler in OVC history. The vision of leadership demonstrated by the Founding Fathers in 1948 remains alive today as The league also had another historical moment in November 2008 when the NCAA awarded Nashville the Ohio Valley Conference prepares for the future. One example is in regard to the current trend in the 2014 NCAA Women’s Division I Final Four. The OVC served as the host of the prestigious event, collegiate athletics administration for increased involvement of university presidents in setting policies which is one of the biggest sporting events the city of Nashville can host. The event was held April 6 and making rules. The presidents of OVC institutions, however, have always governed the Conference, & 8 at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville and was played in front of sold-out crowds for both long before presidential governance became a national theme. the semifi nals and championship as UConn topped Notre Dame in a battle of undefeated teams to The Ohio Valley Conference sponsors the following sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, win its ninth national title. football, golf, tennis and track for men, and basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, In 2017-18, Belmont completed its second-straight undefeated league season, increasing its winning track and volleyball for women. In addition, the OVC also sponsors the combined men’s and women’s streak in Conference games (both regular season and tournament) to 46 games. The Bruins were sport of rifl e. ranked in both the USA Today Coaches Poll and Associated Press Poll during the year, becoming the Now in its seventh decade of competition, the Ohio Valley Conference has grown signifi cantly from fi rst OVC team to be nationally-ranked since 1992-93. The Bruins fi nished the year ranked No. 23 in its humble beginnings while increasing the number of athletics opportunities it provides for students. the AP poll. Current league representatives include charter members Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State Over its 70 years, OVC teams have garnered national championships and bowl games in football, University and Murray State University, along with Austin Peay State University, Belmont University, along with national team or individual titles in the sports of rifl e, cross country, track and golf. Eastern Illinois University, Jacksonville State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Southern The OVC has also produced several Olympic athletes, including Murray State’s Morgan Hicks, who Illinois University Edwardsville, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University and was a member of the 2004 United States Olympic Rifl e Team and Morehead State’s Brian Shimer who the University of Tennessee at Martin. A LOOK AT THE OVC

Eastern Illinois Morehead State (Charleston, IL) (Morehead, KY)

SIUE SIU Edwardsville Eastern Kentucky (Edwardsville,(Edwardsville, IL)IL) (Richmond, KY)

Southeast Missouri State (Cape Girardeau, MO) Tennessee Tech (Cookeville, TN)

Murray State Tennessee State (Murray, KY) (Nashville, TN)

UT Martin Belmont (Martin, TN) (Nashville, TN)

Ohio Valley Conference Austin Peay (Brentwood, TN) Jacksonville State (Clarksville, TN) (Jacksonville, AL)

2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide • 5 OVC HONORS AND AWARDS The Ohio Valley Conference implemented a fi rst-of-its-kind “Sportsmanship In 2003-04 the League began awarding the Institutional Sportsmanship Award, Statement,” a policy promoting fair play, ethical conduct and respect for one’s given to the OVC member institution selected by its peers to have best exhibited opponent in 1995. The statement answered a challenge of the NCAA Presidents the standards of sportsmanship and ethical conduct as outlined by the OVC and Commission to improve sportsmanship in college athletics, and has become a NCAA. In 2005-06 the League expanded the sportsmanship award program by model for others to follow across the nation. adding the Team Sportsmanship Award. An award is given to each sport sponsored The development of the OVC sportsmanship statement began in June 1993 at by the OVC and is voted on by the student-athletes and coaches of the respective the direction of the league’s presidents. A committee made up of athletics directors sports. and faculty representatives drafted the initial statement, and all coaches and other administrators had the opportunity for input. The statement sets forth expectations OVC SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES for spirit groups, offi cials and fans, as well as the student-athletes and coaches. Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award Winners Here is a brief synopsis of each group’s expectationas within the sportsmanship 1998-99 Julie Virta (women’s basketball), Austin Peay statement. 1999-00 Michael Turner (men’s basketball), Murray State Administrators: Institutional administrators will create an environment of hospi- 2000-01 Kelly Pendleton (women’s basketball), UT Martin tality for visiting teams, particularly for those individuals at Conference institutions. 2001-02 Grant Swallows (football), Tennessee Tech Administrators will treat the visiting teams and its fans in the same manner that 2002-03 Brooke Armistead (women’s basketball), Austin Peay they would want their teams to be treated. 2003-04 Kandi Brown (women’s basketball), Morehead State Coaches: Coaches have the greatest amount of infl uence over whether young 2004-05 Cassandra Peek (women’s basketball), Austin Peay people in their programs are taught and follow the high principles of sportsman- 2005-06 Zac Schlader (men’s basketball), Austin Peay ship. The OVC has been benefi ted by coaches who have risked losing a contest 2006-07 Adonia Bivins (women’s soccer), Austin Peay by removing student-athletes who have demonstrated disrespect for their oppo- 2007-08 Beth Boden (softball), Tennessee Tech 2008-09 Carrie Burggraf (track & fi eld), Austin Peay nents. This discipline measure educates that individual about the importance of 2009-10 Carrie Burggraf (track & fi eld), Austin Peay sportsmanship over participation and winning, and helps counteract the constant 2010-11 Abby O’Connor (volleyball), Eastern Kentucky messages received from many professional athletes who demonstrate a lack of 2011-12 Jon Clinard (baseball), Austin Peay respect for opponents. 2012-13 Sean Bailey (tennis), Austin Peay Student-Athletes: Student-athletes at OVC institutions will be expected to 2013-14 J.J. Mann (basketball), Belmont treat opponents with sportsmanship, and there will be no tolerance for taunting 2014-15 Alison Alcott (soccer), Belmont and baiting of opponents. OVC student-athletes must understand that they are 2015-16 Dalton Screws (football), Jacksonville State perhaps the most visible representatives of their institutions and their behavior is 2016-17 Jessica Twaddle (softball), Murray State observed and emulated by many who are younger. OVC student-athletes must 2017-18 Sally McCabe (basketball, Belmont honor the responsibilities that accompany the privilege of representing our schools Institutional Sportsmanship Award Winners by behaving with dignity and class on and off the fi eld. 2003-04 Southeast Missouri State University Spirit Groups: Like our student-athletes, spirit groups are visible representatives 2004-05 Samford University of our universities, and they are expected to show decent behavior. Cheerlead- 2005-06 Samford University ers, bands and other spirit groups are admitted to contests to support their teams 2006-07 Morehead State University and assist in creating a fun atmosphere, but they will not be allowed to disrupt or 2007-08 Austin Peay State University confront opposing teams. 2008-09 Eastern Kentucky University Offi cials: Offi cials will enforce the rules regarding sportsmanship without 2009-10 Eastern Kentucky University tolerance for abuse. Players and coaches will receive their only warning prior to 2010-11 Southeast Missouri State University the contest, and once the contest begins, penalties will be assessed for violations 2011-12 Tennessee Tech University of unsportsmanlike conduct. 2012-13 Eastern Kentucky University 2013-14 Belmont University Fans: We know all fans are embarrassed by the inappropriate behavior of a 2014-15 Belmont University few who may engage in confrontational and threatening actions towards offi cials, 2015-16 Belmont University visiting fans, players or coaches. Those individuals may be dismissed to provide 2016-17 Austin Peay State University a better environment for others. 2017-18 Murray State University The Conference believes that the eff ort to meet the expectations outlined in the sportsmanship statement will increase the attractiveness at our athletics Basketball Team Sportsmanship Award Winners events by creating a healthy environment for competition. A complete copy of 2005-06 Samford (men and women) the sportsmanship statement can be obtained by calling the OVC offi ce at (615) 2006-07 Eastern Kentucky (m), Morehead State (w) 371-1698. 2007-08 Austin Peay (m), Samford (w) The OVC has a variety of awards to recognize sportsmanship by its student- 2008-09 Austin Peay (m), Murray State (w) 2009-10 Murray State (m), Southeast Missouri (w) athletes, coaches, administrators and teams. In 1998, the OVC established the 2010-11 UT Martin (m), UT Martin (w) Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to a male or female 2011-12 SIUE (men and women) junior or senior student-athlete who best exemplifi es the characteristics of the 2012-13 Eastern Illinois (men and women) former Morehead State student-athlete, coach and administrator. Hamilton is the 2013-14 Belmont (m), Austin Peay (w) only individual to have ever played in a NCAA Basketball Championship, a Major 2014-15 Belmont (m), Morehead State (w) League Baseball World Series (New York Yankees) and a National Basketball 2015-16 Austin Peay (m), Eastern Illinois (w) Association Championship Series (Minnesota Lakers). 2016-17 Belmont (m), Austin Peay (w) 2017-18 SIUE (m), Tennessee Tech (w) OVC HALL OF FAME The Ohio Valley Conference organized a Hall of Fame in 1977. Membership is limited to coaches, administrators, faculty and staff members who have been associated with the OVC for at least fi ve (5) years and have had extensive outstanding service to the Conference. Unless a tie in the selection procedure occurs, there shall be no more than three (3) inductees annually. Voting for the award is done in the spring and the induction takes place at the OVC Honors Luncheon, which is held annually at the end of May. Following the 2017 ceremony, the Hall of Fame now has 83 members. Dr. Joe Morgan, APSU (1977) Mr. Malcolm P. Quillen, TTU (1984) Dr. Margaret N. Perry, UTM (1998) Mr. Joey Haines, SEMO/AP (2009) Mr. Charles Hughes, EKU (1977) Mr. Ellis T. Johnson, MOR (1985) Dr. Leon Bibb, APSU (1999) Mr. Larry Inman, EKU/MTSU (2009) Dr. Robert Martin, EKU (1977) Mr. John “Sonny” Allen, MOR (1987) Mr. Cal Luther, MUR / UTM (2000) Mr. Chuck Kimmel, APSU (2010) Dr. Adron Doran, MOR (1977) Mr. Wilburn Tucker, TTU (1987) Mr. R.L. “Buddy” Patey, OVC (2000) Mr. David Mays, TTU (2010) Mr. Roy Stewart, MUR (1977) Mr. Johnny Reagan, MUR (1988) Dr. Nolan Fowler, MOR / TTU (2001) Mr. Ron English, OVC (2011) Dr. W.E. Derryberry, TTU (1977) Dr. George Fisher, APSU (1988) Dr. Angelo Volpe, TTU (2001) Mr. Bobby Nichols, TTU (2011) Mr. Hooper Eblen, TTU (1997) Mr. John Oldham, WKU / TTU (1989) Mr. Jim Ward, EKU (2002) Mr. Bob Spoo, EIU (2012) Dr. Kelly Thompson, WKU (1977) Mr. Jimmy Earle, MTSU (1989) Mr. Roy Kidd, EKU (2003) Dr. Martha Mullins, EKU (2013) Mr. Ed Diddle, Sr., WKU (1977) Dr. Sam Ingram, MTSU (1990) Dr. Bobby Barton, EKU (2004) Dr. Robert “Bob” Bell, TTU (2014) Mr. L.T. Smith, WKU (1977) Mr. Bennie Purcell, MUR (1990) Mr. Wayne Martin, MOR (2004) Margaret Simmons, MUR (2014) Dr. Dave Aaron, APSU (1978) Mr. Donald G. Combs, EKU (1991) Mr. Bill Cornell, MUR (2005) Dr. Rex Chaney, MOR (2015) Mr. Bob Laughlin, MOR (1978) Mr. Steve Hamilton, MOR (1991) Dr. David Larimore, TTU (2005) Mr. Jim Skidmore, JSU (2015) Mr. Ted Hornback, WKU (1978) Mr. James E. Delany, OVC (1992) Mr. Karl Park, EKU (2005) Dr. Doug Whitlock, EKU (2015) Dr. Quill E. Cope, MTSU (1978) Mr. E.K. Patty, MTSU (1993) Dr. Geri Polvino, EKU (2005) Mr. Frank Beamer, MUR (2016) Mr. J.D. Rayburn, MUR (1979) Ms. Marynell Meadors, TTU (1993) Mr. Dan Beebe, OVC (2006) Dr. Gaines Hunt, APSU (2016) Mr. Nick Denes, WKU (1979) Mr. Edward S. Temple, TSU (1995) Mr. Paul McBrayer, EKU (2006) Dr. William Meehan, JSU (2016) Mr. Raymond H. Brown, TTU (1980) Mr. John Ogles, APSU (1996) Mr. Don Wade, TTU (2006) Dr. Sherry Hoppe, APSU (2017) Dr. Dero G. Downing, WKU (1980) Dr. Guy Penny, MOR (1996) Dr. Thurston Banks, TTU (2007) Mr. Mike Strickland, MUR/BEL (2017) Mr. P.V. Overall, TTU (1981) Dr. Arliss Roaden, TTU (1996) Mr. Steve Newton, MUR (2007) Mr. Dave Loos, APSU (2018) Mr. Arthur L. Guepe, OVC (1982) Mr. John Stanford, MTSU (1997) Mr. Bill Worrell, TTU (2007) Dr. Wayne Andrews, MOR (2018) Mr. Charles M. Murphy, MTSU (1982) Dr. Kala Stroup, MUR / SEMO (1997) Mr. Elvis Green, MUR (2008)

6 • 2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide Beth DeBauche - Commissioner Elizabeth (Beth) DeBauche was named commissioner of the Ohio Valley Confer- ence on July 29, 2009, becoming the seventh full-time commissioner in the history of the OVC. As commissioner, she answers to each of the 12 OVC schools’ presidents and works with them to set the strategic direction of the conference. DeBauche (pronounced De-Bush), a Green Bay, Wisconsin native, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history and government from Saint Mary’s College in Indiana, and her master’s degree in communications from Notre Dame. She went on to complete her juris doctorate from the Notre Dame School of Law. After a brief stint in the fi eld of law, DeBauche turned her attention to the world of college athletics. She got her start at Vanderbilt University, where she was the assistant athletic director for compliance from August 1994 to November 1996. From there, she worked as an assistant and later associate commissioner for the in Birmingham, Alabama, from November 1996 through August 2002. In 2002, she relocated to Indianapolis to work in the home offi ce of the NCAA, where she was responsible for coordinating Division I initiatives through the NCAA governance structure, as well as helping to manage the Division I agenda. She was also a liaison to governance representatives, external constituent groups and NCAA staff regarding legisla- tive and governance activities. After seven years with the NCAA, she made her way back to the South and took the commissioner position for the OVC in 2009. The conference has seen several changes under DeBauche’s leadership, including expanding the conference to 12 member institu- tions, the implementation of a revised governance structure to enhance effi ciencies and collaboration and the launch of a branding initiative and the league’s fi rst tagline: “Inspiring Excellence Since 1948.” She also negotiated the largest national media contract in league history and played a key role in upgrading the OVC Digital Network to HD video and expanding viewership. During DeBauche’s time with the OVC, student-athletes have achieved high levels of success, not only on the fi eld, but also in the classroom. The league has consistently seen a record number of honorees on the OVC Medal of Honor and OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. In order to help students succeed, DeBauche sponsors comprehensive leadership programming for OVC student-athletes and coaches through on-campus summits. DeBauche serves on the NCAA Committee on Academics, the National Letter of Intent (NLI) Appeals Committee and is the Vice Presi- dent of the Collegiate Commissioner’s Association (CCA). She has served on the Committee on Institutional Performance, the Division I Strategic Vision and Planning Committee and the Division I Management Council. She is also the FCS representative to the “Coalition To Protect the Student-Athlete Experience” communications steering committee and serves as the FCS liaison to the FCS AD’s Association. She is a board member with the Nashville Sports Council, the Nashville YWCA and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, a member of the Nashville Rotary, the International Women’s Forum of Tennessee, and a graduate of Leadership Nashville.

2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide • 7 Kate Barnett - Asst. Commissioner/Championships & Compliance volleyball team. Following graduation she served a summer internship with the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. Barnett began her role as Assistant Com- Castera received her Master’s degree in sports administration higher educa- missioner for Championships and Compliance tion from Ball State in December 2007. During that time she served as a graduate in September 2016. assistant, teaching physical education/wellness classes in the Ball State Physical Barnett joined the OVC after serving as the Education, Sport and Exercise Science Department. Director of Championships at the Southern A native of Remsen, Iowa, the former Stephanie Bacan and her husband Luis Castera were married in March 2010. They welcomed their fi rst child, Luis Conference for two years (2014-16). There she Andrew, in May 2016. was directly responsible for the coordination of 13 Southern Conference championships. In her role she served as the liasion for several sports, facilitated the championship bid process Brian Pulley - Asst. Commissioner/External Aff airs and collaborated with other staff members on the marketing, promotions and sponsorships Brian Pulley was named Assistant Commis- fulfi llment for each championship. sioner for External Aff airs on August 7, 2007. Prior to joining the Southern Conference Bar- Pulley’s duties include overseeing the nett was an intern for the National Association league’s web streaming eff orts, which in- of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) cluded an overhaul and rebranding into the during the 2013-14 academic year. There she OVC Digital Network in 2012-13. The web assisted with the management of the Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 streaming changed to a free model with HD- ADA), the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) and the National quality and availability across all platforms Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA). which dramatically increased viewership and From August 2011 to May 2013 Barnett served as a graduate assistant in game streamed a record number of events over operations at Belmont, where she helped develop game management procedures the fi rst three years. Pulley is the liaison to and assisted with arena and fi eld setup for each athletic contest. She also served the OVC Digital Network Assessment and as the Bruins’ volleyball operations intern from 2011-12, coordinating team travel, Accountability Group. meals and bus contracts. She earned her Master’s of Sports Administration from He is the liaison for the Conference’s mul- Belmont in May 2013. timedia rights holder, IMG College, as well as Prior to her arrival at Belmont, Barnett was a recipient of the NCAA Division III the OVC Alumni Directors, the OVC Middle Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship Grant at Ripon College. There, she held Tennessee Alumni Board and oversees the OVC Internship Program. a variety of roles, including assisting with game management, NCAA Division III Pulley helped develop and executive a comprehensive marketing plan for the compliance, marketing, hosting the Men’s Soccer and Softball Midwest Conference OVC Basketball Championship as the event expanded and moved to Municipal Championships and sport-specifi c budgets. She also served as a co-advisor for Auditorium in Nashville prior to the 2010-11 season. The 2012 OVC Basketball the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was the assistant volleyball Tournament saw the second-highest attendance at a neutral site in the event’s coach. history. Barnett also served internships with the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and Pulley served as the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Class “A” affi liate of the . and Youth Clinics liaison for the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Final Barnett graduated from Bluff ton University with a bachelor’s degree in sport Four in Nashville. management and business administration in May 2009. There she was a volleyball Pulley brought over fi ve years of sales experience to his current position, student-athlete and member of the SAAC. including completing an internship with the Conference in 2005-06. He has cul- tivated relationships for an array of business types and brings a comprehensive knowledge of game day operations as it applies to corporate activation. Stephanie Castera - Asst. Commissioner/Institutional Services Pulley came to the OVC after being an account executive with ISP Sports Castera was named Assistant Commissioner in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was responsible for soliciting and cultivating corpo- for Institutional Services on November 22, 2013 rate partners for Georgia Tech Athletics. He also helped develop and implement and began her duties with the OVC in January promotions for Georgia Tech football, baseball and men’s basketball as well as 2014. In February 2015 she added the role of being responsible for managing advertising inventory for Georgia Tech. Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). Pulley, a native of Springfi eld, Tennessee, received his bachelor’s degree in Castera manages NCAA Division I gover- public relations from Middle Tennessee State University in December 1998. He nance, legislative and policy matters on behalf completed his master’s of science degree in sports administration from Belmont of the OVC while overseeing legislative issues University in May 2006. such as rules interpretations and education It was during graduate school that he served as an intern with the Ohio Valley and outreach initiatives. She also serves Conference, helping establish a group sales base, formulating a marketing plan as a liaison to the OVC Senior Compliance and assisting with the OVC Basketball Championship among other duties. Administrators, Faculty Athletic Representa- He and his wife Ashley were married in April 2011 and have two children, tives (FAR’s), Senior Woman Administrators Ava and Henry. (SWA’s), Academic Services Administrators, the NCAA Academic and Membership Aff airs staff and to the governance and administration Kyle Schwartz - Asst. Commissioner/Strategic Communications and academics and well-being cabinets in the OVC governance structure. Kyle Schwartz joined the OVC as As- sCastera also manages the NCAA Student Assistance Fund Program on sistant Commissioner for Media Relations behalf of OVC membership, coordinates the nomination and selection process in November 2006. In August 2016 his title for OVC Academic Awards and serves as the assistant tournament manager for changed to Assistant Commissioner for Stra- the OVC Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championship. tegic Communications to better refl ect the In March 2017 she was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Associa- changing job responsibilities associated with tion (AVCA) Board of Directors to a three-year term. collegiate athletics. Castera joined the OVC staff after spending six-plus years working at the He is in charge of publicity eff orts for the NCAA in several diff erent roles. She started as an intern in the NCAA Eligibility Conference and is the primary media relations Center in June 2007 and was in that role for a year before being hired as a co- contact for football, men’s basketball, baseball, ordinator in Academic and Membership Aff airs. After nine months in the role as men’s and women’s cross country and men’s coordinator, Castera was promoted to assistant director, a position she has held and women’s golf. He serves as the media co- until joining the OVC staff . ordinator for the OVC’s annual basketball and In her role at the NCAA she was a member of the Division I legislation team baseball tournaments and is also in charge of where she drafted proposals, editorial revisions and question and answer docu- coordinating special events for the Conference, ments and assisted in NCAA Manual production. Castera is also a liaison to the including the league’s Honors Brunch and Hall of Fame and the annual Football NCAA Division I Amateurism Cabinet, the Amateurism Fact-Finding Committee and Basketball Media Days. Schwartz also oversees the OVC’s offi cial website and the Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), as she and social media platforms as well as the Conference’s OVC Extra blog and its provided legislative, interpretive and membership expertise to each group. Campus Correspondent’s program. Beginning in 2015 he took over as the staff She was also an internal liaison to the NCAA Eligibility Center’s Amateurism liaison to the men’s and women’s golf coaches groups and serves as tournament Certifi cation Team, a member of the Interpretation Leadership Development Team, director for the OVC Men’s & Women’s Golf Championships. a Rules Working Group member and the primary liaison to the AVCA. Castera In 2014 Schwartz served as the Local Media Coordinator for the 2014 also helped evaluate Division I APR Improvement Plans as well as analyzing Women’s Basketball Final Four which was held at Bridgestone Arena in Nash- and processing Division I penalty waivers. Castera has extensive experience in ville. The year prior he had served on the Media Coordination Committee for the academic issues, including initial-eligibility issues, and was a regular presenter Women’s Basketball Final Four in New Orleans. In 2012 and 2018 he served as at NCAA regional rules seminars. the Media Coordinator for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Castera received her undergraduate degree in sport administration from First/Second Rounds that the OVC hosted at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Ball State University in June 2006. At Ball State she was a student-athlete on the Schwartz served as a timeout coordinator for the 2009-13 and 2015-18 NCAA

8 • 2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide Men’s Basketball Tournaments and worked with the ConSIDA group at the Final he directed pre-game presentation on the fi eld at Shea Stadium for all Mets home Fours in each of those years. games. Tellitocci acquired and supervised the pre-game entertainment, National Schwartz is active with the promotion of the Football Championship Subdivi- Anthem singers, color guard, military fl yovers and fi rst pitch participants in addition sion (FCS) and serves as a voter in the FCS Top 25 poll in addition to also being to creating and executing game-day scripts and timelines. He also was responsible a pollster in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top for the content and operation of Shea Stadium’s 11 LED video displays. 30 poll. Tellitocci earned his bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor in writ- Schwartz came to the OVC after spending four and a half years at the ing from Marist in 2004. He completed his Master’s degree in integrated marketing University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. There he served as the and communication at Marist in 2014. Assistant Director of Media Relations for two years, was promoted to Media Rela- tions Coordinator in July 2004 and served as Director of Media Relations in his A Benwood, West Virginia, native, Tellitocci and his wife Bobbi Sue are the fi nal year. parents of two sons, Tyler and Hudson, and reside in Nashville, Tennessee. At Northern Colorado, Schwartz helped coordinate the media eff orts of two NCAA, two conference and six independent championships, including four during the 2005-06 school year. Schwartz was honored by Collegiate Volleyball Update Lauren Berst - Director of Administration (CVU.com) with the fi rst RESPecting Volleyball (Recognition for Excellence in Supporting and Promoting Volleyball) Award in 2005 and was ranked the No. 3 Lauren Berst joined the OVC staff in the soccer SID in the country by Soccer Buzz magazine in 2004. The 2003 Northern fall of 2015 moving to Nashville after living in Colorado volleyball guide he wrote, designed and edited won third place honors New York 15 years. nationally in the CoSIDA publications contest. When in New York, Berst worked primarily Schwartz also spent two years as a graduate assistant in the Southeast as an actor on stage and on camera and voiced Missouri State sports information department (2000-02). It was at SEMO that many commercials for television and radio. Schwartz received his master’s degree in athletic administration, graduating with Berst has extensive experience as an offi ce honors. Schwartz received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from manager, and worked for years as a personal the University of Kentucky in May 2000, graduating cum laude. As an undergradu- and professional organizer. She is also a wine ate, he interned with the Host Communications publishing group and also worked nerd, passing her Level 2 test with merit from with the Kentucky Thoroughblades minor league hockey team. the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Schwartz, a native of Flemingsburg, Kentucky, is a member of the College Berst grew up around college athletics – Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the United States Basketball her father worked at the NCAA for 43 years Writer’s Association (USBWA), the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and her brother builds sports arenas. and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). He also serves A native of Kansas City, Berst got a on the NCAA Media Coordination/Statistics Advisory Group. For 11 years (June B.F.A. in acting from the University of Evans- 2003-2014) he was a member of CoSIDA’s Academic All-American committee, ville and an M.F.A. in acting from the National Theatre Conservatory. serving as a district coordinator for football and the men’s at-large teams for the university division. Schwartz and his wife, Angella, were married in June 2004. They welcomed their fi rst child, Harrison Alexander, in August 2014. Heather Brown - Director of Communications Heather Brown is in her 14th year with the Travis Tellitocci - Asst. Commissioner for Football, Basketball, Officiating Ohio Valley Conference in 2018-19. After the completion of a 10-month internship with the Travis Tellitocci joined the Ohio Valley Confer- OVC, she served in the position of Assistant ence as Assistant Commissioner for Football, Director for Media Relations until her promotion Basketball and Offi ciating in September 2016. of Director of Media Relations in December Tellitocci (pronounced Tella-toss-see) serves 2006. In August 2016 her title changed to the primary staff liaison to the head football, Director of Communications to better refl ect men’s and women’s basketball and baseball the changing job responsibilities associated coaches. He is also the Tournament Manager with collegiate athletics. for the OVC men’s and women’s basketball Brown, the longest tenured member of championships and baseball championship. the OVC staff , is the primary contact for soc- Tellitocci served as the Tournament Manager cer, volleyball, women’s basketball, softball, men’s and women’s track and fi eld, men’s and for the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tour- women’s rifl e and men’s and women’s tennis. nament First and Second Round games at She also serves at the Media Coordina- Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. tor for the OVC Softball Championship which was held at a neutral site (Oxford, Tellitocci joined the OVC staff after serving Alabama) for the fi rst time in 2016. She also serves as the Assistant Media Coor- as Deputy Athletics Director at Marist College dinator for the OVC’s Basketball and Baseball Championships, including serving in Poughkeepsie, New York. He worked with as the Baseball Championships offi cial photographer. Brown is also the editor of all 23 Division I sports at Marist and was responsible for the oversite of the athlet- the OVC Handbook which is published annually. ics department’s business operations, marketing, media relations, broadcasting, In 2014, she served as the Local Media Coordinator for the 2014 Division licensing, ticketing, club sports, intramurals and recreational activities. Tellitocci I NCAA Women’s Final Four which was held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. joined the Marist staff as Assistant Athletics Director for External Aff airs in 2006, Along with that role she has served on the Legacy Committee for the event includ- was promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Internal Aff airs in 2008, became ing working with Junior Journalism and Women’s Portryal in the Media. the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Aff airs in 2013 and was promoted Brown has done extensive work with NCAA Championships, fi rst serving as to Deputy Athletics Director in 2016. the assistant media relations coordinator for the fi rst and second rounds of the During his time at Marist, Tellitocci played an integral role in the design and 2005 and 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and the second management of numerous capital projects, including a multi-sport stadium, basket- and third Rounds of the 2012 Championship in Nashville. She has also worked ball offi ce and locker room addition and arena renovation. He also restructured the the fi rst and second round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament in each 2004, 2006 and 2007 and the Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2008 and 2011. In 2012, she Red Fox Club, the department’s fundraising arm, which led to the highest revenue worked the Women’s Final Four in New Orleans. in its 35-year history. Tellitocci oversaw a signifi cant digital media implementation, Brown was instrumental in getting the OVC started in social media, starting which included the creation of the Red Fox Network. He served as the executive both Facebook and Twitter accounts for the league. producer and director for the fi rst college-produced live HD broadcast on ESPN3 In 2013, she helped plan the OVC’s Title IX Celebration Luncheon, an event and directed the 2016 Bernie Sander’s Presidential campaign event hosted at that capped off a year-long celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Title IX. Each of McCann Arena. the OVC’s 12-member institutions identifi ed a pioneer in women’s athletics from Tellitocci also led a successful redesign of the athletic spirit marks and their school to be honored during the year and celebrated at a home athletic event development of brand management guidelines for Marist College. As part of the on their campus as well as the luncheon. rebranding eff ort, he negotiated and obtained a contract with Nike to serve as the Prior to working with the Conference, the West Liberty, Ohio, native served a athletics department’s exclusive outfi tter. The process led to the highest licensing three-month internship in the sports information offi ce at The Ohio State University revenue in the College’s history. Tellitocci was instrumental in helping Marist record after a one-year stint as a student assistant in the Bowling Green State University the fi rst sellout in its women’s basketball history and was nationally recognized sports information offi ce. by the NCAA as the 2010-11 overall champion of the “Pack the House” women’s A 2003 graduate of BGSU, Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in sports basketball marketing initiative from 179 participating institutions. management with an emphasis in sports information. She is a member of the Tellitocci was recognized as a Forty Under 40 honoree by the Dutchess College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the United States County Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2014 as one of the top 40 people Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). under the age of 40 helping to shape the future of the Hudson River Valley. Before joining the Marist athletics department, Tellitocci worked as Associate Producer for Scoreboard and Entertainment for the New York Mets. In that role,

2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide • 9 Jon Kuka - General Manger, OVC IMG Sports Marketing the teaching and development of sports production students. Owens has assisted with numerous OVC championship events over the past Jon Kuka joined the Ohio Valley Conference two years and was a part of the local organizing staff for the 2014 NCAA Division staff in April 2010 as the General Manager I Women’s Final Four which was hosted by the OVC in Nashville. for OVC IMG Sports Marketing. Kuka has Owens, a Georgia native, earned his bachelor’s degree in communications over 15 years in sales and sports marketing (with an emphasis in integrated marketing) and his Master’s degree in sports experience. administration from Tennessee State University. He joined the Conference staff as part of While at TSU Owens was the captain of the Tigers cross country team his the OVC’s agreement with IMG College which junior and senior years. He was also selected as a recipient of the Arthur Ashe was signed in February 2008. With the deal, student-athlete award (2011) and also Male Student-Athlete of the Year (2013). IMG represents the OVC through category exclusive corporate partnership sales, as well as multimedia rights for the men’s basketball championship and other championship events. Curtis Shaw - Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Offi cials In 2011 and 2012 Kuka was the recipient of the prestigious IMG Chairman’s Cup Award. Curtis Shaw is the coordinator of Men’s Prior to joining the OVC Kuka was the Basketball Offi cials for the Ohio Valley Con- Director of Sales for Nelligan Sports Marketing ference. at Middle Tennessee State University for two years. In that position he managed Shaw was annually been recognized as corporate sponsorships and initiated multimedia marketing rights for the Blue one of the top offi cials in the nation, having Raiders athletic department. worked six NCAA Final Fours, including the From 2001-07 Kuka worked in Knoxville with the Tennessee Smokies baseball 2009 NCAA Championship game. He was club, the AA affi liate of the . He began as a group sales representative selected to offi ciate NCAA Tournament games and was promoted to Director of Group Sales and eventually Director of Sales. for 18 consecutive years, including regional As the Director of Sales, Kuka oversaw ticket sales and corporate sponsorships games from 2004 through 2010. sales. After working the 2010 Final Four, Shaw Kuka received his bachelor’s degree in sports administration from the Uni- retired from active offi ciating duty to work versity of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2000. While in school Kuka interned with full-time as an offi cials coordinator. It was the Chattanooga Sports & Events Committee that assisted in marketing the city announced in May 2010 that Shaw would for attracting events such as the NCAA Division I Football National Championship. head a consortium for men’s offi ciating with He was also a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, the university cycling club the OVC, Big 12, Conference USA and the and a participant in the 1999 Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships. Southland Conferences. Kuka completed his MBA from Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee Shaw served as the OVC’s Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Offi cials Tech University in 2009. from 2001-02 through the 2010-11 season before relinquishing those duties to A native of Chattanooga, Kuka resides with his wife, Alicia, daughter, Leah, concentrate on the men’s offi ciating program. and son, Andrew, in the Greater Nashville area. A fi xture at numerous postseason conference tournaments and league championship games, Shaw worked the NIT Season Tipoff and postseason NIT. During the course of his career, he has offi ciated games in the Big 12, Atlantic Bryce Robinson - Director of Digital Media Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Southeastern, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, Sun Belt, Atlantic Sun, Southland, Southern and Western Athletic conferences. He also saw Robinson joined the OVC staff full-time in action in Conference USA, the and Colonial Athletic Association. June 2014 as the Director of Digital Media after He earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Exercise Health and Leisure serving as an intern for the 2013-14 school year. Science (Sport Administration concentration) from the University of Tennessee at In his role Robinson is a liaison for OVC Chattanooga in 2008. Born in Paducah, Ky. on May 31, 1960, he currently resides member institutions for matters pertaining to in Chattanooga. the OVC Digital Network as well as the OVCDN Assessment and Accountability Group. He also produces video content from OVC Champion- Lisa Mattingly - Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Offi cials ships in addition to producing ancillary content and video spots for the Conference. Lisa Mattingly was named Coordinator I n 2013-14 Robinson served as the leagues of Women’s Basketball Offi cials for the Ohio broadcasting and multimedia production in- Valley Conference on July 10, 2018. tern. In that role he had oversight in producing, Mattingly leads an offi ciating consortium directing and fi lming six OVC Championships of conferences that includes the SEC, Sun during the year, including baseball, men’s and Belt, A-Sun, SWAC and Southland in addition women’s basketball, soccer, softball and vol- to the OVC. leyball. Each of those championships were broadcast on the OVC Digital Network A 1982 graduate of Sue Bennett College, while the volleyball and women’s basketball championships were also streamed Mattingly has served as a women’s basketball on ESPN3. In addition Robinson assisted in editing and developing multiple video offi cial in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, series for OVC platforms including “OVC Road Trip” and “What Inspires You” in Conference USA, OVC, Missouri Valley, MAC, addition to producing highlights of championship events. SEC and Horizon League. She has offi ciated Robinson, a native of Berea, Kentucky, obtained his bachelor’s degree in an average of more than 85 games per year telecommunications from the University of Kentucky in 2010. He completed his while serving as crew chief in 90 percent of master’s degree in sport administration from Belmont in May 2014. those contests. At Belmont Robinson served as a graduate assistant where he worked di- rectly with Belmont’s Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations as the Video She fi rst offi ciated on the collegiate level in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Services Director, producing and directing OVC Digital Network broadcasts for Athletic Conference from 1986-93, and made her Division I debut with the Ohio home sporting events as well as other ancillary content and video spots. Valley Conference in 1990. Mattingly has been selected to offi ciate in numerous conference tournaments, Jonathan Owens - Asst. Director Championships/Administration including the OVC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, Conference USA, Missouri Valley and SEC. Jonathan Owens joined the OVC staff on a Mattingly was fi rst selected to offi ciate in an NCAA Tournament in 1996 and full-time basis in September 2016 as Assistant since that time has worked 21 NCAA Regional Tournaments and 18 Final Fours Director of Championships and Administration. including 10 championship games. Owens served as a Digital Production In addition to her on-court achievements, Mattingly served as liaison for intern for the OVC in 2014-15 school year in basketball offi cials to the NCAA Rules Committee from 2003-05. addition to helping with OVC Digital Network Mattingly has also made her mark in professional basketball, having been broadcasts during the 2015-16 year. In his role selected to offi ciate in the inaugural season of the WNBA in 1997. She offi ciated he assisted with all aspects of OVC Digital the WNBA League Championship Series from 2000-07, including the league Network broadcasts during OVC Champion- fi nals from 2002-06. She was also selected to offi ciate the WNBA All-Star Game ships including as a producer. He also captured in 2000 and 2006. and edited footage for OVC communications platforms. Since August 2012 Owens worked with the Tennessee State sports production depart- ment serving as the lead video producer. In his role in video production he was in charge of producing broadcasts for the OVC Digital Network in addition to assisting with

10 • 2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide NCAA DIVISION I CONFERENCE ALIGNMENTS AMERICA EAST (9) BIG SOUTH (11) IVY (8) OHIO VALLEY (12) SOUTHWESTERN (10) Albany (N.Y.) Campbell Brown Austin Peay *Alabama A&M Binghamton Charleston Southern Columbia Belmont Alabama State Hartford Gardner-Webb Cornell Eastern Illinois Alcorn State Maine Hampton Dartmouth Eastern Kentucky Arkansas-Pine Bluff New Hampshire High Point Harvard Jacksonville State Grambling Stony Brook Longwood Penn Morehead State Jackson State UMass-Lowell Presbyterian Princeton Murray State Mississippi Valley State UMBC Radford Yale Southeast Missouri State Prairie View Vermont UNC Asheville SIUE Southern USC Upstate METRO ATLANTIC (11) Tennessee State Texas Southern AMERICAN ATHLETIC (12) Winthrop Canisius Tennessee Tech Cincinnati Fairfi eld UT Martin SUMMIT (9) East Carolina BIG TEN (14) Iona Denver Houston Illinois Manhattan PAC-12 (12) North Dakota Memphis Indiana Marist Arizona North Dakota State SMU Iowa Monmouth Arizona State Omaha South Florida Maryland Niagara California Oral Roberts Temple Michigan Quinnipiac Colorado Purdue Fort Wayne Tulane Michigan State Rider Oregon South Dakota Tulsa Minnesota St. Peter’s Oregon State South Dakota State UCF Nebraska Siena Southern California Western Illinois UConn Northwestern Stanford Wichita State Ohio State MID-AMERICAN (12) UCLA SUN BELT (12) Penn State EAST Utah Appalachian State ATLANTIC COAST (15) Purdue Akron Washington Arkansas-Little Rock Boston College Rutgers Bowling Green Washington State Arkansas State Clemson Wisconsin Buff alo Coastal Carolina Duke Kent St. PATRIOT (10) Georgia Southern Florida State BIG 12 (10) Miami (Ohio) American Georgia State Georgia Tech Baylor Ohio Army UL Lafayette Louisville Iowa State Boston University Louisiana-Monroe Miami (Fla.) Kansas WEST Bucknell South Alabama North Carolina Kansas State Ball State Colgate UT Arlington North Carolina State Oklahoma Central Michigan Holy Cross Texas State Notre Dame Oklahoma State Eastern Michigan Lafayette Troy Pittsburgh TCU Northern Illinois Lehigh Syracuse Texas Toledo Loyola (Md.) WEST COAST (10) Virginia Texas Tech Western Michigan Navy BYU Virginia Tech West Virginia Gonzaga Wake Forest MID-EASTERN (12) SOUTHEASTERN (14) Loyola Marymount BIG WEST (9) Bethune-Cookman Alabama Pacifi c ATLANTIC SUN (9) Cal Poly Coppin State Arkansas Pepperdine Florida Gulf Coast Cal State Fullerton Delaware State Auburn Portland Jacksonville Cal State Northridge Florida A&M Florida Saint Mary’s (Cal.) Kennesaw State Hawaii Howard Georgia San Diego Liberty Long Beach State Morgan State Kentucky San Francisco Lipscomb UC Davis Norfolk State LSU Santa Clara NJIT UC Irvine N.C. A&T Mississippi *North Alabama UC Riverside N.C. Central Mississippi State WESTERN ATHLETIC (9) North Florida UC Santa Barbara *Savannah State Missouri *Cal Baptist Stetson South Carolina State South Carolina CSU Bakersfi eld COLONIAL (10) UMES Tennessee Chicago State ATLANTIC 10 (14) Charleston Texas A&M Grand Canyon Davidson Delaware MISSOURI VALLEY (10) Vanderbilt New Mexico State Dayton Drexel Bradley Seattle Duquesne Elon Drake SOUTHERN (10) Texas Rio Grand Valley Fordham Hofstra Evansville Chattanooga UMKC George Mason James Madison Illinois State Citadel Utah Valley George Washington Northeastern Indiana State East Tennessee State La Salle Towson Loyola Chicago Furman Massachusetts UNC Wilmington Missouri State Mercer FUTURE RECLASSIFIERS Rhode Island William & Mary Southern Illinois UNC Greensboro Richmond UNI Samford Big West Saint Louis CONFERENCE USA (14) Valparaiso VMI UC San Diego (2020-21) St. Bonaventure Charlotte Western Carolina St. Joseph’s Florida Atlantic MOUNTAIN WEST (11) Woff ord Northeast VCU Florida International Air Force Merrimack (2019-20) Louisiana Tech Boise State SOUTHLAND (13) BIG EAST (10) Marshall Colorado State Abilene Christian MEAC Butler Middle Tennessee Fresno State Central Arkansas Savannah State Creighton North Texas Nevada Houston Baptist (moving to D2 after 2018-19) DePaul Old Dominion New Mexico Incarnate Word Georgetown Rice San Diego State Lamar Marquette Southern Miss San Jose State McNeese State FUTURE CHANGES Providence UAB UNLV New Orleans St. John’s (N.Y.) UTEP Utah State Nicholls State CSU Bakersfi eld Seton Hall UTSA Wyoming Northwestern State (WAC to Big West, 2020-21) Villanova Western Kentucky Sam Houston State Xavier NORTHEAST (10) Southeastern Louisiana HORIZON (10) Bryant Stephen F. Austin BIG SKY (11) Cleveland State Central Conn. State Texas A&M-Corpus Christi * Men’s Team Ineligible for Eastern Wash. Detroit Fairleigh Dickinson postseason Idaho Green Bay LIU Brooklyn Idaho State Illinois-Chicago Mt. St. Mary’s Montana IUPUI Robert Morris Montana State Milwaukee Sacred Heart Northern Arizona Northern Kentucky St. Francis Brooklyn Northern Colorado Oakland Saint Francis (Pa.) Portland State Wright State Wagner Sacramento State Youngstown State Southern Utah Weber State 2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide • 11 OVC HOSTS SUCCESSFUL 2014 NCAA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR On November 14, 2008 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) informed representatives from the Ohio Valley Conference and the Nashville Sports Council that the City of Nashville has been awarded the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Final Four. After years of planning he event took place at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville on April 6 and 8, 2014. More than 35,000 basketball fans attended the three championship games and a record-breaking 4,271,000 viewers watched the National Championship game on ESPN. In addition the NCAA and the Local Organizing Committee (NLOC) announced the local economic impact of the 2014 Women’s Final Four exceeded $20 million. In addition through the NCAA Community Outreach 101 Program, Coca-Cola NCAA Youth Clinics, Broadway Bounce Refreshed by Coca-Cola, Tourney Town Presented by Capital One, NCAA Girls Junior Journalism Workshop, 4Kay Run Presented by Northwestern Mutual, equipment donations through Wilson Sporting Goods Co. and additional local organizing committee initiatives, more than 15,000 Nashville middle school and elementary age children and their schools were im- pacted. The Championship Game saw a matchup of undefeated teams as UConn completed a perfect 40-0 season with a 79-58 victory over rival Notre Dame. More than 30,000 fans visited and enjoyed all that Nashville had to off er for the Women’s Final Four, with thousands more, young and old, being touched by additional Women’s Final Four events. These included sellout crowds for the national semifi nal and championship games, open practices and autograph sessions and a $100,000 research grant from the Kay Yow Cancer Fund to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Additional outreach included a visit to The Children’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial and Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University by the cheerleaders and mascots from the two teams competing in the national cham- pionship game: Notre Dame University and the University of Connecticut. “Nashville should be proud of the passion and the eff ort it took in hosting the 2014 NCAA Women’s Final Four so successfully,” said Beth DeBauche, commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference and one of the Nashville Local Organizing Committee co-chairs for the event. “We had such great support from the city and tremendous backing from our citizens, with over 1,000 volunteers giv- ing of their time and talent to make sure the many programs left an undeniable impression on the participants. It was important to

OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche helps Nashville Mayor Karl Dean unveil the offi cial 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four logo.

12 • 2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide The 2014 Division I Women’s Final Four was held April 6 and 8 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville in front of sellout crowds. UConn topped Notre Dame in the title game to win its record ninth national championship. the NCAA and to us that our community felt the positive eff ects of this event, not only when the games were being played, but for many years following.” “We are always looking for ways to fully integrate the numerous Women’s Final Four events into the local community and in working with the Nashville Local Organizing Committee we were able to achieve a great deal of success this year,” said Anucha Browne, NCAA vice president, women’s basketball championships. “Our ultimate goal each year around the Women’s Final Four is to leave a lasting legacy in the host community. In Nashville we accomplished this objective with the assistance from many lo- cally who shared our passion.” The Nashville Local Organizing Committee also announced the awarding of $205,000 in funding to continue local legacy initia- tives of the 2014 Women’s Final Four. In 2013, NLOC created a series of the legacy programs throughout the community that would have a lasting impact long after the games have been played. Programs were created to bring women’s sports into focus; to directly address issues of disparity between men’s and women’s sports coverage, participation, and support; and to empower young females by enabling them to become leaders within their own communities. “Our local organizing committee pledged to support the legacy of women’s basketball and women’s sports before, during and long after the 2014 Women’s Final Four in Nashville,” said Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors, Chair of the Women’s Final Four Legacy Committee and Co-Chair 2014 Women’s Final Four Board of Directors. “It has been a pleasure to watch the results of our legacy eff orts in Middle Tennessee and we are proud to continue to support these programs that will greatly aff ect young people in our community.” The programs began in 2013 as part of NLOC’s legacy initiatives and will continue with this new funding and included: Lipscomb University’s Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership’s “Music City Girls Lead!” mentorship program, Metropolitan Arts Commission future programs that empower young girls, Champions 4 Women events, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee as well as enhanced media coverage for women’s athletics that sprang forth from the Women’s Final Four.

2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide • 13 OVC BASKETBALL VENUES

AUSTIN PEAY EASTERN KENTUCKY /Dave Aaron Arena/Dave Loos Court (7,257) /Paul S. McBrayer Arena (6,500) Opened: 1975 Opened: 1963 Press Row Phone: (931) 221-7155 Press Row Phone: (859) 622-5908

BELMONT JACKSONVILLE STATE (5,000) (3,500) Opened: 2003 Opened: 1974 Press Row Phone: (615) 460-8554 Press Row Phone: (256) 782-5583

EASTERN ILLINOIS MOREHEAD STATE (5,300) Ellis T. Johnson Arena (6,500) Opened: 1966 Opened: 1981 Press Row Phone: (217) 581-5135 Press Row Phone: (606) 783-2500

14 • 2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide MURRAY STATE TENNESSEE STATE CFSB Center (8,600) Gentry Center/John B. McLendon Court (9,100) Opened: 1998 Opened: 1981 Press Row Phone: (270) 809-5551 Press Row Phone: (615) 963-7616

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE TENNESSEE TECH (7,000) (7,500) Opened: 1987 Opened: 1977 Press Row Phone: (573) 651-5014 Press Row Phone: (931) 372-6077

SIUE UT MARTIN Sam M. (4,000) Tom and Kathleen Elam Center/Skyhawk Arena (4,300) Opened: 1984 Opened: 1975 (fi rst game 1978) Press Row Phone: (618) 650-2188 Press Row Phone: (731) 881-7694

2018-19 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Guide • 15 MORE SPORTS. MORE LEAGUES. MORE TEAMS. MORE FILMS AND SHOWS. MORE ESPN.

Thousands of $4.99/mo Live Events

Exclusive No Long-Term Original Contract Programming