Cross
Kristina Vaughn
Rhiannon Johns
Senior
Senior
Country
Clara Cid Senior
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2011 CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE Date
Meet
Distance
Location
Sept. 1
UAB-Samford Dual
4,000 meters
Hoover, Ala.
Sept. 9
Auburn Invitational
5,000 meters
Auburn, Ala.
Sept. 30
Notre Dame Invitational
5,000 meters
South Bend, Ind.
Oct. 16
Indiana State Pre-National Invitational 6,000 meters
Terre Haute, Ind.
Oct. 31
Conference USA Championships
5,000 meters
Houston, Texas
Nov. 12
NCAA Regional
6,000 meters
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Nov. 21
NCAA Championships
6,000 meters
Terre Haute, Ind.
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General Information Table
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Contents
Team Information 2011 Roster........................................................................................... 3 Head Coach Anthony Houchin............................................................ 4 Head Track & Field Coach Kurt Thomas............................................ 5 Support Staff......................................................................................... 6 The 2011 Blazers 2011 Season Outlook............................................................................ 7 Clara Cid.............................................................................................. 8 Lauren Fayen......................................................................................... 9 Rhiannon Johns.................................................................................. 10 Colleen Standridge.............................................................................. 11 Lucy Taylor......................................................................................... 12 Kristina Vaughn.................................................................................. 13 Sarah Hudak....................................................................................... 14 Krisite Leybourne................................................................................ 14 Jenna Wesley...................................................................................... 15 Kara Woods........................................................................................ 15 2010 In Review 2010 Results....................................................................................... 16 2010 Season In Review....................................................................... 17 Conference USA................................................................................. 18 This Is UAB UAB Administration...................................................................... 19-20 Proud Past/Bright Future............................................................... 21-23 Blazer Highlights................................................................................ 24 All-Americans..................................................................................... 25 Excellence At The Next Level............................................................. 26 Gene Bartow....................................................................................... 27 UAB At A Glance.......................................................................... 28-30 Academics...................................................................................... 31-32 Sports Medicine............................................................................. 33-34 Strength & Conditioning.............................................................. 35-36 Campus Recreation............................................................................ 37 Birmingham....................................................................................... 38 CREDITS: The 2011 UAB cross country information guide is an official production of the UAB Athletic Media Relations Office. The guide was compiled, designed, written and edited by Lauren Rupert, with editorial assistance by Norm Reilly, Aaron Jordan, Tyson Mathews, Tony Houchin and Kurt Thomas. Photography by Steve Wood and Nik Layman. “This is UAB” section designed by UAB Creative Services and Provations Group. Cover design by Jamie Barker and Jai Giffin, Provations Group, Nicholasville, Ky.
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Quick Facts Location: Birmingham, Ala. Founded: 1969 Enrollment: 17,543 Nickname: Blazers Colors: Forest Green and Old Gold President: Dr. Carol Garrison Athletics Director: Brian Mackin Faculty Representative: Dr. Frank Messina CROSS COUNTRY STAFF Head Coach: Tony Houchin Head Track & Field Coach: Kurt Thomas Volunteer Assistant Coach: Mary Houchin Athletic Trainer: Melissa Adams ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Associate AD/Media Relations: Norm Reilly Associate Director: Aaron Jordan Assistant Director: Tyson Mathews Assistant Director: Ben Warnick Media Relations Assistant/Cross Country Contact: Lauren Rupert Email: lrupert@uab.edu Office Phone: 205-934-0724 Cell Phone: 724-516-4577 Website: www.uabsports.com
Call Us UAB The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has been an autonomous member of the University of Alabama system since 1969, and has had an intercollegiate athletic program since 1977. UAB is sometimes confused with the University of Alabama (Crimson Tide), which is located in Tuscaloosa; while this is inevitable, it is important to note that the two are indeed separate institutions. In addition, the UAB name is often altered by various media, opponents, merchandisers, etc. Please note that there are only two correct versions of our name, the acronym “UAB,” or the full “University of Alabama at Birmingham.” In addition, the Associated Press sports stylebook now uses UAB on first reference, not Alabama-Birmingham. We are: UAB University of Alabama at Birmingham We are not: Alabama-Birmingham, Ala.-Birmingham, UA-Birmingham or U.A.B.
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2011 Blazers
Rhiannon Johns
Clara Cid
Lucy Taylor
Colleen Standridge
Lauren Fayen
Kristina Vaughn
Alphabetical Roster Name
Clara Cid Lauren Fayen Sarah Hudak Rhiannon Johns Kristie Leybourne Colleen Standridge Lucy Taylor Kristina Vaughn Jenna Wesley Kara Woods
Yr.
Exp.
Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr.
3L 2L TR 3L HS 3L 3L 2L HS HS
Hometown/Previous School
Zaragoza, Spain/I.E.S. Felix de Azara Wellington, New Zealand/Hutt Valley HS Manchester, England/Loughborough University Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada/Sir James Dunn HS Poulton-Le-Fylde, England/Baines School Palatine, Ill./Palatine HS Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect HS Madison, Ala./Bob Jones HS Griffin, Ga./Spaulding HS Montgomery, Ala./LAMP HS
Coaches Head Coach: Tony Houchin Head Track & Field Coach: Kurt Thomas Volunteer Assistant Coach: Mary Houchin
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Coaching Staff
Anthony Houchin Head Coach | First Season Oklahoma State | 1999
Anthony Houchin, who served as the cross country coach and assistant track & field coach at UNLV from 2006-10, was hired in January 2011 as the head coach for UAB’s cross country program and an assistant coach for track & field. With his main concentration on the cross country team, Houchin also works with the distance runners during the indoor and outdoor track seasons. While at UNLV, Houchin coached the Rebels’ first-ever middledistance Mountain West Conference champion in Charlotte Browning, who claimed the league’s outdoor 1,500m title in 2007 and was named the MWC Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year. He also coached two All-MWC cross country athletes. During his tenure, his athletes added 41 marks to UNLV’s Top 10 All-Time Performer List. Prior to his time at UNLV, Houchin was the head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country teams and assistant coach for the men’s and women’s track & field teams at McNeese State for the 2005-06 season. He coached one NCAA regional qualifier, two league champions and nine all-conference athletes. Before arriving at McNeese State, Houchin served as the assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s cross country and track & field programs at Butler from 2003-05. He helped lead the men’s cross country team to a fourth-place finish at the 2004 NCAA Cross Country Championships, and coached All-American Olly Laws. He also assisted the women’s cross country team to its first-ever appearance at the NCAA Championships that season. In 2005, he coached Victoria Mitchell to the NCAA title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. During his two-year stint, Butler produced four conference champion cross country teams and four individual conference champions. Houchin served as a graduate assistant for the men’s cross country and track & field teams at Oklahoma State from 1999-2002. He coached middle-distance and distance athletes along with serving
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as the program’s recruiting coordinator. During those four seasons, he coached four track & field NCAA qualifiers, three NCAA All-Americans and eight track & field conference champions. As an athlete, Houchin competed on Oklahoma State’s track & field team from 1994-97, earning three All-Big 8 Conference honors. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1999. He is married to the former Mary Duerbeck, who will serve as a volunteer assistant coach for the UAB cross country and track & field teams.
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Coaching Staff
Kurt Thomas Head Track & Field Coach | Fifth Season Tennessee | 2004
Kurt Thomas, who served as the interim head coach for the 2010 season, was officially promoted to head coach of the track & field program in December 2010. He is in his fifth year overall with the Blazers after serving as an assistant track & field coach from 2008-09. He works primarily with the UAB sprinters and hurdlers during the track & field season. During his season as the interim head coach, UAB had five athletes qualify for the preliminary round of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and Nora Mehl provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in two events. At the league indoor championships, Mehl became a Conference USA champion for the second time after taking the pentathlon title. Mehl and Akira McSwain received all-conference honors. At the C-USA Outdoor Championships, Rhiannon Johns won the 10,000 meters to become a C-USA champion and Lytrice Thomas and Bianca Le’Blanc both received all-conference accolades. Thomas spent his first two years at UAB as an assistant track and field coach to former head coach Ray Stanfield. During those years Thomas primarily coached the jumpers, multi-event athletes, throwers and middle distance runners, along with the sprinters and hurdlers. During the 2008 season, Thomas coached Erica Russ to a first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles at the C-USA Outdoor Championships, as she ran 13.41 and set her own personal record. J.J. Scruggs was also crowned C-USA champion in the 400-meter hurdles, giving the Blazers conference champions in both outdoor hurdle events under Thomas’ guidance. Also at the C-USA Championships, senior Tara Colvin was the runner-up in the 400 meters, with a time of 53.93. To add to the records in 2008, Thomas’ athletes, Colvin, Scruggs and Varpiotaite, teamed with middle distance senior Genoah Collins to shatter the 4x400-meter relay school record at the Texas Relays. The foursome ran a regional-qualifying time of 3:38.54 to finish runner-up to USC in Austin, Texas. During the 2007 season, Thomas coached three school record holders, three freshman record holders and 12 regional qualifiers. He guided fifth-year senior Penny Shields in breaking seven-time All-American Vonetta Flowers’ school record in the triple jump, with a jump of 41-6 1/2. Freshman Samantha Hamilton set the frosh record under Thomas’ coaching eye, jumping 41-4. Scruggs also set a freshman record in the 400-meter hurdles, running 58.95 over the one-lap barriers.
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Prior to coming to UAB, Thomas spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Mississippi State. His primary responsibilities included coaching hurdlers, jumpers and women’s sprinters. While there, he coached several relay teams and individuals to first-place finishes. He also helped his athletes break four Mississippi State Outdoor Track and Field records, and set 33 personal-best marks. Before his stint at Mississippi State, Thomas was a student assistant at the University of Tennessee. During his three years in Knoxville, Thomas assisted with the men’s program and was a member of two Southeastern Conference championship teams and two NCAA national championship squads. Thomas also assisted with the UT Championship Track and Field Camps and coached the Knoxville Track Club. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in history. Thomas has three USATF Level II certifications in sprints, hurdles, relays, combined events and jumps. He is a native of Hobbs, N.M., where he graduated from Hobbs High School as an all-state sprinter. Thomas and his wife Jill have two sons, Toliver Knox and Lucas David, and a dog named Rosie.
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Mary Houchin Volunteer Assistant Coach | First Season
Mary Houchin enters her first season as the volunteer assistant coach with the Blazer cross country program. Houchin also serves as the volunteer assistant coach for the track & field team and primarily assists with the distance runners. Houchin currently competes for Brooks and has earned roster spots on three Team USA international squads. She competed at the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya as a member of Team USA, which finished eighth overall. Houchin was a volunteer assistant with the cross country and track & field teams at McNeese State from 2005-06 and prior to that, was a volunteer assistant at Butler from 2003-05. Houchin was a two-time NCAA Cross Country National Championship qualifier at Arizona State. In 2000, she placed third at the NCAA Cross Country West Regional. In track, she qualified for both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Track & Field Championships in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter events. She still ranks fourth on Arizona State’s all-time list in the indoor 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter. Houchin graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State with a degree in broadcast journalism in 2001. She is married to UAB head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach Anthony Houchin.
Support Staff
Melissa Adams Athletic Trainer
Lauren Rupert Media Relations
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Sidney Ball Academic Advisor
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Tony Dollison Compliance
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2011 Season Outlook Every year expectations are high for the UAB cross country team. This year is no different.
Manchester, England native placed first in the 800 meters (2:22.30) and the 1,500 meters (4:48.80) at the 2011 North of England League Division 2WC.
The Blazers have added to their already strong foundation from 2010 and the 2011 edition is looking to take even greater strides with six returning runners, including senior C-USA All-Academic Team selection and track All-American Rhiannon Johns.
“Sarah is coming in as a graduate student. She is already accomplished. She has put up some impressive times on the track,” Houchin said. “She’s coming in as a more mature, more seasoned athlete than a lot of freshmen. She should be able to step right in and be a significant contributor for the season.”
Head coach Tony Houchin, who will coach his first UAB cross country season in 2011, sees the potential in his team and is focused on helping the team improve meet by meet.
From Poulton-Le-Fylde, England, Leybourne finished first in the in the 1,500 meters at the Lancashire County Championships in 2011 (4:44.50), 2010 (4:42.50) and 2007 (4:47.60).
“The goal isn’t always to win. The goal is to be better tomorrow than you are today,” Houchin said. “I think being that we are a senior-laden team, I think improvement is a very realistic expectation.”
“Kristie she is very accomplished. She has represented the north of England at the home country’s championship,” Houchin said. “Being selected to represent whatever area you’re from; only a few people get to do that.”
The Blazers have worked hard over the summer to ensure that the 2011 season is their best yet. Each runner’s individual commitment to training during the summer months will be a huge factor in the upcoming season.
Wesley competed for Spaulding High School in Griffin, Ga. where she was selected by her high school as the most valuable player in cross country and track and field four-straight years and placed eighth in the 1,500 meters at the AAU Junior Olympics in 2010.
“Championships are won out of season, so the work they put in over the summer is going to be very consequential in season,” Houchin said. 2011 Squad Returning all but four contributing runners from last year’s team, the 2011 Blazers are full of experience with six runners boasting at least two seasons in the Green and Gold. “That’s huge that they have been together for so long,” Houchin said. “Last year was my first year here and I think it was a seamless transition from one training philosophy to the other. They really took to the training well.” Those six runners include seniors Clara Cid, Lauren Fayen, Johns, Colleen Standridge, Lucy Taylor and Kristina Vaughn. Last season, Johns claimed first place at the Southeast Cross Country Showdown 5k to lead the Blazers to the overall meet title. During the track and field season, she qualified for the preliminary round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships and took the 10,000-meter title at the C-USA Outdoor Championships for the second consecutive year. Cid, Strandridge and Vaughn competed in all six races for the Blazers last season. Cid, a Zaragoza, Spain product, finished 17th at the league meet after running a personal-best 5k time of 17:35. Also returning for the Blazers are Lauren Fayen and Lucy Taylor, who ran in five meets a season ago. Fayen, who didn’t compete during the 2010 cross country season, progressed during the track and field season. Fayen clocked a 2:15.60 to take the event title in the 800 meters at the ‘Southern Invitational, setting a new meet record.
“Jenna is a two-time state champion in the 800 meters, she’s had four state championships in the mile and she’s ready to move up in distance,” Houchin said. “She’s ready to compete at the collegiate level and I think moving up in distance is going to help her.” Woods competed with the 2011 UAB track and field team. She finished among UAB’s top three in the 500 meters (1:24.31) and in the top five in the 600 meters (1:47.19). The fall 2011 season will be her first with the cross country team. 2011 Schedule In one of the shortest competitive seasons in the NCAA, Houchin will guide his Blazers through a rigorous 2011 slate that features six meets, including one that is local. The season kicks off on Sept. 1 at the UAB-Samford Dual in Hoover, Ala. “That was by design. I wanted to have a highly-competitive schedule,” Houchin said. “With this group full of seniors I think we might be in the conversation of teams that could potentially qualify for the NCAA championships. It would be the first time that UAB has every qualified for the nationals in cross country. “It’s a really short season. We have 11 weeks from day one that we are allowed to compete to day one of the national championship, so that means there is even less time before the regional championship. There’s only about nine weeks. Then to the conference championship there are only eight weeks.” Following the cross-town meet UAB will compete in the Auburn Invitational on Sept. 9. The Blazers will rest for three weeks before returning to action at the Notre Dame Invitational on Sept. 30 in South Bend, Ind.
“I think this is the first year that Lauren has come in to the season healthy and also fit,” Houchin said. “I think she should be a significant contributor.”
The Green and Gold compete in the first 6k of the season on Oct. 16 at the Indiana State Pre-National Invitational located in Terre Haute, Ind. The Blazers will have two weeks off to prepare for the C-USA Championships on Oct. 31 hosted by Rice University in Houston, Texas.
In addition to the veteran runners that lead the pack for the Green and Gold, Houchin supplemented the roster with four new faces in junior transfer Sarah Hudak, true freshmen Kristie Leybourne and Jenna Wesley, and redshirt freshman Kara Woods.
“Hopefully, by going to more challenging meets like Notre Dame and the PreNationals in Indiana we will possibly beat some of those automatic qualifying teams from other regions, putting us in a good position to qualify for nationals,” Houchin said.
Hudak completed her undergraduate degree at Loughborough University in Leicestershire, England and ran two seasons with the cross country team. The
The University of Alabama will host the NCAA South Regional on Nov. 12, while the NCAA Championships are slated for Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Ind.
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Meet the Blazers
Clara Cid Senior Zaragoza, Spain I.E.S. Feliz de Zara 2010 Ran in five races for the Blazers … claimed a fourth-place finish (18:26.72) at the Samford Invitational … recorded a personal-best 5K time of 17:35 at the C-USA Championships … finished the NCAA South Regional with a personal-best 6K time (21:03.27) … an All-C-USA Third Team selection. 2009 Ran in five out of six races for the Blazers ... recorded a sixth-place finish at the Earl Jacoby Memorial with a season-best 5K time of 19:35 ... finished 27th in a field of 122 at the Furman Invitational 5K. 2008 Ran three races for the Blazers ... helped UAB capture first place at the 5K Walt Disney World Classic with a 35th-place finish and a personal-best time of 18:53.90 ... best finish of the season came at the 4K Belmont Invitational, crossing the line in 29th place ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 2010 UAB Track & Field Highlights Ran to a first-place finish in the 3,000 meters (10:06.02) at the Vanderbilt Invitational ... clocked a 17:32.09 to place third at the Sea Ray Relays ... finished in sixth place (17.12.65) in the 5,000 meters at the C-USA Outdoor Championships. High School Attended I.E.S. Félix de Azara in Zaragoza, Spain ... coached by Jesús Romero ... placed fourth in the 1500 meters at the Indoor Spain Championships ... came in eighth at the Cross Country Spain Championships ... placed fifth in the 1500 meters at the Outdoor Spain Championships. Personal Full name is Clara Cid ... born Feb. 16, 1990 ... daughter of Juan Carlos Cid and Ángela Oreja ... majoring in communications.
Cid’s Collegiate Bests 4K 5K 6K 8
15:33. 97 (Belmont Invitational - 9/5/08) 17:35 (C-USA Championships - 11/1/10) 21:03.27 (NCAA South Regional - 11/13/10)
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Lauren Fayen Senior Wellington, New Zealand Hutt Valley HS 2010 Did not compete in 2010 … C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection. 2009 Ran in five races for the Blazers ... top finish of the season came at the Earl Jacoby Memorial, where she finished 10th with a personal-best 5K time of 19:54 ... finished in the top 20 at the Furman Invitational 5K with a time of 20:19.66 ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 2008 Ran a personal-best 5K time of 20:21.80 at the Walt Disney World Classic ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and was awarded the Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal. 2010 UAB Track & Field Highlights Set a new meet record at the ‘Southern Invitational after taking first place in the 800 meters (2:15.60) ... claimed first place in the 1,500 meters (4:34.90) at the Twilight Invitational ... clocked a 2:10.93 to win the 800 meters at the Memphis Invitational ... placed fourth in the 600 meters (1:36.55) at the Gladstein Invitational. High School Attended Hutt Valley High School ... placed fourth in senior girls 400 meters at the 2006 New Zealand Secondary School Championship ... placed fourth in Under-19 400 meters at the 2007 New Zealand National Championships ... was a member of Wellington representative team that won the Under-19 4x400-meter relay at the 2007 and 2008 New Zealand National Championships ... placed third in U-19 800 meters at the 2008 New Zealand National Championships ... placed second in junior woman mile at 2008 Wanganui Mayoral Mile. Personal Full name is Lauren Jean Fayen ... born April 11, 1989 ... daughter of Kim and Chris Fayen ... majoring in psychology.
Fayen’s Collegiate Bests 4K 5K . 6K
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14:37.01 (Belmont Opener - 9/4/09) 19:54 (Earl Jacoby Memorial - 9/12/09) 25:20 (Roy Griak Invitational - 9/26/09)
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Rhiannon Johns Senior Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada Sir James Dunn HS 2010 Claimed a first-place finish to help the Blazers take the title at the Samford Invitational 5K with a time of 17:52.53 … was the runner-up (17:29.06) out of 256 runners in the Memphis Twilight 5K … finished seventh among 469 runners in the Chile Pepper Festival 5K hosted by Arkansas … ran a 5K career-best 16:55 at the C-USA Championships to earn All-C-USA First Team honors … improved her personal-record 6K time by almost four minutes to 20:42.22 at the NCAA South Regional … selected to the C-USA All-Academic Team by maintaining a 4.0 GPA in mathematics … garnered the league’s Academic Medal … named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 2009 Claimed a first-place finish to help the Blazers take the title at the Earl Jacoby Memorial 5K with a time of 18:22 ... ran 14:37.01 at the season-opening Belmont Opener 4K to take a fifth-place finish ... tabbed to the ESPN The Magazine All-District IV track and field/cross country second team ... selected to the C-USA All-Academic Team ... C-USA Academic Medal recipient ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 2008 Participated in all six meets ... helped the Blazers finish first at the 5K Walt Disney World Classic, finishing 17th in 18:26 ... finished 24th at the C-USA Championships with a new personal best of 18:24 in the 5K run... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and was awarded the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal. 2010 UAB Track & Field Highlights Became a conference champion for the second consecutive time in the 10,000 meters at the 2011 C-USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships after recording a time of 35:06.23 … clocked a 16:29.21 to place 23rd in her first ever NCAA final in the 5,000 meters ... earned honorable mention All-America accolades at the NCAA Outdoor Championships ... shattered the five-year-old UAB record in the 5,000 meters (16:13.32) at the Mt. SAC Relays ... placed first in the mile with a personal-record time of 5:01.11 at the Niswonger Invitational ... set a season-best time of 16:58.82 in the 5,000 meters at the Indoor C-USA Championships ... a C-USA All-Academic Team selection. High School Attended Sir James Dunn High School in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada ... was cross country city champion in 2006 and 2008 ... Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (NOSSA) Regional cross country champion in 2008 ... also a member of the track team ... placed third at 2008 Provincial Indoor Championship in the 3,000 meters ... captured the city championship for both 1,500 and 3,000 meters for three consecutive years ... set numerous city and NOSSA records in 1,500 and 3,000 meters ... coached by Lori Purnis. Personal Full name is Rhiannon Ellen Joan Johns ... born June 11, 1990 ... daughter of Kevin and Karen Johns ... majoring in mathematics.
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Johns’s Collegiate Bests 4K 5K 6K
14:37.01 (Belmont Opener - 9/4/09) 16:55 (C-USA Championships – 11/1/10) 20:42.22 (NCAA South Regional – 11/13/10)
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Colleen Standridge Senior Palatine, Ill. Palatine HS 2010 Competed in all six meets for the Blazers … finished in the top 10 (19:06.30) at the Samford Invitational … shaved one minute off her 5K time with an 18:09 at the C-USA Championships … named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 2009 Competed in all six meets for the Blazers ... ran to a fifth-place finish at the Earl Jacoby Memorial 5K (19:24) ... also took fifth at the Furman Invitational with a 5K time of 19:16.83 ... clocked a personal-best 5K time of 19:06.50 to claim 19th at the C-USA Championships and earned All-C-USA accolades ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 2008 Participated in four meets for UAB ... set a personal best at the 5K Walt Disney World Classic with a time of 19:15.40 ... best finish of the season came at the 4K Belmont Opener after crossing the line in 36th place out of 103 runners with a time of 15:42.90 ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 2010 UAB Track & Field Highlights Ran a season-best 4:54.16 in the 1,500 meters at the Bulldog Twilight Invitational ... placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase crossing the line in 11:37.32 at the ‘Southern Invitational. High School Attended Palatine High School in Palatine, Ill. ... was named all-state in 2007 ... came in 11th at 2007 state championships ... was the cross country MVP in 2006 and 2007 ... was named to three all-conference cross country teams in 2005-07 ... cross country team placed third at state championships in 2005 ... was a member of the track team ... took first place in the 4x800-meter relay at the 2005 state championships ... placed second in the 4x800-meter relay at the state championships in 2006 and 2007 ... track team placed second at state championships in 2006. Personal Full name is Colleen Johanna Standridge ... born June 28, 1990 ... daughter of Greg and Jo-Ann Standridge ... majoring in business.
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Standridge’s Collegiate Bests 4K 5K 6K.
15:16.31 (Belmont Opener - 9/4/09) 18:09 (C-USA Championships - 11/1/10) 21:57.41 (NCAA South Regional - 11/14/09)
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Lucy Taylor Senior Arlington Heights, Ill. Prospect HS 2010 Competed in five meets for the Blazers … ran a personal-best 5K at the C-USA Championship (18:49) … improved her personal-best 6K time by almost two minutes (22:59.29) at the NCAA South Regional … C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection. 2009 Competed in five meets for the Blazers ... ran a personal-best 4K at the Belmont Opener (16:03.73) ... recorded a 17th-place finish at the Furman Invitational with a 5K time of 20:08.77 ... ran a personal-best 6K (24.52) at the Roy Griak Invitational ... C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection. 2008 Saw limited action, running in only three meets ... set a new personal best in 5K run after posting a time of 19:31.65 at the Louisville Classic... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 2010 UAB Track & Field Highlights Finished the 800 meters in 2:23.16 to place eighth at the ‘Southern Invitational ... crossed the line in 1:23.79 in the 500 meters at the Tiger Paw Invitational ... recorded a season-best in the 800 meters (2:16.02) at the Vanderbilt Invitational. High School Ran both cross country and track at Prospect High School in Prospect, Ill. ... named to the all-conference cross country team in 2005 and 2006 ... high school cross country squad won the 2006 and 2007 division championship ... high school track team won the division championships from 2005-08 ... was a four-time state qualifier in 4x800-meter relay, placing second in 2008 ... in 2008 was a state qualifier in 800 and 1,600 meters ... holds the school record in the distance medley relay, 800 meters and 4x800-meter relay ... holds high school indoor records in 800 meters, 1,600 meters and 4x800-meter relay ... was a conference All-Academic senior. Personal Full name is Lucy Eloise Taylor ... born Dec. 20, 1989 ... daughter of Alison and Paul Taylor ... majoring in business.
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Taylor’s Collegiate Bests 4K 5K 6K.
16:03.73 (Belmont Opener - 9/4/09) 18:49 (C-USA Championships - 11/1/10) 22:59.29 (NCAA South Regional - 11/13/10)
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Meet The Blazers
Kristina Vaughn Senior Madison, Ala. Bob Jones HS 2010 Ran in all six meets for the Blazers … placed in the top 10 (19:03.02) to help UAB take the title at the Samford Invitational … crossed the line in 17:51 for a personal-best 5K at the C-USA Championships … improved her 6K time to 21:39.31 at the NCAA South Regional … earned the C-USA Academic Medal … Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection. 2009 Ran in all six meets for the Blazers ... opened the season with a personalbest 4K (15:20.79) at the Belmont Opener ... placed fourth at the Earl Jacoby Memorial with a 5K time of 19:11 ... crossed the line in 19:15.15 at the Furman Invitational to take fourth ... clocked a personal-best 6K time of 22:01.48 at the NCAA Regional ... selected to the C-USA AllAcademic Team ... C-USA Academic Medal recipient ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. 2008 Ran in six meets for the Blazers ... set a personal-best time of 18.55 at the 5K Walt Disney Classic ... named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and was awarded the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal. 2010 UAB Track & Field Highlights Set a career-best mile time of 5:09.91 at the Tyson Invitational ... registered a 11:19.17, a new meet record, in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the ‘Southern Invitational ... finished second in the 1,500 meters (4:36.75) at the Twilight Invitational ... named to the C-USA All-Academic Team. High School Attended Bob Jones High School in Madison, Ala. ... coached by Robin Gaines ... was named to the all-state cross country team in 2007 ... was an all-metro and all-section selection in cross country and track in 2007 ... was named to the all-state outdoor track team in 2008 ... holds school records in the 800 meters, 4x400-meter relay, 4x800-meter relay and 5K. Personal Full name is Kristina Marie Vaughn ... born June 8, 1990 ... daughter of Jason and Sandra Vaughn ... majoring in biology.
Vaughn’s Collegiate Bests 4K 5K 6K
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15:20.79 (Belmont Opener - 9/4/09) 17:51 (C-USA Championships – 11/1/10) 21:39.31 (NCAA South Regional – 11/13/10)
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Meet The Blazers
Sarah Hudak Junior Manchester, England Loughborough University Loughborough University Transferred to UAB after competing two years for Loughborough University in Manchester, England … will compete as a junior in eligibility ... coached by Bill Foster … placed first in the 800 meters (2:22.30) at the 2011 North of England League Division 2WC … clocked a 4:48.80 time for a first-place finish at the 2011 North of England League Division 2WC 1,500 meter race … finished sixth in the 1,500 meters at the English Schools Athletics Championships. Personal Full name is Sarah Hudak … born Feb. 18, 1990 … daughter of Peter and Susan Hudak … has two brothers, 18-year-old twins, Joseph and James … majoring in clinical nutrition as a graduate student.
Kristie Leybourne Freshman Poulton-Le-Fylde, England Baines School High School Attended Baines School in Poulton-Le-Fylde, England … coached by Stan Taylor … finished first in the 1,500 meters at the Lancashire County Championships in 2011 (4:44.50), 2010 (4:42.50) and 2007 (4:47.60) … ran for the U20 Sale Harrier Manchester/Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde in 2011 … member of the 2010 U20 Newham & Essex Beagles/Blackpool Wyre & Fylde … represented North England and finished 10th at the Home Countries Cross Country Championships. Personal Full name is Kristie Ann Leybourne … born May 3, 1992 … daughter of Philip and Susan Leybourne … has one brother, Hayden (13) and one sister, Abi (21) … majoring in psychology.
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Meet The Blazers
Jenna Wesley Freshman Griffin, Ga. Spaulding HS High School Attended Spaulding High School … coached by Dolores Owen … two-time GHSA Class 4-AAA state title winner in the 800 meters in 2010 and 2011 … finished fourth in the 1,600 meters as a senior … selected by her high school as the most valuable player in cross country and track and field four-straight years … placed eighth in the 1,500 meters at the AAU Junior Olympics in 2010 … received her high school’s Outstanding Freshman Award … earned the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award from the Georgia Women in Sports Organization. Personal Full name is Jenna Brooke Wesley … born Dec. 19, 1992 … daughter of Doug and Sharon Wesley … has one brother, John (15) … majoring in education.
Kara Woods Freshman Montgomery, Ala. LAMP HS Notes: Kara competed with the 2011 UAB track and field team. She finished among UAB’s top three in the 500 meters (1:24.31) and in the top five in the 600 meters (1:47.19). The fall 2011 season will be her first with the cross country team. High School Attended LAMP Magnet High School in Montgomery, Ala. ... was a member of the Class AAA state champion 400-meter relay team in 2008 and 2009 ... finished as the runner-up in the 400 meters at the state meet in both 2009 and 2010 ... was the senior class president and president of the government club. Personal Full name is Kara Alexis Woods ... born Nov. 25, 1991 ... daughter of Darryl and Janet Woods ... has a younger sister, Kayla (17) ... majoring in criminal justice.
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1st of 44 7th of 469 5th of 93 20th of 186
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2010 Results Elin Andersson
10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
5K 5K 5K 6K
17:52.53 17:06.16 16:55 20:42.22
Date 9/17/10 9/25/10 10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
Distance 5K 5K 5K 5K 5K 6K
Time 21:23.66 20:20.08 DNR 19:27.44 19:15 22:36.61
Date 9/17/10 9/25/10 10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
Distance 5K 5K 5K 5K 5K 6K
Stephanie Gammon
Date 9/17/10 9/25/10 10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
Distance 5K 5K 5K 5K 5K 6K
Time 20:47.63 19:17.04 DNR 19:30.38 18:49 22:59.29
Amanda Horton
Date 9/17/10 9/25/10 10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
Distance 5K 5K 5K 5K 5K 6K
Time 20:33.36 19:30.56 20:52.22 19:37.37 19:25 DNR
Rhiannon Johns
Date 9/17/10 9/25/10 10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
Distance 5K 5K 5K 5K 5K 6K
Time 19:13.60 18:24.99 19:03.02 18:02.73 17:51 21:39.31
Date 9/17/10 9/25/10 10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
Distance 5K 5K 5K 5K 5K 6K
Time DNR DNR DNR DNR DNR DNR
Date 9/17/10 9/25/10 10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
Distance 5K 5K 5K 5K 5K 6K
Time DNR 18:32.62 18:26.72 17:50.38 17:35 21:03.27
Date 9/17/10 9/25/10 10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
Distance 5K 5K 5K 5K 5K 6K
Time DNR DNR DNR DNR DNR DNR
Date 9/17/10 9/25/10 10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
Distance 5K 5K 5K 5K 5K 6K
Date 9/17/10 9/25/10 10/9/10 10/16/10 11/1/10 11/13/10
Distance 5K 5K 5K 5K 5K 6K
Time 25:30.91 DNR 24:48.52 DNR DNR DNR
Date Distance 9/17/10 5K 9/25/10 5K
Time 18:57.33 17:29.06
Place -- -- -- -- -- --
Meet Mountaineer Open Memphis Twilight Samford Invitational Chile Pepper Festival C-USA Championship NCAA Regional
Clara Cid
Place -- 21st of 256 4th of 44 48th of 469 17th of 93 34th of 186
Meet Mountaineer Open Memphis Twilight Samford Invitational Chile Pepper Festival C-USA Championship NCAA Regional
Lauren Fayen
Time 18:56.70 18:08.73 18:49.16 18:09.61 17:38 21:19.19
Place -- -- -- -- -- --
Place 10th of 59 13th of 256 5th of 44 78th of 469 19th of 93 41st of 186
Meet Mountaineer Open Memphis Twilight Samford Invitational Chile Pepper Festival C-USA Championship NCAA Regional Meet Mountaineer Open Memphis Twilight Samford Invitational Chile Pepper Festival C-USA Championship NCAA Regional
Place Meet 55th of 59 Mountaineer Open -- Memphis Twilight 41st of 44 Samford Invitational -- Chile Pepper Festival -- C-USA Championship -- NCAA Regional Place Meet 11th of 59 Mountaineer Open 2nd of 256 Memphis Twilight
Blazers Meet-by-Meet
Bianca Le’Blanc
Place 44th of 59 122 of 256 -- 244 of 469 67th of 93 101 of 186
Samford Invitational Chile Pepper Festival C-USA Championship NCAA Regional
Meet Mountaineer Open Memphis Twilight Samford Invitational Chile Pepper Festival C-USA Championship NCAA Regional
Colleen Standridge Time 19:14.16 18:40.31 19:06.30 19:06.34 18:09 22:09.78
Place Meet 18th of 59 Mountaineer Open 30th of 256 Memphis Twilight 10th of 44 Samford Invitational 190 of 469 Chile Pepper Festival 35th of 93 C-USA Championship 77th of 186 NCAA Regional
Lucy Taylor
Place Meet 44th of 59 Mountaineer Open 66th of 256 Memphis Twilight -- Samford Invitational 252 of 469 Chile Pepper Festival 55th of 93 C-USA Championship 123 of 186 NCAA Regional
Emily Trotter
Place Meet 33rd of 59 Mountaineer Open 78th of 256 Memphis Twilight 29th of 44 Samford Invitational 261 of 469 Chile Pepper Festival 69th of 93 C-USA Championship -- NCAA Regional
Kristina Vaughn
Place Meet 16th of 59 Mountaineer Open 19th of 256 Memphis Twilight 9th of 44 Samford Invitational 63rd of 469 Chile Pepper Festival 26th of 93 C-USA Championship 61st of 186 NCAA Regional
Date Distance Avg. Time Total Time Place Event Location 9/17/10 5K 19:23.03 1:36:55.15 3rd of 6 Mountaineer Open Boone, N.C. 9/25/10 5K 18:15.15 1:31:15.71 3rd of 32 Memphis Twilight Classic Memphis, Tenn. 10/9/10 5K 18:39.55 1:33.17.73 1st of 5 Samford Invitational Hoover, Ala. 10/16/10 5K --- --- 7th of 56 Chile Pepper XC Festival Fayetteville, Ark. 11/1/10 5K --- --- 4th of 12 C-USA Championship Tulsa, Okla. 11/13/10 6K 21:22.76 1:46:53.78 6th of 25 NCAA South Regional Hoover, Ala. 16
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2010 Season In Review Blazers Claim Title at Southeast Cross Country Showdown The UAB cross country team took the title at the Southeast Cross Country Showdown in Hoover, Ala. The Blazers completed the challenging Veterans Park 5K course with 29 points.
Johns Named to C-USA All-Academic Team Rhiannon Johns was named to the Conference USA Cross Country All-Academic Team. The honor marked the second time Johns has received the league’s all-academic accolade.
Junior Rhiannon Johns took the meet’s individual title with a time of 17:52.53. Junior Clara Cid claimed the fourth place with a time of 18:26.72, while senior Stephanie Gammon ran to a time of 18:49.16 to finish fifth.
Johns, the only repeat selection on the women’s team, boasted a 4.0 grade-point average in her major of mathematics. She is a threetime C-USA Academic Medal recipient and C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection. She was also tabbed to the 2010 ESPN The Magazine All-District IV Second Team for track and field/ cross country.
UAB Finishes Third In Mountaineer Open and Memphis Twilight Classic
The Blazers placed third in the 2010 season opener at the Mountaineer Open hosted by Appalachian State, finishing behind winner Ohio State and runner-up Southern Indiana. Senior Stephanie Gammon was the leading runner for the Blazers, placing 10th with a 5K time of 18:56.70. Rhiannon Johns finished second overall with a time of 17:29.06 in the Memphis Twilight Classic to lead the Blazers to a third place finish out of 32 teams.
C-USA Championships The UAB cross country team ran to a fourth-place finish at the 2010 Conference USA Championships hosted by Tulsa.
During the 2010 season, the junior distance runner lowered her personal-record 6K time by almost four minutes at the NCAA South Regional (20:42.22) to earn all-region honors. She was named C-USA Athlete of the Week on Oct. 12 for the second time in her career after helping UAB claim the team title and taking the individual title at the Samford Invitational with a 5K time of 17:52.53. She placed seventh out of approximately 470 runners at the Chile Pepper XC Festival hosted by Arkansas and finished as the runner-up at the Memphis Twilight Classic.
Rhiannon Johns was the top finisher for the Blazers, finishing fifth overall among 93 runners with a time of 16:55, a new personal record. Johns’ top five finish earned her first-team All-Conference honors. Finishing second for the Blazers was Clara Cid who took 17th place with a time of 17:35. Stephanie Gammon ran to a time of 17:38 to take 19th. Both earned third-team All-Conference honors. NCAA Regionals UAB ran to a sixth-place finish out of 25 teams at the NCAA South Regional Meet hosted by Samford to finish out its 2010 season. Rhiannon Johns topped her former personal-record 6K time by almost two minutes to cross the line in 20:42.22. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada product placed 20th to earn all-region honors. Finishing second for the Blazers was Clara Cid with a personalbesttime of 21:03.27, while Stephanie Gammon finished third for UAB with a personal-best time of 21:19.19. UAB’s fourth and fifth finishers were juniors Kristina Vaughn with a time personal-best time of 21:39.31 and Colleen Standridge who crossed the line at 22:09.78.
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Rhiannon Johns Top of the Class The UAB cross country team was named one of the NCAA Division 1 All-Academic Teams by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the ninth straight year. The Blazers boasted a 3.54 team cumulative GPA for the 2010 season. A total of 192 institutions representing 30 conferences compose the group. The Big East led all conferences with 12 members earning All-Academic honors and was followed by the Big 12 and Big Ten who each placed 11 on the list. To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, the team must have had a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or better and have started at least five runners at their respective NCAA regional championship.
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Conference USA
Britton Banowsky C-USA Commissioner
After marking its 15-year milestone during the 2009-10 season, Conference USA is still going strong. From the beginning, dedication to excellence has been the league’s guiding principle and remains today a common thread for a promising future. C-USA is home to 12 nationally prominent, tradition-rich members in East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF and UTEP. This combination enhances men’s and women’s programs that are immersed in athletic success and academic prowess. Together, we are committed to excellence, integrity and leadership in athletics, academics and in our communities.
All C-USA institutions sponsor Division I-A football, along with several other men’s and women’s athletic programs, many of which compete regularly for NCAA Championships. C-USA sponsors competition in 20 sports - nine for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and indoor and outdoor track and field) and 11 for women (basketball, cross country, golf, rowing, softball, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball). The league sponsors numerous academic awards, including the Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Commissioner’s Academic Medal, indicative of outstanding achievement in the classroom. C-USA annually awards 12 postgraduate scholarships, along with the Sport Academic Award, Scholar Athletes of the Year and the Institutional Academic Excellence Award. Conference USA also added a Spirit of Service Award, recognizing student-athletes three times a year for a combination of significant community service efforts, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport. SUCCESS ON THE PLAYING FIELD Conference USA performers have achieved great success in competition, placing the league among the top conferences in the nation. Football • • •
62 teams have earned bowl bids Member of the Bowl Championship Series Bowl tie-ins with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Military Bowl, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl and the TicketCity Bowl
C-USA ON TV C-USA enjoys significant television exposure through a multi-tiered selection process that is rooted in partnerships with FOX Sports Media Group and CBS Sports Network. By partnering with FOX Sports Media Group and extending an existing partnership with CBS Sports Network, the league has substantially increased the number of national and regional appearances for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and all other conference sports. C-USA DIGITAL NETWORK The C-USA Digital Network will officially launch in August of 2011. Network programming will include live streaming of non-televised events, video on demand, a weekly C-USA studio show, podcasting, regular season and championship event highlights and C-USA produced feature stories. Monthly and yearly subscriptions will offer access to events offered on all 12 of the C-USA member institution’s athletic websites as well as C-USA network programming. C-USA IN THE COMMUNITY The conference’s footprint is concentrated with 12 members in nine states and a combined area population of nearly 17 million. More than 1.1 million living alumni represent C-USA schools across the nation. With a renewed commitment to community involvement, the conference has begun development of several initiatives to maintain strong ties in C-USA cities, as well as with fans and alumni across the country. C-USA schools also place a priority on giving back to their communities through volunteer service with local and national organizations. GOVERNANCE Along with the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC, Conference USA is one of the seven conferences having significant representation in the NCAA governance structure. The Presidents of the member institutions serve as the league’s Board of Directors.
The league’s headquarters were established in Chicago and after nine years, relocated to the current office in Irving, Texas. Britton Banowsky was named Commissioner in October 2002, succeeding Mike Slive, the league’s first commissioner.
Women’s Basketball • 46 NCAA Tournament appearances • 36 WNIT appearances • One team in the NCAA Sweet 16 • Two WNIT semifinalists • One WBI Champion
C-USA added East Carolina (September, 1996) and the United States Military Academy (March, 1997) as football members. ECU began league competition in 1997; Army in 1998 and UAB began football play in 1999. The league added TCU and ECU (1999) for all sports and they began competition in 2001. USF started C-USA football in 2003.
In addition, 35 volleyball teams, 55 men’s and women’s soccer teams and 30 softball teams have earned NCAA Tournament bids. C-USA has sent three men’s soccer teams to the
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SUCCESS OFF THE FIELD C-USA institutions are among the nation’s best in academic performance among studentathletes, bolstered by the fact that student-athletes at league schools have a higher graduation rate than the general student population. Among C-USA’s 5,000 student-athletes, there are champions off the playing field as well. In 15 years, 153 student-athletes earned national ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors, while 541 were named All-District. In addition, more than 20,000 student-athletes have been named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll or received the Commissioner’s Academic Medal, indicative of outstanding achievement in the classroom.
A PROUD HISTORY; A PROMISING FUTURE Conference USA was formed in 1995 and quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top conferences. The conference unveiled its name, logo and commissioner on April 24, 1995 in Chicago. The league’s charter members included Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Houston, Louisville, Marquette, Memphis, Saint Louis, Southern Miss, Tulane, UAB and USF. Eleven of the institutions began athletic participation in 1995, while Houston joined competition in the fall of 1996.
Men’s Basketball • Consistently rated as one of the top basketball leagues in the country • 97 postseason teams (47 NCAA, 39 NIT, 6 CBI, 5 CIT) • One National Championship title game appearance • Three Final Four teams • Seven Elite Eight NCAA Tournament teams • One NIT Champion and four NIT semifinalists • Inaugural CBI Champion
Baseball • 53 NCAA appearances • Six College World Series appearances (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2001), including five of the last seven • 13 Super Regional appearances • Has produced at least four NCAA teams in eight of the last 10 seasons
NCAA College Cup, five softball teams to the Women’s College World Series and three volleyball teams to the Sweet 16. The league has also had six national champions in NCAA track and field competition, one national champion in diving and numerous NCAA individual and team competitors in cross country, golf, swimming, tennis and track and field. Overall, Conference USA teams and individuals have made more than 600 NCAA appearances.
After celebrating its 10th Anniversary during the 2004-05 season, C-USA began a new chapter in 2005-06 when its current membership came together to form the new look of the league. Since its formation, C-USA has established a strong foundation, an identity and a history that reflects the league’s national presence. Fifteen years of remarkable history has reinforced the league’s position in collegiate athletics, setting the course for the next decade and beyond.
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UAB Administration Dr. Carol Garrison, President
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AB President and alumna Carol Garrison has had an extraordinary view of her alma mater. She took her first full-time job in UAB Hospital, during the university’s formative years in the 1970s, then earned her master’s degree from UAB. When she returned to campus in fall 2002, as UAB’s sixth president, the young, dynamic institution had evolved into a world-renowned research university and medical center. A Montclair, New Jersey native, Dr. Garrison earned her bachelor’s (1974) and Ph.D. in epidemiology (1982) from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She was a faculty member, department chair, dean
and provost at the University of South Carolina (19821997). She joined the University of Louisville as provost in 1997 and was appointed interim president there in early 2002. As president of UAB, Dr. Garrison also chairs the board of the UAB Health System, which includes UAB Hospital, The Kirklin Clinic, and other of UAB’s nationally ranked patient care facilities. During Dr. Garrison’s tenure, UAB has enjoyed remarkable growth and development. Recent years have seen the opening of state-of-the-art facilities such as the North Pavilion of UAB Hospital and the Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building, Heritage Hall and the burgeoning Campus Green along University Boulevard, and most recently, the UAB Women & Infants Center and Hazelrig-Salter Radiation-Oncology Facility.
The growth of the physical campus and academic programs has been guided by UAB’s Strategic Plan. Developed with campus-wide participation in 2003, the Strategic Plan has led to the recruitment of internationally known faculty and physicians, and the creation of innovative new curricula and honors programs for undergraduates. In 2011, UAB saw its largest enrollment ever (17,575). UAB has also recently been ranked among the top 15 percent of all U.S. universities in The Princeton Review (5th in diverse student population and 11th in student satisfaction). Now in her 10th year as president, Dr. Garrison continues working in partnership with the campus and the community towards an extraordinary vision for UAB and for Birmingham.
Brian Mackin, Athletics Director
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rian Mackin was named UAB’s Director of Athletics on February 14, 2007. He moved into the position after spending five years as senior associate athletic director for external affairs for the Blazers. A former UAB baseball letterman, Mackin has a deep-rooted passion for the University and its athletics program. With an eye on the future, his commitment to continue to grow the program has been clear in the time since he became athletics director. He has made success in the classroom and improving athletic facilities two of his top priorities. Mackin was able to secure the first-ever naming rights for the athletics program with the generous gift from Don and Marsha Hire for the Hoke Hire Student-Athlete Academic Center. With the opening of the Academic Center, an abundance of new computer equipment has been added. Mackin has also strengthened the academic area by creating additional staff positions. Under Mackin’s watch, the Academic Reform Group (ARG) was initiated. This group is made up of athletics staff members and academic support staff. With its mission to create an environment of academic excellence in the department, the group addresses every aspect of a student-athlete’s experience while at UAB. Mackin has also demonstrated his commitment to academic success by initiating a penalty structure for student-athletes and making them accountable if they miss classes or tutorial sessions. Mackin’s commitment to academics has shown positive results. For the 2009-10 academic year, UAB
student-athletes accounted for nearly 25 percent of Conference USA Scholar-Athletes of the Year, awards that are handed out annually to the top student-athlete in each sport that the league sponsors. Since Mackin became athletics director, he has made facility improvements another objective of emphasis. A new 10,000-square foot weight room has opened for Blazer teams, as well as a new, spacious, state-of the-art athletic training facility which opened in the fall of 2008. With the renovation of the Ullman Building, the Blazers’ Olympic sports coaches have been able to relocate into brand new offices. Other facilities improvements have included the resurfacing of the track for the Blazers’ track and field team. In spring 2010, the first phase of the new, oncampus UAB softball facility was completed. The improvements haven’t gone unnoticed as UAB has been named as host site for the 2012 Conference USA Softball Championship. The baseball and softball programs also enjoy the hitting and pitching facility additions that were completed in spring 2010. New state-of-the-art video boards are now in place in Bartow Arena, Young Memorial Field and the new softball facility. The upgrades and progress of the program under Mackin have not been limited to facilities and academics. In the last three years, the athletics program entered an agreement with Nike that provides apparel and equipment for all of UAB’s athletics teams. Mackin came on board at UAB in the spring of 2002 as senior associate AD for external affairs. In that role, he was responsible for fund-raising, corporate support and marketing for the athletic department. In 2006, Mackin was named Division I-A Fund19
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raiser of the Year by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors. Under Mackin’s leadership, contributions to UAB athletics nearly tripled from $1.3 million in 2001 to about $3.7 million in 2006. Additionally, he has been responsible for the creation of several affinity groups including the Athletic Investors Group, the Champion Club, and the Blazer Club, which brought together the two annual funds supporting football and men’s basketball. Prior to joining UAB, Mackin served as Manager of Corporate Business Development at Vulcan Materials, where he was responsible for examining potential new markets for business development and locating growth opportunities in the industry. Mackin earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from UAB in 1983. He was a member of the Blazer baseball team four seasons and then moved into the Houston Astros baseball organization for one season. Mackin then joined Vulcan Materials, where he held management positions in sales and market analysis. In 1990, he joined Southern Ready Mix as sales manager before joining Dunn Construction in 1993 where he rose to vice president in 1999. His responsibilities included business development, sales and project management. Mackin’s community activities include the Birmingham Tip-Off Club, which hosts the State High School Final Four, the Monday Morning Quarterback Club and the Birmingham Rotary Club. He has served as the president of the Birmingham Tip-Off Club. Mackin and his wife, Sally, have five children: Ragland (23), Brian Jr. (21), Ferrell (18), Mary Aileen (17), and Ella (14).
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UAB Administration Dr. Frank Messina, Faculty Athletics Representative
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r. Frank M. Messina, professor and chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Accounting and Information Systems (ACIS) in the UAB School of Business, was named fac-
ulty athletics representative in 2008. He has been on staff at the university for 16 years. Messina has been chair of ACIS since 2002 and is the school’s Ernst & Young Scholar. A Birmingham native, he came to UAB in 1993 as an assistant professor in accounting. He received a doctorate in business administration (D.B.A.) from Mississippi State University (MSU) in 1993, a master’s in professional
accountancy at MSU in 1990 and a bachelor’s in business administration at the University of West Alabama in 1986. Messina and his wife, Natalie, have two sons: Taylor (18) and TJ (8). A third son, Thomas, passed away in the spring of 2010 at the age of 15.
Senior Administrative Staff
Shannon Ealy
Senior Associate AD for External Affairs
Norm Reilly
Associate AD for Media Relations
Coleman Barnes
Derita Ratcliffe
Associate AD for Development
Senior Associate AD Senior Woman Administrator
Matt Wildt
Associate AD for Ticket Operations & Football Administration
Reid Adair
Assistant AD for Facilities and Operations
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Corey Bray
Associate AD for Compliance
Mike Jones
Assistant AD for Athletic Training
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Timothy Garner
Danez Marrable
Brad Smith
Stacey Torman
Associate AD for Financial Affairs
Assistant AD for Marketing
Associate AD for Student Services
Director of Strength and Conditioning
Proud Past Bright Future Summer, 1977: Coach Gene Bartow is hired as UAB’s first intercollegiate Athletics Director and head basketball coach. Preparations begin for the hiring of coaches and support staff, recruitment of student-athletes, establishment of the Golden 100 scholarship foundation, scheduling, etc. Fall, 1978: UAB athletic teams begin intercollegiate competition for the first time; the university begins an 11-year association with the Sun Belt Conference. Nov. 24, 1978: The UAB men’s basketball team plays its first game, a 66-54 loss to Nebraska before a crowd of 14,800 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center; UAB has gone on to win 20 or more games 15 times, appear in 11 NCAA Tournaments and eight NITs. March, 1981: The Blazer men’s basketball team defeats Kentucky in the NCAA Mideast Regional, and reaches the NCAA “Sweet 16.” This appearance marks the beginning of a streak of seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments for UAB (1981-87). March, 1982: UAB adds to its amazing basketball success story, defeating Indiana and Virginia in the Southeast Regional, and reaching the NCAA “Elite Eight.” The Southeast Regional in Birmingham is the first of five NCAA Tournament events to be hosted by UAB (’82, ’84, ’85, ’87, ’88). March, 1989: Blazer basketball reaches the NIT Final Four, defeating Michigan State for third place at Madison Square Garden. Fall, 1989: The UAB club football team is organized; the team goes 0-6 in its first season. 1990-91: The Blazer baseball team wins its first Sun Belt Conference Championship and becomes the first UAB team other than men’s basketball to participate in the NCAA Tournament. Men’s tennis wins the first of five consecutive conference championships in the Sun Belt and Great Midwest Conferences. Volleyball wins the first of three consecutive championships in the Sun Belt and Great Midwest conferences and makes its first of four consecutive post-season appearances. 1991-92: UAB begins competition in the Great Midwest Conference. The UAB football team begins its first season of varsity play at the Division III level. Blazer volleyball and baseball win the first Great Midwest Championship. UAB places its first men’s tennis players, Frank Schaffner and Karl Steffen, in NCAA Tournament play. 1992-93: Men’s basketball reaches the NIT Final Four, defeating Alabama, Clemson, Southwest Missouri State and Providence. The nationally-ranked UAB men’s tennis team participates in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Blazer volleyball, cross country and tennis teams all win Great Midwest Conference championships. January, 1993: UAB announces that its football program will compete at the NCAA I-AA level, beginning with the 1993 season. 1993-94: Blazer teams win six league championships, and UAB wins the Great Midwest Conference Commissioner’s Cup, awarded to the university with the most successful overall athletics program. The Blazer basketball team goes 14-0 vs. GMW opponents and makes its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Men’s basketball is nationally-ranked and participates in the NCAA Tournament. August, 1994: UAB announces that its football program will compete at the NCAA I-A level and that the school will field a women’s soccer team beginning with the 1996 season. 1994-95: UAB soccer wins the Great Midwest Conference championship and participates in the NCAA Tournament. UAB wins GMW championship in men’s and women’s
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2011 UAB Cross Country
The final score read 13-10 as the UAB football program earned its signature victory at LSU on Sept. 23, 2000.
Mirela Vladulesu took the collegiate tennis world by storm and was the top-ranked women’s tennis player in the country for much of the 1997-98 season.
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tennis, women’s indoor track & field, women’s outdoor track & field and men’s golf. April 24, 1995: UAB becomes a charter member of Conference USA. March 26, 1996: One era ends and another begins as coach Gene Bartow steps down as head men’s basketball coach. November 14, 1996: Conference USA announces that UAB has been admitted as a football-playing member; the Blazers will begin C-USA play in 1999. 1997-98: UAB freshman Mirela Vladulescu takes the women’s collegiate tennis world by storm, winning both the ITA Clay Court National Championship and Riviera Women’s All-America Championship; she is the first UAB tennis player to win a collegiate grand slam event. Vladulescu will later be the top-ranked player in the NCAA rankings for much of the 1997-98 season. The men’s golf team receives a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. 1998-99: The men’s basketball team makes its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Mirela Vladulescu returns to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, despite an injury-plagued season. 1999-00: UAB athletics has arguably its best season to date. The UAB football team becomes an official member of Conference USA and goes 4-2 in conference play during its inaugural season. The UAB men’s soccer team wins the Conference USA Championship and reaches the NCAA “Elite Eight”. Synchronized swimming finishes fourth in the country at the U.S. Collegiate Championships in its inaugural season. Women’s basketball reaches the “Sweet 16,” the men’s tennis team makes its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance and men’s golf makes its second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. July 10, 2000: Gene Bartow announces his retirement as athletics director after 23 years of service to the university. August 22, 2000: Herman Frazier is named UAB’s second athletics director. Sept. 23, 2000: In what was arguably the greatest win in UAB football history, the Blazers go to Baton Rouge, La. and upset SEC foe LSU, 13-10, on a game-winning field goal by Rhett Gallego in the waining seconds. 2000-01: Led by sophomore All-American Graeme McDowell, the men’s golf team finished ninth in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to its first NCAA Championship at Duke University, where it garnered a tie for 12th place. Senior women’s tennis player Mirela Vladulescu finished off a four-year career as one of the most successful athletes in UAB history. The men’s soccer team made it to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The football team finished 7-4 overall, becoming the first “bowl-eligible” Blazer squad since UAB moved to the NCAA I-A level in 1996. The women’s basketball team, led by junior All-American Deanna Jackson, finished the season 20-11 and advanced to the WNIT. In just its second season, the synchronized swimming team placed fourth at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and eighth at the U.S. Nationals. 2001-02: Led by All-American Graeme McDowell, who was the No. 1-ranked golfer in the nation, the UAB men made their third consecutive appearance (fourth overall) in the NCAA Tournament. The Blazer football squad again boasted another “bowl eligible” season, as the team went 6-5 in 2001. The men’s soccer team made its third consecutive trip (fourth overall) to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the “Sweet 16.” The UAB softball team had its best season to date, advancing to the C-USA Championship game and boasting a 39-22 overall record. Denise Peters and Lisa Nowoslawski of the women’s soccer team were both named Verizon Academic All-Americans. In addition, Peters was named the C-USA Women’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year. Synchronized swimming earned its highest finish to date at the U.S. Collegiate Championships, taking third. Four swimmers received Academic All-America honors and three swimmers were named AllAmericans by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Coaches Committee. April 4, 2002: Athletics Director Herman Frazier and UAB President Ann Reynolds announce the hiring of Mike Anderson as UAB’s third men’s basketball coach. November 21, 2002: Watson Brown is named UAB‘s third athletics director. 2002-03: In his first season at the helm of the men’s basketball program, Mike Anderson guided the Blazers to a 21-win season and a quarterfinal finish in the NIT. Lisa Nowoslawski capped off her career for the women’s soccer program by earning several prestigious academic awards, including an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the C-USA Postseason Scholarship Award and first-team Verizon / CoSIDA Academic All-America honors for the second straight year. The synchronized swimming team posted its second straight third-place finish at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and recorded a fourth place finish, its highest to date, at the U.S. National Championships. Six swimmers received Academic All-America honors and three swimmers were named All-Americans by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Coaches Committee. 2011 UAB Cross Country
Sept. 4, 2003: The UAB football team plays host to Southern Miss in front of the biggest crown in UAB history, and the most people ever to watch a Conference USA football game when 44,669 people flocked to Legion Field. October 31, 2003: With a dominating 2-0 win on the road against USF, the UAB women’s soccer team earned its first Conference USA Championship and set the school record for shutouts in a season with nine. The Blazers’ Tara Kidwell and Jill Knottek each scored second half goals to lead UAB to its momentous victory. March, 2004: The UAB men’s basketball team shocks the college basketball world with its 76-75 upset over top-seeded Kentucky to advance to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament. The Blazers would finish the season with a 22-10 overall record and ranked No. 23 in the country. Also, the Blazers’ 12-4 record in Conference USA earned them a share of the first C-USA regular season championship. Head coach Mike Anderson was also named the 2004 Conference USA Coach of the Year. Spring, 2004: The synchronized swimming team posted is third straight third-place finish at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and recorded a fifth-place finish at the U.S. National Championships. Fall, 2004: The UAB women’s soccer team claimed the C-USA Tournament title with a thrilling 2-1 victory over host and regular-season champion Saint Louis in St. Louis, Mo., to earn its first NCAA Tournament berth in school history. The UAB football team made its first bowl game appearance in school history as the Blazers faced Hawai’i in the 2004 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl. The Blazers fell to the Warriors, 59-40, on Christmas Eve in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Spring, 2006: The UAB men’s basketball team earned its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament after finishing as Conference USA regular season and tournament runner-up. The synchronized swimming team took fourth place at the U.S. Collegiate Nationals. The Blazer softball team turned in one of its finest seasons in program history as the team won 31 games during the season to finish as the C-USA runnerup. Head coach Marla Townsend was named the C-USA Coach-of-the-Year. April 7, 2006: Mike Davis named as the fourth head basketball coach in the program’s 28-year history. Fall, 2006: UAB’s fall sports teams made three NCAA Tournament appearances, claimed three C-USA titles and beat the No. 1 team in the country. The UAB cross country team won the conference championship and head coach Ray Stanfield was named C-USA Coach of the Year. The women’s soccer team ran through the C-USA Tournament, and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. UAB’s men’s soccer team beat the No. 1 team in the country during the regular season and hosted a first-round NCAA Tournament game. To conclude the fall sports season, the Blazer volleyball squad won its firstever Conference USA Tournament title and made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The 2006 UAB volleyball team won the Conference USA Tournament title and competed in the program’s first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament.
In 2011, the UAB men’s basketball team secured the program’s first outright Conference USA regular season championship. December 17, 2006: Former Georgia offensive coordinator Neil Callaway was chosen to lead the UAB football team, becoming the third coach in the program’s history, and the second coach to lead the Blazers since becoming a Division I program in 1996. Spring,
2007:
Zack Sucher matched UAB’s highest finish ever at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships, closing the tournament tied for fourth place with a five-under 275 during four rounds of play. Sucher became just the fourth UAB men’s golfer in program history to earn All-American status, nabbing a spot on the honorable mention All-America team. In addition, the men’s golf team made its fifth NCAA Regional appearance in the past eight years.
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2011 UAB Cross Country
February 14, 2007: Former UAB baseball player and alumnus Brian Mackin was selected as the program’s fourth full-time Athletics Director. Spring, 2008: UAB men’s golf team captures the program’s first-ever Conference USA Championship. The Blazers went on to make the program’s seventh NCAA Regional and third NCAA National Championship appearances. Zack Sucher was tabbed second-team All-America and captured four individual titles during the 2007-08 men’s golf season. May 21, 2008: The UAB baseball team made history by recording the program’s first-ever win over the then-No. 5 Rice Owls, 8-2, in the opening round of the Conference USA Tournament. Not only did the Blazers defeat the Owls for the first time in 10 tries, but it also was the second-highest ranked opponent the baseball team has defeated in program history. The Blazers would go on to match their best-ever result in the C-USA Tournament, making it to the semifinals. 2009-10: The softball team capped arguably the most successful season in program history with 37 wins and its first ever NCAA tournament berth. The men’s basketball team also Participated in the postseason, advancing to the NIT quarterfinals and hosting defending national champion North Carolina at Bartow Arena. Individually, football’s Joe Webb and men’s soccer’s Two-Boys Gumede were selected as C-USA Offensive Players of the Year for their sports. Jala Harris became the first C-USA women’s basketball player ever to earn Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year honors in the same season. Feb. 23, 2010:
The UAB softball team opened its new, on-campus facility, drawing a school-record crowd of 1,323 to its contest with Alabama. Spring,
2011:
The UAB men’s basketball team captured the program’s first-ever outright Conference USA regular season championship. The Blazers were also selected to the NCAA Tournament, marking their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2006 and the program’s 14th NCAA selection in its 32-year history. The softball team earned its second NCAA berth in as many seasons as well. Furthermore, women’s tennis standout Jenny Cape became the first Academic All-American for her sport, while track and field also received its first Academic All-America selections, as Nora Mehl and Rhiannon Johns received the nod.
Men’s Basketball • 14 NCAA Tournament and 10 NIT appearances • Eight conference championships • 28 winning seasons in 33 years • 21 20-win seasons in 33 years • Three Sweet 16 appearances • Four All-Americans Football • First bowl game appearance in 2004 (7-5 record) • First “bowl-eligible” season with 7-4 overall record in 2000 • Played first season at Division I-A level in 1996; now competes as a member of Conference USA • Roddy White selected in first round of 2005 NFL draft (No. 27 overall) • Bryan Thomas selected in first round of 2002 NFL draft (No. 22 overall) • Eight All-Americans Men’s Soccer • NCAA Tournament participant (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006) • 1999 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and 2001 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 • Three conference championships (1994, 1995, 1999) • Eight All-Americans Women’s Basketball • 2000 NCAA Sweet 16 participant • Four conference championships (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994) • NCAA Tournament participant (1994, 2000) • Four-time WNIT participant (1990, 1991, 2001, 2007) • 2011 WBI Champions • Four All-Americans Baseball • Three conference championships (1991, 1992, 1994) • 1991 NCAA Tournament participant
• Shayne Carnes (1998) and Ryan Keedy (2008) named All-Americans by multiple publications • Four All-Americans Men’s Tennis • Six All-Americans • Three Academic All-Americans • Five NCAA Tournament appearances (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000) • Top-30 ranking from 1993-2000 • Five conference championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) Women’s Tennis • Four conference championships (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996) • Six national rankings (1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) • Top-ranked singles player in nation (Mirela Vladulescu-1997-98) • One All-American Volleyball • Two-time NCAA Tournament participant (2006 and 2008) • Four conference championships (1990, 1991, 1992, 2006) • Five WIVC postseason appearances (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) • Two Academic All-Americans • Three AVCA All-America honorable mention honorees Men’s Golf • 2001, 2002 and 2008 NCAA Championship Participant • NCAA Regional Participants 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 • 2008 Conference USA Champions • 1995 Great Midwest Conference Champions • No. 1-ranked golfer and Fred Haskings Award winner (Graeme McDowell) • Six All-Americans
Blazer
Track & Field/ Cross Country • 2002 Cross Country NCAA All-Academic Team • 1995 Great Midwest Conference Women’s Indoor & Outdoor Champions • Three All-Americans • 1992 Women’s Great Midwest Conference Cross Country Champions • Two Olympic Trials Qualifiers • Cross Country conference champions, 2006 • 2005 Individual Cross Country C-USA Champion • Eight-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Softball • Two-time NCAA Tournament participant (2010 and 2011) • 18 NFCA All-American Scholar Athletes • Five athletes named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I AllRegion Rifle • One C-USA Shootout third place finisher • 1997-98 Individual fifth place finisher at C-USA Championship Women’s Golf • Seven All-Conference USA Selections • C-USA Freshman of the Year Women’s Soccer • UAB Academic Award (1997, 1998, 2000) • Five All-Americans • Three conference championships (2003, 2004, 2006) • Two NCAA Tournament appearances (2004, 2006)
Highlights
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2011 UAB Cross Country
UAB
All-Americans U A B
Men’s Basketball
Men’s Soccer
Aaron Johnson Clint Baumstark Jerome Mincy Peter Byaruhanga Steve Mitchell Leandro10deConference Oliveira y moving to the Atlantic Oliverfor Robinson Tony McManus the 1997 season, Villanova UniverFlavio Monteiro sity’s nine-year membership of the Yankee ConRumbani Munthali Football ference and the conference’s 50-year football Marinthe Pusek Rodregis Brooks legacy came to a close. Under direction of Cedrick Buchannon head coach Andy Talley, Houston VillanovaSmith compiled a Josh Evans lifetime mark of 38-31 in Yankee Conference Kerry Frazier Women’s Soccer contests. During their Yankee Conference hisRobertthe Leslie Kidwell tory, Wildcats shared Tara the league championDerrick Ingram ship twice, 1991 and 1989, finished second on John Whitcomb Tennis three occasions, in 1996, Men’s 1992 and 1990, and Roddy White Gerd Albiez third once in 1988. Kirsten The addition of threeMike college football proPaul Rosner Women’s grams in 1993 (James Madison, Northeastern Schaffner Basketball and William and Mary)Frank made the Yankee Vaughn Snyman I-AA Wanda Hightower Conference the largest NCAA Division Woisetschläger Deanna Jackson conference, with 12 totalMartin members. Each one
B
of the 12 schools competed for the conferBaseball Women’s Tennis ence title, playing an eight-game league slate. Shayne Carnes Mirela Vladulescu For scheduling purposes only, the league was Jay Cole into a New England Division (Boston divided Mitch Jones University ofTrack/ University, Connecticut, UniRyan Keedy Cross Country versity of Maine, University of Massachusetts, Elizabeth University of New Hampshire and Ambrus the UniverFlowers Divisity of Rhode Island), andVonetta a Mid-Atlantic AngelaJames King Madison sion (University of Delaware, University, Northeastern University, University of Richmond, VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY Steve Mitchell and the College of William and Mary). Also, each individual school had to play each team in its own division, as well as three teams from the other division each year for a total of eight league contests. The Yankee Conference originally developed from the New England College Conference of Intercollegiate Athletics. When Northeastern University offered its resignation from that group, the Land Grant institutions appointed a committee to form a new league. On December 8, 1945, that committee recommended an athletic conference formed by the six New England Land Grant colleges, namely; the University of Connecticut, University of Maine, Massachusetts State College (now the University of Massachusetts), Rhode Island State College (now the University of Rhode Island), the University of New Hampshire and the University of Vermont. On August 24, 1946, representatives from Elizabeth the schools met. A preamble and code of the Ambrus Yankee Conference were adopted, and became effective on December 3, 1946. The On August 24, 1946, representatives from the schools met. A preamble and code of the Yankee Conference were adopted, and became effective on December 3, 1946. The first league championships
Men’s Golf
Paul Dickinson Graeme McDowell Garrett Osborn Zack Sucher
F o o t b a l l
2008 UAB Outlook
Academic All-Americans
Baseball Brent Laircey
Men’s Soccer
Rebecca Johnson
Kristen Kramer Lane Knight 1996); Maine twice (1987, 1989); New HampLoucas Papaconstantinou Stacy Leiker shire twice (1991, 1994); James Madison twice Karen Meyer Men’s Lukasz Kwapisz (1994, 1995), William & Mary Saratwice Petrov (1993Basketball Synchronized 1996) and Richmond (1987) Sarah once.w PikalHampCarter Long Women’s Soccer Swimming shire and the University of Rhode Island), and a Moraine Ruddick Danielle Blair Morgan Clarke Mid-Atlantic ofTodd Delaware, Hallie Football BriannaDivision McCarty (University Meryl Grandia James Madison University, Northeastern UniJohnny Rea Lisa Nowoslawski Amanda Haeuser Softball Petersof Richmond, versity, Denise University VILLANOVA Stephanie Jackson Byrne and Volleyball Jill Porto and the CollegeAmanda UNIVERSITY of William Stacey Jackson Allisonhad Davis Suzie Johnson Woodward Mary). Vanessa Also, each individual school to play Patti Schroder Margareta Jakovac each team in its own division,Amanda as wellEllis as three Candice Hithe Synchronized Stacy Leiker teams from the other division each year for a Kris Lara Men’s Tennis Swimming Sara Petrov total of Vanessa eight league contests. Emily Scarbrough Sebastian Falk Dash Hallie Todd The Andrea YankeeDash Conference originally developed Megan Stephenson Frank Schaffner Bogdana Zareva from the New England College Conference of Martin Woisetschläger Kelli Dickerson Intercollegiate Athletics. When Northeastern Track/Cross Amanda Haeuser Volleyball Country University offered its resignation from that Women’s Tennis Frances Halloran Ivana Bozic Rhiannon Johns a Jenny Cape Stacey Jackson group, the Land Grant institutions appointed Sam Serley Nora Stephanie Jackson committee to form a new league. OnMehl December Nevena Stefanov 8, 1945, that committee recommended an athletic conference formed by the six New England Land Grant colleges, namely; the University of Connecticut, University of Maine, Massachusetts State College (now the University of Massachusetts), Rhode Island State College (now the University of Rhode Island), the Uniiate Athletics. When Northeastern University of New Hampshire and the University versity offered its resignation from of Vermont.Ryan that group, the Land Grant institutions Keedy On August 24, 1946, representatives from the schools met. A preamble and code of the were conducted in the 1947-48 season. first league championships were conducted Yankee Conference were adopted, and became effective on December 3, 1946. The On August in the 1947-48 season. In 1978, with the creation by the NCAA of 24, 1946, representatives from the schools met. Division I-AA Football, the Yankee Conference A preamble and code of the Yankee Conference disbanded in all sports with the exception of were adopted, and became effective on Decemfootball. Vermont, which had dropped football ber 3, 1946. The first league championships in 1974, dropped out of the league. As a result, were conducted in the 1947-48 season. first league championships were conducted the Yankee Conference, after already adding Boston University in 1973, was six members in the 1947-48 season. In 1978, with the creation by the NCAA of strong. In 1984, the University of Delaware and Division I-AA Football, the Yankee Conference University of Richmond joined the league, and disbanded in all sports with the exception of became eligible for the league title in 1986, football. Vermont, which had dropped football while the Villanova University Wildcats came in 1974, dropped out of the league. As a result, on board in 1985. They became eligible for the the Yankee Conference, after already adding Boston University in 1973, was six members league title in 1988. The Yankee Conference was one of the strong. In 1984, the University of Delaware and original conferences to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs in 1978. University of Richmond joined the league, and Since the birth of NCAA Division I-AA, Bos- became eligible for the league title in 1986, Flavio ton University went Monteiro to the playoffs five times while the Villanova University Wildcats came (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1994); Rhode Island on board in 1985. They became eligible for the three times (1981, 1984, 1985); Massachusetts league title in 1988. The Yankee Conference was one of the three times (1978, 1988, 1990); Delaware six times (1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, original conferences to receive an automatic bid 1996); Villanova four times (1989, 1991, 1992, to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs in 1978.
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1 9 C1 r o s s C o u n t r y 2011 UAB
EXCELLENCE U A B
2008 At The Next Level
F o o t b a l l
UAB Outlook Deanna Jackson
Years At UAB: 1998-2002
• First and only UAB player selected in the WNBA Draft, chosen Years At UAB: 1999-2002 eighth overall by 1989); the Cleveland Rock1996); Maine twice (1987, New Hampy moving to the Atlantic 10 Conference • Captured the 2010 U.S. Open Chamers in 2002 shire twice (1991, 1994); James Madison twice for the 1997 season, Villanova Univerpionship – the first major title by a former Competed Basketball (1994, 1995), •William & with MaryUSA twice (1993sity’s nine-year membership of the Yankee ConUAB golfer and the first U.S. Open win by a on the 2000 Jones Cup Team that 1996) and won Richmond once.w Hampference and the conference’s 50-year football European player in nearly 40 years the Gold(1987) in Taipei shire and the University of Rhode Island), player and a legacy came to a close. Under the direction of• Has won six professional tournaments, • Only women’s basketball Mid-Atlantic (University of Delaware, head coach Andy Talley, Villanova compiledfive a of which have come on the European in Division C-USA and UAB history to record more than 2,000 pointsUniversity, and 1,000 career reboundsUniJamescareer Madison Northeastern lifetime mark of 38-31 in Yankee ConferenceTour • A member of Europe’s Ryder Cup • Two-time C-USA Player ofofthe Year (2000-01, 2001-02) versity, University Richmond, VILLANOVA contests. During their Yankee Conference his- Team in 2008 and helped lift his team and the league’s Freshman ofand the the YearCollege in 1999of William and UNIVERSITY tory, the Wildcats shared the league championto the trophy in 2010 • UAB career leader in rebounds (1,118) and ranks second Mary). Also, each individual school had to play ship twice, 1991 and 1989, finished second on • Named 2010 ASWA Profes- in school history in points (2,144) sional Athlete of the Year and GWAA each team in its own division, as well as three three occasions, in 1996, 1992 and 1990, and Golfer of the Year teams from the other division each year for a third once in 1988. • Ranked as high as No. 4 in the total of eight league contests. The addition of three college football proworld golf rankings Bryan Thomas The Yankee Conference originally developed grams in 1993 (James Madison, Northeastern • First-team All-America selection Years At UAB: 1998-2001 from the New England College Conference of and William and Mary) made the Yankee and C-USA Golfer of the Year in 2001 Selected No. 22 overall by the Intercollegiate • Athletics. When Northeastern Conference the largest NCAA Division I-AA and 2002 New York Jets in 2002, becoming the • Winner of the 2002 Fred Haskins University Blazers’ offered highest-ever its resignation frompick that conference, with 12 total members. Each one NFL draft group, the Land Grant institutions appointed of the 12 schools competed for the confer- Award, given annually to the nation’s • Entering his 10th year as a Jet witha committee to a new league. December ence title, playing an eight-game league slate. top collegiate golfer 141form career games played,On compiling 91 starts, 404 tackles, 31 sacks, sevenanforced 8, 1945, that committee recommended athFor scheduling purposes only, the league was Roddy White fumbles and five recoveries letic conference formed by fumble the six New England divided into a New England Division (Boston Years At UAB: 2001-04 • Ranks namely; as UAB’s the all-time leader Land Grant colleges, University University, University of Connecticut, Uni• Drafted No. 27 overall by the in career sacks (36) and tackles for of Connecticut, University of Maine, Massaversity of Maine, University of Massachusetts, Atlanta Falcons in 2005 loss (56) • Was named as an NFL All-Pro State College the which University of University of New Hampshire and the Univer• Led thechusetts “Steel Shield” defense (now in 2001, topped Massachusetts), Rhode Island State College sity of Rhode Island), and a Mid-Atlantic Divi- wide receiver in 2010 the nation in rushing defense (57.3 yards per game) and • Became the first UAB alum to earn wasUniranked No. in the nation inoftotal defense (265.9 (now5 the University Rhode Island), the yards Unision (University of Delaware, James Madison iate Athletics. When Northeastern an invitation to the NFL Pro Bowl, per game) versity of New Hampshire and the University University, Northeastern University, University receiving versity offered its resignation from the nod in three consecutive of Vermont. of Richmond, VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY seasons that(2008-2010) group, the Land Grant institutions On August 24, 1946, representatives from and the College of William and Mary). Also,• First Falcon ever to have 80 catches and in four straightinseasons (2007-10) the schoolsDejan met. A Jakovic preamble and code of the were conducted the 1947-48 season. each individual school had to play 1,100-plus each team yards 71first receptions an NCAA-leading league for championships were conducted Yankee Conference in its own division, as well as three teams• Collected from Years Atwere UAB:adopted, 2005-07and became C-USA-record 1,452 yards and a C-USAeffective on December 3, 1946. The On in the 1947-48 season. the other division each year for a totaland of eight • A starting defender forAugust D.C. record 14 touchdowns as a senior in 2004 United in Major League Soccer met. 24, 1946, representatives from the schools In 1978, with the creation by the NCAA of league contests. • Ranks second in the UAB record books in Formerly Red Star of theplayed YankeeforConference Division Football, Yankee Conference A preamble and• code The Yankee Conference originally developed career receptions (163),I-AA receiving yardsthe (3,112) Belgrade in Serbia’s First Division disbanded in(26) all sports with the exception of were adopted, and became effective on Decemfrom the New England College Conference of touchdowns and receiving • Has made 16 international The firstforleague championships Intercollegiate Athletics. When Northeastern football. Vermont, which had dropped football ber 3, 1946. appearances the Canadian NationVonetta Flowers in the 1947-48 season. 1974, dropped out of the league. As a result, were conducted University offered its resignation from that in(Jeffrey) al Team Years aAt UAB: 1992-95Conference, after already adding first league •championships conducted the Yankee group, the Land Grant institutions appointed A three-timewere all-conference • Inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of selection at UAB season. committee to form a new league. On December Boston University in 1973, was six members in the 1947-48 Fame in 2010 • Twice earned honors In first-team 1978, withall-region the creation by the NCAA of 8, 1945, that committee recommended an ath• Madestrong. history at the 2002 Winter OlymDivision I-AA Football, the Yankee Conference In 1984, the University of Delaware and letic conference formed by the six New England pics in Salt Lake City, becoming the first and University of Richmond joined the league, and disbanded in all sports with the exception of Land Grant colleges, namely; the University only former UAB athlete to earn an Olympic Gold Medal had dropped football became eligible for the league title in 1986, football. Vermont, of Connecticut, University of Maine, MassaChris which Hammond the Villanova Gold in the bobsledWildcats as outUAB: of the1985 league. As a result, while the University came in 1974, dropped chusetts State College (now the University •ofCaptured Years At the first black athlete (male They or female in any • Drafted inafter 1986already by Cincinnati adding on board in 1985. became eligible for the the Yankee Conference, Massachusetts), Rhode Island State College country) to win a gold medal at the Winter Reds andinmade league debut Boston University 1973,major was six members (now the University of Rhode Island), the Olympics Uni- league title in 1988. in 1990 The Yankee Conference versity of New Hampshire and the University • Selected to carrywastheone of the strong. • Pitched 14 seasons in the major In 1984, the University of Delaware and originalAmerican conferences to receive automatic bid of Vermont. flag in the an 2002 leagues, including four with the Reds closing Division ceremonies the league, and I-AA Playoffs in 1978. University of On August 24, 1946, representatives from to the NCAA andRichmond five withjoined the Florida Marlins, • Honored as the 2002 I-AA, Bos- became eligible for his the career league with title an in overall 1986, of NCAA Division the schools met. A preamble and code of the Since the birth finishing USOC Team with five times while the Villanova University went oftothe theYear playoffs Yankee Conference were adopted, and became ton University record of 66-62 and aWildcats 4.14 ERAcame teammate Jill Bakken • Pitched inbecame the 2003 Worldfor Series on board in 1985. They eligible the (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1994); Rhode Island effective on December 3, 1946. The On August • All-American in track with the New York Yankees league title in 1988. (1981, 1984, 1985); Massachusetts 24, 1946, representatives from the schools met. three times & field at UAB, where she • Known more a hitter atConference UAB, posting Theas Yankee wasa .275 one average of the (1978, 1988, 1990); A preamble and code of the Yankee Conference three times still holds numerous school Delaware with 32 runs scored and 16 RBI in 1985 records (1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, original conferences to receive an automatic bid were adopted, and became effective on Decem- six times ber 3, 1946. The first league championships 1996); Villanova four times (1989, 1991, 1992, to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs in 1978.
B
Graeme McDowell
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2 0 1 1 U A 1B8 9 Cross Country
Gene Bartow Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame ’89 National College Basketball Hall Of Fame ’09
O
ne of the most respected figures in intercollegiate athletics, Gene Bartow, forged the UAB athletic program into a well-rounded organization with outstanding teams in several sports. Bartow, considered the “founding father” of UAB athletics, grew the intercollegiate sports program there from its infancy into one that featured 17 sports and an annual operating budget of more than $8 million by the time he retired from the position in 2000. Among his achievements were guiding the program through three conference changes, growing the football team from a club sport into a Division I-A program, and adding several women’s sports to the university’s athletics roster. Bartow was at the helm of the UAB men’s basketball program for 18 seasons, compiling a record of 366-203 (.643) during his tenure. He led the Blazers to the NIT in the program’s second year of existence, and followed that up with seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 1981 and the Elite Eight in 1982. In all, he led UAB to 14 postseason appearances, nine of which were NCAA Tournaments. In addition to his time at UAB, Bartow is one of the top college basketball coaches of all time. By the time he retired from collegiate coaching in 1996, he had led teams for 34 years at six universities (Central Missouri State, Valparaiso, Memphis State, Illinois, UCLA and UAB), compiling 647 wins, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Four appearances, one national title game appearance and one national Coach of the Year Award (both with Memphis State in 1973), and no probation problems with the NCAA. The Browning, Missouri native coached 34 years at six universities. He coached at Central Missouri State University from 1961-64, Valparaiso University from 1964-1970, Memphis State University from 1970-74, and he led the Tigers to the ‘73 NCAA national championship game and consecutive Missouri Valley Conference titles in the ‘71-’72 and ‘72-’73 seasons. In 1974 Bartow accepted the head coaching position at the University of Illinois. Illinois finished 8-18 in his only season coaching the Fighting Illini, and Bartow left his position to succeed John Wooden as the head coach of UCLA. Bartow coached at UCLA from 1975 to 1977, guiding them to a 52-9 record, including a berth in the 1976 Final Four. Bartow left UCLA after the 1977 season to take over the job of creating an athletic program at UAB. Bartow retired from coaching in 1996, and in 1997, UAB renamed its basketball venue, Bartow Arena, in his honor. The Birmingham News has voted him one of the top 10 most influential figures in Alabama sports for the past century. Bartow and his wife, the former Ruth Huffine, have three children, Mark, Beth and Murry, who is the head men’s basketball coach at East Tennessee State. 27
2011 UAB Cross Country
“Founding Father” of UAB Athletics • UAB head basketball coach (1977-96) • UAB’s first Athletics Director (1977-2000) • Nine NCAA Tournament appearances at UAB • 14 postseason appearances during 18-year coaching career at UAB • 11 20-win seasons during UAB coaching career tenure • 647 career coaching victories • 366 victories at UAB • Led UAB to NCAA Sweet 16 in 1981 and Elite Eight appearance in 1982 • Voted by the Birmingham News as one of the top-10 influential figures in Alabama sports over the past century
UAB AT A GLANCE UAB is a young, dynamic university that has, over four decades, won international renown for its leading-edge research, medical care and academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Home to more than 17,500 students and 2,000 faculty members, UAB impacts every facet of the Birmingham community, improving the lives of residents through innovative health care, education, and active service and engagement. On a campus encompassing 86 city blocks, breakthroughs are made daily in the arts and sciences, business, dentistry, education, engineering, health professions, medicine, nursing, optometry and public health.
Bharat Soni, one of America’s top computing experts and a UAB engineering professor, has created a high-performance virtual reality lab on campus. In more than 80 interdisciplinary research centers all over campus, faculty and students are pushing the envelope in science and medicine, developing new treatments and cures for conditions ranging from cancer to Alzheimer’s to heart disease. UAB’s physicianresearchers, and the facilities in which they work, are recognized as among the best in the nation. UAB’s impact on its community and state is tremendous, and is seen not only in improved education and health care, but in a stronger economy. As Alabama’s largest single employer, UAB has some 18,000 employees and is responsible for more than 61,000 jobs statewide (that’s one of every 33 jobs), and has an annual economic impact of $4.6 billion. One of every 25 dollars in the state’s budget is generated by UAB.
A University Forging the Future • UAB has seen record overall enrollment for three consecutive years. In fall 2011, UAB welcomed 17,575 students and its largest freshman class ever (over 1,600), with two-thirds of those freshmen living on campus. • Forbes lists UAB among the top 20% of all U.S. undergraduate institutions and The Princeton Review has ranked the university in the top 10 nationally for student diversity for three consecutive years (currently 5th).
UAB enriches Birmingham’s cultural landscape through a diversity of people and activities such as athletics, performing arts, theatre, social service, and much more.
• An exciting nexus of the sciences, business and education, and the arts and humanities, UAB is forging the ideas and technologies of tomorrow with intensely collaborative research and scholarship. It’s where creativity and innovation are campus traditions—and where successful futures begin.
2004 Blazer Football
www.uab.edu
Top-Quality Health
Care
• UAB Hospital is the largest in the state and among the largest and most complex in the nation (1,146 beds), and the only Alabama hospital listed for 22 straight years in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” issue, which lists only 3 percent of hospitals nationwide. In the current issue, UAB has six medical specialties in the top 25. • UAB is the largest academic medical center in Alabama and one of the top four largest academic medical centers in the United States, treating 1,187,230 patients last year. • UAB provides vital resources and services that are offered nowhere else in Alabama, such as an adult level 1 trauma center, a burn center, and a Level III (highest level) regional neonatal intensive care unit. • UAB’s Comprehensive Cancer Center was one of the nation’s first such centers designated by the National Cancer Institute and remains the only one in Alabama and a six-state region. • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has designated UAB as one of only six Diabetes Research and Training Centers in the country, putting the university at the forefront in development of new methods to treat, prevent and, ultimately, cure diabetes.
• The UAB School of Health Professions provides advanced opportunities and is one of the largest schools of its type in the nation, with 21 innovative programs at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degree levels within six departments: Critical Care, Diagnostic and Therapeautic Sciences; Health Services Administration; Nutrition Sciences; Occupational Therapy; and Physical Therapy. U.S. News & World Report ranks several SHP programs among the nation’s top 25. • UAB Kirklin Clinic is a state-of-the-art, full-service clinic that furnishes a full range of adult outpatient care. Housing more than 25 specialties and more than 700 specialists under one roof, UAB Kirklin Clinic conveniently provides in-house diagnostic testing, surgery services, a pharmacy and educational seminars. • Several graduate programs at UAB have been recognized for excellence nationally. In the most recent ranking by U.S. News & World Report of graduate programs, the School of Nursing ranks 26th overall, with the School of Medicine being 27th and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 58th. Individual programs also have been cited, with the AIDS program within the School of Medicine ranked 5th and the School of Health Profession’s health administration program ranked 7th.
A Leading-Edge Research • UAB is ranked 31st nationally for federal research and development funding, attracting over $460 million in 2010, and is 21st in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). • UAB is among a handful of universities classified by the Carnegie Foundation for both “high research activity” and “community engagement,” which suggests how effectively the university harnesses that research to benefit the community—in terms of the economy, education, better health, and quality of life. • Recent breakthroughs include a novel bio-coating for cardiac stents that significantly reduces the need for follow-up surgery; using remote satellite imaging to discover ancient ruins in Egypt, featured in a recent BBC documentary; a new collaboration with HudsonAlpha (Huntsville) investigating the genetic roots of Parkinson’s disease; the opening the Materials Processing and Application Development (MPAD) facility, the largest academic research facility of its kind in the nation, offering the rare capability of developing both metals and composites under one roof.
Enterprise
• Innovation Depot, in which UAB is a founding partner, was recently named the Top High-Tech Business Incubator in the nation by the National Business Incubation Association. As the largest incubator in the Southeast, the Depot was responsible for 75 tenant companies and $274 million in sales impact in 2010 (and $1.4 billion in sales impact over the past five years). • Physician-researchers are at the top of their fields, serving as editors-in-chief of 25 peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals, and in high-level national posts—UAB faculty are currently serving as President of the American Cancer Society and President-elect of the American Heart Association, and an alumna, Dr. Regina Benjamin, is U.S. Surgeon General.
• UAB is one of only two academic institutions available nationwide receiving requests for Crew Robotics and Vehicle Equipment (CRAVE) for NASA’s International Space Station, space shuttles, and beyond. Lee Moradi, CRAVE program manager in the Center for Biophysical Science and Engineering, says UAB will design, test, and manufacture high-precision research instruments and thermal carriers, he also foresees additional work to develop extravehicular activity and robotics equipment, crew health and conditioning systems, and environmental control and life-support technology.
Challenging, Distinctive
Academic Programs
• UAB offers one-of-a-kind programs, such as the only undergraduate biomedical engineering degree, the only industrial distribution degree in the Southeast, and one of only four forensic accounting and IT concentrations in the nation. • UAB also offers unrivaled research and scholarship opportunities for students at all levels, ranking 1st among all public universities in federal research funding per incoming freshman. Of the 138 undergraduates enrolled in the Science and Technology Honors Program (part of the acclaimed UAB Honors Academy) in 2010-11, 35 were published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. • In the U.S. News & World Report rankings of graduate programs, UAB has 13 programs in the top 25 and five in the top 10: Master’s in health administration, 5th; School of Medicine’s AIDS program, 6th; Medicine’s primary care, 10th; nurse practitioner (adult), 10th; nursing service administration, 10th. • The Scientist ranked UAB 22nd nationally (and 6th among public universities) in its “Best Places to Work as a Postdoctoral Fellow” issue. • UAB’s Alys Stephens Center is celebrating its 15th anniversary as Birmingham’s “home for the performing arts,” housing a 1,330-seat concert hall, intimate recital hall and state-of-the-art theatres. With 24 Steinway pianos in its music department, UAB is Alabama’s first “AllSteinway School” and one of only 125 in the world. • The School of Nursing is designated as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for International Nursing, one of only 10 such centers in the U.S. and 45 in the world.
Athletic Achievements
• Former UAB men’s golfer Graeme McDowell (right) won the U.S. Open in 2010. At UAB, he was the nation’s No. 1-ranked collegiate golfer in 2002. • In 33 seasons of competition, the Blazer men’s basketball team has enjoyed 29 winning seasons, has made 25 trips to postseason tournaments (14 NCAA, 11 NIT), and has won eight conference championships. With the 2011 NCAA berth, the Blazers have reached postseason play in eight of the past nine years (4 NCAA, 4 NIT). UAB advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2004, knocking off tournament No. 1 seed Kentucky in the second round.
• Just in the past three years, UAB students earned 8 Goldwater Scholarships, 7 Fulbright scholarships, 3 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships and an NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholarship (one of only 15 in the nation).
• The men’s soccer team advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fifth time overall in 2006. The team won the 1999 C-USA Championship and advanced to the NCAA Final 8. • The UAB women’s soccer team has won the C-USA Tournament title twice (2004 and 2006), earning NCAA trips both years. In 2003, the UAB women captured the C-USA regular season title.
• The UAB softball team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2010 and made a return trip in 2011. The Blazers defeated Florida State in the first round of the 2011 Athens Regional for their first ever NCAA tourney win.
• The Blazers field 18 intercollegiate teams as a Division I member of the NCAA and a founding member of Conference USA.
• The Blazer volleyball team has made two NCAA tournament appearances in the past five years (2006 and 2008). The program earned its first NCAA tournament victory in 2008 with a first-round win over Missouri State.
• Vonetta Flowers, a former UAB track & field AllAmerican, made history in February of 2002 when she won a Gold Medal at the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Flowers became the first Winter Olympics Gold Medalist ever from Alabama when she teamed with Jill Bakken to capture the two-woman bobsled competition.
• Blazer football earned its first postseason bowl appearance with a berth in the 2004 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The Blazers have finished as Conference USA runner-up three times since they became a football-playing member of the league.
www.uabsports.com
Academics
A
ssociate Athletic Director for Student Ser- practice, travel and competition schedules. In addition, athletic advisors regularly vices Danez M. 2010-11 C-USA review the performance and class Marrable oversees a staff Commissioner’s attendance of all student-athletes of eight full-time adviHonor Roll to help them keep on pace toward sors, a learning specialist, graduation. reading and writing specialist and five assistants (Student-athletes achieving In addition, the Life Skills program in the Don M. & Maris run through this office. This sha Hoke Hire StudentNCAA program centers around Athlete Academic Cencumulative GPA of 3.0 or better) the five commitments (academics, ter. Their mission is to athletics, personal development, provide the highest qualcareer development and communiity of academic support, Elin Andersson ty service) and was created to supcounseling and guidance port the student-athlete developto UAB student-athletes ment initiatives and enhance the by promoting academic Lauren Fayen quality of the student-athlete excellence, self-responsiexperience within the context of bility, personal and prohigher education. fessional growth. Stephanie Gammon
of athletics director Brian Mackin, and with a generous donation from Don M. & Marsha Hoke Hire, UAB was able to completely renovate the academic center and provide first-class facilities to the Blazers’ student-athletes. Sitting in the middle of UAB’s athletic complexes, including Bartow Arena and the football practice facilities, the Hoke Hire Student-Athlete Academic Center serves as the home for overseeing the educational development and progress toward graduation for all studentathletes.
Finally, the Student-Athlete Marrable and her staff act Advisory Commitas a liaison between the Rhiannon Johns tee (SAAC) student-athlete, coaches is advised and UAB’s academic through communities and ensures Colleen Standridge the stuthat student-athletes d e n t comply with academic services rules established by the Lucy Taylor offices. university, the NCAA T h i s and Conference USA. group, The staff also coordiEmily Trotter the ‘voice’ nates academic programs of the designed to assist the stustudentdent-athletes in acquiring Kristina Vaughn athletes, is a quality education as composed well as programs to proof representatives from mote personal and career development. each team. At UAB, this UAB’s Student Services program wants to make group works to promote certain that student-athletes succeed to their UAB athletics, organizes highest academic ability. Inherent in the pro- community service efforts, gram is the philosophy that student-athletes provides administration take responsibility for their own growth and with the voice of the studevelopment while receiving maximum support. dent-athletes and works to The academic unit’s goals are to prepare student- ensure student-athlete welfare athletes for viable careers, to assist them in secur- and success in the Birmingham community. ing degrees and to produce responsible citizens. The athletic advisors, in conjunction with specific major advisors, work with student-athletes on a regular basis on necessary requirements for their chosen degree. The advisors also help plan class schedules, keeping in mind academic standing,
Danez Marrable Associate Athletic Director for Student Services
UAB’s commitment to academic excellence got a boost in the summer of 2008 with the completion of the Don M. & Marsha Hoke Hire Student-Athlete Academic Center. Under the direction
Drew Barnette Academic Advisor
Sidney Ball Academic Advisor
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(L-R) Marsha and Don Hire, Mr. Charles J. Hoke and UAB Athletics Director Brian Mackin cut the ribbon on the new Academic Center in 2008.
Mary Kathryn Borland Academic Advisor
2011 UAB Cross Country
Greg Green Coordinator of Football Academics
Christina Harris Academic Advisor
Don M. & Marsha Hoke Hire Student-Athlete Academic Center • Completed in the Summer of 2008 • Houses a director, a learning specialist, sevenfull-time advisors and five assistants • More than 50 tutors and mentors • Over 40 computers available for student use • Computer lab for general student use • Learning lab • Laptops for student-athlete checkout • Mentor meeting room Spring 2011 Graduate: Stephanie Gammon
• Nine small group and one-on-one tutor rooms • Five large group study areas • Staff conference room • Tutor/mentor resource library
(L to R): Athletic Director Brian Mackin, track and field graduate Veronicia Johnson, cross country graduate Stephanie Gammon and Academic Advisor Sidney Ball.
Wayne Hamberger Learning Specialist
Sharon Johnson Academic Advisor
Charlie Hogan Academic Advisor
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Josh Watson Academic Advisor
2011 UAB Cross Country
Peggy Weiss Learning Specialist
Sports Medicine
In the fall of 2008, the Wallace Building Athletic Training Room opened. The 9,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility offers the finest therapeutic modalities and rehabilitative equipment. It has an extensive collection of therapeutic and rehabilitation equipment including a BTE isokinetic testing machine and hydrotherapy tanks. The Wet Room features two free standing dual-tank consoles that offer whole-body and extremity immersion in either warm or cold hydrotherapy. UAB has the largest dual-tank console that has a stainless steel tank with a capacity of 1,450 gallons of water and can accommodate up to 25 football student-athletes at a time.
The Sports Medicine program is under the direction of Mike Jones; his full-time athletic trainers are Melissa Adams, Laurie Fincher, Bryan Koch, Gerald Mickler, Greg Mytyk and Jennifer Wallace. Graduate assistant trainers Seong Choi, Matt Fisher, Betsy Ostrowski, Ryan Richardson, Daniel Springer and Dani Stephenson complete the staff.
The Sports Medicine staff provides for all 17 varsity teams and 350 University of Alabama at Birmingham student-athletes with high quality health care. Student-athletes have access to the leading sports medicine and health care professionals. The Sports Medicine staff consists of team physicians, dentists, athletic trainers and a sports nutritionist. The daily care, prevention, evaluation and treatment of injuries is supervised by a staff of seven full-time and five graduate assistants that have been certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and licensed by the state of Alabama.
Dr. Brenda Baumann Team Physician
cialists among the best in America. The Medical Director of UAB Sports Medicine is Dr. William Garth, an orthopedic surgeon. He is responsible for all services provided to student-athletes. General medical care is provided by Dr. Brenda Baumann and Dr. Marshall Crowther.
Team physicians are affiliated with the acclaimed UAB Health System, health professional school and the UAB Sports Medicine. U.S. News & World Report and other national publications consistently rank UAB’s innovative programs and expert spe-
Dr. Marshall Crowther Team Physician
Dr. William Garth Team Physician
In addition to the Wallace Building Facility, auxiliary athletic training rooms are located in Bartow Arena and in Young Memorial Field.
Mike Jones Assistant AD Athletic Training
33 2011 UAB Cross Country
Bryan Koch Associate Athletic Trainer
In the fall semester, 2008, the Wallace Building Athletic Training Room opened its doors. UAB student-athletes began enjoying a brand-new, state of the art athletic training facility. The new 9,000 square foot center allows the athletic training staff to work more efficiently and gives the student-athletes a much more comfortable facility.
Melissa Adams Assistant Athletic Trainer
Laurie Fincher Assistant Athletic Trainer
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Gerald Mickler Assistant Athletic Trainer
Greg Mytyk Assistant Athletic Trainer
2011 UAB Cross Country
Jen Wallace Assistant Athletic Trainer
U
AB’s Strength and Conditioning program, the Blazers’ staff and student-athletes can now boast of having one of the finest facilities around. The new center opened in January of 2008 and houses a 10,000 square-foot weight room that features more than 40,000 pounds of free weights. Strength and conditioning coach coach Lou DeNeen works with members of the Blazer men’s basketball team to develop training programs and enhance each athlete’s performance. DeNeen, who has more than 25 years of
new strength and conditioning area in Bell Gymnasium, more than tripling the size of the area they had utilized previously in Bartow Arena. The bright and spacious weight room area includes state-of-the-art equipment for weight training, stretching and conditioning workouts. DeNeen uses a variety of techniques to assist the Blazers in achieving maximum performance and potential. With a heavy emphasis on Olympic style weightlifting, the program concentrates on speed, power, and strength.
experience in the area of strength and conditioning, joined the UAB staff prior to the 2007 campaign. In addition to his success at the collegiate level, DeNeen has also worked with and trained many professional athletes. His clientele includes MLB players Alex Rodriguez, Raul Ibanez, Mike Lowell, Jose Cruz, Jr. and Alex Gonzalez; NBA players Abdur-Rahim, Mark Strickland, Raja Bell, Jamal Mashburn, Carlos Arroyo, P.J. Brown and Joe Smith; and the NFL’s Tony Gonzalez, among many others. DeNeen and the Blazers moved into their
Strength & Conditioning
Stacey Torman
Cross Country Strength & Conditioning Coach
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2011 UAB Cross Country
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2011 UAB Cross Country
T
he state-of-the-art, $25 million Campus Recreation Center has covered all the bases. It boasts 18,000 square feet of weight and fitness space outfitted with all-new equiptment and a one-eighth-mile oval running track that juts out of the building, curving toward University Boulevard and 15th Street South to provide panoramic views of the campus. And just to make sure no one gets bored, planners added a five-story, rock-climbing wall. The facility features four basketball courts, five racquetball courts, one of which converts to a squash court and a multi-purpose court that can be used for indoor soccer, volleyball, floor hockey or badminton. There are also four aerobic rooms and a swimming pool with four lap lanes and leisure and physical rehabilitation areas. The handicap-accessible pool has many special features. A continuous current in the “lazy river” carries swimmers around the outer edge of the pool in inner tubes – the ride ends under a waterfall – or individuals can walk against the flow as a part of a physical rehabilitation program. For more intense resistance training, center members can use the “vortex,” a circular area within the pool with forceful water jets.
One of the four aerobics rooms is dedicated to spinning; the others host Pilates, general aerobics, yoga, step, and kickboxing classes along with other specialty offerings. The facility also includes the Kids Zone, a supervised area – equipped with toys, books, and movies – where parents can drop off children while they work out. The center also has
a juice bar, wireless internet access, and an Outdoor Pursuits Center that rents camping gear and leads backpacking, rafting, and skiing trips to desitnations around the United States. The first floor houses a wellness center that coordinates with UAB groups to offer nutritional counseling, body-fat measurements, personal training, and general fitness assessments.
Campus
Recreation Center
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2011 UAB Cross Country
BIRMINGHAM The Magic City
The statue of Vulcan — Roman God of Fire and Iron — is the symbol of the city of Birmingham.
W
ith a population of more than 230,000 (more than one million in the metropolitan area), Birmingham has a strong, diverse, service-oriented economy and is recognized as a Southeast leader. Founded shortly after the Civil War, Birmingham rapidly became known as “The Magic City” because of its phenomenal
rate of industrial growth in its beginning. Its mountainous strata and forest surrounding the city are rich with ore deposits, and it was that natural wealth that quickly transformed young Birmingham into a bustling steel metropolis. Today, Birmingham continues to earn the distinction, “The Magic City,” but this tribute is due to the city’s economic competitiveness, technological advancements and quality of life — offerings which are sought after by professionals with an eye toward the future. Birmingham has been recognized as one of America’s “Most Livable Cities” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors — as recently as 1993. Birmingham’s strategic location and diverse economy position the city as one of tremendous opportunity and growth. Centrally located and the largest municipality in Alabama, the city is home to a number of renowned individuals who have made an impression on the nation and the world in music and entertainment, education, medicine and sports, to name a few. There is never a lack of cultural entertainment in “The Magic City”. Dozens of neighborhood and city-wide festivals, museums, parks, sports competitions and much more provide unlimited activity and amusement. Residents and visitors to Birmingham enjoy the city’s recreational and historical attractions such as the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Botanical Gardens,
Vulcan Park, Sloss Furnaces, Southern Museum of Flight and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Sports enthusiasts will never be at a loss for activity at the heart of the “Football Capital of the South.” UAB plays all of its home football games at historic Legion Field, which also was the site of preliminary round soccer matches at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Professional athletic teams in the area include the Class-AA Birmingham Barons (baseball). Several annual fests are held in Birmingham. The biggest is City Stages, held each spring in the downtown City Center. City Stages attracts nearly a quarter of a million people for a three-day weekend of unlimited music. All of this and more makes Birmingham “The Magic City” to residents and visitors year-round.
The Birmingham Civil Rights Museum stands as a reminder of the past and a beacon of hope for the future.
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2011 UAB Cross Country