University of Oklahoma Department of Athletics Mcclendon Center for Intercollegiate Athletics 180 West Brooks St

University of Oklahoma Department of Athletics McClendon Center for Intercollegiate Athletics 180 West Brooks St. | Norman, Oklahoma 73019 Telephone: (405) 325-8000 | Fax: (405) 325-7003 SoonerSports.com MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the University of Oklahoma Department of Athletics is to inspire champions today and prepare leaders for tomorrow by providing an excellent environment to enable student-athletes to achieve their highest academic, athletic and personal aspirations. CORE VALUES U Respect U Accountability for Self and Others U Passion for Comprehensive Excellence U Commitment to Continuous Improvement U Celebration of Diversity U Integrity in All of Our Affairs “Our individual talents and collective efforts create our competitive advantage .” “The Athletics Department makes an important contribution to the spirit of our entire institution and our determination to be the best in every area. The ability to win at life is the most important impact of the department and all of its staff members on our student-athletes. The Athletics Department is dedicated not only to the development of athletic talent, but also to academic skills, personal values and character.” -President David L. Boren University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren and Molly Shi Boren t’s hard to believe that we have come to the end of another year for the University of Okla - homa Athletics Department. The year goes by so quickly that it is hard to truly appreciate OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES the depth of success we had over the past 12 months. Putting together our annual report al - I lows all of us time to reflect on the victories claimed in the classroom and in competition. Our annual report, like those produced by corporations, is created to share our story and report on the return on your investment. The major difference – your dividends are represented by the graduates, national champions, and conference winners. That dividend continues to grow with OUR SPORTS each additional graduate, championship, and achievement. JOE CASTIGLIONE This has been another incredible year for Sooner student-athletes. The men’s gymnastics team won its eighth national title, the fifth in the last seven years. We won conference titles in football, men’s gymnastics and women’s gymnastics. The combined success of our programs led to another top 25 ranking in the annual Director’s Cup standings, the eighth time in the last nine years for OU to rank in the top 25. A total of 18 of our 20 teams experienced the joy of postseason compe - tition and we used the year to lay the foundation for our 21st team, women’s rowing, which will begin competition in the fall of 2008. Our teams recorded an all-time best spring semester grade point average. We continue to gradu - ate record numbers of student-athletes, many of whom go on to pursue advanced degrees. The National Consortium for Academics and Sports recognized OU for having the nation’s best de - gree completion program for student-athletes. Your Sooners are among the campus leaders in community service, setting the standard for others to follow. We finished the fiscal year in the black for the 10th consecutive year. More than $26 million in OUR STAFF facility improvements will have been completed by September. We have more than $75 million in renovation and construction projects in progress or in the planning stages as we continue to re - view our facility needs to ensure that our student-athletes and coaches have the best environ - ment possible in which to pursue championships and degrees. You can learn more about these projects within this report. OUR STAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIPS These accomplishments are possible because we have the most amazing partners, you, our Sooner donors and supporters. You have been with us every step of the way and your loyalty knows no limits. Without your support, a year like the past one is a dream, not a reality. On behalf of your Sooner student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff, I invite you to spend some time remembering our victories and how they have added to the Sooner legacy. Putting this re - port together for you allowed us to reflect on the successes of the past year as we position our - selves for continued success in the future. At Oklahoma, we take our dreams and turn them into realities as we work with you to support and advance our mission – Inspiring Champions Today and Preparing Leaders for Tomorrow. I think you will be pleased with the results. The 2007-08 University of Oklahoma Athletics Department Annual Report Should you have any questions or comments, please contact our department. Again, thank you was produced under the supervision of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione and for your continued support of our dreams and aspirations for the wonderful people we represent. Senior Associate Athletics Director for Communications Kenny Mossman with writing assistance from Director of Publications Debbie Copp. The report was designed by Director of Graphic Design Scott Matthews. This publication was printed by University Printing Services and distrib - uted at no cost to the taxpayers of Oklahoma. Joe Castiglione Photo Credits: Photos courtesy of Jerry Laizure, Lisa Hall, Stacy West, She - Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs vaun Williams & Associates, Ty Russell, Rick A. Kolodziej, Jeff Hadenthauer, Scott Schneider, Steve Moakley, Bob Solorio, Chris Machian, Walt Beazley and Director of Athletics and John Cheng. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity in - stitution. (August 2008) Women’s Gymnastics Habitat for Humanity Facilitating career, personal, and interpersonal development in a diverse environment comprised of people who care about student-athletes. Successful student-athlete experiences include a model of integration with the student body fully engaging them in the fabric of the university. ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE ACADEMICS • Involved with Special Spectators, a national organi - • Had more than 150 student-athletes from various • Team cumulative GPAs averaged 2.95 for spring zation that invites seriously ill children to attend a teams participate in a Habitat for Humanity build in 2008 semester, the highest spring term in OU his - sporting event and meet the players and coaches. Noble, Okla. tory, and second highest overall. Included were Hosted more than 20 children from several Okla - wrestling earning its highest cumulative GPA in its homa City hospitals who attended events hosted by • Celebrated the baseball team as the 2008 history with a 2.90 GPA and women’s track tying its football, basketball, baseball, and gymnastics teams CHAMPS/Life Skills Team Competition Award win - highest cumulative average GPA with a 3.20 in ner. Earned points through community service • Participated in the Adopt-an-Angel Toy Drive in spring ‘08 hours, attendance at life skills events, athletics com - which toys and clothing were given by student-ath - petitions, BridgeBuilder and SAAC events as well as • Had 46 student-athletes earn a perfect 4.0 during letes and department staff to the Salvation Army, participation in campus cultural events. Also earned the spring ’08 semester and 37 earn a 4.0 Women’s Resource Center and individuals in need points for individual GPAs during fall ’07 during the holiday season Carlee Roethlisberger and OU Women’s • Had several teams participate in the campus-wide • Had 240 student-athletes named to the Big 12 Com - Basketball team volunteer time at the Children’s missioner’s Honor Roll for the spring ’08 term after cleanup efforts after the devastating December Hospital. 242 earned the honor for the fall ’ 07 term 2007 ice storm ravaged the Norman campus • Implemented a targeted Learning Specialist program • Sponsored a campus-wide blood drive with the to manage the academic performance of at-risk stu - American Red Cross with more than 100 donors dent-athletes whose donations will help save the lives of more than 500 people • Received recognition for the nation’s best degree completion program for student-athletes from the • Made contact with more than 1,000 Norman National Consortium for Academics and Sport Public School students in 20 schools, partici - pating in tutoring, mentoring, speaking en - • Received national recognition for innovations in gagements, and other special events through NCAA APR best practices through participation in the Life Skills Program numerous national and regional NCAA and N4A workshops, chairmanship of an NCAA/N4A Partner - • Involved the women’s basketball team in ship Task Force on Consulting, and a professional the Sooner Big Sis program which publication allows a Sooner student-athlete to select a Norman elemen - • Enhanced academic screening process which tested tary school class and visits every incoming scholarship student-athlete from the class once a week for June 2007 - January 2008 about an hour COMMUNITY SERVICE • Involved the baseball team in • Recorded more than 550 hours of community serv - several Miracle League games ice by OU student-athletes through the Life Skills with special needs children in the Program. Events included reading to school chil - Edmond area, giving special needs dren, leading middle school FCA meetings, speaking children the opportunity to play baseball to elementary school children, and visits to chil - dren’s hospital SoonerSports.com 2008 Oklahoma Athletics Annual Report ••• 3 October 25, 2007 Mrs. Moran, Bryant Hernandez and Antwonie Hubbard have been coming to my classroom for the past several weeks. I thought that you should know what a wonderful job they are both doing with my children. I am very grateful that they were assigned to us. They are awesome! I teach children with disabilities. This year we have several children that have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and/or Reactive Attach- ment Disorder. Bryant and Antwonie have come every week and spent quality time sharing stories, playing games, and getting to know the children.

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