2011 Louisiana Tech Women's Tennis Media Guide

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www.LATechSports.comwww.Quest4Excellence.com

1www.LATechSports.com

Louisiana Tech Athletic VisionLouisiana Tech University will be a conference leader in performance by investing strategically in student-athletes’ development, providing superior fa-cilities, and enhancing program support to achieve a local and national image of success and dominance.

Athletic Mission StatementEmbody excellence in everything we do. Develop student-athletes to maxi-mize their potential in mind, body and spirit. Bring pride, admiration, and loyalty to the University family, community and state. Win with integrity.

The 2011 Louisiana Tech tennis media guide was published by the Louisiana Tech Athletic Media Relations Office. It has been designed as a source of information for the news media and Lady Techster fans. Every effort has been made to include pertinent and timely information. Should you need additional information such as feature material, and/or statistics, please direct your inquiries to the media relations office. Call 318-257-5071.

News releases, photos, video and other services are available to accredited members of the news media. Current releases, statis-tics and photos can also be obtained at www.LATechSports.com.

Editors - Steven Schoon, Malcom ButlerContributors - Schoon, LA Tech Athletic Media Relations Recruiting section - Design by Donnie Bell Design LLC.Covers and InDesign - Layout and design by Donnie Bell Design LLC.Photography - Donny Crowe, Tom Morris, Darrell James

InSIde

22 Facility

23 Season Outlook

24 2011 Roster/Schedule

25 Head Coach Quinton Yray

26 Player Bios

33 2009-10 Results

36 All-Time Results

37 Endowed Scholarships

38 LTAC

40 University President Dr. Dan Reneau

41 Athletic Administration

48 Athletics Council

49 Western Athletic Conference

2 www.LATechSports.com

2010-11 TennIS QUICK FACTSGENERAL INFORMATIONLocation ..............................................................Ruston, La.Founded ........................................................................ 1894Enrollment ..................................................................11,250Nickname .......................................................Lady TechstersColors ..............................................................Red and BlueJoined WAC ....................................................... July 1, 2001President ..................................................... Dr. Dan ReneauAthletic Director ..................................... Bruce Van De VeldeSWA ....................................................... Mary Kay HungateAthletic Department ..................................... (318) 257-3631Web Site ........................................www.LATechSports.com

TEAM INFORMATION2010 Record ..........8-18 (Home: 7-8, Away: 1-6, Neutral: 0-4)2010 WAC Record ............................................................ 1-7Players R/L ....................................................................... 3/3Newcomers ........................................................................ 4

FACILITY INFORMATIONFacility ..................................Louisiana Tech Tennis Complex First Match..... Oct. 15, 2008 (Win over Grambling State)

COACHING STAFFHead Coach ......................................................Quinton Yray

MEDIA RELATIONSTennis Contact .............................................. Steven SchoonOffice Phone ..................................................(318) 257-3144 Cell Phone .................................................... (620) 218-1693E-Mail ..................................................... [email protected] Number .................................................. (318) 257-3757Address ............................P.O. Box 3166 Ruston, LA. 71272


we are louisiana tech universitywelcome to the family

“ Louisiana Tech will be a top research university. And every top research university in the United States has a top athletic program. That’s our goal. We’re developing a road map for Tech athletics.”

-- Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau


AT LOuISIANA TECH YOu ARE NOT A NuMbER, YOu ARE FAMILY.

LOuISIANA TECHranked in Tier 2 among National Universities in 2011 US News & World Report Best Colleges report - highest ranking in University of Louisiana System (ULS) and second only to LSU among public institutions in state.

is the highest ranked Louisiana public university in Washington Monthly’s 2009 Best National Universities list.

ranked in top 10 in the nation for graduating students with the least amount of debt, according to 2010 US News & World Report’s Best Colleges report.

ranked as one of the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges in the nation by Kiplinger’s Magazine (2009 and 2010).

all classes are taught by full professors, not teaching assistants.

this is louisiana tech


Louisiana Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau is known as one of the top collegiate presidents in the country and a staunch supporter of both academics and athletics.

“ Louisiana Tech is an institution of excellence and is considered a model of leadership.”

-- James Fisher, national educational consultant

QuARTER SYSTEM – bIG ADvANTAGE FOR THE STuDENT-ATHLETE Louisiana Tech has a unique advantage of being on the quarter system as opposed to the semester system. The quarter system provides significant advantages for the students, including:

Lighter workload (take 3 classes instead of 5)

Shorter academic sessions (12 weeks instead of 18)

More frequent breaks during and between academic sessions

More opportunities to withdraw or drop a class and still remain TOPS eligible

more than 700 companies worldwide travel to campus each year to recruit louisiana tech graduates


PROGRAMS PROvIDED bY bARC Tutoring and group help sessions in all subjects

Supplemental instruction from students who have already successfully completed a certain course

Writing assistance

Advising opportunities

Referral program for students needing additional assistance

Computer labs and study hall space

“I’ve always felt like I’ve gotten the support I need from my teachers, coaches and other support personnel. There are a lot of

great people at Louisiana Tech who want to make your

college experience a positive one. You really couldn’t ask for anything more.”

– Meghan Krieg Lady Techster Softball (Kinesiology)

helping put the student into

student-athlete

THE buLLDOG ACHIEvEMENT RESOuRCE CENTER (bARC) is committed to the success of Louisiana Tech’s student-athletes.


LiSA MeRRiTT and MiSSy FARRAR team up in the Louisiana Tech athletics academic center to help the University’s student-athletes excel in the classroom and ultimately earn their degrees, something that is the No. 1 goal for the administration and coaches at Tech.

Track standout Antoinette Cobb earned the 22nd Annual Honda Inspiration Award in 2010 after overcoming colon cancer at age 19 and going on to lead the Lady Techsters to eight WAC titles in her career. She graduated cum laude in the May and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in biology with aspirations of attending medical school.

antoinette cobb

clint ewing

Louisiana Tech baseball letterwinner Clint Ewing became the 14th LA Tech student-athlete to ever earn Academic All-American honors this year when he was named third team ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-American. Ewing held a 4.0 grade point average in civil engineering.

recent success stories

“ There are many resources available on campus. My biggest help has been the math tutors available in the BARC. There’s also a career center to assist you with selecting a major or exploring different opportunities. Louisiana Tech is a unique school in the way the University interacts with the student body.”

– Olu Ashaolu Bulldog Basketball (Business Administration)


today«s freshman is

tomorrow«s graduate

LOuISIANA TECH

has seen more than 750 student-athletes earn Academic all-WAC honors since joining the league in 2001, including 94 student-athletes in 2009-10.

saw eight of its 16 NCAA sanctioned programs record their highest multi-year 04.rate ever while seven of the programs recorded their highest single year 04.score ever. Four of the programs also earned a perfect 1,000 score on the single year rate.

ranked No. 1 in the state of Louisiana among Football Bowl Subdivision public institutions in the four-year average student-athlete graduate rate in the most recent Federal Graduation Rate Report (fall of 2009).

saw its soccer team earn the Team Academic Award the past two years for its cumulative team grade point average. It was presented by the National Soccer Association of America and Adidas.


LOuISIANA TECH

boasts the University of Louisiana System’s highest graduation rate at 53.1 percent.

boasts the ULS’ fastest time to completion for first time baccalaureates at 4.9 years.

boasts the ULS’ highest average freshman ACT scores at 23.5.

The National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame honored former Bulldog football player Quin Harris as a National Scholar-Athlete. Harris, who was a finalist for the coveted Draddy Trophy -- considered the academic Heisman -- , was the first LA Tech player to ever receive the prestigious accolade.


louisiana tech campus life

It’s a community of Tech students who want the convenience of on-campus living and the privacy and sophistication of high-tech, spacious apartments and townhouses with a signature Louisiana Tech view.

uNIvERSITY PARk AMENITIES 2- and 4-bedroom designs

Townhouse features a spiral staircase to a loft with two bedrooms and a bath

Private bedroom phone and cable television

Kitchen equipped with range and refrigerator

High speed internet access

A pedestrian bridge provides easy, direct access from UP to the heart of campus

welcome to university parkyour home away from home


TOLLIvER HALLa cyber café with plasma TVs, webcams and wireless internet

STuDENT CENTERa large cafeteria-style area that allows students to choose from a variety of eating establishments including Chick-Fil-A and Burger King as well as a cafeteria

LOCAL RESTAuRANTSstudents get plenty of Louisiana flavor as Ruston is full of local restaurants that range from a little Cajun spice to southern down-home cooking

QuADRANGLE one of the most frequented areas of campus where students hang out under century-old oak trees to study and socialize LAMbRIGHT INTRAMuRAL CENTERa recreational facility complete with basketball courts, racquetball courts, a bowling alley, men’s and women’s weightrooms, an indoor track, saunas, steamrooms and plenty of cardio equipment

more than 11,000

students call

the louisiana

tech campus home

during the year

and find more than

enough to keep

them entertained

when not attending

classes. some of

the top hot spots

on campus include:


student activitieslouisiana tech

RECENT ENTERTAINERS ON CAMPuS INCLuDE:

• The Wallflowers

• Goo Goo Dolls

• Better Than Ezra

• 3 Doors Down

•ThreeDaysGrace

•PuddleofMudd

•MotionCitySoundtrack

•BenFolds

The MISS TECH pageant is just one of many annual student events on campus, including unity step shows, Greek Week, Spring Fling, homecoming, talent shows, theatrical and musical productions and more.


student activities

M.S. CARROLL NATATORIuMConstruction has begun on the $12.5 million M.S. Carroll Natatorium begins this summer. The facility will be built onto the existing Lambright Intramural Center as part of a $50 million recreational construction project on campus that also includes new tennis courts, a new track and a new bowling alley – all of which have been completed. The swimming pool part of the project will include:

2 pools including a 25-yard indoor competition pool and an outdoor recreational pool with 3-50 meter lanes

An outdoor whirlpool

A rock-climbing wall

An atrium

An outdoor café

Tech students are some of the best fans in the South as all of the University’s athletic teams have great followings on game days whether football, basketball or any of the 16 NCAA Division I sanctioned programs.


DID YOu kNOw: Louisiana is home to Mardi Gras, one of the largest carnival celebrations in the world. Held each February in New Orleans, the two-week party draws millions of tourists from around the world. It’s also home to a number of professional franchises including the NFL’s Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints and the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets.

LOuISIANA is the crawfish capital of the world, supporting a multi-million dollar-a-year industry. With speckled trout and large and small-mouth bass action that is unrivaled in the country, with clouds of ducks filling the skies most winters, with deer, rabbit and squirrels running wild, Louisiana is rightly nicknamed Sportsman’s Paradise. It’s a fisherman and hunter’s dream-come-true.

Motto - Union, justice and confidenceNickNaMe - Sportsman’s Paradisecapital - Baton Rougecolors - Gold, white and blueBird - Brown Pelicandog - Catahoula Leopard Dogtree - Bald CyprusFlower - MagnoliasoNg - “You are My Sunshine”driNk - Milk

state of louisiana


DRIvING DISTANCE FROM RuSTON

Dallas - 3 ½ hours Houston - 4 ½ hours Baton Rouge - 3 ½ hours New Orleans - 4 ½ hours Jackson - 2 hours Mobile - 5 hours Birmingham - 5 hours Memphis - 5 hoursLittle Rock - 2 ½ hours Lafayette - 3 hours

DID YOu kNOw:Lincoln Parish is home to three state parks, numerous lakes and ponds for fishing, boating and water-skiing, a world-renowned mountain bike trail, the annual Peach Festival and one of the top golf courses in the South in Squire Creek Country Club.

Although there is plenty to do almost every weekend in Ruston including a multitude of LA Tech athletic events, Tech students have plenty of other options as the city is located with a five hour drive of some of the top entertainments cities in the South, including Dallas, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Little Rock, Houston, Mobile and Birmingham.

city of ruston


successsuccess breeds

LOuISIANA TECH wAS ONE OF ONLY FIvE SCHOOLS IN THE COuNTRY TO HAvE A STuDENT-ATHLETE SELECTED IN THE NFL, NbA, wNbA, MLb AND NPF DRAFTS DuRING THIS PAST YEAR – jOINING TExAS, FLORIDA STATE, OkLAHOMA AND STANFORD.

LOuISIANA TECH’S ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT:

W, the 2010 Turnkey PRISM Awards, given to the college that best exemplifies development in the four categories of Marketing/Branding, Fan Development, Community Relations, and Customer/Client Service.

ranked eighth in the country in the Excellence in Management Cup, one of only four programs in the country to earn a top 10 spot in each of the last two years.

W, the NCAA Pack the House Challenge for the WAC for the third straight year, one of only two schools in the country to win it three straight years (Hartford of America East Conference).


success

ON THE PLAYING FIELDS:

Bulldog football set a school record in season attendance in 2010 as 116,908 fans watched Tech paly at Joe Aillet Stadium - over 8,700 more than the previous record. It also marked the third consecutive year that Tech has had 100,000-plus fans go through the gates, the first time the school has achieved that feat.

Lady Techster volleyball placed four student-athletes on the all-Louisiana volleyball team including Defensive Player of the Year, Lori Hunsucker. The four honorees marks a program record.

Lady Techster soccer set a program record with 15 victories and a 5-3 record in the Western Athletic Conference. They finished tied for third place in the WAC, an all-time best finish, which qualified them for the conference tournament for the first time ever.

Bulldog basketball W, 24 games, the most in 25 years, and advanced to the second round of the Collegeinsider.com Invitational Tournament with a win over CUSA foe Southern Miss.

Lady Techster basketball W, the 2010 WAC Tournament title and participated in its first NCAA Tournament since 2006.

Lady Techster bowling set a school record with 44 wins and also earned its highest ranking ever at 14th in the country.

Bulldog golf earned its highest ranking in more than two decades despite having a squad that featured only one senior.

Lady Techster tennis registered its first ever Western Athletic Conference victory win it defeated San Jose State during the spring.

Bulldog baseball played the first ever game at Target Field, the new Minnesota Twins ballpark as they defeated the University of Minnesota in the contest.

Lady Techster softball recorded its third straight winning season and played its first nationally televised game in program history.

Lady Techster and Bulldog indoor track and field teams combined for 17 WAC titles during the conference championship meet while the ladies W, their fifth team title in the last six years.

Lady Techster and Bulldog outdoor track and field combined to outscore all other schools in the WAC championships while the women captured their sixth consecutive title.


QuEST FOR ExCELLENCE – Meeting the Needs of Tech’s Student-AthletesThe construction of a 90,000-plus square-foot multipurpose facility in the south end zone of Joe Aillet Stadium will benefit every student-athlete at Louisiana Tech University.

STuDENT-ATHLETE bENEFITS INCLuDE:•Newacademiccenter

•Newstate-of-the-artsportsmedicinefacility

•Newstrengthandconditioningcomplex

•Newcoachesofficesandlockerroomsforfootball, baseball, soccer, tennis, softball, golf and track and field

•Videoroomwithstate-of-the-artcapabilities

•Newauditoriumforteamanddepartmentalmeetings


“ Quest for Excellence is a watershed event in the history of our athletics pro-gram and, through the private contributions of our friends and supporters, will put our University shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the most progres-sive and respected programs in the nation.”

-- Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau

LOuISIANA TECH already ranks among the state and conference leaders in student-athlete graduation rate and in Academic Progress Report rate, and the new academic center will further enhance and emphasize the University’s commitment to the classroom.

Since Louisiana Tech joined the WAC in 2001, its athletic programs have captured 25 team championships and dozens of individual titles.

Louisiana Tech has contracted with renowned sports architectural firm Populous to develop a master facility plan. Populous has created some of the most recognizable professional sports venues in the country, including :

•YankeeStadium

•BuschStadium

•AT&TPark

•PepsiCenter

•PNCPark

•PETCOPark

•OrioleParkatCamdenYards

•ReliantStadium

More than $9 million of the projected $20 million was already committed when the press conference was held to announce the capital campaign in late June. Tech alums Steve Davison, Terry Bradshaw and Drake Mills form the Leadership Team that is spearheading the fundraising for the facility, along with Tech Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde.

“ This project addresses many of the needs of our student-athletes, enhances recruiting and provides a source of pride for our alumni and fans. Our vision is a quest for excellence and a desire, focus and commitment to be an institution that values academic and athletic excellence.”

– Tech Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde


DAN ReNeAu is the President of Louisiana Tech University and a member of the Executive Com-mittee of the Commission on Col-leges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Leon Barmore: Winningest coach in history of NCAA women’s basketball; 5-time Hall of Famer

Albert Bourland: President of Daimler-Benz Washington, Inc., manufacturers of Mercedez Benz

John Caruthers, Jr.: President of Caruthers Producing Co., Inc. and president of the Seven States I-69 Mid-Continent Highway Coalition

James Davison: Developer of Squire Creek Country Club; Board of Directors for Genesis Energy; former Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for the Univer-sity of Louisiana System

Trace Adkins: country music star; named Top New Male Vocalist in 1997 by the Academy of Country Music Award

Guthrie Jarrell, M.D.: Physician for more than 40 years in local community

Rosemary ellis: Executive Editor of Working Woman Magazine, editor of Prevention Magazine, and editor of Good Housekeeping Magazine

FAiTH JeNkiNS was the first runner-up in the 2001 Miss Ameri-ca Pageant and now is an attorney at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley and McCloy in New York.

Former Bulldog basketball All-American kARL MALONe is a two-time NBA MVP and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August.

prominent alumnilouisiana tech«s

WHiLe LOuiSiANA TeCH CONTiNueS TO exCeL on the playing fields, the university consistently turns out some of the world’s top politicians, businessmen, entertainers and professional athletes. A degree from Louisiana Tech university is more than just a

diploma to hang on the wall … it’s a door opening to a world of opportunities.

Angela Turner Johnson: served as controller for Motown Records and Bellmark Records as well as senior ac-counting manager at Coca Cola.


kix BROOkS Kix Brooks is a member of the coun-try music duo Brooks and Dunn which has W, more awards than any act in the history of country music.

Michael McCallister: President/CEO of Humana Inc.

Glen Post, iii: Chief Executive Officer and President of CenturyLink

Charles Wyly: Vice Chairman of Sterling Software, Inc.; Founder of University Computing; Vice Chairman of Michael’s Stores, Chairman, Communities Foundation of Texas

Sam Wyly: Chairman of Sterling Software, Inc., Chairman Michaels’s Stores; Co-Founder of Green Mountain Energy

Max Watson, Jr.: Founder and President of BMC Software, Inc.; Forbes Magazine named him in Top 15 of 200 Best Small Companies

Jimmy Love: Secretary and Chairman of the Executive Committee, T. L. James & Company Inc.

Roy Adams: Chairman and CEO of Gulf Financial Companies of Bermuda

Robert Aillet: Principal and CEO of Aillet, Fenner, Jolly & McClelland Engineers

Former Bulldog All-American TeRRy BRADSHAW was the No. 1 pick of the 1970 NFL Draft, W, four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is a member of the Fox NFL Sunday broadcast team.

Current LA Tech head coach Te-ReSA WeATHeRSPOON W, both a national championship and an Olympic gold medal during her playing career and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in June.

prominent alumni Lionel Alford: Corporate Vice President of the Boeing Company

Milburn Baker, Jr.: President of United Gas Pipe Line

George Breazeal: Comptroller of Murphy Oil Corpo-ration and the director of Camp Fire Girls and United Way

John Cordaro: President of Louisiana Power & Light

James Dennis: Associate Justice in the Supreme Court of Louisiana

kim Gandy: President of the National Coalition of Women

Marvin T. Green, Jr., M.D.: Local surgeon who served on Boards of University Foundation, Lincoln General Hospital and Ruston State Bank

elizabeth Haley, Ph.D.: Dean Emeritus, College of Hu-man Sciences at Texas Tech University and Associate Vice Chancellor of Texas Tech University for College Development Programs

J.e. Mitcham, Sr.: Owner and President of Mitcham Farms, Inc.

edward Moyers: President and CEO of Southern Pa-cific Rail Corporation, CEO Illinois Central Railroad, CEO Mid-South Rail Corporation

Patricia Wells Schultz: widely acclaimed for perfor-mances in opera

Charles Spruell: President, Mobil Exploration and Producing, U.S. Inc.


Situated next to the Joe Aillet Field House and the Jim Mize Track and Field Complex at Louisiana Tech University are eight recently new lighted tennis courts.

Construction on the facility began in March 2008 and concluded in August 2008. On Oct. 15, 2008, the women’s tennis team played and swept Grambling State University in their inaugural match at the new facility.

Tech head women’s tennis coach Quintin Yray believes the courts are a terrific addition to the university, his tennis team and the community.

“We have one of the finest universities and tennis facilities in the south region,” Yray said. “The community of Ruston and Lincoln Parish should be proud of the new tennis courts at Louisiana Tech.”

One of many improvements is the location of the complex as it is situated behind the track facility. The track provides a barrier from the northerly winds and is a major plus for the team.

“The tennis courts are located at an ideal place,” Yray said. “At our old facility, the wind came from all different directions.” The old tennis courts contained a lighting system that was situated in between the courts. The lighting system at the new complex

evenly covers the entire facility. “The color scheme of the courts is also very attractive,” Yray said. “It is similar to the U.S. Open. One benefit of the scheme is it

makes it easier for players to track the ball.” As the sports facilities and the university continue to grow, the results will be tremendous on many levels. “The tennis courts and the overall improvement of the university will have a big impact on Louisiana Tech tennis,” Yray said. The

courts will help us with recruiting more top student-athletes for years to come.” On Nov. 1, 2008, Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau dedicated the facility and announced it as the Louisiana Tech Tennis Complex.Since then it saw the Lady Techsters host its first-ever Western Athletic Conference match on April 8.10 against Hawai’i. They then

made history with their first-ever WAC win a few days later on April 10.10 against San Jose State.

FACILITIeS


Last season, the Louisiana Tech women’s tennis team took a giant leap in the right direction as it won its first-ever Western Athletic Conference match. As the Lady Techsters head into the 2010-11 season, they hope to continue the progress.

Tech returns three players that were on the team that upset San Jose State 5-2 last April, including No. 1 singles player Vivian ten Dolle. Returning along with ten Dolle are junior Maartje de Wit and sophomore Alena Erofeyeva.

Ten Dolle, from Gelderland, Netherlands was a second-team all-WAC performer as a freshman with a singles record of 18-11 overall, 13-9 in the conference.

De Wit, from Velp, Netherlands, went 12-19 last season while mostly playing No. 3 singles. She combined with ten Dolle to form the Techsters’ No. 1 doubles duo which finished with a record of 17-13.

Erofeyeva, from Yekaterinburg, Russia, played anywhere from No. 3 – No. 5 singles as a freshman last season and held a record of 16-14 overall. She teemed up with Laura Rodriguez in doubles and ended the season with a 9-10 record.

With the return of the No. 1 and No. 3 singles player, fourth-year head coach Quinton Yray is confident that the newcomers he has recruited for this season can continue the success of last year’s squad.

“I would say were still looking to be in the middle of the WAC, although there are many factors that can contribute to our success or demise of this goal,” Yray said. “Also our competitors have been getting better year after year as well, so I would not like to make a statement prematurely regarding the outcome of our season. Having said that, I can say without a doubt that this year will be better than the previous four years I have been head coach.”

The Lady Techsters’ strength is at the top of their lineup as newcomers Elne Barnard (South Africa), Melanie Urvoy (France) and Anna Zureck (Poland) will play the No. 2 – No. 4 singles positions. The competition for the No. 2 spot is close, but Yray says that Bar-nard has a firm grasp on the position. In a testament to Yray’s recruiting, last year’s No. 3 singles player, Erofeyeva, will be this year’s No. 4, 5 or 6.

“My recruiting over the past two years has really given me some players to look at and that has made a big difference for me,” Yray said. “Year after year I’m bringing in recruits that play 1, 2 and 3.”

Barnard and Zureck have already made their presence felt as they teamed up and took first place at the 28 – team UWF Fall Fling this past October, one of the Lady Techsters four fall tennis tournaments. In the finals they downed McNeese State 8-3.

“My top four are really tough,” said Yray who coached last year’s team to an 8-18 overall record. “We can beat up on a lot of teams and do some good things. My lower half isn’t quite as strong, but they are tenacious. We are preparing them for the fight. We’ll just have to see how it goes.”

Tech completes its depth chart with de Wit, Erofeyeva and freshman Sophie Heldoorn as they are competing for the No. 5 and No. 6 singles spots.

“They have weapons, but maybe not the total package,” Yray said. “How they use those weapons against their opponent is going to decide some matches.”

This spring, the Lady Techsters will face a schedule similar to last season, going up against many in-state schools and then compet-ing in WAC play towards the end of the season. The WAC Tournament is held April 27-May 1 in Boise, Idaho.

SeASOn OUTLOOK


date oppoNeNt locatioN tiMe01.29.11 Jacksonville State Hattiesburg, Miss. 10 a.m.01.30.11 Southern Miss Hattiesburg, Miss. 10 a.m.02.11.11 Southern Ruston, La. 12 p.m.02.12.11 Central Arkansas Ruston, La. 10 a.m.02.13.11 Stephen F. Austin Nacogdoches, Texas 12 p.m.02.19.11 Southeastern Ruston, La. 10 a.m.02.26.11 Northwestern State Natchitoches, La. 2:30 p.m.03.05.11 Jackson State Ruston, La. 2 p.m.03.08.11 Grambling State Ruston, La. 2 p.m.03.10.11 Alcorn State Ruston, La. 2 p.m.03.12.11 Fresno State Ruston, La. 10 a.m.03.22.11 Nicholls State Ruston, La. 10 a.m.03.29.11 Grambling State Ruston, La. 2 p.m.04.01.11 Chaminade Honolulu, Hawai’i 6 p.m.04.02.11 Idaho Honolulu, Hawai’i 6:30 p.m.04.03.11 Hawai’i Honolulu, Hawai’i 6:30 p.m.04.09.11 UALR Honolulu, Hawai’i 1 p.m.04.14.11 Arkansas Pine-Bluff Ruston, La. 2 p.m.04.16.11 New Mexico State Las Cruces, N.M. 12 p.m.04.27-05.01.11 WAC Tournament Boise, Idaho TBA

Name class/exp. Hometown (previous school) Elne Barnard JR Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape South AfricaVivian ten Dolle SO/1L Gelderland, Netherlands (de Driemark)Anna Zurek JR Radom, Poland (Tyler Junior College)Alena Erofeyeva SO/1L Yekaterinburg, Russia (Olympic Youth Sports School)Maartje De Wit JR/2L Velp, Netherlands (SSgN)Sophie Heldoorn FR Blaricum, NetherlandsMelanie Urvoy FR Alnay-sous-bois, France

Head Coach: Quinton Yray

2011 ROSTeR

2011 SChedULe

25

Louisiana Tech enters his fifth season as head coach of the Louisiana Tech tennis coach.

Hired in September 2006, Yray is coming off a season in which he coached the Lady Techsters to their first-ever Western Athletic Conference win with a 5-2 victory over San Jose State.

Before coming to Tech, Yray was coaching tennis at Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, Ore. At one of the high schools Yray coached, he took students who were actually baseball players to the top. He took players who did not make the baseball team and sim-ply wanted to compete in something and turned them into winners. Twice he took tennis programs from the bottom of their district to the top.

Yray played tennis at Yuba College and MiraCosta College and professionally for two years before a shoulder injury cut his career short. From there he went into coaching.

Yray has two children, Gabriella and Julien.

head Coach QUInTOn YRAY

www.LATechSports.com


eLne BARnARdJR/HS • Port Elizabeth, South Africa

High school: Won the doubles title at the prestigious Amanda Coetzer Schools Tourna-ment… Represented the following provinces in South Africa: Eastern Province, Gauteng North and Bolano… Played at the Spier Tennis Academy under head coach Pietie Norval

personal: Daughter of Pieter and Ansa Barnard… Has two sisters, Judith and Anine and one brother Pieter-Uys… Was born Jan. 1, 1989 in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

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MAARTJe de WITJR/2L • Velp, Netherlands (SSgN)

2009-2010: Recorded a 12-19 overall record on the year mainly out of the number three singles position...Partnered with team mate Vivian ten Dolle in the number one doubles position throughout the year collecting a 17-13 overall record...Went 11-11 in doubles in dual matches while going 6-2 in tournament matches...Helped Louisiana Tech to the program’s first Western Athletic Conference match win over San Jose State 4/10.

2008-2009: Recorded a 5-17 overall record, mainly in the number three slot for Tech...Went 3-11 in the three slot while recording 1-3 records from the numbers two

and four slots for the Techsters...Went 1-5 in conference...Went 4-5 in doubles action while teaming up with Rocio Juarez in the two spot.



AnnA ZUReKJR/TR • Radom, Poland (Tyler Junior College)

tyler Junior collge: Played two seasons at Tyler Junior Collegepersonal: Daughter of Izabela and Miroslaw Zurek… Has one sister, Karol… Born Oct.

12, 1988 in Radom, Poland.

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29

VIVIAn Ten dOLLeSO/1L • Gelderland, Netherlands (de Driemark High School)

2009-2010: Second team all-WAC in singles...Solid in the number one position all season as a freshman for the Techsters...Collected an 18-11 overall singles record with a 13-9 record in dual match play and 5-2 in tournament play...Totaled a 3-3 record in WAC matches...Partnered with team mate Maartje de Wit in the number one doubles position throughout the year collecting a 17-13 overall record...Went 11-11 in doubles in dual matches while going 6-2 in tournament matches...Helped Louisiana Tech to the program’s first Western Athletic Conference match win over San Jose State 4/10.

High school: Played six years for de Driemark in Winterswijk.personal: Daughter of Ben and Maureen

ten Dolle...Has two brothers, Roderik and Yannick...Born in Winterswijk, Neth-

erlands.Personal: Full name is Maartje de Wit...Daughter of Hans and Mariette de Wit...Born November 2, 1989 in Arnhem, Netherlands.



ALenA eROFeYeVASO/1L • Yekaterinburg, Russia (Olympic Youth Spots School)

2009-2010: Completed her freshman season with a 16-14 overall singles record primarily playing in the three, four and five spots...Totaled a 12-11 record in dual match singles play with a 4-3 record in tournament play...Tallied a 1-7 WAC record in singles...Teamed up with Laura Rodriguez for doubles and ended the season with a 9-10 overall record...The two went 2-9 in dual match doubles play and 7-1 in tournament play...Helped Louisiana Tech to the program’s first Western Athletic Conference match win over San Jose State 4/10.

High school: Played twelve years for Olympic Youth Sports School personal: Daughter of Igor and Diana Erofeyeva...Has one brother, Anton...Born April 1,

1991 in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

30

31

SOPhIe heLdOORnFR/HS • Blaricum, Netherlands

High school: Was a runner in high school in the Netherlands… Was twice the No. 1 runner at the school… Earned a No. 4 national ranking in running.

personal: Daughter of Yolande Kuijer and Jerven Heldoorn… Has one sister, Tessa and one brother, Thys… Was born Feb. 12, 1992 in Blaricum, Netherlands.


MeLAnIe URVOYFR/HS • Aulnay-sous-Bois, France

High school: Twice won the regional championship at Lycee Jean Zay High School.personal: Daughter of Raymond and Dominique Urvoy… Has one brother, Julien

Urvoy… Born in Paris, France on Sept. 18, 1992.

www.LATechSports.com32


SinglesMaartje de Wit (12-19)date opponent seed result 10.02.09 vs La03. t-1 W, 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 (10-4)10.02.09 vs LA- Monroe t-2 L, 3-6, 3-610.02.09 vs Texas- El Paso t-F L, 6-2, 2-6, 0-1 (8-10)10.09.09 vs Arkansas- Fort Smith t-1 W, 6-3, 6-210.09.09 vs Dallas Baptist t-2 W, 6-4, 6-210.09.09 vs Saint Mary’s t-SF W, 6-1, 6-010.09.09 vs Abilene Christian t-F W, 6-2, 6-010.20.09 Southern Arkansas 4 W, 6-0, 6-010.23.09 vs UT- Tyler t-1 L, 2-6, 1-601.23.10 vs Texas State 3 L, 2-6, 1-601.24.10 at #23 SMU 3 L, 0-6, 2-601.31.10 Grambling State 3 W, 6-0, 6-002.02.10 Northwestern State 3 L, 2-6, 3-602.13.10 at Central Arkansas 3 W, 6-4, 7-502.17.10 Arkansas Pine-Bluff 3 W, 6-0, 6-002.19.10 at Houston 3 L, 1-6, 2-602.22.10 McNeese State 4 L, 2-6, 4-602.22.10 Southern 3 L, 1-6, 4-602.27.10 UALR 4 L, 2-6, 3-603.06.10 Alcorn State 3 W, 7-5, 6-403.07.10 Jackson State 3 W, 5-7, 6-2, 6-403.10.10 Stephen F. Austin 3 L, 2-6, 2-603.14.10 Arkansas State 3 L, 0-6, 1-603.20.10 at SE Louisiana 3 L, 2-6, 0-603.21.10 at Nicholls 3 L, 4-6, 4-603.25.10 Grambling State 2 W, 6-2, 6-4* 04.02.10 at Nevada 4 - unfinished* 04.08.10 Hawaii 4 L, 3-6, 3-6* 04.02.10 vs New Mexico State 4 - unfinished* 04.09.10 #44 Boise State 3 L, 0-6, 3-6* 04.10.10 San Jose State 4 L, 2-6, 6-3, 2-6* 04.16.10 vs Fresno State 4 - 6-2, 0-1, unfinished* 04.17.10 vs Utah State 4 L, 2-6, 0-6* 04.18.10 at Idaho 4 L, 1-6, 0-6

Alena erofeyeva (16-14)date opponent seed result 10.02.09 vs Texas State t-1 W, 6-1, 6-210.02.09 vs McNeese State t-2 L, 6-7 (5-10), 1-610.02.09 vs McNeese State t-F L, 4-6, 4-610.09.09 vs Arkansas- Fort Smith t-1 L, 2-6, 3-610.20.09 Southern Arkansas 1 W, 6-2, 6-410.23.09 vs Temple College t-1 W, 6-1, 6-010.23.09 vs Tyler Junior College t-2 W, 7-5, 6-210.23.09 vs Arkansas- Fort Smith t-SF W, 6-1, 6-001.23.10 vs Texas State 4 L, 1-6, 2-601.24.10 at #23 SMU 4 L, 1-6, 0-602.02.10 Northwestern State 5 L, 1-6, 0-602.13.10 at Central Arkansas 5 W, 6-0, 6-202.19.10 at Houston 5 L, 2-6, 0-602.22.10 McNeese State 6 W, 6-1, 0-6, 7-6 (7-5)02.22.10 Southern 5 W, 6-2, 3-6, 6-002.27.10 UALR 5 W, 2-6, 6-4, 6-0

03.06.10 Alcorn State 4 W, 6-2, 6-003.07.10 Jackson State 4 W, 3-6, 7-6, 7-503.10.10 Stephen F. Austin 4 - 6-1, 3-1, unfinished03.14.10 Arkansas State 4 W, 7-5, 6-403.20.10 at SE Louisiana 5 W, 6-1, 6-303.21.10 at Nicholls 4 W, 6-3, 6-203.25.10 Grambling State 3 W, 6-0, 6-2* 04.02.10 at Nevada 3 L, 4-6, 2-6* 04.08.10 Hawaii 3 L, 2-6, 0-6* 04.02.10 vs New Mexico State 3 L, 2-6, 2-6* 04.09.10 #44 Boise State 2 L, 0-6, 0-6* 04.10.10 San Jose State 3 W, 6-4, 6-1* 04.16.10 vs Fresno State 3 L, 1-6, 0-6* 04.17.10 vs Utah State 3 L, 3-6, 3-6* 04.18.10 at Idaho 3 L, 0-6, 0-6

Rocio Juarez (10-16)date opponent seed result 09.02.09 vs McNeese State t-1 L, 2-6, 4-609.02.09 vs Stephen F. Austin t-1 L, 3-6, 3-609.02.09 vs Stephen F. Austin t-2 L, 1-6, 1-609.09.09 vs Collin County CC t-1 W, 6-1, 6-209.09.09 vs SE Oklahoma State t-2 W, 6-0, 6-309.09.09 vs Oklahoma Baptist t-SF W, 6-2, 6-009.09.09 vs Dallas Baptist t-F W, 7-6, 6-309.23.09 vs Stephen F. Austin t-1 L, 2-6, 4-601.23.10 vs Texas State 5 L, 2-6, 0-601.24.10 at #23 SMU 5 L, 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 0-1 (9-11)02.02.10 Northwestern State 4 L, 1-6, 2-602.13.10 at Central Arkansas 4 W, 5-5, retired02.17.10 Arkansas Pine-Bluff 4 W, 6-0, 6-002.19.10 at Houston 4 L, 0-6, 2-602.22.10 McNeese State 3 L, 4-6, 1-602.22.10 Southern University 4 W, 6-1, 6-302.27.10 UALR 3 L, 0-6, 1-603.20.10 at SE Louisiana 4 L, 6-7, 6-703.21.10 at Nicholls 5 L, 3-6, 4-603.25.10 Grambling State 4 W, 6-2, 6-0* 04.02.10 at Nevada 5 L, 2-6, 1-6* 04.08.10 Hawaii 5 L, 1-6, 1-6* 04.02.10 vs New Mexico State 5 - unfinished* 04.09.10 #44 Boise State 4 L, 0-6, 2-6* 04.10.10 San Jose State 6 W, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-3)* 04.16.10 vs Fresno State 5 - 3-6, 3-0, unfinished* 04.17.10 vs Utah State 6 L, 3-6, 4-6* 04.18.10 at Idaho 6 W, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-4)

Laura Rodriguez (11-12)date opponent seed result 10.09.09 vs Dallas Baptist t-1 W, 6-1, 6-010.09.09 vs Seminole State College t-2 W, 6-3, 6-310.09.09 vs unattached t-SF W, 6-3, 6-210.23.09 vs UT- Tyler t-1 W, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)10.23.09 vs Tyler Junior College t-2 W, 6-3, 6-210.23.09 vs Stephen F. Austin t-SF W, 6-1, 6-001.23.10 vs Texas State 6 - 2-6, unfinished01.24.10 at #23 SMU 6 L, 1-6, 0-602.02.10 Northwestern State 6 L, 2-6, 3-6

2009-10 ReSULTS


02.13.10 at Central Arkansas 6 W, 7-6, 6-002.19.10 at Houston 6 L, 5-7, 5-702.22.10 McNeese State 5 L, 5-7, 5-702.22.10 Southern 6 L, 6-2, 1-6, 1-602.27.10 UALR 6 L, 2-6, 2-603.06.10 Alcorn State 5 W, 6-2, 6-403.07.10 Jackson State 5 W, 1-6, 6-2, 6-203.10.10 S tephen F. Austin 5 L, 4-6, 1-6* 04.02.10 at Nevada 6 L, 2-6, 1-6* 04.08.10 Hawaii 6 W, 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)* 04.02.10 vs New Mexico State 6 L, 3-6, 0-6* 04.09.10 #44 Boise State 5 L, 0-6, 0-6* 04.10.10 San Jose State 5 W, 6-2, 6-4* 04.16.10 vs Fresno State 6 - 6-3, 1-2, unfinished* 04.17.10 vs Utah State 5 L, 1-6, 0-6* 04.18.10 at Idaho 5 L, 0-6, 0-4, retired

Vivian ten dolle (18-11)date opponent seed result 10.02.09 vs Louisiana- Monroe t-1 W, 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5)10.02.09 vs Stephen F. Austin t-2 W, 6-2, 6-110.02.09 vs La03. t-F W, 6-1, 6-010.09.09 vs Oklahoma Baptist t-1 L, 6-1010.20.09 Southern Arkansas 2 W, 6-0, 6-010.23.09 vs Arkansas- Fort Smith t-1 W, 6-3, 6-310.23.09 vs Temple College t-2 W, 7-5, 7-510.23.09 vs Tyler Junior College t-SF L, 1-6, 0-601.23.10 vs Texas State 1 - 6-3, 3-6, unfinished01.24.10 at #23 SMU 1 L, 1-6, 1-601.31.10 Grambling State 1 W, 6-0, 6-002.02.10 Northwestern State 1 L, 5-7, 2-602.13.10 at Central Arkansas 1 W, 6-1, 6-102.17.10 Arkansas Pine-Bluff 1 W, 6-0, 6-002.19.10 at Houston 1 W, 6-2, 6-102.22.10 McNeese State 1 L, 6-3, 1-6, 0-1 (3-10)02.22.10 Southern 1 W, 6-1, 6-002.27.10 UALR 1 W, 6-1, 6-203.06.10 Alcorn State 1 W, 6-1, 6-003.07.10 Jackson State 1 W, 6-2, 6-003.10.10 Stephen F. Austin 1 - 4-6, 5-5, unfinished03.14.10 Arkansas State 1 L, 3-6, 1-603.20.10 at SE Louisiana 1 L, 6-7, 6-4, 5-1003.21.10 at Nicholls 1 L, 6-7, 5-703.25.10 Grambling State 1 W, 6-2, 6-1* 04.02.10 at Nevada 1 - unfinished* 04.08.10 Hawaii 1 W, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)* 04.02.10 vs New Mexico State 1 - unfinished* 04.09.10 #44 Boise State 1 L, 1-6, 1-6* 04.10.10 San Jose State 1 W, 6-1, 6-1* 04.16.10 vs Fresno State 1 L, 0-6, 0-6* 04.17.10 vs Utah State 1 W, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9)* 04.18.10 at Idaho 1 L, 0-6, 1-6

Cecile Vichery (14-18)date opponent seed result 10.02.09 vs Louisiana- Monroe t-1 L, 4-6, 6-7 (3-10)10.02.09 vs La03. t-1 W, 6-4, 6-110.02.09 vs Stephen F. Austin t-F L, 5-7, 3-610.09.09 vs SE Oklahoma State t-1 W, 6-2, 6-210.09.09 vs Arkansas- Fort Smith t-2 W, 6-2, 6-110.09.09 vs unattached t-SF W, 6-3, 6-110.09.09 vs SE Oklahoma Stae t-F W, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-3)10.20.09 Southern Arkansas 3 W, 6-0, 6-010.23.09 vs Collin County CC t-1 W, 6-0, 6-3

10.23.09 vs Stephen F. Austin t-2 W, 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (10-6)10.23.09 vs Stephen F. Austin t-SF L, 3-6, 3-601.23.10 vs Texas State 2 - 3-6, 6-2, unfinished01.24.10 at #23 SMU 2 L, 2-6, 1-601.31.10 Grambling State 2 W, 6-1, 6-202.02.10 Northwestern State 2 L, 3-6, 1-602.13.10 at Central Arkansas 2 W, 6-3, 2-6, 6-102.17.10 Arkansas Pine-Bluff 2 W, 6-0, 6-002.19.10 at Houston 2 L, 3-6, 6-2, 5-702.22.10 McNeese State 2 L, 1-6, 0-602.22.10 Southern 2 L, 3-6, 6-7 (2-7)02.27.10 UALR 2 L, 6-0, 6-7, 0-603.06.10 Alcorn State 2 W, 6-2, 6-403.07.10 Jackson State 2 W, 6-1, 7-503.10.10 Stephen F. Austin 2 - 1-6, 6-4, 3-3, unfinished03.14.10 Arkansas State 2 L, 5-7, 3-603.20.10 at SE Louisiana 2 L, 0-6, 2-603.21.10 at Nicholls 2 L, 0-6, 1-6* 04.2.10 at Nevada 2 L, 2-6, 1-6* 04.8.10 Hawaii 2 L, 3-6, 3-6* 04.2.10 vs New Mexico State 2 L, 1-6, 1-6* 04.10.10 San Jose State 2 W, 6-3, 6-2* 04.16.10 vs Fresno State 2 L, 1-6, 1-6* 04.17.10 vs Utah State 2 L, 3-6, 3-6* 04.18.10 at Idaho 2 L, 1-6, 2-6

doublesde Wit/ten dolle (17-13)date opponent seed result 10.02.09 vs Lamar t-1 W, 8-110.02.09 vs McNeese State t-2 W, 8-410.02.09 vs McNeese State t-F W, 8-310.09.09 vs Dallas Baptist t-1 W, 8-510.09.09 vs Abilene Christian t-2 L, 6-810.20.09 Southern Arkansas 2 W, 8-010.23.09 vs Arkansas- Fort Smith t-2 L, 3-810.23.09 vs Tyler Junior College t-1 W, 8-310.23.09 vs Temple College t-F W, 8-101.23.10 vs Texas State 1 L, 6-801.24.10 at #23 SMU 1 L, 0-801.31.10 Grambling State 1 W, 8-302.02.10 Northwestern State 1 L, 3-802.13.10 at Central Arkansas 1 W, 8-502.17.10 Arkansas Pine-Bluff 1 W, 8-102.19.10 at Houston 1 L, 4-802.22.10 McNeese State 1 L, 4-802.22.10 Southern 1 W, 9-802.27.10 UALR 1 W, 8-203.06.10 Alcorn State 1 W, 8-203.07.10 Jackson State 1 W, 8-003.10.10 Stephen F. Austin 1 W, 8-503.14.10 Arkansas State 1 L, 6-803.20.10 at SE Louisiana 1 W, 8-703.21.10 at Nicholls 1 L, 4-803.25.10 Grambling State 1 W, 8-3* 04.02.10 at Nevada 1 - unfinished* 04.08.10 Hawaii 1 L, 1-8* 04.02.10 vs New Mexico State 1 L, 4-8* 04.16.10 vs Fresno State 1 L, 5-8* 04.18.10 at Idaho 1 L, 1-8


de Wit/erofeyeva (1-2)date opponent seed result * 04.09.10 #44 Boise State 2 L, 2-8* 04.10.10 San Jose State 3 L, 6-8* 04.17.10 vs Utah State 2 W, 8-5

erofeyeva/Rodriguez (9-10)date opponent seed result 10.02.09 vs Stephen F. Austin t-1 L, 3-810.02.09 vs Lamar t-F W, 8-310.09.09 vs Ouachita Baptist t-1 W, 8-210.09.09 vs SE Oklahoma t-2 W, 8-610.09.09 vs Oklahoma Baptist t-SF W, 8-210.09.09 vs SE Oklahoma t-F W, 8-210.23.09 vs UT- Tyler t-1 W, 8-610.23.09 vs Arkansas- Fort Smith t-2 W, 8-601.23.10 vs Texas State 3 L, 0-801.24.10 at #23 SMU 3 L, 0-801.31.10 Grambling State 3 - 02.02.10 Northwestern State 3 L, 0-802.13.10 at Central Arkansas 3 W, 8-602.19.10 at Houston 3 L, 3-802.22.10 Southern 3 L, 3-802.27.10 UALR 3 L, 0-803.25.10 Grambling State 2 W, 8-3* 04.02.10 at Nevada 3 - unfinished* 04.02.10 vs New Mexico State 3 L, 0-8* 04.08.10 Hawaii 3 L, 4-8* 04.18.10 at Idaho 3 L, 1-8

erofeyeva/Vichery (1-7)date opponent seed result 10.23.09 vs Stephen F. Austin t-SF L, 4-802.22.10 McNeese State 3 L, 6-803.06.10 Alcorn State 2 W, 9-703.07.10 Jackson State 2 L, 5-803.10.10 Stephen F. Austin 2 L, 6-803.14.10 Arkansas State 2 L, 3-803.21.10 at Nicholls 2 L, 2-8* 04.16.10 vs Fresno State 2 L, 1-8

Juarez/Vichery (5-14)date opponent seed result 10.02.10 vs Stephen F. Austin t-1 W, 8-110.02.10 vs Texas State t-2 L, 7-910.02.10 vs Lamar t-F L, 3-810.09.10 vs unattached t-1 L, 3-810.09.10 vs Saint Mary’s t-1 L, 4-810.20.10 Southern Arkansas 1 W, 8-010.23.10 vs Temple College t-1 L, 5-801.23.10 vs Texas State 2 - unfinished01.24.10 at #23 SMU 2 L, 1-802.02.10 Northwestern State 2 L, 3-802.13.10 at Central Arkansas 2 W, 8-502.17.10 Arkansas Pine-Bluff 2 W, 8-002.19.10 at Houston 2 L, 5-802.22.10 Southern 2 L, 6-802.27.10 UALR 2 W, 8-403.20.10 at SE Louisiana 2 L, 6-8* 04.02.10 at Nevada 2 - unfinished* 04.08.10 Hawaii 2 L, 3-8* 04.02.10 vs New Mexico State 2 L, 1-8

* 04.17.10 vs Utah State 1 L, 7-8* 04.18.10 at Idaho 2 L, 3-8

Juarez/Rodriguez (0-3)date opponent seed result 02.22.10 McNeese State 2 L, 1-8 * 04.10.10 San Jose State 1 L, 2-8* 04.16.10 vs Fresno State 3 L, 1-8

Juarez/ten dolle (0-1)date opponent seed result * 04.09.10 #44 Boise State 1 L, 1-8

Rodriguez/ten dolle (1-0)date opponent seed result * 04.17.10 vs Utah State 3 W, 8-3

ten dolle/ Vichery (1-0)date opponent seed result * 04.10.10 San Jose State 2 W, 8-1

* WAC match


ALL-TIMe ReSULTS overall wacseason w l w ..lSpring 2010 ...... 8 ......18 .......1 ....7Spring 2009 ...... 3 ......21 .......0 ....6Spring 2008 ...... 4 ......17Spring 2007 ...... 1 ......15Spring 2006 ...... 4 ......14Spring 2005 ...... 10 ....12Spring 2004 ...... 9 ......12Spring 2003 ...... 5 ......10Spring 2002 ...... 7 ......13Spring 2001 ...... 3 ......19Spring 2000 ...... 11 ....15Spring 1999 ...... 5 ......16Spring 1998 ...... 8 ......9Spring 1997 ...... 7 ......8Spring 1996 ...... 12 ....4Spring 1995 ...... 6 ......12Spring 1994 ...... 17 ....6Spring 1993 ...... 6 ......13Spring 1992 ...... 8 ......19Spring 1991 ...... 6 ......13Spring 1990 ...... 5 ......12Spring 1989 ...... 5 ......18Spring 1988 ...... 5 ......18Spring 1987 ...... 4 ......10Spring 1986 ...... 10 ....14Spring 1985 ...... 17 ....8Spring 1984 ...... 13 ....4Spring 1983 ...... 13 ....11Spring 1982 ...... 21 ....6Spring 1981 ...... 11 ....13Spring 1980 ...... 7 ......8Spring 1979 ...... 8 ......9Spring 1978 ...... 6 ......10Spring 1977 ...... 3 ......8

2009-10 ReSULTSdate opponent score

01.23.10 vs Texas State L 0-4

01.24.10 at #23 SMU Mustangs L 0-7

01.31.10 GRAMBLING STATE W 7-0

02.02.10 NORTHWESTERN STATE L 0-7

02.13.10 at Central Arkansas W 7-0

02.17.10 ARKANSAS PINE-BLUFF W 7-0

02.19.10 at Houston L 1-6

02.22.10 MCNEESE STATE L 1-6

02.22.10 SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY L 3-4

02.27.10 UALR L 3-4

03.06.10 ALCORN STATE W 6-1

03.07.10 JACKSON STATE W 5-2

03.10.10 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN L 0-4

03.14.10 ARKANSAS STATE L 1-6

03.20.10 at Southeastern Louisiana L 1-6

03.21.10 at Nicholls L 1-6

03.25.10 GRAMBLING STATE W 7-0

* 04.02.10 at Nevada Wolf Pack L 0-4

* 04.08.10 HAWAII L 2-5

* 04.02.10 vs New Mexico State L 0-4

* 04.09.10 #44 BOISE STATE L 0-7

* 04.10.10 SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY W 5-2

* 04.16.10 vs Fresno State L 0-4

* 04.17.10 vs Utah State L 2-5

* 04.18.10 at Idaho L 1-6

* WAC match

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ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS

ShannonBabineaux

LeonBarmore LeamonBest TerryBradshaw Dr.BillyBundrick JohnCassibry TommyJoeEagles

HossGarrett RobertHayes,Jr. Mrs.JeanetteHinckley

JustinHinckley Dr.GuthrieJarrell MaxieLambright KarlMalone

Robert“Bob”May

VirginiaLomaxMarbury

WilliamArdisMarbury,Jr.

JamesRobertMichael

JimmyMize JackieMoreland PatPatterson

JimRivers MikeSorenson WayneSmith MattStover W.H.“Eva”Talbot Mrs.LeuWilder Dr.WilliamM.Wilder

Football Scholarship

A number of student-athletes attend Louisiana Tech as a result of endowed athletic scholarships, which have been established as a means of supporting intercollegiate athletics.

Tech athletics would like to thank and recognize the following individuals who have established scholarships to benefit athletics or

in whose honor or memory a scholarship has been established. The financial boost provided by these endowed scholarships is critical to maintaining a successful athletics program.

38 www.LATechSports.com192 LA TECH

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CharterJohn and JoAnn Allen

Davison Petroleum Supply, LLC

Mr. and Mrs. William E. Fowler

Dr. and Mrs. Marvin T. Green Jr.

Nathan and Alicia Hendricks

Justin and Jeanette Hinckley

Bob and Lesley James

Mrs. Geraldine Y. Lambright

Mr. and Mrs. James C. Love III

Karl and Kay Malone

Mr. Matthew A. Massey

Dave and Jane Matthiesen

Mr. Johnny Maxwell

Dr. Douglas L. McGuire

Lomax and Misty Napper

Phillip and Melanie Parker

Ms. Deborah D. Rivers

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Shealy

Mr. Richard H. Shirley Jr.

Tom and Gayle Singletary

Mr. and Mrs. Manco L. Snapp Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Spruell

Mr. and Mrs. Hubert E. “Bud” Storer

Dr. and Mrs. F. Jay Taylor

Mr. Charles G. Tullis

Perry and Ellen Watson

Dr. and Mrs. William M. Wilder

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Youngblood

PresidentD. J. and Sandy Allen

Mike and Kimberly Biondo

Mr. and Mrs. Jack E. Byrd Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Warren A. Daniel Jr.

First Guaranty Bank

Mr. Russell A. Friedrich and Dr.

Marsha Friedrich

Dr. and Mrs. James D. Green

Mr. Jerry L. Hudson

James Services LLC

Curt and Sally Joiner

Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. “Gene” Land

Rusty and Danna Mabry

Mr. and Mrs. John E. McKinney

Mr. David C. O’Neal

Parkman’s Painting

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Phillips

Michael and Kelly Quarles

Chris and Anne Richardson

Mr. and Mrs. R. G. “Skip” Russell, III

Mr. and Mrs. Ted W. Sanderlin

Mr. Steven B. Smallwood

Dr. and Mrs. A. D. Smith Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy L. Terrill

Mr. Steven M. Thurmon

Dr. and Mrs. Simeon H. Wall

DirectorMr. and Mrs. Robert R. Aillet

Joe and Candee Anderson

Mr. Jack E. Armstrong

Charles and Carolyn Ashley

Mr. William C. Bailey Jr.

Mr. John B. Barr

Don and Kay Baxter

Blessey Marine Services, Inc.

Ken and Susan Caldwell

Mrs. Juel M. Chappell

Tommy and Connie Cline

Mr. and Mrs. Carrol W. Cochran

Mr. and Mrs. Nolan B. Coleman

John and Margaret Collins

Mr. C. James Cooper

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce D. Cowan

Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Coyle

Travis and Kitty DeFreese

Roy and Happi Dowling

Sonny and Kate Dykes

Brennan and Rhonda Easley

Don and Margaret Faust

Wayne and Carolyn Fleming

Mrs. Mary M. Green

Dr. and Mrs. Leslie K. Guice

Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Hale Jr.

Mr. Gregory G. Hall

Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy M. Harrison

Jeff and Pam Hawley

Hercules Transport, Inc.

Ms. Roberta G. Hinton

Larry and Gail Hobbs

Mayor and Mrs. Dan Hollingsworth

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Hoogland

Mrs. Melba J. Jones

Mr. and Mrs. James L. Kilpatrick

Mrs. Faye W. Miller

Drake and Ann Marie Mills

Greg and Grady Morrison

Glenn and Kitty Murphy

Randall and Jan Murphy

Dr. and Mrs. C. Lawrence Neal

Northern Louisiana Medical Center

Dr. and Mrs. Virgil Orr

Wayne and Glenda Parker

Mr. and Mrs. William W. Patterson

John and Stacee Priddy

Mr. Robert N. Renicker

David and Emily Rentrop

Republic Services

Mr. and Mrs. Colin K. Ringle

Doug and Susan Rogers

Ruston Lincoln Convention and Visi-

tor’s Bureau

Mr. and Mrs. O. Leo Sanford

Chris and Laurie Anne Scott

Mickey and Patty Slaughter

Drs. Tommy and Nancy Smith

Mr. Patrick J. Spell

Mr. and Mrs. Edward L. Stout Jr.

Mr. Joel G. Taylor

Mr. and Mrs. J. Jack Thigpen Jr.

Mr. Joel T. Trammell

Bruce and Debbie Van De Velde

Mr. Todd P. Viator

Mr. and Mrs. David E. Wilson

Mr. Thomas B. Wilson Jr.

Special thanks to these premier-level LTAC members who through their generous support elevate Tech Athletics.

*memberships as of July 31, 2010

Team Tech 100 is a select group of supporters dedicated to changing the landscape of Louisiana Tech Athletics. A four-year financial commitment by these individuals and busi-nesses allows Tech Athletics to make significant investments that directly impact winning. For complete information on becoming a part of Team Tech 100, please call Adam McGuirt at 318.255.7950.

Bill Baldwin George & Jean Baldwin

Jim & Dana Bernhard

Terry Bradshaw Dr. William Bundrick

James Davison

Steve Davison Todd Davison Terry & Donna Ewing

Hunt, Guillot & Associates, LLC

Dr. R. Guthrie Jarrell

JPS Equipment/ Volvo Rents

MikeMcCallister

Billy & Millicent McConnell

Lucius & Mildred McGehee

Dan & Linda Reneau

John Rogers Matt Stover

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There’s a lot to look forward to at Louisiana Tech, as university President Dan Reneau knows well. The university is growing with the increased enroll-ment of students and the construction of new facilities.

Under Reneau’s leadership, the university is on track in its long-term

Tech 2020 goal, a strategy to ensure the university stays in tune with academic, economic, and research trends in the state, region, and nation.

“The transformation of higher education in Louisiana is taking place before our eyes,” Reneau said. “The faculty and staff of Loui-siana Tech have chosen to use this transformation as an opportunity to strengthen their institution through a collective and progressive recruitment and retention effort.”

The university has continually thrived with Reneau at the helm in a variety of areas, including:* New construction and renovation of buildings. Currently, the first buildings of Tech’s Enterprise Campus are being constructed, and renovations include the expansion of the Maxie Lambright Intramural Center, the Technology Transfer Center and the Visual Arts Center. The $20 million Quest for Excellence initiative was also announced in Summer 2010, and plans are in the works for the construction of a 90,000-plus square-foot multipurpose facility in the south end zone of Joe Aillet Stadium. The new facility will benefit all student athletes and will include a state-of-the-art sports medicine facility, a new strength and conditioning complex and a new academic center.* All-time high average ACT score of entering freshmen. The average ACT score of beginning freshmen increased from 22.5 in the fall of 2004 to 23.5 in the fall of 2009.* Received national accolades. The university was ranked among the nation’s best colleges and universities and moved up to a Tier 3 ranking by U.S. News and World Report’s 2010 Best Colleges publica-tion. In addition, Louisiana Tech achieved the state’s highest ranking among public colleges and universities, according to Washington Monthly’s 2009 College Rankings.* Performance-based Funding. Tech fared better than all Louisiana public universities for performance-based funding.* National bookstore chain comes to campus. Barnes & Noble bought out the bookstore and will offer more book selections with plans to expand in three to five years.* Increased enrollment recognized. In Fall 2009, Louisiana Tech’s total enrollment stood at 11,289 students, which represents an addition of 339 students, an increase of 3.1 percent.

Reneau is leaving a lasting legacy with Louisiana Tech, especially with the engineering program. Reneau graduated with his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tech in 1963 and received his master’s in the same subject in 1964. He received his Ph.D. in 1966 from Clemson University.

Reneau became a faculty member at Tech in 1967 as an as-sistant professor of chemical engineering and made his way up the ladder to associate professor in 1969 and a full professor in 1973. Reneau’s professional experience includes serving as a research en-gineer for both Esso and Humble oil companies and as a consultant for five other corporations and universities.

Reneau also has studied abroad at Johannes Gutenburg Univer-sity in Mainz, West Germany, as an Alexander-von-Humbolt Stiftung visiting professor and also to England at Cambridge and Bristol universities as a visiting professor.

At Tech, Reneau established the biomedical engineering depart-ment and was named its head in 1972. The department became the fifth accredited department for its undergraduate curriculum in the United States, and the doctoral program was awarded a commenda-tion of excellence by the Board of Regents.

In 1980, Reneau was promoted to vice president for academic affairs, serving as the chief academic officer to some 400 faculty in six colleges and three professional schools with more than 160 different degree programs. During his tenure as vice president, every major program became accredited, and he was also instrumental in

establishing the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science.

Reneau was selected as the university’s 13th president Feb. 20, 1987, and the public endorsed their new president before the decision was even made. The university paper, The Tech Talk, issued a rare endorsement for the Tech alumnus; the Student Government As-sociation supported his selection through a resolution sent to Baton Rouge; many faculty members circulated a petition for his appoint-ment; and even the Faculty Senate gave Reneau a stamp of approval.

When hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Louisiana coast in 2005, under Reneau’s leadership, Tech welcomed hundreds of evacuees and offered them shelter in Caruthers Residence Hall. Tech also opened its doors to students from various universities in New Orleans as well as the Tulane University football team.

Tech continues to flourish under Reneau’s leadership. In 2007, the university and its president received a glowing review from a team led by national educational consultant James Fisher.

Tech’s graduate programs continue to prosper, as well. A total of ten doctoral degrees are now available at Tech, including a new doc-toral program in industrial and organizational psychology that began in 2009. In 2007, Tech produced the first graduate in the world who holds a bachelor’s degree in nanosystems engineering. Last year, Tech reported a record graduate student enrollment with graduate enrollment totaling 2,530, an increase of 9.3 percent.

As Tech holds strong to its 2020 goal, progress is echoed by re-search, such as a study conducted by the Applied Research Technol-ogy Corporation of Baton Rouge. The study shows that Louisiana Tech students have an annual statewide spending impact of $145 million and contribute over 56 hours of volunteerism per student, per year. Over the past 10 years, 65 percent of Tech’s graduates have stayed in Louisiana with total earnings of nearly $1 billion.

“One of Louisiana Tech’s greatest strengths has always been the quality of its students,” Reneau said. “Their success, both during and after college, will impact not only the future of our university, but also the future of our region and our state. As a campus community, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to continue recruiting, educating and graduating the next generation of Louisiana’s leaders.”

Reneau, a native of Woodville, Miss., was born June 11, 1940. He started as a student at Tech in 1959 and met his wife, the former Linda Digby, of Bernice, while a student at Tech. Reneau and his wife have two children, John and Dana, who are both Tech alumni as well. John lives in Las Vegas, and Dana lives in Baton Rouge with her hus-band, Jim Bernhard, and their two sons, Michael and Ben.

DR. DAN reneaU University President

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Bruce Van De Velde was named Louisiana Tech’s athletics director in Feb-ruary of 2010 by Louisiana Tech Presi-dent Dr. Dan Reneau.

“Bruce is well qualified by national standards to fill the position of athletics director at Louisiana Tech,” Reneau said. “I feel that we made an excellent choice

in selecting him to lead Tech athletics to national prominence and to serve the needs of our student-athletes.”

Van De Velde, who joined the University in June of 2008 as dep-uty athletics director and chief operating officer, took over full leader-ship of a department that fields 16 NCAA Division I sanctioned pro-grams, including nine women’s and seven men’s sports, that compete in the highly-competitive Western Athletic Conference.

“It is an honor to be named as the director of athletics at Louisi-ana Tech University,” Van De Velde said. “I look forward to serving our student-athletes, faculty, staff, alumni and fans. Our vision is to build a program to a level where we can be associated with universities that aspire to academic and athletic excellence at the highest level.

“This goal is consistent with the vision President Reneau has established for the University which is to become north Louisiana’s premier national research university. In order to accomplish this vision we must engage all of our 80,000 alumni, fans and supporters and ask them for their participation. It takes resources to achieve our goal, and we need every one to support the program.”

During his tenure Van De Velde has been instrumental in a num-ber of accomplishments that have helped further the advancement of the University’s athletic department, including:• Developed, negotiated and implemented $6.75 million multi-media and marketing rights agreement with Learfield Communications. Con-tract more than doubled revenue derived from corporate sponsorships and created state-wide radio network for Louisiana Tech athletics. Ne-gotiated purchase of $1.6 million Daktronics large screen high-defini-tion video board for Joe Aillet Stadium.• Upgraded ticket operations by negotiating new contract with Ticket-master. Improved customer service, marketing and communication efforts. Developed e-commerce capabilities by implementing on-line ticketing. Established new record for football season ticket sales. Sold allotment of 12,000 Independence Bowl tickets.• Reorganized annual giving program doubling the number of donors and increased total annual contributions to the program by 75 percent. Developed marketing efforts to strengthen outreach and established an agenda for growth. Implemented new giving plan for 1,150 new chair-back seats for football.• Led a national search in January of 2010 to hire head football coach Sonny Dykes from the University of Arizona. Was instrumental in hiring head women’s basketball coach in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame mem-ber Teresa Weatherspoon.• In 2010, the Louisiana Tech athletic de-partment earned the PRISM Award for excellence in athletics management un-der Van De Velde’s leadership.•Organized a $20 million fund raising campaign for Louisiana Tech athletics “Quest for Excellence.” Oversaw the development of the design of a new $20 million athletic sports complex.

Tech has also seen plenty of suc-cess on the fields and courts since Van De Velde’s arrival at Tech as the Bulldog football team captured its first bowl vic-tory in more than 30 years with the 2008 Independence Bowl title. The Lady Tech-ster basketball team won the 2009 regu-lar season Western Athletic Conference title and the 2010 WAC Tournament title,

and the women’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams won both the 2009 and 2010 league titles.

The University’s student-athletes have also seen success in the classroom since his arrival on campus as this past year saw eight of the 16 program’s record their highest multi-year APR ever and seven record their highest single-year APR ever. During the 2009-10 season, Tech saw 94 student-athletes earn Academic all-WAC honors for their work in the classrooms while senior sprinter Antoinette Cobb earned the Honda Inspiration Award for her work both on the track and in the classroom while overcoming a battle with cancer.

Van De Velde came to Tech with impressive credentials, having served as an administrator in intercollegiate athletics for over 20 years. Van De Velde served as athletics director at Iowa State University and Utah State University and as a senior administrator at the University of Oklahoma, University of Missouri and Kansas State University.

Van De Velde’s tenure at Iowa State University included an un-precedented five bowl appearances in six years and the highest na-tional AP football poll ranking (9th) in school history. Iowa State’s 2001 average football attendance of 45,172 reached its highest watermark in 18 years. In 2002 and 2003, total football attendance exceeded 300,000; the most at ISU in two decades.

The emergence of the Cyclone football program on a national stage with Van De Velde at the department helm was affirmed in 2002 when Iowa State was chosen to play No. 1 Florida State University in the Eddie Robinson Classic. During Van De Velde’s tenure at Iowa State, the men’s and women’s basketball teams won Big XII confer-ence championships and participated in the 2001, 2002 and 2005 NCAA basketball tournaments.

Van De Velde, with a track record for generating revenue, in-creased the total annual operating revenues for the Cyclone athletic department from $19.6 million to $30 million dollars over a five year period. Revenue generated from fundraising, ticket sales, marketing and corporate sponsorships, licensing, radio and television reached all-time highs during his tenure.

In 2005, total fundraising increased from $4.85 million to $8.6 million and the annual giving achieved the highest membership total in its history with more than 5,500 donors participating and a record $4 million dollars in annual contributions. Under Van De Velde’s leader-ship, over 2,000 new donors joined the National Cyclone Club. Includ-ing capital project gifts, scholarship endowments and annual contribu-tions, over $40 million dollars was raised from 2001 through 2005.

Iowa State’s graduation rate of 89 percent for student-athletes who complete their eligibility was second in the Big XII Conference,

BRUCE Van De VelDe Athletics Director


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and graduation rates for minority student-athletes more than tripled during Van De Velde’s tenure. In 2004-05, Iowa State was one of eight universities nationally to have its football team win a bowl game and have its men and women’s basketball teams participate in the NCAA tournament. The Sporting News in 2001 rated Iowa State as the sev-enth best athletic program among more than 115 NCAA Division I-A programs nationally. The ranking considered competitive success, graduation rates, fan support and NCAA compliance to determine na-tional rank.

During his time as athletic director at Utah State University, Van De Velde made his mark by hiring Stew Morrill as the head men’s basketball coach. Morrill has guided Utah State to nine straight post-season tournaments and is the winningest coach in the history of the Utah State program.

While serving as the associate athletic director for football opera-tions under head coach Bill Snyder at Kansas State University, Van De Velde was part of the resurrection of Wildcat football in Manhattan as the program became a national power participating in five bowl games. Van De Velde was recipient of the Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp Award at the 1997 Holiday Bowl for his contributions to the Kansas State football team when the nationally ranked Wildcats finished with a 10-2 record.

As the senior associate athletic for external affairs at the Univer-sity of Oklahoma, Van De Velde served as the senior administrative of-ficer for the athletic department and oversaw the areas of fundraising, marketing, corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, media relations and licensing. Van De Velde managed units that generated in excess of $35 million in annual revenues.

Van De Velde directed the Campaign for Sooner Sports, a $100 million dollar capital campaign to fund facility improvements and schol-arships. As associate athletic director for development at the Univer-sity of Missouri, Van De Velde planned and initiated a $50 million dollar capital campaign for facility improvements for the Sports Park at MU.

Van De Velde received the General Robert Neiland Award from the National Football Foundation in 2005 for his service and contribu-tions as an athletic director.

Throughout his career in college athletics, Van De Velde has served on numerous NCAA committees including the Champion-ships and Competition Cabinet, the Football Issues Committee, the Financial Aid Committee and the Peer Review Committee for NCAA certification.

He and his wife Debbie, who is a Kansas State alum and who works in the LA Tech College of Business, are the proud parents of 10-year-old daughter, Ashley who is entering the fourth grade.

Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator Mary Kay Hungate returns for her 26th year as a member of the Louisiana Tech athletics department and has proven to be an integral part in the recent emergence of the Tech teams on the playing fields and in the classroom.

Not only does Hungate serve as the sports administrator for men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer, softball, women’s tennis, women’s bowling and women’s volleyball, but she is also in charge of NCAA compliance for all of the university’s 16 NCAA sanc-tioned programs.

As one of the top two ranking administrators in the Tech athlet-ics department, Hungate is part of a senior staff that has been in-strumental in garnering a number of national awards, including the 2010 Turnkey PRISM Award - which recognizes colleges for managerial excellence across four areas: marketing/branding; fan development; community relations; and customer/client service.

The Tech athletics department has also finished in the Top 10 the past two years in the Excellence in Management Cup, which recog-nizes the most efficient athletic departments in the nation.

Hungate serves a vital role in the hiring of coaches. Hungate proved instrumental in the decision by former Tech Kodak All-American and WNBA All-Star Teresa Weatherspoon - who played for Hungate in the late-80s - to return to Louisiana Tech in June of 2008. Weather-spoon was promoted to head coach in February of 2009 where she led the Lady Techsters to the WAC regular season title and a berth in the WNIT. This past season, she led Tech to the 2010 WAC Tournament title and a return to the NCAA Tournament.

She also served as the point person in the hiring process of head women’s soccer coach Kevin Sherry and head women’s volleyball coach Matt Sonnichsen. Sherry led the Lady Techster soccer team to two straight winning seasons the past two years - the first in program history - and the program’s first ever WAC victory.

In only his second season at the helm, Sonnichsen, who was a three-time All-American and two-time National Champion during his playing days at UCLA, led the Lady Techsters to 15 wins - the most since 2005 - as well as a program record in WAC victories.

Another of Hungate’s responsibilities includes overseeing the academic side of the Tech athletics department, another area which has improved drastically as proven by the fact LA Tech’s graduation rate continues to be one of the highest in the state (Federal Gradua-tion Report), including ranking No. 1 in the state of Louisiana and the Western Athletic Conference in recent years.

This past year eight of the 16 NCAA sanctioned programs at LA Tech earn their highest multi-year APR score ever while 94 student-athletes earned Academic all-WAC honors.

Hungate also plays an important role in LA Tech’s NCAA Certifica-tion process. As a member of the Steering Committee and the liai-son between the athletic department and the University’s Self Study Committees, she provides the information needed for the committees to write their reports. In 2006, LA Tech completed its second NCAA Certification cycle and once again was certified without conditions.

Hungate joined the Louisiana Tech staff in 1985 as an assistant women’s basketball coach and remained in that role for five years. Dur-ing that time, the Lady Techsters participated in four Final Fours and won the NCAA National Championship in 1988.

In 1990, Hungate made a move out of coaching and became as-sistant athletics director for academics and compliance as well as se-nior woman administrator. One of Hungate’s early accomplishments as assistant director of athletics was the creation of the Louisiana Tech Athletic Academic Center program.

Hungate has served terms on the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, the NCAA Division I Interpretations/Legislative Review Subcommittee, the National Association of Colle-giate Women Athletics Administrators Wade Trophy Selection Commit-tee and as an NCAA Peer Reviewer. She has also served on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Issues Committee since 2004.

She currently serves on the Western Athletic Conference Coun-cil, the Conferences’ Legislative Review Committee, the Finance Committee and the Code Book Committee. In addition, along with Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde, she represents the athletics department as an ex-officio member of the LA Tech Athletics Council.

Hungate’s professional career began as Women’s Sports Coordi-nator and head volleyball, head basketball and head softball coach at Il-linois’ Carl Sandburg Junior College. She spent four seasons at the col-lege where she guided the basketball team to a mark of 80-22 which included an 11th place finish in the 1976 NJCAA national tournament.

In 1978 Hungate took over the head coaching position at Rich-woods High School in Peoria, Ill., and quickly compiled one of the top prep coaching records in the nation.

During her seven seasons at Richwoods High School, Hungate’s team ran up an impressive record of 195-13, including a state-record 63 consecutive victories. Hungate was named the National Coach of the Year by USA Today in 1985. Before coming to Louisiana Tech, Hun-gate amassed a career coaching record of 275-35.

MARY KAY HUNGATE Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator


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Eric Buskirk enters his fourth season as the associate athletics director for external affairs at Louisiana Tech University.

Buskirk directs fundraising, corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, community relations, licensing, branding, marketing, promotions, video board productions, and the Learfield Sports partnership for Loui-siana Tech athletics. Buskirk is a member of the NACMA Board of Di-rectors, and is also an adjunct professor in the College of Business for an advanced level sports management course.

Under Buskirk’s direction, Louisiana Tech’s external affairs have seen a wave of new developments, and national recognition for its accomplishments. LA Tech athletics has reached record totals in all three major revenue generating areas including fundraising, season ticket sales and corporate sponsorships. Buskirk’s external team was named the winner of the 2010 PRISM Awards for department excel-lence, and has been selected as the NCAA Pack the House Challenge winner three years in a row.

The revenue generating advancements have been supported by the addition of multiple strategic business processes being installed. The advancements include the creation of LTAC, Team Tech 100 and the LA Tech Kids Club in the fundraising area. Ticketmaster was con-tracted to implement the full Archtics ticketing package, and a newly formed call center was established to support the tickets sales efforts.

Under Buskirk’s first two years leading the external affairs depart-ment, corporate sponsorships tripled with a restructured sponsorship sales approach, and advancements will continue as Learfield Sports was contracted to officially operate LA Tech Sports Properties, offi-cially beginning operations for the 2009 season. Additional upgrades include contracting Rickabaugh Graphics as a part of the rebranding of new logos, and the partnership with CBS sports as the official website provider for LA Tech athletics.

The external affairs advancements have also made way for a new Daktronics state-of-the-art high definition video display scoreboard for the 2009 season. The HD-16 mm video display board will be the larg-est in the Western Athletic Conference.

Buskirk came to Louisiana Tech after working at UTSA as the as-sistant athletic director for external affairs. Buskirk oversaw the ex-ternal affairs areas of fundraising, marketing, corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, merchandising, trademark licensing, branding, website revenue generation, courtesy car program, promotions and spirit squad, along with being the assistant tournament manager for NCAA Championships including the NCAA Final Four.

During his time at UTSA, Buskirk was recognized as one of the “Top 40 under 40” Rising Stars by the San Antonio Business Journal.

Under his direction, UTSA athletics experienced a dramatic in-crease in its external components, including more than doubling cor-porate sponsorship revenue in Buskirk’s first 12 months directing the department. Buskirk was instrumental in negotiating with XOS Tech-nologies to be the official website provider of UTSA athletics while also instituting the UTSA athletics re-branding campaign.

Buskirk was heavily involved in the direction of the NCAA Cham-pionships that the City of San Antonio hosts. He was the assistant tournament manager and directed marketing efforts for the 2006 NCAA Volleyball Championship, 2006 NCAA Women’s Basketball San Antonio Regional, and the 2007 NCAA Men’s Basketball South Re-

gional. Buskirk was also a key committee member for the 2008 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four hosted by UTSA.

Other additions to the UTSA external department included part-nerships with local media giants Clear Channel, FOX TV, and Time War-ner Cable. Buskirk also instituted new creative ticket sales strategies including a telemarketing call center that dramatically increased ticket sale efforts.

Prior to his time at UTSA, Buskirk served as the athletics market-ing director at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, where he also served as an adjunct professor in the College of Business and Man-agement. The Columbus, Ohio, native served as a market research analyst for the NBA’s Miami Heat before joining the Lynn staff. Buskirk earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Ohio State and an MBA in sport management from Florida Atlantic University.

During his time at Ohio State, he also worked as a coach for men’s and women’s tennis at Columbus West High School and as as-sistant men’s basketball coach at St. Charles Prep in Columbus.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Buskirk lettered in football, basket-ball, tennis and golf at West High School, where he was a teammate of Michael Redd, who starred at Ohio State and now plays for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.

Away from the office, Buskirk is an avid golfer who is always working to lower his handicap, and enjoys reading books on leadership and motivation. Buskirk’s wife Audrey is the coordinator of marketing and healthy woman advisor for the Northern Louisiana Medical Center.

Malcolm Butler begins his 12th year in the Louisiana Tech athlet-ics department, his fourth as the associate athletic director in charge of media relations.

A 1994 graduate of the Louisiana Tech journalism department, Butler joined the athletic department in July of 1999 as the assistant athletic media relations director.

Butler was then promoted to the director’s position four months later and served in that capacity until the fall of 2007 when he was promoted to associate athletic director.

The 40-year-old is in charge of media relations for women’s bas-ketball, softball and men’s golf and also serves as the secondary con-tact for football while overseeing the daily operations for the entire department.

During his time at Louisiana Tech, Butler has been instrumental in promoting numerous high-profile student-athletes such as Jackson-ville Jaguars quarterback Luke McCown, Minnesota Vikings running back Ryan Moats, and former WNBA Rookie of the Year Cheryl Ford.

He has also worked closely with a number of highly-successful head coaches, including 4-time Hall of Famer Leon Barmore, current Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley and current Lady Techster wom-en’s basketball coach Teresa Weatherspoon.

Over the course of his tenure, Tech’s media relations department has proven to be one of the best in the state of Louisiana. Over the past nine years, members of the Tech media relations department have won a total of 28 awards at the annual Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) state SID contest -- the second most behind only LSU.

During that same period of time, Butler has garnered 22 of those awards which is tied for the most among any state SID with LSU As-

ERIC BUSKirK Associate Athletics Director/ External Affairs

MALCOLM BUtler Associate Athletics Director/Media Relations


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sociate Athletics Director Michael Bonnette.Butler is part of a senior staff at LA Tech that has been instru-

mental in garnering a number of national awards, including the 2010 Turnkey PRISM Award - which recognizes colleges for managerial excellence across four areas: marketing/branding; fan development; community relations; and customer/client service.


He was instrumental in the forming the partnership between Louisiana Tech and CBS College Sports in the fall of 2007 in the re-design and hosting of the athletic departments website, www.lat-echsports.com. The website has undergone two redesigns since the inaugural release.

As part of the agreement with CBS College Sports, a new web-streaming platform - LA Tech All-Access was created - which allows fans from all over the world to watch live streams of almost all of the university’s home athletic events. In 2009-10, LA Tech All-Access streamed more than 100 live events.

Butler has served as the host media coordinator for three NCAA Women’s Basketball First- and Second-Round sites hosted by Louisi-ana Tech (2000, 2001 and 2003) while also serving as the host me-dia coordinator for the 2008 WAC Baseball Championships hosted by Louisiana Tech at J.C. Love Field in Ruston.

In addition to his media relations responsibilities, Butler has served as the radio broadcaster for the nationally-prominent Louisiana Tech Lady Techster basketball team for the past 11 years, including the past 10 as the play-by-play announcer.

During that time, he has broadcast more than 325 women’s bas-ketball games - including 14 NCAA Tournament games. He has also broadcast in excess of 50 softball games, including four in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, and served as the color commentator on 10 Bull-dog football broadcasts. Butler is also the host of Inside Tech Basket-ball with Teresa Weatherspoon, a 30-minute radio show.

Butler implemented a fundraising campaign for his department in the fall of 2007 and over the past four years he has raised over $25,000, which has been used to purchase additional equipment, soft-ware, and other essentials.

He is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA), Unit-ed States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and Football Writ-ers Association of America (FWAA).

Marie Pipes will begin her 26th year at Louisiana Tech and her third as associate athletics director - chief financial officer in the ath-letic department.

She is responsible for the day-to-day business operations of the athletic department, including overseeing the individual budgets for 16 varsity sports, monitoring athletic funds of the Louisiana Tech Athletic Foundation, serving as liaison with the university’s business offices and supervising the athletic ticket office.

Pipes is part of a senior staff at LA Tech that has been instru-mental in garnering a number of national awards, including the 2010

Turnkey PRISM Award - which recognizes colleges for managerial excellence across four areas: marketing/branding; fan development; community relations; and customer/client service.


Pipes previously served as the budget manager for the College of Engineering for six years where she had similar. She was also in the College of Liberal Arts as the dean’s assistant handling day-to-day business in the office while working with budget planning for the year.

In 2002, she received the Distinctive Professional Performance and Conduct Award from the Institute of Micromanufacturing at Loui-siana Tech.

Pipes graduated from Louisiana Tech in 1999 with a degree in liberal arts and a minor in speech communication. She also earned her certificate in technical writing in 2007.

She is a current member of the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA). She is also actively involved in the American Cancer Society and serves as the co-chair for the Relay for Life Survivor’s Dinner as well as on the Executive Committee for the ACS Relay for Life in Lincoln Parish.

Leah Beasley enters her sixth year as a member of the Louisiana Tech athletics department staff, including her fifth as the assistant ath-letics director for marketing and game management.

Some of Beasley’s responsibilities include game management supervision, coordinating the booking of many of the halftime activi-ties for Tech home events, serving as the main liaison between the Tech athletics department and the Tech student body and faculty and staff, as well as working closely with many of the coaches for market-ing ideas for their programs.

During her time at Louisiana Tech, Beasley has proven her merit as she has been directly and indirectly associated with numerous de-partment awards.

Since its inception by the NCAA in 2007, Beasley has taken the lead on Louisiana Tech’s participation in the NCAA’s Pack the House Challenge - a marketing promotion geared towards increasing the awareness of women’s basketball across the country.

Beasley’s creative marketing campaigns have helped LA Tech earn top spot among the Western Athletic Conference schools for three straight years, making it one of only two programs in the country to win it every time joining Hartford of the America East Conference.

Her 2010 NCAA Pack the House marketing campaign of “Cage the Tigers” won the bronze award given out by NACDA for the Best Single Day Attendance Promotion.

Beasley has also been a part of a staff at LA Tech that has been instrumental in garnering a number of national awards, including the 2010 Turnkey PRISM Award - which recognizes colleges for managerial excellence across four areas: marketing/branding; fan development; community relations; and customer/client service.

The Tech Athletics Department has also finished in the Top 10 the past two years in the Excellence in Management Cup, which recog-

MARIE pipeS Associate Athletics Director/Chief Financial Officer

LEAH BeaSley Assistant Athletics Director/Marketing and Game Management


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nizes the most efficient athletic departments in the nation.Beasley also served as the athletic department’s point man for

Bulldogs Tackling Breast Cancer, a fundraiser started by Dr. Allison Dooley, wife of former LA Tech AD and head football coach Derek Dooley in 2007. During its three years, this fundraising campaign raised more than $50,000 for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Foundation in northeast Louisiana.

She also serves on several campus and conference committees, including the WAC’s Championships Committee and Game Manage-ment Committee, and the University’s Marketing Advisory Board, Spirit Squad Committee and Traditions Committee.

Beasley lettered for four years at Louisiana Tech as an outfielder on the Lady Techster softball team, earning Academic all-WAC hon-ors every season and earning all-America Scholar Athlete awards two seasons.

The Ruston native earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing in May of 2005 and her master’s degree in marketing in August 2006.

She is a member of National Association of Collegiate Direc-tors of Athletics (NACDA), National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWA), National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA), Who’s Who Among Executives and Professional Women and the National Association of Professional Women.

Lisa Merritt is now in her fourth year as a member of the Loui-siana Tech athletics department staff serving as assistant athletics di-rector for academics.

Merritt joined the athletics department after serving for 11 years in the speech department with her husband Kevin where she has taught speech classes while serving as an academic advisor for stu-dents majoring in speech communication.

Since joining the Tech athletics department, Merritt has teamed up with student success specialist Missy Farrar to help the Universi-ty’s student-athletes excel in the classroom. This past year, they were instrumental in helping eight of the 16 NCAA sanctioned programs at LA Tech earn their highest multi-year APR score ever while also seeing 94 student-athletes earn Academic all-WAC honors.

LA Tech’s student-athlete graduation rate continues to be one of the highest in the state and honors include numerous individual suc-cess stories such as sprinter Antoinette Cobb earning the 2010 Honda Inspiration Award and catcher Clint Ewing earning a spot on the 2010 ESPN The Magazine Academic all-American Team. Outfielder Clint Stubbs was named the outstanding speech communication student this past April.

Tech’s student-athletes also show incredible diversity when it comes to majors as each of the University’s five colleges and virtually every degree program on campus boast at least one Tech student-athlete.

In her current role, Merritt oversees the student-athletes’ aca-demic progress and success while advising them regarding class schedules and degree plans, monitoring eligibility status and providing general academic guidance.

Merritt also runs the athletic academic center, provides “Life

Skills” seminars for student-athletes, meets with prospective recruits, and serves as faculty advisor for SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee).

SAAC is a pro-active group of student-athletes communicating views or comments on WAC and NCAA rules and governance, which helps to ensure academic and athletic excellence for all student-ath-letes. Members of SAAC are also active in various community service projects such as hosting an annual Halloween carnival as well as serv-ing as greeters for the annual St. Jude’s Radiothon, participating in the Big Event, and supporting the WAC’s charity of choice.

Merritt oversees and reviews the advising process to ensure compliance with both university and NCAA policies and serves as a liaison between faculty and coaches, as well as speaks at “New Fac-ulty Orientation” each fall and during the year to the University Sen-ate. She also meets recruits and their families to describe the college experience and how it will affect the student-athlete.

Merritt earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics in 1991 and master’s in speech communication consultancy in 1994 both from Oklahoma State University.

She and her husband taught conversational English in Kyoto, Ja-pan, for one year before coming to Louisiana Tech.

Outside of work, Merritt is a huge health and fitness buff who loves cycling (road and mountain), running and swimming. In 2002, Merritt and her husband completed the Florida Ironman Triathlon

Merritt and her husband Kevin reside in Ruston and have a six-year old daughter named Maisie and the couple are expecting their second child in December.

Zach Williams begins his second year as a member of the Louisi-ana Tech athletic department after joining the staff in April of 2009 as the assistant athletics director in charge of ticket operations.

Williams returned to his alma mater after spending the past three years at Northwestern State where he served as the athletic ticket manager and assistant marketing director.

During his first year at LA Tech, Williams led the transition of the ticket office to the Ticketmaster Archtics system, implementing their AccountManager, AccessManager, MailManager, and ticket forward-ing programs to improve customer service and increase accessibility to Louisiana Tech athletic events.

The improvements paid off as Williams saw an increase in ticket sales in all four revenue generating sports during the 2009-10 season.

Williams has also seen the Tech Ticket Office undergo substan-tial renovations this summer thanks to a generous donation from a LA Tech alum. The renovations include all new furniture, new flooring, new carpet, new paint and new dividers which will only add to the day-to-day dealings with customers.

During his inaugural year at Tech, Williams has also been a part of a staff at LA Tech that has been instrumental in garnering a number of national awards, including the 2010 Turnkey PRISM Award - which rec-ognizes colleges for managerial excellence across four areas: market-ing/branding; fan development; community relations; and customer/client service.

The Tech Athletics Department has also finished in the Top 10 the

LISA Merritt Assistant Athletics Director/Academics

ZACH williaMS Assistant Athletics Director/Ticket Operations


LA TECH

OUTLOOK

COACHES

BULLDOGS

STADIUM

WAC

OPPONENTS

REVIEW

RECORDS

HISTORY

UNIVERSITY

MEDIA

past two years in the Excellence in Management Cup, which recog-nizes the most efficient athletic departments in the nation.

While at Northwestern State, Williams earned invaluable expe-rience as he oversaw all ticket operations for the Division I athletic department. He created, executed and promoted season ticket drives and renewals for six sports while also hiring, training and supervising all staff members for Demon athletic events.

Prior to his time in Natchitoches, Williams spent more than a year as the Wildcat Athletic Association coordinator for the Louisiana College Athletics Department. Williams also spent a year at Georgia Southern, where he assisted in the compliance office.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Louisiana Tech in 2004 and his master’s degree in sport management a year later from Georgia Southern.

Williams is a native of Woodworth and is married to the former Susan Strain of Alexandria, who is also a 2004 Louisiana Tech graduate. Their first son, Bennett Hardy Williams, was born on March 8, 2010.

Mason Ellenberger serves as general manager for “LA Tech Sports Properties”, the Ruston-based entity designed to oversee all aspects of the 10-year partnership between the University and the collegiate marketer Learfield Sports.

At LA Tech, Ellenberger is responsible for spearheading all ele-ments of the relationship between LA Tech and Learfield Sports, which was announced in late July 2008 and includes managing and selling multimedia and sponsorship rights for the Bulldogs and Lady Tech-sters.

Ellenberger is also responsible for all aspects of the LA Tech Sports Network which broadcasts over 250 Louisiana Tech game broadcasts, Daily Shows and Coach’s Shows throughout the year.

In Ellenberger’s previous role as the Team Sports Marketing Man-ager for Alltel Wireless, he led Alltel’s strategic team sports marketing efforts in the United States. He oversaw the national promotions and activation of the sponsorship stable owned by Alltel Wireless in the US including the professional and collegiate sponsorships.

During the 2009-10 athletic season, Ellenberger and his team at LA Tech Sports Properties were recognized as the #1 new growth property in the Learfield Sports portfolio.

Prior to his years at Alltel, Ellenberger spent the previous thirteen years in strategic sales leadership, sports marketing and public rela-tions roles in the telecommunications and entertainment industries.

The Birmingham, Ala. native has served on numerous endow-ment boards and board of directors for sports and education orga-nizations including Pagnozzi Charities and the Arkansas Aeronautical Education Center.

He has been honored by White House Communications Agency for providing critical communications for the President of the Unites States and White House Staff. Ellenberger holds a BBA and MBA in Marketing both of which he graduated Summa cum Laude. Ellenberg-er is also an Eagle Scout and a long-time supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.

He is married to the former Wanda Jackson from Mobile, Ala.,

and the couple has two sons, James and Hunter.

In the ever-changing world of college athletics, one of Louisiana Tech’s main constants has been Tommy Sisemore.

Sisemore begins his 31st year at Louisiana Tech and his 12th as director of athletic facilities.

Some of Sisemore’s varied duties include serving as travel coor-dinator and business manager for the football team, handling all as-pects of team travel, including hotel, food and travel arrangements.

Sisemore also handles all the financial expenses incurred in the travel process.

Sisemore is part of a administrative staff at LA Tech that has been instrumental in garnering a number of national awards, including the 2010 Turnkey PRISM Award - which recognizes colleges for managerial excellence across four areas: marketing/branding; fan development; community relations; and customer/client service.


Prior to working in the athletic department, Sisemore spent 17 years working in the Louisiana Tech Physical Plant.

Sisemore and his wife Stephanie, who is a Louisiana Tech gradu-ate, are the proud parents of two daughters. Jessica is a Louisiana Tech graduate and currently working on her master’s degree while Anna-Claire is a sophomore at Louisiana Tech.

Josh Perot serves as account executive for LA Tech Sports Prop-erties, overseeing every aspect of the Bulldogs’ and Lady Techsters’ rights, including certain television rights, radio, corporate hospitality, print sponsorships, event marketing, official athletic Web site advertis-ing and venue signage.

MASON ellenBerGer General Manager/LA Tech Sports Properties

TOMMY SiSeMore Facilities Director

JOSH perot Account Executive/LA Tech Sports Properties


Perot and General Manager Mason Ellenberger joined forces this past year to help make LA Tech Sports Properties the #1 new growth property in the Learfield Sports portfolio.

Perot also assists Ellenberger in all facets of LA Tech Sports Prop-erties, including growing the LA Tech Sports Network which broad-casts over 250 games, daily shows and coach’s shows throughout the year.

Perot returned to his alma mater from Texas A&M Sports Proper-ties in College Station, where he previously served in an internship capacity while completing his master’s degree in sports management. Prior to joining Learfield, he was a student assistant for Texas A&M Compliance. Additionally, Perot served as a student marketing assis-tant for Louisiana Tech athletics while finishing his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2007.

In June 2009, Perot married the former Haley Nardini of Alexan-dria, La., also a graduate from LA Tech. The couple resides in Ruston.

201

STEVEN SCHOONAssistant Media Relations Director

Adam McGuirt begins his fourth year with the Louisiana Tech ath-letics family as the Director of the Louisiana Tech Athletic Club (LTAC), working in the Division of University Advancement.

At Louisiana Tech, McGuirt is responsible for all areas of athletic development, including donor relations and booster club administra-tion.

During his previous three years at LA Tech, McGuirt has been in-strumental in helping more than double the number of LTAC members which has resulted in a large increase in private donations.

McGuirt also works closely with the Alumni Association in the development and implementation of events for alumni and friends throughout the state of Louisiana and surrounding areas.

McGuirt has also been a part of a staff at LA Tech that has been instrumental in garnering a number of national awards, including the 2010 Turnkey PRISM Award - which recognizes colleges for managerial excellence across four areas: marketing/branding; fan development; community relations; and customer/client service.

The Tech Athletics Department has also finished in the Top 10 the past two years in the Excellence in Management Cup, which recog-nizes the most efficient athletic departments in the nation.

A native of Shreveport, McGuirt graduated from Louisiana Tech in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

McGuirt is married to April, and they have three daughters, Lily, Sophie and Emily. April works as a customer service representative at First National Bank in Ruston.

ADAM McGUIRT LTAC Director

Steven Schoon enters his second year as a media relations intern at Louisiana Tech, handling men's basketball, women's soccer and women's tennis.

Schoon comes to Tech after interning at Florida International University for the 2008-09 school year. While at FIU, he was the media contact for volleyball and softball.

In the spring of 2008, Schoon worked as an intern for the National Association of Basketball Coaches and in May 2008, graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in sports and fitness management.

A native of Winfield, Kan., he worked three years as a student assistant in the KU media relations office and was the media contact for the Jayhawk men and women cross country teams in the fall of 2007.


Administrative Support

Athletics Council

Head Coaches

Dr.JamesLiberatosChairman

LisaCole SteveDavison BruceVanDeVeldeEx-officio

Dr.SeanDwyer

Dr.MarvinGreenAlumniRep.

Dr.LesGuice MaryKayHungateEx-Officio

Dr.GuthrieJarrellAlumniRep.

Dr.TerryMcConathy

Dr.KenRea SamSpeed DonnaThomas

LeahBeasleyAssistantA.D./Marketing

EricBuskirkAssociateA.D./ExternalAffairs

MalcolmButlerAssociateA.D./MediaRelations

MasonEllenburgerG.M.-LATech

SportsProperties

MissyFarrarStudentSuccess

Specialist

BillGrahamSpecialEvents

LoriHamiltonAsst.toA.D.

SandraKaneAssistantDirectorforCompliance

LindaLewisMediaRelationsOfficeCoordinator

MarshallLoefflerTicketOperations

JoshMcDanielWebmaster/Kid’sClubDirector

AdamMcGuirtLTACDirector

LisaMerrittAssistantA.D./Academics

BrendaMiltonWBB

OfficeCoordinator

JoshPerotAct.Exec.-LATechSportsProperties

DanaPettitAccountingTechnician

MariePipesAssociateA.D./

CFO

ReneePuckettMen’sBasketballOfficeCoordinator

TommySisemoreDirectorofFacilities

KimTannerFacilities

OfficeCoordinator

ZachWilliamsAssistantA.D./

TicketOperations

SarahDawsonSoftball

SonnyDykesFootball

ShawnJacksonBowling

JeffParksGolf

KerryRuppMen’sBasketball

WadeSimoneauxBaseball

KevinSherrySoccer

MattSonnichsenVolleyball

GaryStanleyTrack&Field

TeresaWeatherspoon

Women’sBasketball

QuintinYrayTennis


When Karl Benson was named the fifth commis-sioner in the history of the Western Ath-letic Conference on April 20, 1994, he brought with him a wealth of experi-ence and a personal history of success to the position.

Since that time, Benson not only has laid a strong foundation for the WAC’s future, he also steered the conference through unsettled times during the late 1990s and again a few years later when the defection of member institu-tions threatened the WAC.

Through his leadership and vision, it didn’t take long for the WAC to regain its place among the nation’s top Division I conferences. Benson has spearheaded conference expansion with the additions of Nevada, Boise State and Louisiana Tech earlier this decade and an additional round of expansion with the invitations of New Mexico State, Utah State and Idaho a few years ago.

Nationally, Benson has earned the respect of his peers after serving on the NCAA Management Council from 1999-2002, and a five-year term on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee from 2002-06.

Benson hit the ground running when he was hired in 1994 and initi-ated several programs that improved the conference’s national position in virtually ever category. He was instrumental in developing multi-year agreements with the Holiday Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Copper Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl, Silicon Valley Football Classic, GMAC Bowl and currently, the Humanitarian Bowl, Shera-ton Hawai‘i Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, Poinsettia Bowl and Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

In the summer of 2005, he implemented “Play Up” a new marketing campaign to improve the public and private perceptions of the WAC and its members through national, local and regional touch points. The conference officially added WAC.tv prior to the 2006-07 season, giv-ing fans streaming video access to many of the postsea-son championships of the sports offered by the WAC.

In 1995-96, the WAC signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with ESPN for the unprecedented live telecast of its basketball and football. Included in that deal was a women’s basketball contract, the first in conference his-tory. In 2008, Benson negotiated an extension with ESPN that gives the WAC over 300 regular season contests and 45 championship events that will be aired through the 2016-17 season.

Benson came to the WAC after four successful

years as the commissioner of the Mid-American Conference. There, he implemented several innovative projects and was instrumental in the formation of the Las Vegas Bowl.

Prior to taking the reins of the MAC, Benson served on the NCAA staff for more than four years where he was the director of NCAA cham-pionships when selected as MAC commissioner.

Benson joined the NCAA staff in January, 1986, as a compliance representative and was appointed assistant director of championships in June, 1987. He was promoted to director of championships in 1988. In that position, Benson actively supervised eight assistant directors in their administration of 68 NCAA championships.

A native of the state of Washington, Benson graduated from high school in Pullman in 1970, attended Spokane Falls Community College and then received a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Boise State University in 1975. He has also completed course work toward his master’s degree in athletics administration at the University of Utah.

Benson played baseball at both Spokane Falls Community College and Boise State University before serving as the baseball coach at Fort Steilacoom Community College in Tacoma, Wash., for eight years and as the director of athletics at Fort Steilacoom from 1979-84. From 1984-86, he was an assistant baseball coach and an administrative assistant in the athletics department at Utah.

He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Boise State in April of 2006.

Benson was born on December 1, 1951 and has one daughter, Jes-sie, 18.

KARL BenSOnWAC Commissioner


WeSTeRn AThLeTIC COnFeRenCe

In its nearly 50 years of existence, the Western Athletic Conference continues to evolve and feature some of the nation’s best intercollegiate competition. One thing that remains unchanged is the persistent nature of the nine schools in the WAC to advance their programs to contend at the top levels of the NCAA.

The WAC provides its student-athletes the chance to travel to scenic destinations and gain exposure in some of the nation’s most diverse markets. In addition, the WAC’s student-athletes work to achieve the highest levels of success with the academic support of their respective institutions.

The WAC has experienced tremendous success. The WAC has sent a total of 31 teams to bowl games since 2001, including more than half of its teams in 2008 with a record-tying five teams. Boise State has W, 102 football games since joining the conference, the most in the nation during that time span (2001-09). The conference has sent teams to BCS bowl games in three of the last four seasons as Boise State made a repeat appearance with a victory in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl this past year following Hawai‘i’s 2008 Sugar Bowl and Boise State’s unforgettable victory in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. In men’s basketball, the WAC has sent at least two teams to the NCAA Tournament in 24 of the past 27 seasons. Every current school in the WAC has competed in the NCAA Tournament since 1990. In baseball, the WAC has boasted two national champions since 2003 including Fresno State’s College World Series victory in 2008. In women’s sports, Fresno State softball has competed in every NCAA Tournament ever held while Louisiana Tech basketball has played in all but three. In 2009, Hawai‘i made its fourth trip to the NCAA Volleyball Final Four since 2000.

Current WAC alums have made their presence felt as well. David Carr (Fresno State) was the first player selected in the 2002 NFL Draft. Cheryl Ford (Louisiana Tech) was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year and helped the Detroit Shock win the league’s championship in 2003. In 2004, the United States’ softball team W, the Olympic gold medal with former Fresno State players Laura Berg and Lovie Jung. Jeff Weaver (Fresno State) earned the win in the St. Louis Cardinals’ World Series clinching victory in 2006. Quarterback Colt Brennan (Hawai‘i) finished third in the 2007 Heisman Trophy voting, and in 2008, Natasha Kai (Hawai‘i) helped the United States to a gold medal in soccer at the Olym- pics in Beijing.

In 2001, the WAC partnered with ESPN for coverage of football and basketball giving the confer-ence national exposure from one of the most respected broadcast entities in the country. An extension was signed in 2008 that guar- antees over 300 regular season WAC contests and 45 championship events will be aired on the ESPN networks through the spring of 2017. The WAC also officially added WAC.tv in 2006 to give fans streaming internet access to many of its postseason championships including volleyball, soccer, swimming and diving, basketball, gymnastics, softball and baseball.

The WAC is the sixth oldest among the nation’s 11 Division I-A conferences. Its history traces back to July 27, 1962, when the original six-team league of Arizona, Arizona State, Brigham Young, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming began competition.

The first championship was held in November 1962, when Arizona W, the men’s cross country title and New Mexico followed with the first WAC football title. Arizona finished second in the NCAA College World Series and, less than three years later, Arizona State claimed the league’s first NCAA title when the Sun Devils W, the College World Series trophy. Fresno State was the last WAC school to earn an NCAA team title when it W, the College World Series in 2008.

Since 1962, several changes have occurred. UTEP and Colorado State became members in September 1967, while Arizona and Arizona State withdrew on June 30, 1978. The WAC then added San Diego State (1978), Hawai‘i (1979) and Air Force (1980). Before 1990, the WAC sponsored cham-pionships only in men’s sports. However, a merger with the High Country Athletic Conference formed a single conference under one administrative structure, and the 1990-91 athletic year was the first in which both men and women competed under the WAC name. Fresno State was added in 1992, and then in 1996, the women’s programs from Air Force and Hawai‘i along with six new schools (UNLV, Rice, San Jose State, SMU, TCU and Tulsa) came into the WAC. Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah and Wyoming withdrew on June 30, 1999. Nevada (2000), Boise State (2001) and Louisiana Tech (2001) were added while TCU withdrew following the 2000-01 season. The current membership was established on July 1, 2005, when Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State joined the WAC after Rice, SMU, UTEP and Tulsa withdrew.

The WAC has had just five commissioners in its history. Paul Brechler was named the first leader of the conference and held the position from 1962-1968. He was followed by Wiles Hallock (1968-71), Stan Bates (1971-80), Dr. Joe Kearney (1980-94) and Karl Benson (1994-present).

Presently, the WAC crowns team and individual champions in 19 sports – eight men’s and 11 women’s. For the men, there are championships in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. Championships for women are held in basket-ball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and volleyball.

The WAC office has been located in the Denver area since the conference’s inception with the exception of a two-year stay in Phoenix from 1964-66.

welcome to the familywe are louisiana tech university

DATE oPPonEnT loCATIon TIME01.29.11 Jacksonville State Hattiesburg, Miss. 10 a.m.01.30.11 Southern Miss Hattiesburg, Miss. 10 a.m.02.11.11 Southern Ruston, la. 12 p.m.02.12.11 Central Arkansas Ruston, la. 10 a.m.02.13.11 Stephen f. Austin nacogdoches, Texas 12 p.m.02.19.11 Southeastern Ruston, la. 10 a.m.02.26.11 northwestern State natchitoches, la. 2:30 p.m.03.05.11 Jackson State Ruston, la. 2 p.m.03.08.11 Grambling State Ruston, la. 2 p.m.03.10.11 Alcorn State Ruston, la. 2 p.m.

DATE oPPonEnT loCATIon TIME03.12.11 fresno State Ruston, la. 10 a.m.03.22.11 nicholls State Ruston, la. 10 a.m.03.29.11 Grambling State Ruston, la. 2 p.m.04.01.11 Chaminade Honolulu, Hawai’i 6 p.m.04.02.11 Idaho Honolulu, Hawai’i 6:30 p.m.04.03.11 Hawai’i Honolulu, Hawai’i 6:30 p.m.04.09.11 UAlR Honolulu, Hawai’i 1 p.m.04.14.11 Arkansas Pine-Bluff Ruston, la. 2 p.m.04.16.11 new Mexico State las Cruces, n.M. 12 p.m.04.27-05.01.11 WAC Tournament Boise, Idaho TBA

Documents

2011 Louisiana Tech Women's Tennis Media Guide