Report to Faculty Senate on Intercollegiate Athletics

Report to Faculty Senate on Intercollegiate Athletics September 30, 2015 Kent Haslam, Athletic Director Jean Gee, Associate Athletic Director Dusten Hollist, Faculty Athletic Representative

As required by the Office of the President, this annual report to the Faculty Senate covers AY 2014-2015 with respect to 1) student-athlete academic performance, 2) student-athlete eligibility for competition, 3) violations of NCAA and Big Sky Conference (BSC) regulations, and 4) the Athletic Director’s statement regarding notable developments and issues. At the November 12th Faculty Senate meeting, we will be happy to answer questions.

I. Academic Performance of Student-Athletes

UM grade point average and credits taken

Athletes All undergrads

Fall 2014 Average term GPA 3.09 2.84 Average cumulative GPA 3.11 2.92 Average term credits 13.8 11.9 On Dean’s list 26.8% 20.8% On academic probation 2.5% 6.5%

Spring 2015 Average term GPA 3.14 2.92 Average cumulative GPA 3.16 2.98 Average term credits 14.4 12.3 On Dean’s list 24.4% 21.9% On academic probation .6% 4.1%

NCAA Multiyear Academic Progress Rates (perfect = 1000; problematic = 930)*

UM sport APR Men’s Basketball 965 Men’s Cross Country 960 Football 938 Men’s Tennis 955 Men’s Track, Indoor 943 Men’s Track, Outdoor 938 Women’s Basketball 1000 Women’s Cross Country 1000 Women’s Golf 1000 Women’s Soccer 960 Women’s Tennis 992 2

Women’s Track, Indoor 988 Women’s Track, Outdoor 988 Women’s Volleyball 985

*APR formula: Each student-athlete can earn a maximum of two points each semester: 1 point for retention and 1 point for academic eligibility (maximum of 4 points for an academic year). For each sport, the earned points of the student athletes are added up, divided by the number of possible points, and multiplied by 1000 to yield the yearly APR for that sport. The multiyear APR is derived from the most current APR and the APR for each of the prior 3 years.

UM Graduation Rates: Four-Class Average (based on 2007-08 freshmen cohort)

Athletes All students 68% 47%

II. Ineligibility for Competition, Spring 2015 and Fall 2015: Reasons and Number

Reason # Spring 2015 # Fall 2015 18/24 credit-hour rule 0 15 Grade point average rule 4 4 Six-credit rule 5 6 Percentage-of-degree rule 0 9

These numbers do not constitute the total number of student-athlete ineligible. Several student-athletes were ineligible for several reasons. Of the athletes determined to be ineligible to compete Spring 2015 and Fall 2015, 5 regained their eligibility to compete at UM and 6 did not return to UM.

III. Rules Compliance

UM reported the following 22 NCAA and/or BSC violations during the 2014-15 year:  Coach texted a prospect when not permissible. (multiple cases)  Volunteer assistant coach hit balls around with two local prospects.  Too many phone calls to prospects during restricted calling periods (multiple cases).  Sport program exceeded daily athletically-related activity limit on two occasions (two cases).  Coaching staff placed impermissible enhancements in the hotel room of a visiting prospect (discovered via social media).  Eight student-athletes not provided required 2-days off from athletic activities during one week.  Assistant coach had impermissible contact with a prospect at the high school during the school day (two cases).  Sport program exceeded total number of preseason days by one day. 3

 Girlfriend of assistant coach present at a meal off-campus during a prospect’s official visit.  Video posted on departmental Facebook account of football student-athletes participating in summer voluntary activities.  Assistant coach participated in voluntary activities with a student-athlete.  For approximately eight years, campus office had been provided sponsorship that benefitted local high school athletic program.

IV. Athletic Director’s Statement

The 2014-15 academic year was another banner year for Grizzly athletics. We continue to focus on a threefold mission of academic excellence, athletic success, and service to the community. Some of the major accomplishments include: Academic Excellence The academic accomplishments of the student-athletes are well-documented in Section I. Student-athletes continue to outpace the general student population in credits completed, overall GPA, retention rates, and graduation success. UM had 53 student-athletes selected to the Big Sky Conference Fall All-Academic teams. In total, 155 student-athletes received conference All-Academic honors during the school year. The annual Lindsay Honors Banquet held on May 5 recognized 197 student-athletes for maintaining a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA. The President Awards, presented to the student- athletes with the highest GPAs over the previous two semesters, were taken home by Derek Crittenden of the Griz football team and Nycole Devers of the Montana track team. Derek, with a cumulative 4.0 GPA, is a four-time recipient and Nycole is receiving the award for the first time. The Grizzly Student-Athlete Academic Center opened its doors on the first day of classes for the 2015 Fall Semester. All funding for the $2.5 million facility came from private sources.

Athletic Success

The 2014-15 academic year marked the opening of the women’s softball program at the University of Montana. The sport has been a great addition to the athletic department. The team was competitive and drew nice crowds during the inaugural season.

Football returned to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs and defeated the University of San Diego in the first round. Women’s soccer won the regular-season conference championship and hosted the Big Sky Conference tournament for the first time since 2000. The soccer team finished undefeated in conference play.

Basketball dominated Missoula in early March. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams won the Big Sky Conference regular-season championship and earned the right to host both conference tournaments in Missoula. The women advanced to the NCAA tournament for the 21st time in school history. The men fell just short in the conference championship game but earned a bid to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). 4

Overall, 14 Grizzly teams participated in post-season play. In the second year of the Griz/Cat Brawl of the Wild Series, a competition where points are awarded for head-to-head contests between Montana and Montana State, the Griz beat the Cats 9-8.

Community Service

Student-athletes contributed more than 3,100 hours of community service, an all-time high. The “Griz in the Community” program, supervised by athletic academic advisor Lindsey Goodman, has been streamlined and consolidated. Community organizations request student-athlete volunteers through an online system. Numerous non-profits, schools, and events benefit from this increased focus in giving back to the community. The student-athletes have also learned many valuable life-lessons.

Coaching Staff Updates

Bob Stitt was hired as head football coach. Stitt spent 15 years as the head coach at Colorado School of Mines prior to his arrival in Missoula. He replaces Mick Delaney who retired.

Brian Doyon was hired as head women’s volleyball coach. Doyon served most recently as an assistant women’s volleyball coach at the University of Utah. He replaces Jerry Wagner.

Matt Higgins was hired as head women’s golf coach. Higgins comes to Missoula from Concordia-St. Paul where he served as head men’s and women’s golf coach for 15 years. He replaces Joni Stephens.

Facilities

As mentioned previously, the $2.5 million Student-Athlete Academic Center is finished and open. The department announced a $7 million lead gift from Kyle and Kevin Washington, on behalf of the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, to support the Washington-Grizzly Champions Center. The facility will house a new football locker room, student-athlete weight room, meeting rooms, and other support facilities for patrons at Grizzly football games. Construction has begun on the $14 million facility that will open in Fall 2017. The women’s softball field was completed and ready for opening day of Grizzly softball. The project was privately funded at a total cost of $1.5 million. An indoor golf facility for the women’s golf team will open in Fall 2015 and is located at the Ranch Club in Missoula. The facility will be the first such facility in the Big Sky Conference. In total, the department will invest $18 million over the next two years in facilities that support the day-to-day activities of Grizzly student-athletes. All of the funds come from private sources. The academic center, softball field, and indoor golf facility have all been paid in full with no debt associated with the proejcts.