2016-17 K-State Athletics Annual Report

2016-17

T R O P E R L A U ANN

Introducing

GENE TAYLOR

16th Athletics Director in K-State History

I’ve known Gene Taylor since his days at the U.S. Naval Academy. He’s always impressed me with his diligent preparation and attention to detail. He’s an outstanding person as well as a purpose-driven leader.

I look forward to welcoming him to the Big 12 Conference.

– Joe Castiglione

I had the special privilege of working with Gene Taylor for 13 years while at North Dakota State. Gene is an exceptional leader. I am thrilled that he and Cathy are joining the K-State Family.

– Ryun Godfrey K-State Cross Country Head Coach

Oklahoma Athletics Director

I applaud the work of General Myers and the K-State selection committee on their choice. Gene has a very impressive background and well versed in intercollegiate athletics. I look forward to working with him in advancing the Big 12 Conference.

– Bob Bowlsby Big 12 Commissioner

Gene Taylor is one of the most respected athletic administrators in the country. He has such a great combination of passion, experience and the ability to lead by bringing people together toward a common goal. He’s made a big difference during his time with the Hawkeyes.

– Gary Barta Iowa Director of Athletics

I enjoyed working with Gene when we were together in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. I found him to be a down-to-earth, evenminded, quality leader who is great with coaches. He’s a person of high integrity, and I very much look forward to working with him in the Big 12 Conference.

– Sheahon Zenger

University of Kansas Athletic Director

BIG 12 CHAMPIONS

1 OF 3 schools to win a bowl game and advance past the first round of NCAA Tournament in Volleyball, Women’s and Men’s Basketball.

The Women’s Track & Field team won the program’s third Big 12 Conference Outdoor Championship, and first since 2002.

COACHING MILESTONES

Bill Snyder, Football 200th Career Win Suzie Fritz, Volleyball 300th Career Win Bruce Weber, Men’s Basketball 400th Career Win Jeff Mittie, Women’s Basketball 500th Career Win

1 OF 4 schools to have at least one student-athlete selected in the MLB, NFL, WNBA and NBA drafts.

NCAA REGIONAL Selected as the No. 13 seed in the 2017 NCAA Athens Regional, Women’s Golf made its first regional appearance since 2004.

NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS (2): Christoff Bryan – Outdoor High Jump Shadae Lawrence – Outdoor Discus

BIG 12 INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS (6):

22 23

ALL-AMERICANS

Christoff Bryan – Indoor High Jump Brett Neelly – Outdoor Shot Put Janee’ Kassanavoid – Indoor Weight Throw, Outdoor Hammer Throw Shadae Lawrence – Outdoor Discus Nina Schultz – Outdoor High Jump Morgan Wedekind – Outdoor 3000 Meter Steeplechase

2

NATIONAL

ALL-BIG 12 SELECTIONS (23):

Baseball – 3, Men’s Basketball – 2, Women’s Basketball – 2, Football – 12, Rowing – 1, Volleyball – 3

ALL-BIG 12

SELECTIONS

CHAMPIONS

BIG 12

CHAMPIONS

SPECIALTY AWARDS:

Katie Brand – Senior CLASS Award All-American, AVCA All-Midwest Region, CoSIDA Academic All-District; Will Brennan – Big 12 Baseball All-Freshman Team; Kersten Kober – CoSIDA Academic All-District; Breanna Lewis – WBCA All-Region 3 Team, Big 12 Women’s Basketball All-Defensive Team; Shaelyn Martin – CoSIDA Academic All-District; D.J. Reed – Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year; Cliff Rovelto – USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Coach of the Year, Big 12 Women’s Coach of the Year; Elle Sandbothe – Big 12 Volleyball All-Freshman Team; Brooke Sassin – AVCA All-Midwest Region; Nina Schultz – USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Field Athlete of the Year, Big 12 Outstanding Freshman of the Year; Cam Thompson – Big 12 Baseball All-Freshman Team; Reggie Walker – Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year; Greg Watson – USTFCCCA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year; Jordan Willis – Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year; Eternati Willock – Big 12 Women’s Basketball All-Freshman Team

TEAM

Baseball Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Men’s Cross Country Women’s Cross Country Football Men’s Golf Women’s Golf Men’s Indoor Track Women’s Indoor Track Men’s Outdoor Track Women’s Outdoor Track Rowing Soccer Tennis Volleyball

OVERALL W-L 29-26 21-14 23-11 ­­— ­­— 9-4 — — — — — — — 4-9-3 12-15 21-10

BIG 12 W-L 8-16 8-10 11-7 ­­— ­­— 6-3 — — — — — — — — 2-7 9-7

BIG 12 FINISH 9th 6th 4th ­­— ­­— 4th — — — — — — — — 8th t4th

BIG 12 POSTSEASON

­­— Semifinals [1-1] Semifinals [1-1] 8th 10th ­­— 7th 8th 6th 6th 9th 1st 3rd — Quarterfinals [1-1] —

NCAA POSTSEASON

­­— NCAA First Round [1-1] NCAA Second Round [1-1] Midwest Regional [18th] Midwest Regional [21st] Texas Bowl [W, 33-28] — NCAA Athens Regional [13th] NCAA Championships [48th] NCAA Championships [t27th] NCAA Championships [t26th] NCAA Championships [9th] — — — NCAA Second Round [1-1]

Congrats

GRADUATES

K-State celebrated 91 graduates and their families in 2016-17 with bi-annual student-athlete graduation receptions. Pictured are Spring graduates from Rowing and Track & Field.

APR

137 ACADEMIC

ALL-BIG 12

Highlighted by Big 12-leading marks from Men’s Golf and Women’s Cross Country, all of K-State’s athletic teams met and exceeded the NCAA’s APR multi-year standard for the sixth straight year.

Baseball - 6 • Men’s Basketball - 5 Women’s Basketball - 8 Men’s Cross Country - 5 Women’s Cross Country - 4 Football - 29 • Men’s Golf - 6 Women’s Golf - 4 • Rowing - 29 Soccer - 3 • Tennis - 7 Men’s Track & Field - 10 Women’s Track & Field - 10 Volleyball - 11

COMMISSIONER'S

HONOR ROLL 263 Student-Athletes named to the Fall Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll

241 Student-Athletes named to the Spring Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll

SCHOLARSHIP

WINNERS Jake Wodtke (Baseball) and Tia Gamble (Track & Field) were selected by the Big 12 Conference to receive the 2016-17 Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarships.

BIG 12 LEADING

A Big 12-high eight Wildcats received the Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award, which is the Big 12 Conference’s highest academic honor.

SPECIAL

1,817

OLYMPICS

HOURS

101 Special Olympians from Northeast Kansas attended the annual Sports Clinic hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

K-State student-athletes logged 1,817 hours of community service in 2016-17.

CATS 4 CANS

175 student-athletes collected $10,326 and 4,100 pounds of food to benefit the Flint Hills Breadbasket.

TIP OFF

FOR TP 40 student-athletes raised $1,719 for the annual Tip Off for TP event benefiting the Manhattan Emergency Shelter.

CATS IN THE CLASSROOM Seven area elementary schools partnered with K-State student-athletes volunteering in classroom activities, playing games on the playground, and reading to students.

COURTS FOR KIDS

15 student-athletes traveled to Nicaragua for a nine-day service trip marking K-State’s second trip through a partnership between its “Cats Across Continents” program and Courts for Kids, which brings countries in need of a multi-purpose court together with groups willing to help build it.

$28.2 MILLION

Overall cash gifts to the department in FY 2017, including a record $18.4 million designated for the Ahearn Fund annual giving program.

FY 2017 Balanced budget and surplus for the 8TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

$73.4M $72.7M

2017

2018

$73.4 MILLION

STUDENT-ATHLETE SUPPORT $100,000 increase in scholarship costs as the department enters into the third year of providing “full cost of attendance.”

Projected balanced budget of $73.4 million for FY 2018, a $700,000 increase over FY 2017.

RANKED

FAN SAFETY After successful implementation of a Clear Bag Policy in 2016-17, K-State Athletics continues its mission to provide a safe environment for all its fans. Beginning in 2017-18 enhanced security screening will be implemented.

Princeton Review ranked K-State:

NO. 1 Great Town-Gown Relations NO. 2 Best Athletic Facilities NO. 3 Students Pack the Stadiums NO. 5 College Football Fan Happiness by ESPN

33 CONSECUTIVE

SELLOUTS

The Wildcats are averaging 52,453 fans during the sellout streak.

PEP

RALLIES K-State is known for its large pep rallies the day before bowl games.

LEADERSHIP

TEAM

Gene Taylor announced Jill Shields as Deputy Athletics Director headlining a restructure in his leadership team.