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MEDIA INFORMATION COVERING THE BULLDOGS The Office of Athletics Communication produces stories, pertinent notes about upcoming games, and cumulative statistics, all of which are available at www.uncabulldogs.com, the on-line home of Bulldog athletics.
Interview Policy: The UNC Asheville Office of Athletics Communication and the track & field coaching staff are eager to assist the media with player and coach interview requests. Please contact the Office of Athletics Communication for all player interviews. On the road, please make coach interview arrangements through the Athletics Communication representative for that sport. Players will not be available for interviews on days of games until the completion of the contest. Your cooperation is appreciated. Media Guides: UNC Asheville will not print media guides to assist in the department’s cost-containment efforts.The Athletics Communication Office will provide the same material it has in the past through on-line supplements and enhanced notes packages.
Athletics Media Communication
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Mike Gore
Press Passes: Please contact the UNC Asheville Athletics Communication Office as early as possible for press passes. Passes will be mailed if time permits.
Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs / Track & Field Contact Office Phone: (828) 251-6923 Cell Phone: (828) 575-6649 Email: mgore@unca.edu
Photographers: Photo passes are limited to working press photographers. All photo requests should be made as early as possible to the Office of Athletics Communication. Services: The UNC Asheville Office of Athletics Communication will provide programs, notes and updated statistics at every track & field meet. After the contest, each media member will receive a box score of the game.
Matt Pellegrin Director of Athletics Media Communication Office Phone: (828) 251-6931 Cell Phone: (828) 707-0302 Email: mpellegr@unca.edu Office Fax: (828) 251-6386 Web Site: www.uncabulldogs.com Mailing Address: One University Heights Justice Center, CPO #2600 Asheville, N.C. 28804
UNC ASHEVILLE MISSION STATEMENT UNC Asheville is a selective, public liberal arts institution. UNC Asheville’s Intercollegiate Athletics Program reflects the attitudes and values underlying the University’s overall mission: academic excellence, diversity, equity, integrity, service, and accomplishment. The UNC Asheville athletics program contributes to this liberal arts culture in two ways. First, athletics programs foster a sense of community and pride by fielding NCAA Division I teams and developing talented student-athletes who successfully represent UNC Asheville in competition and reflect the University’s commitment to overall excellence. Accordingly, the athletics program encourages an atmosphere of respect for self and others through the development of ethical conduct, sportsmanship, leadership, and citizenship and provides equitable opportunities for all students and staff, including women, minorities and indivduals of all sexual identities. Second, the program provides an additional campus experience for capable students to grow and develop academically, personally, socially, and athletically. This experience promotes institutional commitment and pride on the part of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
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MEDIA OUTLETS
NEWSPAPERS
TELEVISION
Asheville Citizen-Times PO Box 2090 Asheville, NC 28802 828/232-5867 800/800-4204 Fax: 828/251-0585
WLOS-TV 110 Technology Drive Asheville, NC 28803 828/651-4563 Fax: 828/651-4618
Hendersonville Times-News PO Box 490 Hendersonville, NC 28739 828/692-0505 Fax: 828/692-2319 The Mountaineer PO Box 129 Waynesville, NC 28786 828/452-0661 Fax: 828/452-0665
WIRE SERVICE Associated Press 219 South McDowell St. Raleigh, NC 27602 800/662-7075 Fax: 919/834-1078
WYFF-TV 505 Rutherford Rd. Greenville, SC 29602 864/242-4404 Fax: 864/240-5305 RADIO STATIONS 1310 WISE Radio 1190 Patton Ave. Asheville, NC 28804 828/253-1310 WWNC Radio PO Box 6447 Asheville, NC 28816 828/253-3835 WCQS Radio 70 Broadway St. Asheville, NC 28801 828/253-6875
Location: Asheville, North Carolina Enrollment: 3,700 Founded: 1927 Nickname: Bulldogs Affiliation: NCAA Division I Conference: Big South Colors: Royal Blue and White Facility: Karl Strauss Track Chancellor: Dr. Anne Ponder Faculty Representative: Dr. Herman Holt Director of Athletics: Janet R. Cone Associate Athletics Director of Internal Affairs and Compliance: Terri Brne Associate Athletics Director of External Affairs: Mike Gore Athletics Business Manager: Judith Bohan Director of Marketing: Erin Punter Spence Ticket Manager: Harmon Turner Ticket Office Phone: (828) 251-6904
SECONDARY ATHLETICS LOGOS
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The Charlotte Observer PO Box 32188 Charlotte, NC 28232 704/379-6448 Fax: 704/379-6506
WSPA-TV PO Box 1717 Spartanburg, SC 29304 864/576-7777 Fax: 864/587-5430
PRIMARY ATHLETICS LOGO
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SAM BARBEAU
JOHN BELLARD
Overview: A thrower from North Carolina...he competed in the outdoor season as a freshman...specializing in javelin. 2011-12: Competed in four competitions this outdoor season... he showed a natural ability for the throws...he set a PR for the javelin early in the season at the UNCC 49ers Classic with a mark of 43.18m... later in the season he had a season best of 31.95m in the discus. Collegiate Best Marks: Javelin- 43.18m Discus-31.95
Overview: Rising sophomore who will make an impact in the horizontal jumps and javelin...he is now second all-time in the indoor triple jump and fourth al-time in the javelin. 2011-12: Opened up his season with a mark of 13.06m in the triple jump at the ASU Invitational...jumped 6.22m in the long jump at the JDL Fast Track Collegiate Invitational...had a season best at the Big South Indoor Championships with a mark of 13.12m in the triple jump... Outdoor...focused on the javelin for outdoor...improved over 16m in just four outdoor competitions...his best distance for the season was at the Big South Outdoor Championships with a mark of 54.83m. Before UNC Asheville: Attended St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, MN for two years... relocated to Providence High School in Charlotte for the remainder of his education...participated on mulitple sports throughout high school...played on the USA handball team. Collegiate Best Marks Long Jump - 6.22m Triple Jump - 13.12m Javelin- 54.83m High Jump - 1.96m (6 ft. 5in.)
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MILES BROWN Overview: An incoming freshman from Green Hope High School…he is ready for competition during the indoor and outdoor seasons...after setting a PR at at NCHSAA 4A State Championships in the 400m (49.49)… his current high school 400m time would place him 1st All-time for the Bulldogs.
2011-12: Outdoor...he competed in the 10k for the Big South Championships (34:05.36). Before UNC Asheville: A transfer from Vermont. Collegiate Best Marks: 5k: 15:42.72
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RYAN BLACKMON Overview: The seasoned runner will be competing in his second year for the Bulldogs and hopes to finish his senior season with continued success.
10k: 34:05.36
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RYAN CATRINE
JEREMY GLOWER
Overview: The new Bulldog is will be a great addition to the men’s distance team and provide depth… he competed at the NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional in the 800m… he received all-conference honors for cross country as well for Fuquay-Varina.
Overview: The distance star from West Johnson placed second at the NCHSAA 4A State Championships with a time of 9:26.38 in the 3200m run.
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KURT HIBBERT Overview: Former baseball player for the Bulldogs who began his collegiate track and field career during the 2010-2011 school year...as a novice thrower he has shown unprecedented success in track and field...scoring in the Outdoor and Indoor Big South Championships for the Bulldogs...he is expected to improve and carry the throws for Asheville.
2011-12: Competing in only the indoor season…he set a PR at the first meet of the year with a time of 6.57 in the 55m…placing him 3rd All-time… the same day he set another PR at Appalachian in the long jump…later in the season he ran a PR of 7.17 in the 60m dash... 2010-11: Opened up his season with a mark of 12.80m (42-00) in the triple jump at the ASU Invitational...ran a collegiate bests of 23.06 in the 200m and 7.19 in the 60m at the Niswonger Invitational...had a collegiate best of 6.11m (20-0.5) in the long jump at the Kent Taylor Invitational. Before UNC Asheville: Attended Ola High School...school record holder in the 100m, 200m & long jump...career bests of 11.19 (100m), 22.60 (200m), 22’3” (long jump) & 41’11” (triple jump). Collegiate Best Marks 55m - 6.57
2011-12: After a solid rookie year he was primed for a breakout season... starting the indoor season with a PR in the shot put (12.12m)...later in the season he had another PR in the weight throw when it counted the most at the Big South Indoor Championships (15.50m)... scoring for the Bulldogs... Outdoor...late in the season with a PR in the discus, he placed 3rd in at the Winthrop Twilight Meet (45.61m); the mark placed him fourth on the alltime list... he is now the best hammer thrower in school history with a ten meter PR in the hammer (54.47m) at Western, NC.
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COURTNEY HENRY Overview: Rising junior who is on the All-time list for the 100m, 200m and the long jump… a valuable member of the team who continues to make an impact in the short sprints and horizontal jumps.
2010-11: New to the sport, he made an impact immediately on the team... learning two new throws for the indoor season...he set personal records after only two indoor meets...shot put (10.89m) and weight throw (13.32m)... Outdoor...in less than a season he improved his shot put mark by over a foot (11.17m)...unexpected success for a new thrower he posted an impressive mark of 44.39m in the discus at the UNCC 49ers Classic...his consistency was present in the hammer as well (44.34m).
60m - 7.17 200m - 23.06
Before UNC Asheville: Primary sport has been baseball through his freshman year here at UNC Asheville...started throwing this summer...personal bests of 133’ (Discus) & 128’ 6” (Hammer).
LJ - 6.81m Collegiate Best Marks TJ - 12.43m Shot Put -12.97m Hammer- 54.47m Weight- 16.71m Discus- 45.61m
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CAMERON HOWARD
JORDAN JAVADI
Overview: The high jumper from Texas who has competed one year for the Bulldogs‌ he is a strong jumper who has helped the Bulldogs. 2011-12: In indoor he got a new season best of 6-0.75 in the High Jump atNiswonger Invitational, placing 15th...he went 5-10.75 in the High Jump at Big South Indoor Championship, placing 8th...Outdoor...he PRed with a mark of 6-1.25 in the High Jump at Big South Championships, placing 8th.
Overview: A talented hurdler from Providence High School in Charlotte, N.C....he was a 2 time North Carolina 4A South West Conference Champion in the 110m hurdles (2011, 2012)...2012 NC 4A West Region Champion in the 110m hurdles...2012 NC 4A State Champion in the 110m hurdles...his personal record in the 110m hurdles is 14.21.
Collegiate Best Marks High Jump 6-1.25
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ELLIOTT PAHEL-SHORT Overview: A rising sophomore who competed for the Bulldogs during indoor and outdoor. 2011-12: Competed in limited meets during the outdoor season but had a PR in the 5k at the Raleigh Relays… Before UNC Asheville: Attended Carrboro High School, placed ninth in the state as an individual to help his team win the 2A team state champions his senior year.
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PATRICK OSBORNE Overview: A incoming freshman who is from Macedonia, Ohio… running for Nordonia High School in the middle distance races… he competed at the OHSAA District Track and Field Championship and placed 5th in the 1600m with a PR of 4:22.32.
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SEBASTIAN PANIAGUA
KEVIN PARADISE
Overview: Rising junior who will add depth to the middle distance squad 2011-12: The sophomore competed in limited meets during the indoor season…he ran on the DMR relay at the Big South Indoor Championships as a crucial 3rd leg… Outdoor…at the Duke Invitational he set a PR in the 800m with a time of 1:59.39…later that day he set another PR in the 1500m with a time of 4:16.45. 2010-11: Starting the season off well at the Niswonger Invitational with a PR in the 400m with a time of 53.34… the middle distance runner showed success at the Big South Indoor Championships as a member of both the Distance Medley Relay and the 4x400m… Outdoor… once again a PR in the early part of the season in the mile (4:43.60)… he went onto to compete in the 800m and 4x400m relay at the outdoor championships. Before UNC Asheville: Attended Battlefield High School...was District Champion in 500m, District Runner Up in 800M, All Area Team Indoor Track...member of Cross Country, Indoor, Outdoor Track District Champions 2006-2010 and 2008 Region Champions 4x800M Relay
Overview:A leader for the men cross country team as a rising sophomore… he has been a immediate impact for the Bulldogs in the distance races…after his freshman year he is listed 14th All-time in the 8k and 10k…he is rank 4th in school history in the outdoor 10k. 2011-12: Leading the Bulldogs cross country season during his freshman… he was the number one runner at a number of meets…he ran a PR of 25:53 in the 8k at the Big South Championship…placing 27th overall…he went onto race at NCAA D1 Southeast Regional…Indoor…after a late cross country season he eased into the indoor season…running a personal best in the 3000m at the JDL Fast Track College Invitational… a few weeks later he placed 12th in the 5k at the Big South Indoor Championships…Outdoor… running a PR at the Appalachian Open, he was primed for another championship competition…doubling in the 5k and 10k… he ran a PR in the 10k with a time of 31:53.54…and a season best time of 15:29.97 in the 5k. Before UNC Asheville: A runner from Medina High in Ohio…a standout distance star who placed 25th at the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships…Medina teammate of former Bulldogs Sam Maynard and Kent Rankin.
Collegiate Bests: Collegiate Best Marks: 1500 Meter Run -4:16.45 10000 Meter Run 31:53.54 400 Meter Dash- 53.34 3000 Meter Run 9:06.31 5000 Meter Run -18:50.74 5000 Meter Run 15:23.48 8000 Meter Run -29:40.92 8000 Meter Run 25:53.00 800 Meter Run -1:58.39 One Mile Run -4:43.60
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LAUREN BAKER Overview: After her first year of collegiate competition...she has potential to make an impact in the high jump in the following years. 20110-12: Sophomore athlete who added depth to the jumps program... Indoor... she finished 10th at the Big South Championships...Outdoor... she improved her outdoor season best and finished 7th place at Big South Championship. Before UNC Asheville: Attended Providence High School... a versatile athlete for Providence HS, she competed in the 200m, 400m, high jump, and all of three of the sprint relays.
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SKYLER WINCHESTER Overview: A running who specializes in the distance races…attended Bearden High School in Knoxville,TN…coming with a large class of runners for 2012-13 season…expected to make an impact for the Bulldogs…ran a PR at the TSSAA Section 1 AAA Championships and placed 1st.
Collegiate Bests: High jump- 1.60m
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SCARLETT BEAMON
KASEY BRIGGS
Overview: A motivated distance runner who will be added depth to the Bulldogs in her first season... in 2012 she competed at the NCHSAA 4A State Championships in both the 1600 and 3200....she set personal records in both races.
Overview: A standout distance runner...she will add more depth to the distance squad will be looked at to help give UNC Asheville more of an up-front presence within the Big South Conference. 2011-12: A strong runner during the cross country season and the indoor season in the 5k... it was during the outdoor season when she began to crushing her personal record...with a time of 18:18.26 in the 5k at UNCC 49ers Classic...shaving off almost a minute of her high school time...competing in both the 5k at the both the indoor and outdoor Big South Championship. Before UNC Asheville: Briggs is a distance runner from Athens Drive HS in Raleigh... She has posted a PR of 5:25 in the 1600 meters, 11:20 in the 3200 meters and 19:11 in the 5K in cross country. Collegiate Best Marks: 5k- 18:18.26
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RACHEL CARSON
2011-12: Although only competing in the indoor season...her performances were seasonal and personal bests...her first personal record came at the Dick Taylor invite, where she finished third in the mile with a time of 5:09.08... two weeks later she dropped more than ten seconds off her 3k time (10:14.05)... at the Big South Championship she ran the mile, 3k and 5k...finishing in the top ten in every event. 2010-11: Third year athlete who is continuing her steady development and improvement...Cross Country...finished 3rd at the WCU Open...finished 13th at the Big South Preview meet...ran a collegiate best of 18:48.2 at the Royal Cross Country Challenge... finished 17th at the Big South Conference Championships (18:52)...Indoor...placed 2nd at the ASU Open in the mile in a collegiate best of 5:21.72...at the Kent Taylor Invitational ran another collegiate best in the mile (5:19.02)...at the Niswonger Invitational ran the 3k in a personal record of 10:26.98...placed 5th at the Dick Taylor Invitational in the mile running a personal record (5:09.43)...at the Big South Conference meet she ran a collegiate best of 18:22.77 in the 5k, also ran the 3k and the 1 mile, placing 5th in the 1 mile...Outdoors... opened the outdoor season with an 800m at the Palmetto Classic running 2:23.19...placed 3rd in the 5k at the 49er Classic running a PR of 17:48.65, followed that performance with a school record in the steeplechase running 11:30.39...placed 3rd at the Beynon Catamount Classic in the 1500m running a PR of 4:49.24. 2009-10: Helped the cross country team to a 6th place showing at the Big South Conference championships with her finish...suffered through health issues during the indoor/ outdoor season.
Overview:A rising junior on the distance side has great potential...she continues to improve despite a challenging sophomore season with injury. 2011-12: Competing only in the indoor season...she had two PRs this season with limited competition...mile (5:23.25) and 3k (10:48.71). 2010-11: Freshman athlete who will add depth to the middle distance program...9th place at WCU Open...ran a career best at the Clemson Cross Country Invitational. Before UNC Asheville: Attended James Wood High School... Cross Country Captain...7 varsity letters in track and cross country...most valuable female cross country athlete...most outstanding female track athlete...Winchester TV3 student athlete of the week...6 time state competitor...JWHS athlete of the year...best career marks of 2:20.15 (800m), 5:16 (1600m), 11:59 (3200m), 19:28 (5k).
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EMMA BUSSARD Overview: A senior in her fifth year of competition....she is capable of leading the Big South Conference in the distance events in her final year as a Bulldog.
Collegiate Bests: 5k - 19:28.32
2008-09: Solid performer freshman year...placed 13th at the Big South Conference championships in cross country...placed 10th at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic Blue Division...placed 9th & 8th at the indoor Big South Conference championships in the 3k & 5k...broke the school record in the steeplechase at the outdoor Big South Conference championships with a 5th place finish (11:45.93). Before UNC Asheville: Attended Carrollton High School...track team won state in 2005, 2006 and were second in state 2007, 2008...third place individual in state cross country (2004 & 2006), fifth place individual in state cross country (2007)....individual state champion in 3200 and 1600 (2005 & 2006)...fourth place in 1600 (2005 & 2006)... third place in 3200 (2007 & 2008)...school record in 1600m, 3200m and 5k...career bests of 2:23 (800m), 5:12 (1600m), 11:17 (3200m) & 18:35 (5k)... is a vegetarian who likes to cook. Collegiate Bests: 1500m - 4:49.24
1 mile - 5:09.08
3k - 10:14.05
3k Steeplechase - 10:53.29
5k - 17:48.65
5k (xc) - 18:48.20
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ASHLEI CLODFELTER
COLBY CRAWFORD
Overview: She is hard worker and talented athlete, who continues to help the track squad... after a strong junior season; she is expected to lead the team in the jumps and throws for her final year.
Overview: A local from Candler, NC... she ran for Enka High in the short sprints...a redshirt her first year at UNC Asheville...she is expected to compete in 2012.
2011-12: As a junior her area of focus was in the jumps and javelin... Opened up her indoor season with a personal best of 7.72 in the 55m sprint and a solid performance in the triple jump with a mark of 10.75m at the ASU Invitational...at the Dick Taylor Invitational ran a time of 8.47 (60m)..had big performances at the Big South Conference Indoor meet in the long jump with a personal best of 5.04m... Outdoors...opened the season with a throw just short of her PR in the javelin at the Charlotte 49er Classic (38.90m) and placed fifth in an impressive group of forty throwers ...at the Big South Outdoor Championship placed third in javelin with a throw of 39.58m. 2010-11: Opened up her indoor season with marks of 4.75m (LJ) & 10.58m (TJ) at the ASU Invitational...at the ASU Open ran a time of 7.82 (55m)...ran a personal best of 9.70 in the 60m hurdles (5th best time in school history) at the Dick Taylor Invitational...had big performances at the Big South Conference meet in the 60m hurdles running 9.49, 4th all time in school history, and the triple jump placing 4th with a school record mark of 11.81m...Outdoors...opened the season with a throw just short of her PR in the Javelin at the Palmetto Classic (38.44m) and a collegiate best in the long jump (4.94m)...at the 49er Classic threw a PR of 39.80m to place 5th along with running a PR in the 100m hurdles (16.60). 2009-10: Made an immediate impact as a rookie...saw big improvement in the Javelin at the Big South Outdoor Conference Championships to place 4th with a mark of 38.62m...also placed 9th in the triple jump at the outdoor championships with a mark of 10.80m. Before UNC Asheville: Attended North Davidson High School...was 2009 Track and Field MVP...2008 National Champion of Javelin throw at AAU Junior Olympics...2007 placed 7th in Javelin throw at AAU Junior Olympics...2005 Freshman Award for Track and Field...career bests of 15.40 (100m Hurdle), 26.56 (200m), 169.25 (long jump) & 36-1.5 (triple jump)...also a member of the basketball team where she was co-MVP (2007-08) & MVP (2008-09). Collegiate Bests: 60m Hurdles - 9.49 Javelin - 39.80m (130-7) Long Jump - 5.04m (16-6) Triple Jump - 11.81m (38-9.00)
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ADRIAN ETHERIDGE Overview: As a rising sophomore she is now listed 4th on the all-time for 10k...she expected to grow as a runner in the distance races. 2011-12: She showed her strenghts during the cross country season ...she was the leading Bulldog at a numbers of meets...setting a PR at the Big South Championships as the lead runner for the team (19:31.00)...Indoor... she started her season off with a PR in the 3k with a time of 10:47.11...three weeks later she set a season best in the 5k and anchored the 2nd fastest DMR team in school history....Outdoor... she did not skip a beat during the Big South Outdoor Championships...scoring in both the 10k and 5k for the Bulldogs...an impressive feat for a freshman.
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ERIN DALTON Overview: The Virginia talent will add support to the Bulldogs in both cross country and on the track...her ability to run a wide range of events was evident in her senior season at Mills Godwin.... placing second in the 3200m (11:21) and another second place finish in the 1600m (5:11.42).
Before UNC Asheville: Attended Oak Ridge High School in Tennessee and was a former teammate of current standout Melanie Kulesz. High school team were three time state champions while she was a member. Was an All-State athlete all four years. Has personal records of 11:02 (3200m) and 18:38 (5k). Her favorite food is her mama’s chili. Planning on majoring in art with a concentration in photography. Collegiate Best Marks 10000 Meter Run - 37:42.70 1500 Meter Run - 5:00.37 3000 Meter Run - 10:47.11 5000 Meter Run - 18:05.83 6000 Meter Run - 23:25.00 One Mile Run - 5:19.88
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MEREDITH FOSTER
ANNA GELBACH
Overview: Two-sport athlete at UNC Asheville as she also competes on the volleyball team in the fall...the rising junior is looking forward to more success in the high jump. 2011-12: The talented sophomore had a breakout season... Indoors.. competed in six meets...finished near the top of the pack in most meets... at the Big South Indoor Championships she had a PR and placed 5th (1.65m)...the mark placed her second on the school’s all-time list...Outdoors...did not finish below 6th place in any competition during outdoor season...finished 4th at the Big South Outdoor Championships (1.65m)... her mark of 1.65m placed her number one on the all-time list.
Overview: The four year sprinter from Myers Park is going to add some speed to the Bulldog squad... at NCHSAA 4A State Championships she placed 9th with a time of 58.26 in the 400m...her PR in the 400m is 57.7...qualified for the state meet in the 400m in 2011 and 2012...conference champion in the 400 meters in 2012...regional runner-up in the 400 in 2012...school record holder in the Indoor 400...anchored the school record breaking 4x400 in both indoor and outdoor...anchored the state 4x400 in 2012
2010-11: The incoming freshman showed tremendous potential... Indoors.. competing in five meets...finished the indoor season with 10th place at the Big South Indoor Championships (1.53m)...Outdoors...finished 10th at the Big South Outdoor Championships (1.55m). Before UNC Asheville: An All-Conference volleyball player as a sophomore, junior and senior...made the All-Region team her final three years at West Henderson ...state high jump champion her junior year...regional champion in the long jump as a sophomore and junior. Collegiate Best Marks High Jump- 1.67m (5 ft. 5 3/4 in.)
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ALYSKA KALMEIJER
2011-12: Indoors... at the JDL Fast Track Invitational in Winston-Salem she ran a PR of 2:14.87 then just two weeks later at the Big South Conference finished first in the 800m (2:11.40), setting a new school record...member of the 5th place Distance Medley Relay (running the 800m leg) and then scored on the 4 x 400m relay, which were second and first respectively, in school history...Outdoors...Ran 2:10.87 at Duke in early April and three weeks later continued her first-place performance at the Big South Championships with her victory at 800m... finished the season strongly in May. 2010-11: Indoors...debuted in the 800m at the Niswonger Invitational running 2:23.72, then just three weeks later at the Big South Conference meet placed second in the 800m (2:15.31) setting a new school record...also a member of the second place Distance Medley Relay (running the 400m leg) and the scoring 4 x 400m relay, both were second all-time marks in school history...Outdoors...Ran 2:14.85 at Duke in early April and three weeks later finished third in the conference 800m...finished the season strongly in May at Clemson, running second-best times in school history at 800m and 400m, respectively (2:12.14 and 58.24). Before UNC Asheville: Enjoyed an excellent prep career at Canyon Creek Christian Academy in Plano, Texas...coached by Skip Lane... was the 2009 TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) 4-A State Champion in the 200 and 400...was the 2008 TAPPS 3-A State Champion in the 200 and 400…also captured district titles in the same division both years winning the 100, 200 and 400....high school personal bests: 100m-12.77; 200m-25.96; 400m-58.34. Collegiate Career Bests: 55m - 7.78
100m - 13.02
400m - 58.80 Indoors, 57.41 Outdoors
2011-12: Indoors...ran a season indoor best in the 800m at the Big South Championships and set a school record on the 4x400 relay team....Outdoor...finished sixth at the Beynon Sports Surfaces Catamount Classic with a season best of 2:20.23. 2010-11: Came into the season as one of the most improved athletes...ran a career best of 19:23.80 at the Royal Cross Country Challenge...Indoors... ran an indoor best in the 800m at the Dick Taylor invite running 2:22.87... at the Big South Conference meet was a member of the scoring relays, Distance Medley & 4 x 400m, helping the team earn a 2nd and 5th place finish, respectively. 2009-10: Solid contributor during the cross country season...ran season best of 19:43 at the UNC Charlotte Invitational...was a member of 4th place DMR team at the Big South Indoor Conference Championships...ran 2:17.66 at the Big South Outdoor Conference Championships to score along with being on the 4th place 4 x 400m relay squad. Before UNC Asheville: Attended Alan C. Pope High School...was a 4 year letterman in cross country...MVP in 2006, Coach’s Award in 2007 & 2008...was a 3 year letterman in track & field...Rookie of the Year (2006), Most Outstanding Distance Runner (2007), Most Valuable Player (2008)... career bests of 2:21.08 (800m), 5:21.58 (1600m) & 19:43.88 (5k). Collegiate Bests:
200m - 26.88 Indoors, 25.88 Outdoors
800m - 2:17.66
600m - 1:36.71 Indoors
800m - 2:11.40 Indoors, 2:08.96 Outdoors 1500m- 4:40.09 Outdoors Mile- 5:14.53 Indoors
Overview: The rising senior is a versatile athlete who brings a completive spirit to all three season of her running competitions... eager to compete for her final year...expected to continue her success on the track.
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SARAH GENTRY Overview: Enters her senior year in the fall of 2012...has developed into an all-star on the track... made a very successful move up to 800m as a sophomore...now second in the 800m outdoors and 400m and 5th in 200m on UNC Asheville’s outdoor all-time list... for indoor track she holds the school record in the 800m (2:11.40) and 600m (1:36.71) and is in half of the ten all-time relay times.
1500m - 4:56.22 1 mile - 4:52.95 5k - 19:23.80
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/// UNC ASHEVILLE BULLDOGS ///
MELANIE KULESZ
Overview: The rising senior was named Big South All-Conference in Cross Country as a freshman and sophomore ....named Big South Conference Runner-Up in the mile for Indoor Track as a sophomore...named Big South All-Conference in Outdoor Track as a Junior in the 10,000 meters (3rd place)... in her three years at UNC Asheville she has dominated the distance races... she is looking forward to continued success on and off the track this year as a Bulldog.
ALYSSA LASHWAY Overview: A North Carolina native...she should bring some depth to the middle distance program...she ran a 2:22.21 in the 800m at NCHSAA 3A Midwest Regional, placing second.
2011-12: She redshirted her cross country season...Indoors...placing 5th in 3k at the Big South Championships and raced the 5k and mile...she performed well under the exhausting triple at the championship...Outdoors...late in the season at the Raliegh Relays she placed 4th with a PR (17:36.69) in the 5k...less than a month later she set another PR in the 10k at the Big South Outdoor Championships. 2010-11: Cross Country...debuted at the Royal Cross Country Challenge with a time of 18:39...earned All-Conference honors with her 9th place showing at the Big South Conference Championships (18:33)...ran the 6th fastest time in school history for the 6k at NCAA Regional’s (22:33)...Indoors...won the mile at ASU Open with a time of 5:21.04...ran 5:15.09 in the mile at the Kent Taylor Invitational...ran a personal record of 10:24.36 (3k) at the Niswonger Invitational...placed 4th in the mile at the Dick Taylor Invitational running a personal record of 5:06.07, which is also the 5th fastest time in school history...at the Big South Conference meet she placed 4th, 2nd & 5th in the 3k, 1 mile & 5k, respectively...all of her times placed her in the top five all-time performances, 3rd - 3k, 5th - 1 mi & 3rd - 5k, running 10:10.38, 5:04.78, 17:56.59...Outdoors...won the 800m at the Palmetto Classic (2:17.81)...placed 2nd at the 49er Classic in the 5k running 17:47.15...won the Beynon Catamount Classic 1500m running 4:41.83. 2009-10: Solid contributor during her freshman year...placed 9th at the Big South Preview meet...ran a season best of 18:42 during the cross country season...All-Conference performer in cross country with her 10th place showing...broke the Freshman Record at the NCAA Southeast Regional Cross Country Championships (22:52)...placed 8th & 9th at the Big South Indoor Championships in the 3k & 1 mile...placed 6th at the 49er Classic running 17:48.33 which qualified her for USATF Junior Nationals in Des Moines, IA...placed 11th at USATF Junior Nationals with at time of 18:34.23. Before UNC Asheville: Attended Oak Ridge High School...Tennessee Prep Xtra Cross Country Runner of the Year junior year...TN Region 2 Cross Country Champion senior year...TN All-State in Cross Country sophomore, junior, and senior year...named the Prep Xtra Cross Country TN first team four consecutive times (track and cross country)...awarded MVP in cross country and track sophomore, junior, and senior year... finished 3rd in the 3200m, 4th in 1600, and 5th in 4x800 junior year...Oak Ridge won Region 2 Cross Country Championships all 4 years...Cross Country State Champions junior year...Cross Country State Runner-Up sophomore and senior year...4x800 RunnerUps at the TN State Track Meet sophomore year ...track DMR school record...4x800 State Bound all four years...career bests of 1:02 (400m), 2:22 (800m), 5:09 (1600m), 11:10 (3200m), 18:20 (5k)...has played the piano for ten years. Collegiate Bests:
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800m - 2:17.81
1500m - 4:39.09
1 mile - 5:04.78
5k - 17:36.69
6k xc - 22:33
10k-36:56.61
3k - 10:10.38
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KASSANDRA PIERRE Overview: The talented sprinter from New York is expected to make an immediate impact for the Bulldogs in the 100m and 200m.
2009-12: As a new hammer thrower set a season best at the Big South Championships in 2011 with a mark of 38.52m....less than a year later she improved more than 15 meters in the hammer throw an almost unheard of improvement...her PR for the 2012 outdoor season was at Raleigh Relays (45.99).
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COREY McCLINTOCK Overview: Hard-working senior who has experience in the sprints and transitioned as a thrower her sophomore year...has seen tremendous gains in her performance and continues to improve...now second all-time in school history in the hammer throw.
Before UNC Asheville: Competed in high school state championships during freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Collegiate Personal Bests: Hammer- 45.99 Discus- 13.76
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/// UNC ASHEVILLE BULLDOGS ///
CLAIR POWELL
KELSIE RUBINO
Overview: A talented distance runner who looks to lead her team during her senior season.
Overview: A versatile distance runner who ran for Lake Norman High... she place 6th at the NCHSAA 4A West Regional meet in the 800m.... she has a strong work ethic and ability to train for multiple events.
2011-12: Ran a solid season for the cross country team...had a season best of 20:44 at the Big South Championships...Indoor...placing fifth at Applachian in the 3k ...she was ready for a PR in the mile at the Kent Taylor Invite two weeks later (5:23.14)...competing at the Big South Indoor Championships she showed tremedous improvement....placing 9th in the 5k with a PR of 18:05.68...Outdoors...ran a PR of in the 3k late in the season at Duke (10:49.29) and ended the season with a 15th place in the 10k. 2010-11: Came back from an injury to be a solid contributor for the cross country team this year...Indoor...opened up the season with a mile personal record at the ASU Open, then broke it again at the Kent Taylor Invitational running 5:25.38...followed up her mile performances with a 3k at the Niswonger Invitational running 10:55.95...ran a personal record at the Dick Taylor Invitational running 10:46.95 in the 3k...at the Big South Conference meet she was a member of the 2nd place Distance Medley team running the 1200 leg, also ran a personal record of 18:22.29 in the 5k...Outdoors...ran a PR of 4:58.01 in the 1500m at the 49er Classic. 2009-10: Had a great rookie year as the cross country teams number two runner and a strong contributor until an injury sidelined her year...had best marks of 11:05 (3k), 19:10 (5k) and 22:58 (6k). Before UNC Asheville: Attended Mooresville High School... Mooresville Tribune athlete of the week 3 times during her career...MVP for Cross country, indoor and outdoor track...school record holder in 1500 and 1600... team captain for xc and track teams...also played basketball...best career times of 5:26 (1600m) and 19:54 (5k)...in her spare time she likes to sew. Collegiate Bests:
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10000 Meter Run-39:52.63
3000 Meter Run-10:41.29
5000 Meter Run-18:05.68
6000 Meter Run-22:59.00
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JESSE NORMAN HEAD COACH - FIFTH SEASON
Jesse Norman just finished up his fifth year as head coach of the UNC Asheville Cross Country and Track and Field programs. The Bulldogs cross country and track and field program have shown tremendous improvements across the board during his tenure. In the 2011-12 seasons, the Bulldogs men’s track team had Milan Ristic qualify for the NCAA Preliminary Outdoor meet in the 110 hurdles. It marked the first time a Bulldog hurdler had advanced to a NCAA championship meet. Ristic won the Big South Conference championship in the 110 hurdles at the outdoor meet and won the 60 hurdles at the league’s indoor meet in February. On the women’s side, Sarah Gentry captured the 800 meters at the outdoor BSC championships for her first ever championship. The 2010-11 seasons saw new heights for the program. The women’s cross country squad improved their team finish at the Big South Championships with Melanie Kulesz again earning all-conference honors. The indoor season had the women’s team finishing in third place; the highest finish in school history. Norman was named Big South Indoor Track and Field Women’s Coach of the Year after Asheville’s impressive performance. During the outdoor season Natalie Pearson (100m & 200m) and Simon Haake (Javelin) qualified for the NCAA Eastern Regional with Pearson advancing on to the NCAA National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. The outdoor season also had Ristic qualify for the European U-23 Championships in the 110m hurdles. He also guided Ashlei Clodfelter to a school record in the triple jump (38-9).
Norman worked for two years at Western Carolina with the Catamounts men and women’s distance teams before coming to UNC Asheville in the summer of 2007. He helped guide WCU cross country runner Dan Fassinger to an all-conference finish in cross country and Deanna Kulesz to an all-conference finish in the 1500 and 3000 meters. Norman was part of a Catamount coaching staff that helped WCU win two straight Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field championships. Norman enjoyed a great career at Western Carolina from 19992003. He won the Southern Conference individual championship in cross country in 2001, the only Catamount ever to accomplish such a feat and earned all-conference honors in the 10,000 meters during the 2000 outdoor season. Norman had a sensational prep career at Fuquay-Varina HS where he was a five-time state champion in cross country, 1600 meters and 3200 meters.
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Asheville had both Simon Haake and Natalie Pearson qualify for the Eastern Regional under tougher standards. Pearson became the first Bulldog student-athlete to qualify for the National Championships in the 200 meters. Pearson was ranked first nationally in the 200 during the season. Kulesz qualified for the USATF Junior Nationals in the 5,000m placing 11th at the championships.
Norman earned a degree in physical education from Western Carolina in 2003 and then picked up his master’s in physical education in May of 2007. Norman holds USATF Level I & II certifications in endurance and was invited to attend the United States Olympic Committee’s Emerging Elite coaching clinic held at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA for both the endurance (2009) and the jumping (2010) event groups. Jesse and his wife Melanie have a daughter Eliza.
During the 2009-10 seasons, both Bulldog cross country squads improved their showing from the previous season with freshman Melanie Kulesz earning all-conference honors. In the track and field ranks,
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JOEL WILLIAMS ASSISTANT COACH - SIXTH SEASON /// UNC ASHEVILLE BULLDOGS ///
Meanwhile, Haake and Williams continued to write an intriguing story in the javelin. The sophomore, who walked on the Bulldog team as a freshman despite never having competed in track and field nor any sport at East Chapel Hill High School, improved his personal best from the previous season by almost 11 meters. He also recorded the second-best throw in school history (55.56 meters) to finish seventh at the conference championships.
Joel Williams is in his sixth year as an assistant track and field coach with the UNC Asheville men’s and women’s programs. He has been in charge of coaching the sprints (up to 800m) and hurdle events, throws and high jump since his hiring in the fall of 2007. His latest notable runner is Milan Ristic, a native of Belgrade, Serbia, who capped his sophomore year and the 2012 track season by becoming the program’s first hurdler to qualify for the NCAA Regionals while breaking his own school record with a time of 13.88 (42 inch hurdles). Ristic has improved from a time of 14.49 in high school over 39 inch hurdles to his 13.88 over the collegiate/international hurdles. Ristic won both the 60m hurdles at the Big South indoor championships and the 110m hurdles at the outdoor championships during the 2011-2012 school year. Ristic also set school records for 200m indoors and outdoors with times of 21.68 and 21.62, respectively. Also, during 2011-2012 school year, Williams coach to Sarah Gentry winning the 800m conference championships at both the indoor and outdoor Big South championships. Gentry set a school record indoors with a time of 2:11.40 and ran 2:10.87 outdoors. She also moved to number 2 all time for the school outdoors in the 400m with a time of 57.65. The 2010-2011 season was highlighted by the performances of junior Simon Haake, Ristic and sophomore Sarah Gentry. Haake broke his own school record in the javelin with a throw of 68.15 meters to qualify for the NCAA East preliminary round for the second consecutive year. He also posted the second-best hammer throw and the third-best shot put marks in program history after having recorded Asheville’s top-three marks in both events indoors. Williams also elicited impressive results from Ristic in his freshman year. He set school records in the 110m hurdles (14.32) as well as the 100m and 200m. The hurdles time qualified him for the European Athletics Under-23 Championships held in July 2011. Ristic also established school indoor records in the 55m and 200m and ran the secondfastest 60m hurdle time in Asheville history. Gentry led the women’s side in her first year at 800m by setting a school record while finishing second in the Big South Conference Indoor Championships. Outdoors, Gentry moved into second place in program history with a time of 2:12.14 and surpassed her own second-best school time in the 400m. The 2009-10 season featured Haake and Clodfelter in the javelin. Haake established a school record with a throw of 64.57m at the conference championships, which qualified him for the NCAA East prelims. Clodfelter, meanwhile, moved into second place on the school’s all-time list with a throw of 38.62m. The men’s side saw two school records set indoors and two outdoors, while a new school standard record also was established on the women’s side.
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Williams made an immediate impression in his first season at Asheville (2007-08) as all of his throwers made the school’s all-time top 10 list. Erik Nabi led the way as he extended his personal best in the javelin by 6.03m in one year, earning all-conference honors with a throw of 55.48m, second in school history. Daniel Corriher improved by more than a meter in the shot put and indoor weight while entering the school top five in the shot and hammer throw. Haake began his Bulldog career when he moved into the school top 10 with a throw of 44.66m while making the finals of the conference championships. Prior to his arrival at UNC Asheville, Williams coached at Watauga High School in Boone from 1994-2005. He was in charge of the indoor track and field program while serving as assistant for the outdoor team. Ten of his indoor athletes won 4-A state championships, and he guided the 1997 girls’ team to the program’s first state title.Williams also oversaw the development of 12 state champions outdoors. Watauga captured three straight state girls’ outdoors titles (199597), while the boys’ outdoors squad tied for third in 1997 and was runner-up in 2000. The Pioneers were dominant at the conference level, with the boys and girls teams each winning eight straight league championships during his 12 seasons at the school. He also was the strength coach for several school record-setting throwers. Four Watauga athletes whose careers Williams influenced achieved noteworthy success beyond their Pioneer days. Brenda Taylor won the 400m hurdles in the NCAA Championships while attending Harvard and finished seventh in that event for the U.S. in the 2004 Olympics at Athens, Greece. Her second-place time of 53.36 at the U.S. Olympic Trials was fifth-best in the world that year. She also earned a bronze medal in the 2003 World Indoor Championships as a member of the U.S. 4x400 relay team. While at Watauga, Taylor won nine individual and relay state titles. Williams helped design her weight program for the 2004 Olympics and worked with her at Harvard and post-collegiately. Lindsay Taylor, Brenda’s twin sister, won numerous Ivy League championships in the hurdles and high jump while at Brown, qualified for two NCAA Championships in the heptathlon and finished third in the pole vault at the 2003 USATF National Indoor Championships. Williams continued to work with her during that period. Her high school years included a high jump of 5-11.5. She was second in that event in the USATF Junior National Championships, fourth in the Pan Am Junior Championships in Cuba and third nationally in 1997 as voted by Track and Field News. Abraham Morlu, a sprinter from Liberia, was coached by Williams from his freshman year at Watauga to a spot on his country’s 400m relay team for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, while a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill. Morlu also made the Liberian relay team for the 2001 and 2003 World Championships.
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ADAM PUETT ASSISTANT COACH - THIRD SEASON
Adam works primarily with the middle and long distance runners. During his first year at UNCA, Adam helped coach the UNCA women to their highest finish in school history at the Big South Indoor Conference Championships by placing third. Adam also helped his athletes achieve 21 personal bests, while coaching 4 Big South All-Conference Performers.
Before coming to UNC Asheville, Puett served as an assistant coach at WCU for three years. He coached events ranging from the 800 meters to the 10,000 meters. The Alabama native coached 13 All-Conference performers and six Southern Conference champions during his tenure. He helped lead the Catamount programs to five different league championships. Puett graduated from Western Carolina in 2006 and then earned his Masters in Physical Education from WCU in 2009.
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/// UNC ASHEVILLE BULLDOGS ///
Adam Puett is in his third year as the assistant coach with the UNC Asheville cross country and track and field programs.
Puett enjoyed an outstanding career for Western Carolina University. He was the 2005 Western Carolina Male Athlete of the Year and 2006 Southern Conference Outdoor Performer of the Year. Adam earned All Conference honors three times in cross country and 10 times in indoor and outdoor track. He was a five-time So-Con champion in indoor and outdoor track plus a four-time NCAA outdoor regional qualifier in the 1500.The Alabama native won the Southern Conference 1500 meters for three consecutive years.
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THE BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE
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Since its founding in 1983, the Big South Conference has matured into a competitive leader in college athletics, actively pursuing excellence on the field of play and in the classroom. The League’s growing presence as an NCAA Division I athletic conference is evident by athletic accomplishments on the national stage, innovative marketing and media partnerships, increased television packages, and quality athletic competition while intentionally fostering the academic, personal, social, athletic and leadership development of each student-athlete. This has evolved into the Conference’s mission of “Developing Leaders Through Athletics.” The Big South Conference was formed on August 21, 1983, when Charleston Southern (then Baptist College) Athletic Director Howard Bagwell and Augusta President George Christenberry began recruiting members into the Big South, receiving initial commitments from Augusta, Charleston Southern, Campbell, Coastal Carolina and Winthrop. One month later, Dr. Edward M. Singleton was selected as the League’s first Commissioner and continued to solicit new members. His efforts led to the additions of Armstrong State, Radford and UNC Asheville, giving the Big South more than the required six members to constitute an official conference. The Big South’s first year of competition was in the Fall of 1984, and in September 1986, the Big South Conference was granted fullfledged NCAA Division I status. During its infancy and prior to securing automatic bids to NCAA Championships, the Big South made early strides in earning at-large berths in several national postseason events, including volleyball, women’s basketball and women’s golf. In 1989, George F.“Buddy” Sasser replaced the retiring Dr. Singleton as Commissioner, and in 1990, the League received its first automatic bid -- receiving an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Baseball Championship. Under Sasser’s seven years of leadership, the Conference implemented its public relations and compliance programs, and introduced its first-ever men’s basketball television package, featuring the Big South competing among some of the finest teams in the nation. In August 1996, Kyle B. Kallander replaced Sasser as the League’s third Commissioner, and in his 15 years at the helm of the Big South, Kallander has been instrumental in aggressively promoting the Conference to new heights. The Conference has enjoyed record levels in marketing revenue during the past several years, he has brought television coverage to Big South women’s basketball, baseball and softball for the first time in Conference history, as well as increased national television exposure to the League as a whole through aggressive and unique television packages. Under Kallander’s leadership, the Big South developed and initiated its first long-range strategic plan, re-affirming the League’s vision as a distinctive athletic Conference committed to the quality of institutional life through athletic competition. He also spearheaded the efforts to add football as a championship sport, which came to fruition in 2002, and oversaw the additions of men’s and women’s indoor track & field in 1997. The Conference’s 19th championship sport -- women’s lacrosse, will begin play in 2012-13 with seven members. At the same time, Kallander has solidified Conference membership, as an all-time high 11 member institutions comprise the 28-year League in 2011-12. Recent additions include High Point, Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian College, plus the return of charter member Campbell University this year. Kallander’s long range vision has also included technological advancements, as the Conference introduced its first live event video streaming in 2005 and has since expanded its video offerings to more than 700 events annually through a partnership with the member institutions, as well as the creation of several online and social media platforms.
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In the last 15 years alone, the Big South Conference has experienced monumental growth and success in nearly every sport. During this time, the Conference has had an individual National Champion six times, more than 240 All-Americans, has reached the “Sweet 16” in men’s soccer, women’s basketball and baseball, has received national Top 25 rankings in football, men’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, men’s outdoor track & field, and men’s golf, had an individual selected to play in the NCAA Singles Championship six times in addition to the first men’s tennis doubles at-large selection, had the first women’s golf program advance to the national finals, had the No. 1 ranked men’s golfer in the country, has had the nation’s top scoring men’s basketball team five consecutive years as well as the national men’s basketball scoring leader twice, received an at-large playoff berth in the Football Championship Subdivision in 2006, has had four NFL Draft picks, and had an institution finish fifth in the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships - the Conference’s highest-ever team finish in an NCAA event. In 2006-07, the Big South was the only Conference nationwide to have an at-large participant in the football playoffs (Coastal Carolina), a team in the Second Round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (Winthrop) and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Baseball Regionals (Coastal Carolina). In fact, Coastal Carolina’s baseball program has been a No. 1 seed four out of the last seven years - including a national seed for the first time in 2010, while the Chanticleers’ FCS playoff berth in 2006 came in just the fifth-year of the Big South’s football existence. The 2009-10 season saw Liberty’s Sam Chelanga win two NCAA National Championships (cross country, 10,000-meter run), Coastal Carolina’s baseball team reach the Super Regionals for the second time in three years as well as being ranked No. 1 in the national RPI and as high as No. 3 in the national polls; and three women’s basketball teams reach the postseason for the first time in Conference history. Last season, Chelanga won two more NCAA National Championships (cross country, outdoor 5,000-meter run), the Big South had its first automatic bid recipient in football (Coastal Carolina), UNC Asheville reached the Second Round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, Coastal Carolina’s women’s golf team was the first in Conference history to advance to the NCAA Championship out of Regional play, and a League-record 18 baseball players were drafted in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Several former Big South student-athletes have also reached national prominence in recent years. Coastal Carolina’s Amber Campbell made the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team - one of five former Big South athletes to compete in the Games; VMI’s Reggie Williams reached the NBA with the Golden State Warriors in 2010, UNC Asheville’s Ty Wigginton was named an American League All-Star in 2010, and Coastal Carolina’s Dustin Johnson has won four PGA Tour events since departing the Big South Conference in 2007 and tied for runner-up at the 2011 Open Championship. The Conference’s tagline, “Developing Leaders Through Athletics” was unveiled in 2008-09 in conjunction with the Conference’s 25th Anniversary. The League also honored its heritage with the Top 25 “Best of the Best” moments in League history from 1983-2008, with Liberty University’s 10-year women’s basketball championship run from 19962007 being crowned the No. 1 moment in the Big South’s first 25 years. The Conference’s on-field accomplishments have been duplicated in the classroom. Annually, more than 40 percent of Conference student-athletes are named to the Big South’s Presidential Honor Roll for maintaining a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average, and the League has had more than 95 Academic All-Americans in its 27 years of existence. Furthermore, the Big South has a record number of NCAA Public Recognition Awards for APR progress the last two years.
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BIG SOUTH QUICK FACTS
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE 7233 Pineville-Matthews Road, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28226 Phone: (704) 341-7990 Fax: (704) 341-7991 www.BigSouthSports.com
Member Institutions (12): Campbell University, Charleston Southern University, Coastal Carolina University, Gardner-Webb University, High Point University, Liberty University, Longwood University, Presbyterian College, Radford University, UNC Asheville, Virginia Military Institute, Winthrop University Geographical Breakdown (3 states): North Carolina (4) – Campbell University, Gardner-Webb University, High Point University, UNC Asheville; South Carolina (4) – Charleston Southern University, Coastal Carolina University, Presbyterian College, Winthrop University; Virginia (4) – Liberty University, Longwood University, Radford University,Virginia Military Institute
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Founded 1983 President Penelope W. Kyle, Radford University Vice President Dr. Frank Bonner, Gardner-Webb University Secretary Dr. Anne Ponder, UNC Asheville Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander Associate Commissioner James Companion Associate Commissioner Dawn Turner Assistant Commissioner - Public Relations Mark Simpson Assistant Commissioner - Marketing Chad Cook Director of Multimedia Development Mark Bryant Office Manager Terri Ballard Assistant Director of Marketing Matt VanSandt Assistant Director of Public Relations Nic Bowman Assistant Director of Compliance Sherika McLean Marketing Assistant Melissa Estepp Public Relations Assistant Briana Mayes Administration/Multimedia Assistant Earl Laing Coordinator of Football Officials Doug Rhoads Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials Joe Forte Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials Charlene Curtis Coordinator of Baseball Umpires Tony Thompson Coordinator of Softball Umpires Betsy Kidd Coordinator of Men’s Soccer Officials Paul James Coordinator of Volleyball Officials Daniel Leake
Associate Members: Stony Brook University (football), Davidson College (women’s lacrosse) Championship Sports (19): Baseball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Cross Country, Football, Men’s Golf,Women’s Golf,Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Soccer,Women’s Soccer, Softball, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis, Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field, Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball Council of Chief Executive Officers: Jerry Wallace, Campbell; Jairy C. Hunter, Jr., Charleston Southern; David DeCenzo, Coastal Carolina; Frank Bonner, Gardner-Webb; Nido Qubein, High Point; Jerry L. Falwell, Jr., Liberty; Marge Connelly, Longwood; Dr. Claude Lilly, Presbyterian; Penelope W. Kyle, Radford; Anne Ponder, UNC Asheville; J.H. Binford Peay III,VMI; Anthony J. DiGiorgio, Winthrop
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ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY As the University of North Carolina at Asheville celebrates eighty years of excellence in higher education, the campus community welcomes new challenges and greater successes as one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges. From its beginnings as Buncombe County Junior College, where 86 students enrolled in 1927 to further their educations beyond high school, the University has valued liberal arts ideals and community engagement. Its special commitment to student learning and undergraduate education was reaffirmed when it joined the University of North Carolina system in 1969 as the University of North Carolina at Asheville. The University maintains its liberal arts imperative, as the designated undergraduate liberal arts University of the 17-campus University of North Carolina system.
Vision UNC Asheville students, within a diverse and inclusive community, experience liberal arts education at its best.
Mission UNC Asheville is distinctive in the UNC system as its designated liberal arts university. Our practice of the liberal arts emphasizes the centrality of learning and discovery through exemplary teaching, innovative scholarship, creative expression, co-curricular activities, undergraduate research, engaged service, and practical experience. Primarily undergraduate, UNC Asheville offers a liberal arts education characterized by high quality faculty-student interaction.We offer this challenging educational experience to all promising students who are committed to liberal learning and personal growth.
At UNC Asheville, we respond to the conditions and concerns of the contemporary world both as individuals and as a university. We incorporate economic, social and environmental sustainability into our institutional practices and curriculum. With a range of associated centers, partnerships, and initiatives, we fulfill our public responsibility to address the needs of our community through a continuum of learning. We develop a commitment to continuing service characterized by an informed, responsible, and creative engagement with the Asheville area, the southern Appalachian region, the state of North Carolina, and a diverse and increasingly connected world.
Alma Mater
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Our liberal arts educational approach emphasizes life skills including critical thinking, clear and thoughtful expression, and honest open inquiry. Students undertake concentrated study in one area while simultaneously developing an understanding of the connections among disciplines. We encourage students to clarify, develop and live their own values while respecting the views and beliefs of others. In addition, we cultivate an understanding of the dimensions of human diversity while recognizing the common humanity of all. We believe a quality liberal arts education enables our graduates to be lifelong learners and to lead successful, flourishing lives as leaders and contributors to their communities.
In 2000 the university community set about the task of writing a new Alma Mater—the official anthem of UNC Asheville, sung at all ceremonial events—to replace the one from the 1960s. In Latin, alma mater means “nourishing mother,” and it also refers to the school one attended. Hail Our Alma Mater, Hail UNCA. Learning be your watchword, Greatness be your way. High upon the mountains, In the Land of Sky, Stands our Alma Mater, Lift your voices high. Noble Alma Mater, Hear our words of praise. May we love and honor you, Until the end of days. /// FEAR THE DOG ///
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Und U Un nde derg erggraadu duuat atee Re at Reseear arch cch h: Mo oree ttha han ha ha half alff of st sttuuud deenntss com o pl pleette o orriggiinnal al reesseeaarc rch in in thheeirr field d of sttud dy thro th roug ughh thhe U Unniv iver versi ersi er s tyy’s nat atio tio iona nallllllyy re na reco cogn gniz ized d Und nder ergr grad dua uate te R Rees eseeaarc rch P Prro oggrraam m.. UNC C Ash hevvilllee ffo oun undeed th the Na Nati to on naall Con onfe ferre renc ncee on o Und nderrgr grad aduat uattee Reessea ua earc arc rch more mo tha hann 2255 years eeaars rs ago go. Stud St udy Ab udy A ro oad and nd Stu tudy dy Aw waay: 1177 peerc r een nt o off stuud deenntts taake ke adv dvan antaagee of le lear arnniing ng oppppor o tu tuni n ti t ess iinn othheer stat ot sttattes es and nd cou ount ntrriiess w whi hile hi le eenr nrol nr olllleed at at UNC NC A Ash ssh hev eville ilillee. S ud St uden entt At en Athl Athl h eette G Grrad adua uati ua tio onn R Rat atte: U UNC NC A NC Ash shevvili le shev sh le sstu tude tu dent nt-aath thle lete lete tes hhaave tes ve one n o off th thee hi high g es gh estt grraad dua uati tion ti on rraate t s in in the he N NCA CAA. CA A Our A. u stu tude dent de n -a nt -ath ath thle lete le tees on ath tes thle leeti tic ic scchola ho ola lars rshi rshi hips who ppla layy al a l four fo ourr yea ears rs at UN UNC C Ashe As hevi he villllllee ha vi have ve a 9999 ppeerc ve rcen e t gr en grad adua ad uati ua tio ti ion on rat ate. e.. Facu Fa Facu culltty: y 2210 100 ful ulll-ti t mee fac acul ulty ul ltyy mem embe bers rs, 84 84% 4% wi with tthh ter ermi minaal degr mina deegr greees CO COPLAC: UNC UN C As Ashe hevi villlle is is tthhe he hhea eadq dqua uart ua rter erss fo for thee Coun unci cill of Pubblilicc Liberall Arts ts C Co olleges, a 27-m 27 mem embe berr orga gaani niza zattion za ti of state-supp pporteed libe berall arts college be ges that rec ge ecog ogni nize ze tthee im mp mportanc ncee off nc liberall ar arts ts aand nd ssccien cience cess ed educ ucattion fo f r succes e s inn a com omplex lex gglo lo oba b l so soci ciet ety. et
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Resiideenc Resi Re nce ce Haalllls: s: Abo bout ut one ne-t -thi hird rd o off st stud uden ents ts lliv ivee on ccam ampu pus, s, w whiilee anno oth ther er thhiirrd d liv iv with ive thin in a one-mile raad diius of ccaamp m us us. Athl At hllet e ic ics: s: 15 NCAA s: NCAA NC A D Divvision 1 te team team ams Stud St tud uden den ent Gr Grou Grou oups ps:: M ps Mo ore re tha han 600 clu lubs ubs bs and d org rgan anizzat a io ionss, raang ngiinng fr from om hon onor or soc or ocie ieti ie ties ti ess to in intr intr traam mural ural ur al spor sp orrrts o t ts Innte terc rcul ultu ul ultu tura ura ral a Ce Centter Cent e & Offi ffice of of Multi ulti ul ticult ticu cu ulttur ural al Stu al tudent deent nt P Pro rogr ro oggrrams: ams Thee Intter am erccu cult l ur ural al Cen ente terr ho te houusses ses es comf co mfor ort rttaabl ble sp pacess for mee eeti t ng ti ngss,, social ev even e ts en t and nd pro r grram amss in invo vvo olv l in ing su ing uch ch diivver erse se groupps as A Allllllia iiaannccce, ee,, Blaacck St Studen udents ud entss Asssoc en ocia iati ia ation tion ti on,, In Inte terrnnat tern atio iona naal St Stuud deennt As den Asso soci ociiati ation at iio on, n, Asi siaan n SStu t de denntts inn Ash s ev eville,, He evil Herm rman an@s an @ss @ Orrrgu O gullllos gu os@s en La os@ Lass Am Americ Amer eerric icas cas (HO HOLA LA) an and nd Hi Hilllleell. The Sh The Th Sher Sher errril rillll Cen ri e teerr:: Wi Wilm Wil lma M lma M.. She herr herr rril rilill Ce Cent nter e is th er the un univ iverrsi iver sity ity ty’s ’s new ewes est an and laarg rges esst ffaaci cili i ity ty,, offe feri ering ng a ra rang ngge off aaca cade ca deemi mic ic an nd outr outr ou trea each ea ch pprrogr ch rogram amss fo focu cuse sed d on n hhea ealtthy ea hy lliv ivin iv ing an and dw weellllne llneesss ppro romo ro m ti tion on. Thhe cent ce nter e is ho home me to th me the he ac acad ademic em micc Dep epar a tm tmeent nt off Heaaltth an a dW Weellllne n sss, with thh cla lass ssro room om ms, s, dedic ediiccat ed catted d sspa pace pa ce ce for un fo unde derg r ra rg r duate research h, a hiigh g -tech teac aching ng demon ng ng/d onst sttra r ti tion on n kittch chen en, an and d reeseear arcch h annd d lea earn ninng llaabs b .Thee Sherr S rilil Ceenter include dees aan n eexp x an xp ansi sive si ve fitne ness ss ceen nte ter, a bio iof ofe feeed dba back ck lab ab and nd med dit itat a ion io on rro oo om m, and tthhe We an Welll neessss Caf afé. é Kiimm K mel Arreeena na:: Th na Thee neew Kimm mmel meell Areena na,, which iiss par par a t of of thhee Sherr herrill ill Cent Ceent nter ter er, ca can an se seat at uupp to to 3,,880000 peop op pllee for or ccon on nce cert r s, rt s, com mme menc nccem ements emen ennts ts,, cco onvocattio ons n , leectur cttur u es es, in es, interc teerc r ol olle legi le eggiiaatte me men’ men n’s an nd w wo ome menn’’s ba bass-ketbbaalll game gam ga mees, es, s hhea ealt ea lthh fa lt f ir irs, ss,, aand nd d com ommu muni nity ty eventts.As s..Ashe hevvi he villle co ommun u ity.
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Kudo Ku Kudo dos dos
UN U NC A Asshe hevviillle o offfers fers fe rs a “tto opp notc nottcch aaccaad no dem emic ic exp xpeerrie ienncce, e,” an a d, d, bas aseed d on st stud uden ent su surv r eyy reesspo p nnssess, Ashe As Ashe hevviill hevi illlle le is is rran aan nkeed 11 nke 11th 1th th in th the naati tion no onn th thee “c “col olle lege ge ccitty ge getss hig ighh ma mark rks” lisst. - The Pri r nc ncet eton on R Reev ew vi w’ss “Th Thee B Beesstt 37777 Col olle olle lege g s - 20 ge 20133 Edi 2013 diti tion ti on n” ((A Augguusst 20 2012 122) UN U NC As Ashevi hevi he villllee ra rannkkeed d 21st in the nationn as a “Be B st s Buy C Col olleege ol g ,” based onn qu qual alitty of o tea eaching, car aree eerr pprros ospe ppeect ctss,, ggra rraadu duat atio ion ra rate t s, s and stu tude d nt de n deb e t leveel..Off the eb hee eigght ht uniiveerssit itie iess in North orth Car arol o in inaa that that th at maade m de the he lisstt,, onnlly UN UNCC-Ch -Ch Chap ap pell H Hilll, at 133th t , raank nked ed hig ighe herr thhan a UNC N Ash hev e ilille le.. Ra Rank nkin inngs ppre reeppaare red ed by by tthhe Ceent nterr for or Co ollleege ge Afffforrda dabiilil ty ty and nd Produ ro odu duccttiivvittyy.. - FFor orbbees M or Maaga gazi zinee (A Au ugu ust st 200112) 2 “UNC “U NC Ash shev eviilllee annd d the he cit ity ty of of A Ash sh hev eville illle le aare re sste re teeeep ped ed in in wh whit itew ew wat a er cul ultu ture tu r m re mor oree th or than an aany nyywh wheerre eellse in n the he w wor o ld or ld.... A Assiid de ffrrom om tthe heir eir lon ongg lil stt of firs rstt deesc s en ents ts aand nd d rrac acee wi winss, UN UNC A Asshe she hevi hevi v llle aalluum ms an nd proffes pr e so sors rs als lso so give giivvee bbaaacck ck to the h ppad ad ddl dlin i g co in comm mm m mun unit itty. y.””-- “Hono nor Ro Rollll:: Th he B Beest O Out u do ut door or Sch choo oo ols ls in thhe Blue Bl uee Rid idge ge,” ,”” B Bllue Ri Ridg dgge O Ouuttd doo doo ors r (Au A gu g st 201 012) U C As UN A he hevvviilllle lle iiss “o on ne o off thhee bes est eed duc ucat atio io ona n l ba barg rgai ains ns iinn th thee co coun untr try. y.”” Fo Forr ni nine ne ccon onnse o secu secu cuttiivee yeeaars ars rs, s, UNC UN C As Ashe hevi villllllee’’s En Envi viro onnm menta ennta tal al St Stuud Stud diees P Prroggraam ha has be bee een en nam amed ed to thhe lilistt o off pr p ee-pr prof offeesssi o sion on o naall pro rorogram gr amss wi with th uunu nusu usu suaall str treen ngt gth in gth in ppre reepa p ri ring inngg stu tudeenntts fo tude for ccaare reer ers. er s. - The he Fisske ke Guuiide de tto o Co Colllleg eges es, s 200133 Editio Ed i n (J (Jul ulyy 200122)
UNC Asheevi villllee is among jus u t 75 ins n titutions nationwi w dee noted ed as a “B “Beest Va V lue” e” ppub ublic co ollegge. - Thee Princeton Reeview w’s “20011 Best Value Co C lleges” (Febru uarry 2012) UNC Asheevillee is o one ne o off th thee na nati tion on’s ’s 50 be best values inn pub blilicc co olllleggess, with ith tthe he fif fifth thh llow owes ow estt to tota tall cost off attendinng pe p r yyeear a , an and nd th thee ei eigh g th llow gh owes ow estt av es aver erag er agge de d btt aamo mon mo ong ng gra radu duat ates at es.. - Kipl p iinngeer’’s Pe P rrssonal al FFinancee Magazine ne (Ja Janu nuaarry 20 2012) 2012 122) UNC As UN Ashe hevi he v llle ra rankks eigh eigh ghth th in in the tthhe na n ti to on n am mo ong Pubblil c Li Libbeeraal Arts Col olle lege ges, and nd iiss th the on onlyy Norrth Caaro rolilina ina na ins nsttiittuuti tion tion on liisstteed am amon mong on ng Na Nati tion o aall Libber eraal al Artts Col Colleg Co eges es who es ose se stu tudennts ggrrad adua u te te wiitth tthhe leeas ast am ast am mou ount ou nt of de nt d bt bt. - U. U S. S. New ws & Wo Worrlld Re Worl R po ort rt’s ’s “Am America’s Best Colleges” (Se Sept pteembe b r 20011 11) UN NC As Ashe hevi villlle vill le is is o one ne of Am ne Ameri Amer erric ica’ a’s “1 “10 Be Best st Col olle lege ges es ffo or the thhe Mo Mone neyy..” - Bank Bank Ba nkra kra r tee.c .com com m, a le l ad din ing ng on onliline nee sour so our urce ce o off fifina nannccial na iaal innfo orrm mat atiio on (J (Jun (Jun une 22001 011 11)
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UN NC As Ashevillee is listed am among Am A erica’s “green” colllleg eges and uni nivers rsittiees. s - The Pri rinc ncetton Rev evie iew’ w’ss “G “Guide to 3222 Grreeen Collleg eges e for 2012” (April 20 20112))
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Mid Mi dd dle le 500% % of in incco omi ming ng fre resh shme men SSA men AT sc sco orre re: e: 109 0900-1250 112250 50 (Fa Fallll 200111) 1) Annu An nual al Inn--SSttatte Tu Tuit itio ion aan ion nd Fe Feeess: $ $5 5,339933 (20 2 1111-1 11 -12) 2) Annnuual Out-o An ut-ofut f-St fStatte T St Tuuit itio itio ion on an and Feees es: s: $1 $19,0 9,025 025 (2 02 (201 (20 0111--122) Aver Av errag age An Annu Annu n all Hou usiing aannd nd M Mea eal ea al Pl P an Fee ees: $7, 7,30 302 ((2201 30 0111 122) Fina Fina Fi nan anc ncial ial A Aiid: id: d: Mor oree th than an h hal alf o off sttuud deentts re rece ceiivve fina nanc ncia iall aiid, d, wit ith more mo oree thhaan 855 per erce cent n of stud sttuden ud den ents ts’ s’ fifina n nccia ial ne need d met et..
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DR. ANNE PONDER CHANCELLOR - UNC ASHEVILLE Dr. Anne Ponder became the sixth Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville in October 2005. She began her tenure by leading a campuswide collaboration to create a dynamic and viable five- to seven-year strategic plan and revised mission statement. With this focus, UNC Asheville has made major strides as a national leader in the liberal arts and has become a one of the top choices for students seeking a rigorous and multi-faceted educational experience.
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During her tenure, the university was chosen as the first national headquarters for the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges and several majors in Religious Studies and Anthropology have been added to the curriculum. Dr. Ponder has encouraged innovative collaboration that resulted in a UNC-Chapel Hill satellite pharmacy education program. Building new partnerships with local governments, scientific agencies and non-profit organizations have resulted in agreements with Mission Hospital Systems, the City of Asheville, the Renaissance Computing Institute and others for enhanced learning and research opportunities for students and faculty. This emphasis on collaboration, one of Chancellor Ponder’s hallmark traits, also led to the cultivation, with other campus and community leaders, of some of the largest multi-million donations in the university’s history. Chancellor Ponder oversaw the largest building projects in UNC Asheville’s history, including New Hall classroom building; Sam Millar Facilities Management Complex; Zeis Science and Multimedia Building; and the Wilma M. Sherrill Center, which houses the North Carolina Center for Health & Wellness and the Kimmel Arena. In each of these projects, environmental sustainability has been a key feature, as dictated by the university’s strategic plan.These green efforts – combined with countless others across campus – have earned the university a host of awards, including repeated recognition as one of the lowest energy consuming agencies in the state. A strong advocate for community service, Dr. Ponder is a member of the Mission Hospitals Audit Committee, the Asheville Community and Economic Development Alliance, the Children’s Welfare League and the WNC Community Foundation’s Women for Women. She also is a board member for the non-profit Kendal Corporation. Before becoming Chancellor at UNC Asheville, Dr. Ponder served for 10 years as president of Colby-Sawyer College, a private liberal arts college in New Hampshire. Prior to that appointment, she held teaching and administrative posts at Elon College (now Elon University), Guilford College and Kenyon College. Chancellor Ponder, who holds a doctorate in English from UNC-Chapel Hill, is a nationally known expert on institutional effectiveness, strategic planning, and fundraising and resource development. She has been a frequent faculty member of Harvard University’s Institutes for Higher Education and wrote the chapter on strategic planning in the American Council on Education’s book “Leading America’s Branch Campuses.” A native of Asheville, Chancellor Ponder is the daughter of the late Eleanor and Herschel Ponder, both of whom trace their Asheville family roots to the 1780s. She is married to award-winning writer and publisher Christopher Brookhouse.
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JANET R. CONE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS • SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR FOR UNIVERSITY ENTERPRISES Janet R. Cone is in her ninth year as Director of Athletics at UNC Asheville. She also serves the school as Senior Administrator for University Enterprises. This past year was highlighted by the men’s basketball team’s winning the Big South Conference championship for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs set a school record for conference and overall wins. Asheville advanced to the NCAA Tournament where it nearly pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NCAA history when the 16th-seeded Bulldogs lost a close game to top-seeded Syracuse. In addition, the school successfully hosted the Big South Conference men’s basketball tournament with a national television audience and sellout crowd watching the championship game in the school’s brand-new Kimmel Arena. Cone oversaw the successful opening of the Wilma Sherrill Center which houses the Kimmel Arena. She worked to bring the top-ranked UNC Chapel Hill men’s basketball team to open Kimmel against the Bulldogs in a game that was nationally televised. That game was also sold out. The Sherrill Center had more than 100,000 visitors the past year as its hosted various events from concerts to graduation.
Cone guided the athletic department through a successful certification process by the NCAA. In addition, she brought back women’s swimming as a varsity sport for the first time in more than 35 years. In the 2010-11 year, Cone saw the UNC Asheville men’s basketball team win the Big South Conference championship and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In addition, the Bulldog women’s indoor track and field squad finished in third place, the highest finish in school history. Senior sprinter Natalie Pearson made her second appearance in the NCAA National Outdoor Track and Field meet. Three years ago, Chancellor Anne Ponder appointed Cone to the position of Senior Administrator for University Enterprises. In this position, Cone oversees the Sherrill Center, manages specific community relationships and serves as a member of UNC Asheville’s major gifts team. She is a member of the Chancellor’s Senior Staff.
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Other successes included the men’s tennis team’s finishing in second place in the Big South Conference, its highest league finish ever, the volleyball team’s advancing to the semifinals of the Big South Tournament for the eighth time in the last nine years, and the women’s tennis, men’s tennis and women’s track and field teams being honored for their work in the classroom.
In 2009, Cone helped to create the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission to bring athletic events to the Asheville area. Her leadership helped secure the return of the Southern Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournament to Asheville in March 2012. Student-Athletes have excelled in the classroom under Cone’s leadership. In 2004, she created the Athletic Director’s 3.0 + Club which recognizes student-athletes who make a 3.0 or better grade point average each semester. More than 900 student-athletes have made the club during Cone’s nine years, and in 2009-10, a record number of student-athletes earned that distinction. During that same time period, more than 800 student-athletes have been named to the Big South Presidential Honor Roll, and in 2009-10 more than 60 percent of UNC Asheville’s student-athletes earned this impressive academic distinction. Cone has overseen construction projects that have dramatically improved the facilities in which UNC Asheville’s Bulldog student-athletes compete and train. (1) The Wilma Sherrill Center/Kimmel Arena was completed in the spring of 2011. Funded partly through a $35 million state appropriation, Cone helped raise more than $ 7 million dollars in private funds to construct the Kimmel Arena, a major convocation space that will accommodate larger group events than the campus has been able to host before. Among other things, this will allow the university to host its own graduation, attract major speakers and performances, and have a new home for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. (2) Renovation and repairs to the Karl Straus Track began in the spring of 2009. Cone helped raised more than one million dollars in private funding for the track project. (3) Cone negotiated a partnership with Crowne Plaza Hotel and Resort for construction of a new Bulldog tennis facility which has indoor courts, composition courts and six hard courts that were completed in the fall of 2009.The facility has been the home of Bulldog men’s and women’s tennis for the past three seasons, and this past spring hosted the Big South Conference men’s and women’s tennis championships for the first time in school history.
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Highlights of the 2007-08 year included the men’s basketball team being co-regular season champions of the Big South Conference and earning a bid to the National Invitational Tournament, making UNC Asheville the first men’s basketball team in Big South history to receive a bid to the NIT. Cone helped the department successfully host the Big South Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament and Women’s Basketball Tournament in back-to-back weekends.
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In October of 2007, Cone was named the 2007 Division I-AAA Administrator of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators. Chancellor Anne Ponder was delighted to see Cone receive the award. “Janet Cone’s inspirational leadership has set a very high standard for our student-athletes and our coaches, all of whom continue to be winners both on and off the field,” stated Ponder. “We are thrilled that she is being recognized in this way for her vision, her energy, and her tenacity, qualities our University benefit from each and every day.” In 2006-07, three different UNC Asheville teams won Big South Conference championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In May 2006, the baseball team completed an amazing run with its first ever championship and a trip to Clemson for the NCAA Regional. In the fall of 2006, the women’s soccer team became the first women’s team in school history to qualify for the NCAA Tournament when the Bulldogs won the league title and earned a spot against topseed UNC Chapel Hill in the College Cup. In March 2007, the UNC Asheville women’s basketball team won its first ever Big South Conference championship. Asheville advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time where it took on Final Four-bound LSU. The South Carolina native has promulgated a significant increase in corporate sponsorships and Bulldog Athletic Association donations, critical to an organization that is not allowed to receive state funds of any kind. She has also overseen a new partnership with the Asheville City and Buncombe County Parks and Recreation Departments, an improved Athletics website, and the implementation of internet broadcasts and video-streaming for six different sports. Cone has been tapped by the NCAA and the Big South Conference to serve on several key committees. In the Big South, she is on the committees for Budget, Compliance, Ad Hoc Committee on Publicity and Promotions, Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Men’s Soccer and Tennis. In the spring of 2006, Cone was named to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Issues Committee. In September of 2008, she began a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Leadership Council. In July 2006, the Summerville, S.C. native was one of just 14 female athletic administrators to be picked by the NCAA/NACWAA to attend The Institute of Athletics Executives in Denver. In September 2008, she began a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Leadership Council. Other highlights of Cone’s tenure include the development of a new Athletics Logo and a partnership with the Asheville City and Buncombe County Parks and Recreation Departments. In the spring of 2006, she was named as an Outstanding Executive Manager by the Asheville-Buncombe Excellence in Public Service.
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Cone is extremely active in the community, and in the summer of the 2006, she helped lead a group of community leaders to bring the Big South Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament to UNC Asheville’s Justice Center in 2007 and 2008. Cone also initiated the “Our Turn to Play” women’s luncheon for local business, civic, and community leaders the past two years. In addition, Cone was recognized as one of 10 Women to Know in Western North Carolina. Cone came to Asheville from Samford University where she served as the first head women’s basketball coach beginning in 1996. She coached the Bulldogs for five seasons and, in 1999-2000, the team posted a 19-10 record. Cone was named Assistant Athletics Director before being promoted to Associate Athletics Director in 2003. Prior to Samford, Cone served as the first full-time Assistant Athletics Director, and the head women’s basketball and volleyball coach at Saint Leo University in Florida. She also directed basketball programs at Western Carolina University and Mars Hill College. Cone began her career as a teacher and coach in Gilbert, South Carolina. She coached against UNC Asheville eight times in her career and had a 5-3 record against the Bulldogs. Cone was born and raised in Summerville, S.C. She was a fouryear letterwinner on the basketball team and was an all-conference performer at Summerville HS for two years. Cone was inducted into that school’s Hall of Fame in 2007. She graduated magna cum laude from Furman University in 1978 and was named Physical Education Student of the Year while lettering in basketball and field hockey as an undergraduate. While earning her Master’s from the University of South Carolina in 1986, she completed her studies with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. A life-long learner, Cone is a 2003 graduate of the NACWAA/ HERS Institute of Administrative Advancement. She is a member of NACDA, NACWAA, NCAA Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association, Women’s Sports Foundation, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
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UNC ASHEVILLE SUPPORT STAFF
MIKE GORE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Mike Gore is in his 27th year of service to the UNC Asheville Athletics Department. He currently serves the school as an Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs. In his post, Gore is the liaison with the media, handling all media-related activities concerning the athletic department. He also assists with game management and sport oversight. In 2004, Gore served as the school’s Interim Athletics Director for six months prior to the hiring of Janet Cone. He is the chairman of the school’s Athletics Department Hall of Fame and the Big South Conference Hall of Fame committee.
Gore is a 1984 graduate of Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications. His wife Lisa is an Assistant District Attorney for the 28th Judicial District.
TERRI BRNE
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The Buffalo native has been a longtime contributor to the Asheville Citizen-Times , Hendersonville Times-News and has written for Blue Ribbon Basketball Magazine. For the past 13 years, Gore has been the official scorer for the Class A Asheville Tourists baseball team. In 2005, Gore was honored with the first ever Mike Gore Bulldog Service Award at UNC Asheville’s Athletics Banquet.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS SENIOR WOMEN’S ADMINISTRATOR Terri Brne is in her seventh year of service to the UNC Asheville Athletics Department. She serves as Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Affairs and as Director of Compliance and Sport Oversight. She joined the UNC Asheville Athletic Department in the fall of 2006. In the summer of 2011, Terri became the school’s Senior Woman Administrator. Brne is responsible for the interpretation of rules by the NCAA and Big South Conference and is the department’s liaison with Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar and the Big South Conference. She educates UNC Asheville’s student-athletes and staff on all of the NCAA rules and regulations. Brne serves as the Game Administrator for men’s and women’s basketball. Terri also oversees men’s and women’s soccer plus baseball and assists with men’s and women’s basketball. In addition, she works with the Big South Conference whenever UNC Asheville hosts a league tournament. This past year saw Brne help the athletic department pass its NCAA certification and host both the men’s basketball and men’s and women’s tennis Big South tournaments. The Illinois native was an assistant basketball coach at both South Dakota and St. Andrews Presbyterian College. While at St. Andrews, she assisted in NCAA Compliance for all sports. Brne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Illinois State. She earned her masters’s degree at Tarleton State in Exercise and Sports Studies and is currently completing a doctorate in Sports Administration.
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ASHEVILLE SUPPORT STAFF
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Omar Ahmad Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Lydee Benoit Assistant Volleyball Coach
Judith Bohan Business Manager
Honey Brown Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach
Joe Burnette Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach
Brady Burresh Director of Facilities
Brett Carey Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
Betsy Blose Staff Assistant
Janell Crayton Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach
Russ Gardiner Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach
Tom Hand Assistant Tennis Coach
Dr. Herman Holt Faculty Athletics Representative
Rebecca Nelms-Keil Director of Student Athlete Affairs
Eric Linnell Assistant Athletic Trainer, ATC
Kevin Easley Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
Donna Peek Administrative Assistant
Matt Pellegrin Director of Athletics Media Communications
Adam Puett Assistant Cross Country Coach
Aaron Sanders Director of Bulldog Athletic Association
Erin Punter-Spence Director of Marketing and Promotions
Harmon Turner Ticket Manager
Jim Wallace Assistant Athletic Trainer, ATC
James Westfall Assistant Athletic Trainer, ATC
Tim White Head Athletic Trainer, ATC
Joel Williams Assistant Track & Field Coach
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UNC ASHEVILLE HEAD COACHES
Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick Women’s Basketball 2nd year as head coach
Michele Demko Women’s Soccer 4th year as head coach
Matt Kern Men’s Soccer 4th year as head coach
Elizabeth Lykins Women’s Swimming 2nd year as head coach
Jesse Norman Cross Country/Track 7th year as head coach
Lise Gregory Tennis 7th year as head coach
Tom Smith Baseball 5th year as head coach
Frederico Santos Volleyball 3rd year as head coach
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Nick McDevitt Men’s Basketball 1st year as head coach
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ROCKY Since UNC Asheville first fielded athletics teams in the 1930s (then known as Biltmore College), the bulldog has been its mascot. Early students chose the bulldog for its fierce and tenacious reputation. In the decades that have followed, the bulldog has become a beloved symbol of our University.
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In 1948, “Puck,” arrived on campus and began a tradition of live bulldog mascots that lasted into the 1980s. Puck, named after the character in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was followed by Puck II and in the 1960s by Chuga-lug. In the 1980s the campus welcomed Winston, named after British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, both for his bulldogged resolve as well as his appearance.Winston appeared for only a year and the tradition of a live mascot fell out of use. In 2009 thanks to a group of student organizers, UNC Asheville welcomed a new bulldog mascot to the University community. “Rocky I” made his first public appearance at halftime of UNC Asheville’s homecoming basketball game on Feb. 21, 2009. Alumni couple, Alexis Johnson (’97) and Ed Johnson (’96), also a member of the math faculty, are his keepers. The name “Rocky” was suggested by staff member Nancy Williams during a naming contest sponsored by the Athletics Department in 1995. Though the rumor has often been that the name came from Sylvester Stallone’s famous character, Rocky Balboa, which is based on the American prize fighter Rocky Marciano, the name was chosen because it means steadfast, much like the mountains that surround campus. Ironically, the name “Rocky,” which is of English origin, is a derivation of the name “Roch” (also Rocco and Roque) after St. Roch, the Patron Saint of Dogs. In addition to the live bulldogs, the UNC Asheville mascot has also been depicted by an army of costumed students. Since the 1960s, students dressed as the bulldog have rallied the fans at thousands of games in support of Bulldog Athletics. The present incarnation of Rocky was introduced during the 2006-2007 season and is the first to accurately reflect the logo image of the bulldog used on signs and in print publications. That image, introduced during the 2004-05 season is the fifth official incarnation of the UNC Asheville bulldog logo. In the late 1990s, the image of the bulldog, or “Rocky,” was immortalized in aluminum through a gift by the Class of 1998. Sculpted by Matt West (‘00) and modeled after a canine friend of the University, Pete “Bubba” McGill, the statue of Rocky stands in front of the Justice Center as a sentinel over campus. Careful observers will note a chipped tooth and a torn ear, signs of his ferocity. Despite his tough outward appearance, the statue of Rocky is beloved by fans. Continuing a tradition begun by the Class of 1998, each year, during convocation and commencement, freshman and seniors rub his head for good luck before going to the ceremonies. Seniors are also often spotted getting their picture made riding Rocky in the days leading up to graduation. UNC Asheville is proud of its bulldog heritage. Today, Rocky, in all of his forms serves as a rallying point for fans far and wide.
1990-2003
2004-Present
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BULLDOG ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION For over 30 years, the Bulldog Athletics Association has been the athletics scholarship fundraising arm of the UNC Asheville Athletics Department, but in its simplest terms, the Bulldog Athletics Club is YOU. Construction workers, doctors, teachers, lawyers, bankers, manufacturers, brokers, and technicians who are friends, fans, alumni, and countless combinations of others from Asheville, Weaverville, Arden, Hendersonville, …and places all over North Carolina, the United States, and the world. They all have one thing in common—a passion for Bulldog Athletics. While we have high expectations for conference and NCAA competition, we also have high expectations for outstanding graduation rates, personal growth, and community involvement. As a member of the Bulldog Athletics Association, you become a critical part of a successful athletics program with a tradition of developing a student-athlete. We must raise funds not only to increase the amount of scholarship money we can offer but also to offset the rising costs of a college education. The confidence of knowing your investment will be maximized is one reason supporting UNC Asheville Bulldog Athletics is a great investment. UNC Asheville Athletics receives no state funding for scholarships, so 100 percent of your gift will enable UNC Asheville to recruit and retain student-athletes who will succeed in the classroom, athletics arena, and the community – following our motto:
Champions in Athletics, Leaders in Life.
--Rich Davis ’93, Jan Davis Tire Store
“The athletics scholarship I received from UNC Asheville allowed me to focus solely on my academics and soccer, without being concerned about how to pay for school. I donate to the Bulldog Athletics Club now so that current and future student-athletes can enjoy the same experience I did. Being a student-athlete at UNC Asheville was one of the best experiences of my life and the values and lessons I learned have helped me in my professional career and my personal life. Go Bulldogs!”
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“UNC Asheville is a point of pride for this community, as an alumnus and business owner. We are proud to support the athletics department and student-athletes as they represent our community and bring attention to WNC.”
--Pat Britz ’90; former men’s soccer player
For more information about the Bulldog Athletics Association, please contact us: UNC Asheville Athletics Justice Center, CPO #2600 One University Heights Asheville, NC 28804 Phone: (828) 251-6459 Fax: (828) 251-6386 www.uncabulldogs.com
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