SPARTAN REPORT News from Aurora University Athletics | April 2016
Spartans boast winning tradition in intercollegiate athletics The formation of Aurora University athletics dates back more than a century to the institution’s early days as Mendota College. Since that time, AU athletics have flourished into a competitive NCAA Division III program with 24 varsity teams and built a strong tradition of excellence both on and off the playing field. And since 2006, the Spartans have been a dominant force among the 12 institutions in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC). A growing number of AU programs are commanding national reputations as the Spartans climb into the top tier of Division III. AU seized the NACC Men’s All-Sport Championship six of the last nine years and won the Women’s All-Sport title four times during the same period. “I’m proud of the success we’ve had in such a competitive conference,” said athletic director Jim Hamad. “We are the most accomplished athletics department in the NACC, but it is often tougher to stay at the top than it is to ascend there.” The NACC currently sponsors 18 sports, and AU also is a member of single-sport conferences in hockey and lacrosse. Through its various affiliations, the Spartans pair off against a long list of outstanding college and university rivals across the Midwest. “We have assembled a staff that is relentless in their pursuit of excellence. And we remain focused on elevating all aspects of our programs to continue to succeed in the NACC and garner national attention,” Hamad said.
SINCE JOINING THE NACC FOR THE 2006–2007 SEASON, THE SPARTANS HAVE ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING:
57
54
54
41
127
1
14
49
Academic All-Americans
Academic All-Region Players
1,353
71
36
Conference Championships
All-Americans
Conference Player of the Year Awards
3
NACC Woman of the Year
NCAA Appearances
All-Region Players
Conference Freshman of the Year Honors
3
NACC Man of the Year
Coach of the Year Awards
Academic All-American of the Year
Conference Scholar-Athletes
517
All-Conference Players
2
AFCA Good Works Team Members
Helping players build their lives around what matters
Teamwork, dedication and work ethic. These are the values driving the success of the Aurora University men’s basketball team. For 22 seasons, head men’s basketball coach James Lancaster has run a program where the focus on the court is matched by the emphasis on the classroom. His players’ commitment to both sport and school have earned the program countless accolades. In January, Lancaster earned his 400th career victory with the men’s team. During his tenure, he has amassed a composite record of 404-188 (.683), the highest winning percentage of any AU men’s basketball coach.
Head men’s basketball coach James Lancaster recently earned his 400th career victory.
“I have been lucky to call AU my home for a long time,” he said. “Above all, it is the players, both past and present, that I cherish the most.” During Lancaster’s time at the head of the program, the Spartans have
College experiences leading to a focused future
Bethany Dorrington has earned many accolades for her work on the basketball court and is looking forward to a bright career in the nursing field.
For senior Bethany Dorrington, a historic career on the AU women’s basketball team will soon be complemented with a promising career helping others. It’s clear her experiences both on and off the court have prepared her for building a life around what matters.
won four Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference titles, captured the NACC championship six of ten years since joining the conference and made nine NCAA Division III Playoff appearances. “I’m proud of our accomplishments, but it is hard to take time to look back. The drive is always to move forward and take the program to the next level,” he said. And for Lancaster, moving forward and learning to be a Spartan extends beyond the court. “We’re only basketball players two hours a day and our student-athletes are here for more than the game. They are using basketball to better their lives through education, and I want my players to be well-rounded.” The 2016 Spartan team ended the season with a 20-6 overall record and finished second in the NACC with a record of 16-4.
As an NACC First-Team All-Conference selection, Dorrington is exceeding her own expectations and positively influencing the community around her. She had a record-setting 2015–2016 season, finishing with new AU singleseason records: most 3-point field goals in a game, and most free throws made in a season. She’ll also leave AU holding career records for 3-point field goals made and attempted, free-throws made and free-throw percentage.
She has excelled in AU’s nursing program, had a successful career as a senior guard on the women’s basketball team and she has been an active member in several on-campus student organizations. “I am thankful for the coaches I have played for, the teammates I have played “It is important to me to be successful with and the professors who have helped on and off the court because it makes me in the classroom,” she said. “Without the time and effort I put into my them, none of my accomplishments school work and basketball rewarding,” would have been possible.” Dorrington said. “Having a rigorous major and playing a collegiate sport Through her hard work and commitment have allowed me to fine-tune my time both on and off the basketball court, management skills, which I know will Dorrington has embodied what it benefit me in the future.” means to be a Spartan student-athlete.
Seizing the home field advantage In recent years, the university invested heavily in the renovation of training, conditioning, practice and competition environments in or near Alumni Hall. And to ensure all of our Spartan teams experience a distinctive home field advantage, AU concurrently launched a search to identify a site for development of additional facilities. This effort culminated in the 2015 purchase of 45 acres of land less than a mile from campus. The parcel is large enough to accommodate championshipquality softball, baseball, soccer, and track and field venues.
Tentative design concept as of March 2016. Final design subject to change.
A NEW SOFTBALL STADIUM The first facility to be developed in the new Spartan Athletic Park will be a $1.7 million softball stadium. The site preparation phase of the project, which will require the moving of over 11,000 cubic yards of dirt, will begin this spring. Approximately 40,000 square feet of premium synthetic field turf will be required for the outfield, batting cages and infield surround.
Fan amenities for the new softball stadium will include seating for 300 immediately behind home plate with natural grass areas along the first and third base lines for overflow crowds. A high-quality wireless digital scoreboard is planned for the outfield. The stadium will be completed with a two-story press box structure with live camera feed, public address system, restroom facilities and equipment storage.
SPARTAN FANS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS JIM HAMAD? SEND AN EMAIL TO JHAMAD@AURORA.EDU WITH YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND QUESTION.
SPARTAN EVENTS
TO VIEW A FULL UPCOMING GAMES SCHEDULE, VISIT ATHLETICS.AURORA.EDU
Saturday, April 2, 2016 Noon and 2:00 p.m. | Stuart Sports Complex Softball vs. Alverno College
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 4:00 p.m. | Vago Field Women’s Lacrosse vs. University of Dubuque
Saturday, April 9, 2016 10:00 a.m. | Milwaukee, WI Men’s Tennis at Wisconsin Lutheran College
Noon and 3:00 p.m. | Schaumburg, IL Baseball vs. Dominican University
Wednesday, April 6, 2016 4:00 p.m. | Rock Island, IL Men’s Lacrosse at Augustana College
10:00 a.m. | Glen Ellyn, IL Men and Women’s Track and Field at College of DuPage (Chicagoland Outdoor Championships)
Thursday, April 7, 2016 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. | Stuart Sports Complex Softball vs. North Central College
Noon and 2:00 p.m. | Stuart Sports Complex Softball vs. Rockford University
3:00 p.m. | Vago Field Women’s Lacrosse vs. Loras College Sunday, April 3, 2016 Noon and 2:00 p.m. | River Forest, IL Softball at Concordia University Chicago 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. | Stuart Sports Complex Baseball vs. Concordia University Wisconsin 2:00 p.m. | Vago Field Men’s Lacrosse vs. Cornell College
5:00 p.m. | Naperville, IL Women’s Tennis at North Central College Friday, April 8, 2016 10:00 a.m. | Whitewater, WI Men and Women’s Track and Field at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Noon and 3:00 p.m. | River Forest, IL Baseball at Concordia University Chicago 1:00 p.m. | River Forest, IL Women’s Lacrosse at Concordia University Chicago 2:00 p.m. | Milwaukee, WI Men’s Tennis at Milwaukee School of Engineering
# WEA R EO N EAU
To be a Spartan means living your life with the expectation of being and doing your best. This spring, the Spartan Fund, which enhances the quality of the student-athlete experience, will help cover the cost of a new All-American area in Alumni Hall to recognize successful AU athletes. The exhibit will serve as an inspiration to current students and a point of pride for all AU Spartans.
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News from Aurora University Athletics | April 2016