CHARLOTTE 49ERS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR........................................................ 1 MEN’S BASKETBALL................................................................................................2 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL......................................................................................... 3 MEN’S SOCCER........................................................................................................4 WOMEN’S SOCCER.................................................................................................5 GOLF............................................................................................................................ 6 VOLLEYBALL............................................................................................................... 7 BASEBALL...................................................................................................................8 SOFTBALL ................................................................................................................... 9 TRACK & FIELD...................................................................................................10-11 MEN'S TENNIS.........................................................................................................12 WOMEN’S TENNIS..................................................................................................13 FOOTBALL.......................................................................................................14 CROSS COUNTRY....................................................................................................15 ACADEMIC SUCCESS & COMMUNITY SERVICE......................................18-19 SPONSORSHIPS, MARKETING & TICKETING..................................................20 THE 49ER CLUB....................................................................................................21 ATHLETIC FOUNDATION.....................................................................................22 MISSION FINANCIAL REPORT..............................................................................................23 The mission of the athletic program at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is to operate within the BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF.......................................................................24 perspective of the overall educational program of UNC Charlotte. With a balanced program that supports ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS................................................................................25 equitable opportunities for all students and staff, the department promotes a total person concept that prepares its student-athletes with the necessary tools to be successful in academic, athletic and social ..............................................................................................26-31 DONOR LISTING settings. The Department of Athletics supports the highest ideals of sportsmanship and is committed to NINER NATION GOLD..........................................................................................32 the highest ethical standards of the University and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. SPIRIT GROUPS.....................................................................................................33 (Updated and Approved, Board of Trustees, 9/27/02) CHARLOTTE 49ERS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT 1 LETTER FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR 2015-16 was an important year for our program and celebrated program and our athletic department was overwhelming and some important firsts. Our football program made the jump we saw firsthand just how strong the power of a tight-knit to the FBS level as a member of Conference USA — and won family can be. Thank you. its very first game against an FBS opponent. Men’s basketball Now — we look toward a new year with new goals, new coach Mark Price made an impressive debut that had Halton challenges and new expectations. We will get a chance to Arena buzzing. celebrate four of the program’s greatest successes: the 40th Meanwhile, several of our other programs gave us plenty of anniversary of our men’s basketball’s trip to the 1977 Final their own highlights. Our nationally-ranked men’s soccer team Four, the 20th anniversary of our men’s soccer program’s went back to the NCAAs, again. Our women’s basketball 1996 National Semifinalist finish, the 10th anniversary of our program returned to the WNIT, again. Our golf program was men’s golf program’s third-place showing at the 2007 NCAA represented in the NCAA Championships, again. Our track Championships and the 5th anniversary of the 2011 Men’s program crowned an all-American, again — this time sending Soccer National Championship game appearance. jumper Trey McRae all the way to the US Olympic Trials. We want to continue to put a strong product in front of you. Our softball team earned its first spot in the top-25 polls. Our We want to continue to excel in the classroom. We want baseball team delighted crowds uptown and on-campus and to continue to engage the community through any and all rattled off wins over top-25 foes. means possible. We also want to continue to count on your excellent support to help us meet all challenges head on. Along the way, it was announced that our student-athletes boasted a 92% Graduation Success Rate, which is the third Niner Nation is thriving and we can feel the excitement highest GSR in the state and in the top 50 of the nation’s 345 continuing to build. Division I schools. Any and all growth could not be possible without your belief Importantly, we saw growth in our overall fundraising efforts. in our program. Yet again, donations to our Annual Fund increased over the We talk a great deal about 49er Pride. We are grateful that previous year. Each of our special events: the “Let Me Play” you take such pride in our program, as well. Luncheon; the Golf Outing and the Great Gold Rush Auction surpassed their goals. We continue to require increased resources and Niner Nation continues to respond. We cannot thank you enough. With 49er pride, In addition, Niner Nation responded when the 49ers family needed it most – when we lost coach Phil Ratliff at the start of the season. While we will forever feel the effects of that loss, the support of our fan base for the Ratliff family, the football Judy Rose BRAXTON OGBUEZE M EN’SBASKETBALL Under first-year head coach Mark Price, the 49ers made strides up the Head Coach: Conference USA Standings, toppled Rice by double-digits in the first round MARK PRICE of the league tournament and stirred the excitement brewing around Overall Record: 14-19 his program. Graduate transfer Joseph Uchebo provided the muscle underneath and an array of young stars stepped into the spotlight as C-USA Record: 9-9; 7TH Charlotte made a splash in Price’s college coaching debut. HIGHLIGHTS Tied for most league wins in the last 10 years Led Conference USA in 3pt FG% in C-USA games (40.8%) Joseph Uchebo led C-USA and ranked 5th in nation with 11.5 JOSEPH UCHEBO rebounds per game Joseph Uchebo broke C-USA single-season record with 380, 2nd- most in school history Junior Braxton Ogbueze led C-USA in three-pointers made (109) Andrien White set freshman record with 67 three-pointers made AWARDS: JON DAVIS JOSEPH UCHEBO 2nd team all-Conference USA JON DAVIS Conference USA all-Freshman team ANDRIEN WHITE Conference USA all-Freshman team 2 CHARLOTTE 49ERS 2 CHARLOTTE 49ERS ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT 3 EN’SBASKETBALL W OMEN’SBASKETBALL The high-scoring 49ers continued their incredible streak of postseason Head Coach: appearances by advancing to the Women’s NIT. Charlotte has been to the CARA CONSUEGRA postseason 13 out of the last 14 years. This year, Charlotte earned one of the Overall Record: 19-12 league’s top 4 seeds on its way to a 19-win season. C-USA Record: 12-6; 4TH Post-Season: HIGHLIGHTS WNIT Laia Raventós no-look behind-the-back pass earned an ESPN LEFTY WEBSTER Top 10 Play AWARDS: Alexis Alexander tied Halton Arena record with 12 FGM against AVS ALEXANDER Robert Morris on way to 30 points 2nd team all-Conference USA Kira Gordon, 21st member of the 1,000-Point Club LEFTY WEBSTER 2nd team all-Conference USA Lefty Webster, 22nd member of the 1,000-Point Club GRACE HUNTER Grace Hunter, Conference USA Freshman of the Week; a school- Conference USA all-Freshman Team record five times (32 points at UTEP) LAIA RAVENTÓS Grace Hunter, 2nd freshman in program history to score 20+ Conference USA all-Freshman Team points in three straight games CARA CONSUEGRA GSU Thanksgiving Classic Champions (Alexander Tourney MVP; Conference USA Coaches Circle Gordon all-Tourney) JON DAVIS 49ers led C-USA in scoring (74.7 ppg) and FG% (.455) CIARA GREGORY M EN’SSOCCER The 49ers nationally-ranked men’s soccer team spent several weeks in the Head Coach: national polls before finishing 21st in the final poll following its 5th straight trip KEVIN LANGAN to the NCAA Tournament. Charlotte scored a 2-1 victory over Radford in the Overall Record: 11-6-3 NCAA first round before falling to top-seeded Wake Forest. The 49ers were led throughout the season by second team all-American Kyle Parker, who was C-USA Record: 6-1-1; 2ND BRANDT BRONCIO selected 31st in the MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew. Postseason: NCAA, 2ND ROUND HIGHLIGHTS 6th NCAA trip in the last 7 years 2nd place in C-USA with a 6-1-1 league mark MATEJ DEKOVIC Posted Top 20 wins over #14 FIU and #22 South Carolina and tied #10 Old Dominion MAX RODRIGUEZ AWARDS: Kyle Parker