Letter from the Chancellor

DEAR TROJANS:

The 2021-2022 year in Trojan athletics saw a mix of the familiar, as well as pivotal change. This report will bring you up to date on every aspect of our athletics operation and I hope you will review it thoroughly.

Our women’s basketball squad won its fifth league title in seven years and a berth in the Women’s NIT, while posting its fourth consecutive 20-win record. Our men’s basketball team achieved its first 20-win season since 2016-17 and a spot in the College Basketball Invitational Tournament.

Other noteworthy achievements included men’s tennis finishing the season ranked 9th in the ITA Southern Region, three straight tournament wins for men’s golf, baseball posting its first 30-win season in four years, volleyball defeating Power Five opponents Alabama, LSU and Virginia Tech and softball earning wins over number 23 LSU and number 25 Ohio State.

Major changes took place in the leadership of our football, softball, and soccer programs. We welcomed Jon Sumrall home to lead our football squad, which he served as an assistant from 2015-17. Coach Eric Newell, who lead AUM to two consecutive number-three rankings in NCAA Division II, is our new softball coach. Robert Lane former head coach at the University of Montevallo and assistant at the Georgia, is our soccer coach.

Moreover, we set program records for attendance in baseball, and led the SBC in men’s and women’s basketball attendance. We are ensuring that our facilities are second to none, including upgrading Riddle-Pace Field to make our baseball facility the “Gem of the Sun Belt.”

In closing, thank you for supporting Trojan athletics. Your attendance and financial investment are crucial to our continued success. The best days lie ahead for our sports programs.

Sincerely,

Jack Hawkins, Jr., Ph.D. Chancellor