Serve-Win-Transform, The First 100 Days Report

It’s hard to believe, but today marks my 100th day as your Director of Athletics. I want to highlight the incredible work our team has done in athletics and provide you with an update on some initial observations and insight into where we’re going next.

SUSTAINED STUDENT-ATHLETE EXCELLENCE 

First and foremost, we must commend our incredible student-athletes for successfully managing this first year in Division I and maintaining the standard of excellence that has defined this athletics program for decades – not just on the playing surface but also in the classroom.

SUPPORT AND ALIGNMENT

Thank you to our generous donors, corporate partners, and Lion Champions Fund members, your support is critical for our success, and your impact is undeniable. The support from the entire university community for athletics has been exceptional, and it starts at the top with President Rudin and our university leadership team, whose support has been unwavering and inspiring. 

SERVE. WIN. TRANSFORM.

Over these first 100 days, our mission in athletics has become clear – Serve. Win. Transform.

College athletics is a service industry; this mindset will be the foundation for everything we do. What makes college athletics unique is its ability to unite and unite people. While student-athletes are at the core of what we do, we must recognize the importance of serving all our university stakeholders.

We will pursue championships in all endeavors, both on the field and in the classroom. Given our success in our first year in Division I, there is one undeniable truth – we proved we belong at this level and can and will compete for championships.

We will embrace the transformative impact that college athletics provides. Let’s be clear; we’re doing more than trying to win ball games in athletics. It is one of the best human development industries in the world, and we are transforming the lives of young people while at the same time supporting the transformation of this entire university.

FIRST 100 DAYS ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

We’ve been hard at work, and I want to share some accomplishments by our team over these first 100 days:

• Successfully executed a national search for a new head women’s basketball coach and welcomed Valerie King.
• Reset our entire sports medicine unit from top to bottom:
  • We added three new full-time athletic training positions.
  • Hired a new health and performance director
  • We welcome a new medical director and a medical partnership arrangement for athletics.
• We rolled out new tailgate and game day enhancements for football.
• We have added two new full-time positions in academic support.
• We hosted our first Division I conference championship event in track and field.
• We completed all Year One requirements of the NCAA Division I reclassification process and formally advanced to Year Two.
• We are engaged with Under Armour to renegotiate the terms of our apparel agreement.
• We launched The Mane Exchange, a new NIL marketplace allowing student-athletes and interested parties to connect directly for NIL opportunities.
• Elevated our approach to scheduling:
  • Multiple sports will host a Power Five opponent in Commerce this year. 
  • The men’s basketball schedule will grab some attention, including a trip to Kentucky.
  • Additionally, we have an agreement for our first Power Five opponent in football that we will announce soon.
• We are announcing a new partnership focused on ticketing and sponsorship sales that will elevate our operations in both areas and add a unique position to our external team.

We’ve tackled a lot in these first 100 days, and it wouldn’t be possible without the team’s exceptional work in athletics, our university partners, and our donors.

CRITICAL AREAS OF INVESTMENT 

While there is much to celebrate, we still have plenty of exciting work ahead. Having assessed our current operation, we move to the four critical areas requiring additional investment to operate at a championship level consistently.

1. Student-Athlete scholarship and Career readiness

• • Additional scholarships up to NCAA limits
  • Summer school funding
  • Academic achievement awards
  • Life skills and career readiness training for student-athletes

1. Student-athlete health and performance. 
   1. Replacement of necessary sports medicine equipment
   2. Performance nutrition resources
   3. Student-athlete health insurance.
2. Facilities investment
   1. To ensure student-athletes have first-class venues to study, train and compete in
   2. Allow us to effectively tell the story of the rich history and tradition of Lion Athletics.
3. Operating expenses to support a first-class student-athlete experience

• • With a more national reach in scheduling and recruiting, we are experiencing increased operating expenses compared to our time in Division II.

CHAMPIONSHIP ASPIRATIONS REQUIRE CHAMPIONSHIP RESOURCES 

The opportunity to grow our athletics programs and accelerate that championship process ties directly to the investment we make right now. Let’s be clear. We are going to win championships at A&M-Commerce. 

It’s not a coincidence that this university won multiple national championships across various sports in both NAIA and Division II, and there is no doubt that we can do the same thing in Division I because this is a place with championship DNA. But make no mistake about it. We need to match our championship aspirations with championship resources.

NEW LION CHAMPIONS FUND WEBSITE

We need your support if you’re passionate about Lion Athletics and our student-athletes and coaches. In the coming days, we will launch a refreshed Lion Champions Fund website to streamline the process of giving and more effectively communicate areas of need and the impact of your gift. We need to grow the role, and any size gift will help support our mission to serve, win and transform.

LION ATHLETICS KICKOFF AUCTION

To celebrate the launch of this new LCF website and the start of a new year, we’re rolling out our first Lion Athletics Kickoff Auction. This online silent auction will coincide with the launch of the refreshed LCF website and allow Lion fans to bid on unique Lion Athletics experiences, with all proceeds going to support Lion student-athletes.

POWER OF FAMILY AND TOGETHERNESS 

During these first 100 days, I’ve seen firsthand the passion and love that so many have for this university and its athletics program. While we are ushering in an incredible amount of transformation, I’ve learned this university remains committed to the core values and qualities that make A&M-Commerce special and unique. It is a family; extraordinary things happen when we come together to support one another.

Thank you for welcoming me into the Lion family. We appreciate all your support, and I look forward to seeing you at a game this year. Thank you, and Go, Lions!

 

 

COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce cross-country teams have announced the schedule for the 2023 season.

A&M-Commerce competes in five races during the 2023 season, with three coming in Texas. The season begins on Sept. 1 at the McMurry Big Country Festival in Abilene.

The Lions then head to the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station on Sept. 15 and the Chile Pepper Festival on Sept. 29 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The final race before the conference championships takes the Lions to Peoria, Illinois, for the Bradley Pink Classic on Oct. 13.

The Southland Conference Championships are hosted by UIW this season in San Antonio on Oct. 27.

2023 A&M-COMMERCE CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE

Date

Meet

Site

Host School

Sept. 1

McMurry Big Country Festival

Abilene

McMurry

Sept. 15

Texas A&M Invitational

College Station

Texas A&M

Sept. 29

Chile Pepper Festival

Fayetteville, Ark.

Chile Pepper/Arkansas

Oct. 13

Bradley Pink Classic

Peoria, Ill.

Bradley

Oct. 27

Southland Conference Championships

San Antonio

Southland Conference/UIW

The Preseason All-SLC soccer team selects five players.

FRISCO – Five Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer players earned preseason all-Southland Conference honors, as announced by the conference office on Friday morning.

Reigning Southland Conference Freshman of the Year Mya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) leads the way on the first team for the Lions, and she is joined on the first team by 2022 first-team all-conference honoree Ashley Campuzano (Dallas – Atlas Prep) and Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider). They named Nya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) and Hailey Griffin (Byron Nelson) to the second team.

The Lions went 9-9-2 in their first season in NCAA Division I and advanced to the SLC Tournament championship match.

Mya Mitchell was a second-team all-conference honoree last season while starting 19 matches. She scored eight goals and tallied four assists during conference play, tops in the SLC. She also had a streak of scoring a goal in six straight matches, the second-longest streak in NCAA Division I at the time.

Campuzano was named to the first-team all-conference and all-conference tournament team last season. She started all 20 matches, tallying five goals and six assists.

Shoffit was a two-time SLC defender of the week a year ago, named second-team all-SLC. She played all 20 matches, starting 15, totaling five goals and one assist. She also scored the program’s first goal in the Division I era.

Nya Mitchell was named to second-team all-SLC a year ago as well. She was part of the defensive unit that allowed the second-fewest goals during conference play a year ago. She played all 90 minutes in the team’s four shutouts.

Griffin also played on the defensive back line with Mitchell. She appeared and started 19 matches, playing all 90 minutes in 16.

The Lions begin the 2023 season on August 17 at home against Oral Roberts while hosting an exhibition contest against Stephen F. Austin on Friday night at 7:00. Admission is free for all home matches in 2023.

Returning players from the 2022 All-Conference teams are automatically named to this year’s Preseason All-Conference teams at their positions. Vacant positions are nominated and voted upon by the conference’s head coaches. Voting for one’s player is not permitted.

2023 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SOCCER PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

FIRST TEAM

Pos.

Name

School

Class

Hometown

GK

Nicole Panis

Lamar

Gr.

Opmeer, Netherlands

D

Arely Alaniz

Lamar

Sr.

Deer Park, Texas

D

Kat Lazor

HCU

Sr.

Missouri City, Texas

D

Mindy Shoffit

A&M-Commerce

Sr.

Wichita Falls, Texas

D

Kaisa Juvonen

Lamar

Gr.

Tampere, Finland

MF

Mya Guillory

Southeastern

Sr.

Prairieville, Louisiana

MF

Ashley Campuzano

A&M-Commerce

So.

Dallas, Texas.

MF

Isela Ramirez

Lamar

Jr.

Pflugerville, Texas

MF

Trinity Clark

Lamar

Sr.

Austin, Texas

F

Mya Mitchell

A&M-Commerce

So.

Dallas, Texas

F

Megan Guy

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Jr.

Roanoke, Texas

F

Morgan Westbury

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Jr.

McKinney, Texas

F

Cariel Ellis

Lamar

Gr.

Madison, Mississippi

SECOND TEAM

Pos.

Name

School

Class

Hometown

GK

Chloe Bagshaw

HCU

So.

Crowthorne, England

D

Caroline Hilliard

Northwestern State

Jr.

Corinth, Texas

D

Mia Salas

HCU

Sr.

San Antonio, Texas

D

Hailey Griffin

A&M-Commerce

Jr.

Trophy Club, Texas

D

Nya Mitchell

A&M-Commerce

So.

Dallas, Texas

MF

Rachel Loetzer

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Jr.

Frisco, Texas

MF

Molly Arens

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Sr.

Belmont North, New South Wales, Australia

MF

Kiana Kukaua

McNeese

Sr.

Valencia, California

MF

Laura Linares

Lamar

Gr.

Barcelona, Spain

F

Taylor Spitzer

Northwestern State

So.

Allen, Texas

F

Sierra Wannamaker

UIW

Sr.

San Antonio, Texas

F

Rachel Young

McNeese

Sr.

Surprise, Arizona

F

Magalie Depot

McNeese

Sr.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada