2016-2017
Year in Review
TROY UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TO THE TROJAN FAMILY: There has never been a better time to be a Trojan! We have the best students, the best faculty, and the most beautiful campuses in Alabama. And, we are experiencing a Renaissance in our athletics program as we continue to “re-build the wall.” Based on last year’s on-field successes, we are making great strides toward our goal of developing the pre-eminent program in the Sun Belt Conference. This annual report captures last year’s highlights both on the field and in the classroom.
Kay Ivey
Governor of Alabama President, ex-officio
Gerald O. Dial
President pro tempore Area 5
John D. Harrison
Vice President pro tempore Area 2
Earl Johnson Area 2
I am certain you will be impressed by the story of progress that unfolds throughout these pages. I appreciate the dedication of our student athletes and their willingness to give their best effort on behalf of the university we love. My gratitude is also extended to our outstanding Athletics Director, Jeremy McClain, our coaches and the remarkable staff which supports them. Continued success of all our teams is expected—but not assured. However, future success is everyone’s responsibility. As a member of our TROJAN TEAM we value your active involvement and your financial support. We appreciate all you do for TROY and Trojan athletics and, together, look forward to an
Forrest Latta Area 1
Allen E. Owen III Area 3
Lamar P. Higgins Area 4
C. Gibson Vance Area 4
even brighter future!
Sincerely,
Jack Hawkins, Jr., Ph.D. Chancellor
Karen Carter Area 6
Roy H. Drinkard Area 7
Edwards F. Crowell At Large
C. Charles Nailen At Large
DEAR TROJAN FAITHFUL: Thank you for your continued support of Troy Athletics, our student-athletes, and our coaches. The 2016-2017 athletic year was one that will be remembered for years to come. The accomplishments, on and off the field, set a new standard and made everyone associated with TROY very proud. As such, we felt it was important to capture the magnitude of the year in this document. From bowl wins, to Sun Belt Championships, to academic successes, you will find much to be proud of as a Trojan. Our growth as a department over the past few decades has been significant, and we are thankful for everyone who has helped make it happen. My hope, as we move forward, is that you continue to support our efforts to be a premier FBS athletic department. This year was definitely a step in the right direction. I have no doubt that we can continue to raise the bar together‌as ONE TROY!
Sincerely,
Jeremy McClain Director of Athletics
CONTENTS Board of Trustees
1
Letter from The Chancellor
2
7
Head Coaches
9
Year of the Trojans
11-22
Accomplishments
23
By the Numbers
25
Strategic Plan
27
Licensing
29
Expanded Video Network
30
North End Zone Facility
31
All-Conference Selections
33
THANK YOU
35
Making a Difference
37
Athletics in the Media
39
Trojans in the Media
41
Trojan Tribute
43
Hall of Fame Banquet
45
2016-2017
Conference Champions
Year in Review
Letter From The Director of Athletics 4
Year in Review
Year in Review
7 8
2016-2017
2016-2017
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
TROY ATHLETICS HEAD COACHES NEW COACHES Ged O’Connor 11-year head coaching veteran Ged O’Connor was named the Troy women’s soccer head coach in January of 2017. O’Connor led Saint Leo University to seven NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and a 123-66-12 overall record.
Josh Lauer
Bart Barnes
Neal Brown
Elliott Blount
Phil Cunningham
Marc Davis
Rawia Elsisi
Scott Kidd
Beth Mullins
Women’s Golf
Cross Country
Football
Track and Field
Women’s Tennis
Men’s Basketball
Men’s Tennis
Softball
2016-2017
9
Chanda Rigby Women’s Basketball
Mark Smartt Baseball
Matt Terry Men’s Golf
10 2016-2017
Year in Review
Year in Review
Long-time Southeastern Conference assistant coach Josh Lauer was tabbed to lead the Troy volleyball program in January of 2017. Lauer spent the last six seasons as the associate head coach at Georgia following a three-year stint as an assistant coach at The University of Alabama.
YEAR OF THE BY THE NUMBERS
7 5
One of just seven schools nationally to win both its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
#24
Trojans
Men’s basketball & football rated
sport combo in the nation by College Football News
HIGHEST
LEADER IN THE STATE Troy became the first school in the state of Alabama since 1999 to send both their men’s and women’s basketball teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Sun Belt Conference
Women’s Track & Field Women’s Cross Country Men’s Basketball
2016-2017
TEAMS IN POSTSEASON Women’s Basketball Men’s Basketball Women’s Golf Men’s Golf Football
G.P.A.
OVERALL
Academic Success
100%
2 Perfect APR Scores: Women’s golf & women’s cross country
Troy is the only school to win both men’s and women’s basketball tournament championships and a football bowl game in 2016-2017.
3.0
G.P.A. FOR ALL STUDENT-ATHLETES
TROY ATHLETICS FOOTBALL
10 wins - Most as FBS Program Dollar General Bowl champions Largest increase in win total in FBS (+6) Jordan Chunn set school career rushing touchdown record AP Top 25 Ranking ( 1st team in Sun Belt Conference history) Seven All-Sun Belt First Team honors (Most in the league) Rashad Dillard - Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year; first since DeMarcus Ware
2016-2017
13
Antonio Garcia selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Patriots
Year in Review
Most viewed bowl game between two Group of Five teams
2016-2017
Year in Review
Single-season overall and per-game attendance records
TROY ATHLETICS MEN’S BASKETBALL
Won Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship for the first time Advanced to NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history Jordon Varnado - All-Sun Belt First Team Wesley Person - All-Sun Belt Second Team Wesley Person named Most Outstanding Player of Sun Belt Tournament 22 wins - Most since 2009-10 13-win increase was fifth-best improvement nationally
Year in Review
Year in Review
Won final six games of regular season
2016-2017
2016-2017
15
TROY ATHLETICS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Back-to-Back Sun Belt Conference Tournament titles Back-to-Back NCAA Tournament berths Won 22 games - Second most in program history Caitlyn Ramirez signed professional contract to play in Spain Assistant Coach Neil Harrow named to WBCA Thirty Under 30 list Set Sun Belt Tournament record with 208 total rebounds Finished the season ranked seventh nationally averaging 82.5 points per game
Year in Review
Second nationally in rebounds per game with 50.1 and first in offensive rebounds per game with 20.0
2016-2017
17
Caitlyn Ramirez - Named the Sun Belt Tournament MVP Recorded the second-most rebounds in a game in NCAA Division I history with 86 against Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Tournament 20 wins in three consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. Prior to coach Chanda Rigby's arrival, the Trojans had just three 20-win seasons in program history
TROY ATHLETICS WOMEN’S GOLF
Won third Sun Belt Championship in the past four seasons Participated in NCAA Regional for the third time in last four years Bart Barnes named Sun Belt Coach of the Year for the third time in the past four seasons
Fátima Fernández Cano became the first Troy student-athlete to earn All-Sun Belt First Team honors four times in a career Cano posted the third-best single-season stroke average and Bianca Lohbauer the fifthbest in school history Cano and Lohbauer named All-Sun Belt First Team
TROY ATHLETICS MEN’S GOLF
Advanced to third-straight NCAA Regional Finished sixth at NCAA College Grove Regional; just one spot back of qualifying for the NCAA Championship Senior Cam Norman qualified as an individual for NCAA Championship and finished ranked 23rd at the NCAA Championship Jared Bettcher and Clayton Vannoy named First Team All-Sun Belt; Cam Norman named to second team
Year in Review
Jared Bettcher finished his career as a three-time All-Sun Belt first-team selection
2016-2017
21
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Cam Norman Finished 23rd at the NCAA Championship
Zach Douglas
2017 Sun Belt Conference Male Field Athlete of the Year
Fátima Fernández Cano First Troy student-athlete to earn All-Sun Belt First Team honors four times
Andrew Crane
2017 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Newcomer of the Year
Antonio Garcia
2016-2017
23
Becca Hartley
Ranked 22nd nationally in home runs and CoSIDA Academic All-District Team
Coach Bart Barnes Sun Belt Women’s Golf Coach of the Year
Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week
Year in Review
Austin Crook & Cory Gill
24
three out of the last four years
Rashad Dillard
Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year
2016-2017
Year in Review
Selected in third round of NFL Draft
BY THE NUMBERS
c i m e Acad s r e b m e M l l o R r o n Ho
98 96 50
s ’ r e n o i s s i m Com s e e r o n o H t Lis e c n e r e f n o C All s n o i t c Sele
n i d e t e p m o C s m a e T y a l P n o s a e Posts
5 3 1
e c n e r Confe s n o i p Cham f o h c a Co r a e Y e th
STRATEGIC PLAN 2016-2020
The Troy Athletics Department unveiled its four-year strategic plan (2016-2020) in September for the continued success and growth of Troy Athletics. Over a nine-month time period with input from donors, Troy alumni, business leaders, Troy student-athletes and the Troy campus community, the Troy Athletics strategic plan was created.
N
A STRATEGIC PL
S C I T E L H T TROY A 2020
Year in Review
27
28 2016-2017
As part of the strategic plan the Athletics Department underwent a restructuring as a pair of new staffers joined Troy’s external team and two long-time internal operations employees were promoted. Brent Jones was added as the Deputy Director of Athletics for External Operations, Kyle George was named Associate Athletics Director of Marketing and Sales, Sandy Atkins was elevated to Deputy Director of Athletics for Internal Operations and Senior Woman Administrator, and Tony Ferrante was promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director of Facilities and Operations.
Year in Review
The plan includes strategic goals and measurable benchmarks for each of the eight focus areas with the common themes of student-athlete welfare and success, fan engagement and integrity.
The Troy Athletics Department will strive to educate, support and equip our student-athletes for success on the field, in the classroom and in life. As an integral part of the University, the athletics program will operate with fiscal responsibility, integrity and a focus on competing at a championship level, which will instill pride in the entire Troy family.
2016-2017
2016 -
Eight focus areas serve as the cornerstone of the strategic plan: – Academic Excellence – Athletic Excellence – Student-Athlete Welfare – Compliance/Diversity/Gender Equity –Stewardship –Revenue Generation –Fan Engagement –Athletic Facilities
The new Troy Athletics strategic plan was created with the Troy Athletics Mission Statement at the forefront of all decisions:
TROY ATHLETICS LICENSING
EXPANDED ESPN NETWORK The Troy University Athletics Department expanded its coverage on ESPN3 during the 2016-17 athletic year with the in-house production of volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball games. A total of 39 Troy Athletic events were broadcast on ESPN3 because of this new partnership. The games were produced as a collaboration between the Athletics Department and Troy University students. The new collaboration will allow fans the ability to watch HD streams of Troy Athletics events on ESPN3. The events will be produced in-house by Troy University students who are enrolled in a specialized sports broadcasting class.
This year was a banner year for TROY licensing and trademarks. For the first time over 1 million dollars of TROY merchandise was purchased at retail. Licensing royalties from retailers were up 29% which marked the largest increase in school history.
Year in Review
The Troy Athletics brand is extremely strong, powerful and recognizable regionally, nationally and internationally. The opportunity to maximize our brand in our licensing, trademarks, retail and merchandising efforts has never been stronger or greater!
2016-2017
29
“We started the One TROY mantra as a way to rally around our efforts as an athletic department, an institution, and a community. It is about us coming together as one, and pulling the rope in the same direction to reach new levels of success!” Jeremy McClain, Director of Athletics
“This is an absolute win-win all around for our University,“ Troy Athletics Director Jeremy McClain said. “Our fans will have the opportunity to watch professionally produced HD streams, our coaches will be able to highlight our first-class facilities to recruits and our students are getting hands-on working experience that will put them ahead of the curve upon graduation in a highlycompetitive workplace. “In addition to servicing our existing fan base with this relationship, we are exposing the Troy Trojans brand to millions of households nationwide that receive ESPN3 through their Internet or video provider,” McClain said. “We've enjoyed tremendous growth of our brand through the Sun Belt Conference's existing ESPN3 agreement and we are looking forward to seeing that continue to expand with our in-house productions.”
With the assistance of Dr. Jeff Spurlock, the director of the Hall School of Journalism and Communication, Troy students began enrolling in Network Sports Production, a 400-level class, this past fall. The students received hands-on experience in sports production including camera operation, production switcher usage, video replay, graphic, animation creation and statistical integration. “The students in 'Network Sports Production' at Troy University will have an opportunity that most broadcast production students at other schools do not have,” Dr. Spurlock said. “Our students are shooting and editing video to be streamed on ESPN3. This experience will certainly enhance the students' resume reels when they are ready to look for their first jobs after graduation.” ESPN3 is ESPN's live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually. It is accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and streaming devices through WatchESPN. The network is available nationwide at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. The network is also available at no cost to U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks
NORTH END ZONE FACILITY Troy University broke ground this past fall on the $24 million North End Zone Football Facility. The state-of-the-art facility will provide the Troy football program with over 70,000 square feet of space for student-athletes, staff and fans. The North End Zone Football Facility will feature 402 new club seats that will provide an excellent vantage point of the game as well as access to exclusive concessions and parking areas. Additionally, fans will enjoy the new 35-by-90-foot video board.
Year in Review
Year in Review
31
32
2016-2017
2016-2017
The North End Zone Football Facility will feature a new locker room, strength and conditioning center, athletic training facility, nutritional "fueling station", mud room with cool down plunge pool and team lounge. The North End Zone Football Facility will feature offices for the football staff and meeting rooms with state-of-the-art video technology.
TROY ATHLETICS ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
Antonio Garcia
Daniel Glick
Football
Niata Alexander Track and Field
Michael Alvernaz Track and Field
Jared Bettcher Men’s Golf
Connor Brookman Track and Field
Fátima Fernández Cano
Track and Field
Brandon Lockridge Baseball
Bianca Lohbauer
Kamryn Melton
Women’s Golf
Football
Pablo Moreno Men’s Tennis
Myles Charley Track and Field
Women’s Golf
Cam Norman
Sanae Ohta
Wesley Person
Baron Poole
Caitlyn Ramirez
Abby Reynolds
Haley Roberson
Jalen Rountree
Brandon Silvers
Titus Sizemore
Men’s Golf
Football
Andrew Crane Baseball
Jabir Daughtry-Frye Football
Rashad Dillard Football
Deondre Douglas Football
Softball
Soccer
Nancy Karaky Women’s Tennis
Ryan Kay Football
Tyler Lassiter Football
Women’s Basketball
Track and Field
Soccer
Football
Football
Track and Field
Year in Review
Alex Huynh
Football
Zachary Douglas
Soccer
Becca Hartley
Men’s Basketball
William Lloyd
34
Football
Emanuel Thompson Football
Clayton Vannoy Men’s Golf
Jordon Varnado Men’s Basketball
Kris Weatherspoon Football
2016-2017
Jordan Chunn
Women’s Tennis
- Nearly 250,000 fans attended Troy University athletic events last year
Year in Review
! u o Y k n a Th
2016-2017
- Highest attended baseball game in school history - Set highest attended football season ever
Trojans MAKING A DIFFERENCE Giving back to the community that supports us is one of Troy’s fundamental values. Troy studentathletes make a point to donate their time and give back to the local community. Troy Athletics participates in various community service projects throughout the year including:
Year in Review
Adopt-A-Mile Canned food drives Hurricane Matthew relief drive Nursing home visits Military Appreciation Little League days
2016-2017
Habitat for Humanity Empty Bowls Bench Out Breast Cancer Special Olympics Baseball Miracle League Children & Women’s Hospital
TROY ATHLETICS ATHLETICS IN THE MEDIA
TROY ATHLETICS ATHLETICS IN THE MEDIA
TroyTrojans.com
Social Media Impressions 15.1M
5.3M
8.9M
1.9M
2.2M 4M 2.8MK
900K 114K
4.9M
3.3M
620K
443 % increase
111 % increase
21 % increase
Year in Review
2016-2017
39
40 2016-2017
2015-2016
208 % increase
Year in Review
2016-2017
215 % increase
2016-2017
2015-2016
140 % increase
TROY ATHLETICS TROJANS IN THE MEDIA
Troy Football
played four games on national TV in 2016.
The Dollar General Bowl
between Ohio University and Troy University drew the highest audience between two group of five schools with 2.52M viewers watching the contest on ESPN
Men’s Basketball
had a combined 7.3 million people watch the Sun Belt Conference Championship game, the NCAA Selection Show, and the NCAA Tournament basketball game vs. Duke.
Appearance generated $18,123,159 in brand media exposure for Troy University in the NCAA (Men’s Basketball) Tournament .
Troy vs. Duke NCAA Tournament game drew 2.216M viewers, which was second most among the games on cable that day.
Combined 9.8 million viewers Year in Review
tuned in to watch Troy in The Dollar General Bowl and March Madness.
2016-2017
41
Troy Athletics appeared 159 times during the year via game broadcast and coaches shows.
TROY ATHLETICS TROJAN TRIBUTE BANQUET
• Awards were handed out in 17 different categories ranging from strength & conditioning honors, to top grade-point-averages and #OneTROY Team of the Year. The awards, which were based on the 2016 calendar year (Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Winter 2016-17), were voted on by members of Troy's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Trojan Tribute Senior Voting Committee. • The premier individual award of the evening, the Trojan Way Leadership Award, was presented to senior softball standout Becca Hartley. • Top academic honors went to track & field's Katrina Bokenfohr, who graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA with a degree in exercise science and baseball's Trey Johns, who graduated with a 3.9 GPA with a degree in accounting. • The football team took home the #OneTROY Team Award after posting the school's first-ever 10-win season at the FBS level and earning an Associated Press Top 25 ranking after a thrilling victory over Appalachian State.
• After leading Troy to back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Tournament titles and trips to the NCAA Tournament, Caitlyn Ramirez was named the Female Athlete of the Year.
Year in Review
Year in Review
• Selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the NFL Draft, Antonio Garcia was named the Male Athlete of the Year after he did not allow a sack in more than 900 snaps last season.
2016-2017
2016-2017
43
TROY ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME Troy University inducted eight former student-athletes, coaches, supporters and administrators into the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame on April 15 in Trojan Arena. The induction class was the sixth all-time into the exclusive group of Trojan greats.
Year in Review
The induction class consisted of: Benny Beard (Supporter) DeWhitt Betterson (Football) Melanie Davis (Softball) Dr. Doug Hawkins (Administrator) Jerrel Jernigan (Football) Dr. Johnny Long (Band Director) Bubba Marriott (Football) Frank Sadler (Football)
2016-2017
46
ONE TROY TROY ATHLETICS
5000 VETERANS STADIUM DRIVE TROY, AL 36082 TroyTrojans.com