Texas A&M University-Commerce announces a contract for head volleyball coach Craig Case.
COMMERCE – Texas A&M University-Commerce has announced a multi-year contract for head volleyball coach Craig Case, effective immediately.
The seventh head coach in Lion volleyball history, Case has led the Lions since the 2010 season and has compiled an overall record of 130-114 (.533), the second-most wins in program history. In 2017, he led the Lions to the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament for the first time since 1988.
“It has been an honor and joy to call A&M-Commerce and my home since 2010, and I can’t explain how excited I am to continue that,” Case said. “I love our program, our athletics department, our university, and our community. I can’t wait to keep representing all of those entities and doing what it takes to make them proud of our program.
“I would like to thank President Ray Keck and Tim McMurray for extending this opportunity and having faith in me to lead our program to greater success. I love our “Best in Class” mission and for what it stands. I love doing my best every day to make that mission a reality for our student-athletes. On top of that, everyone in our athletic department from the top down shares and supports that mission. To be in such a great environment is every coach’s dream.”
Case has coached three All-Americans, six All-Region players, six Lone Star Conference major award winners, 26 all-Lone Star Conference players, 10 Lone Star Conference All-Academic players, and the program’s first-ever CoSIDA Academic All-America.
“Having worked with Craig and his talented staff for three years, it is a privilege to sign him to a multi-year contract,” McMurray said. “We are fortunate to have a leader who embraces the student-athlete experience, is committed to a culture of compliance, is resource conscious, and produces positive results on the court.”
Case’s teams have improved their record in each of the last three seasons, earning second place in the Lone Star Conference in 2017, their highest finish since 2002 and best in a non-divisional format since 1994. The Lions went undefeated in the Field House for the first time in 30 years last season, going 11-0 in front of the home crowd.
Entering his ninth season as head coach at A&M-Commerce, Case is the longest-tenured head coach in the history of the Lion Volleyball program.
“Beyond our volleyball program, everyone in the department and the university is amazing to work with them. We’ve got a great academics staff, great compliance staff, great athletic training staff, great strength and conditioning staff, and great administrative staff overall. Add to that the wonderful support we get from the university and it all adds up to this being one of the best jobs in the nation. I couldn’t be more blessed with this opportunity,” Case added.
Case previously served as head coach at St. Gregory’s (Okla.) and Valley City (N.D.) State and has been a collegiate head coach for 13 seasons, earning 186 victories.
In a corresponding move, Case has promoted Sarah Carthel to Associate Head Coach. Carthel just completed her fifth season with Lion Volleyball and is a decorated former student-athlete and well-respected coach throughout the Lone Star Conference and the nation.
“We are so pleased to have Craig Case leading our talented young women that represent our institution and our volleyball program,” said President Dr. Ray Keck. “Having had the chance to work with this program directly, including the prospective student-athletes who visit campus and our current team, I am so impressed by the job that he and Sarah do in mentoring our ladies on and off the court.”
160 Lions named to Fall 2017 LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
RICHARDSON – Texas A&M University-Commerce is represented by a conference-best 160 student-athletes on the Fall 2017 Lone Star Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll, as announced by the LSC office on Wednesday.
The Commissioner’s Honor Roll announcement is at the conclusion of the fall and spring semesters with student-athletes qualifying based on grade point average for the current semester. To be eligible for the honor roll, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.30 GPA for the current semester and be on the roster.
In addition to having the most student-athletes on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll, the Lions had 44 student-athletes who earned a perfect 4.0 term grade point average. A total of 1,213 student-athletes throughout the league’s 11 institutions received recognition on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Adam Abusnineh | Fr. | Men’s Cross Country, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Houston, Texas |
Jon Aguilar | Sr. | Football | Learning & Technology | Lubbock, Texas |
Laura Alicke | Fr. | Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Bad Lausick, Germany |
Eryka Anderson | Fr. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Plano, Texas |
Dorian Armstrong | Sr. | Men’s Basketball | General Studies | Detroit, Mich. |
Steven Baker | Grad | Football | Biological Sciences | San Antonio, Texas |
Shanecia Baker | Jr. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Interdisciplinary Studies | Tyler, Texas |
Justin Barlow | Jr. | Football | General Studies | Los Angeles, Calif. |
Brandon Bascue | Fr. | Football | General Business | Flower Mound, Texas |
Lauren Bentley | Fr. | Women’s Golf | Undecided | League City, Texas |
Kara Blasingame | Fr. | Women’s Soccer | Undecided | Oswego, Ill. |
Garrett Blubaugh | So. | Football | Biological Sciences | Keller, Texas |
Mason Boswell | Fr. | Men’s Cross Country, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Katy, Texas |
Kate Brodnax | Grad | Volleyball | MBA | Austin, Texas |
Lexi Bubenchik | Fr. | Women’s Golf | Undecided | New Concord, Ohio |
Srdan Budimir | Jr. | Men’s Basketball | Electrical Engineering | Karadjordjevo, Serbia |
Zachary Burch | Fr. | Men’s Golf | Undecided | Lubbock, Texas |
Bryse Burris | Fr. | Football | Undecided | Irving, Texas |
Leslie Campuzano | Fr. | Women’s Soccer | Undecided | Garland, Texas |
Ivy Carey | Fr. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Fort Worth, Texas |
Kieston Carter | Sr. | Football | Couseling | Mexia, Texas |
Shelley Chapron | So. | Volleyball | Undecided | Houston, Texas |
Chelsea Cheek | So. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Baytown, Texas |
Monica Cherry | Sr. | Softball | Sports & Recreation Management | Forney, Texas |
Jude Christine | Fr. | Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Sainte-Luce, Martinique |
Mackenzie Clark | Jr. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Business Administration | Garland, Texas |
Jessica Clay | Sr. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Tomball, Texas |
Kortlan Connely | Fr. | Athletic Training | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Cedar Hill, Texas |
Trey Conrod | Jr. | Men’s Basketball | General Studies | Kilgore, Texas |
Jazsmin Coronado | Fr. | Women’s Soccer | Undecided | Red Oak, Texas |
Jessika Coronado | So. | Women’s Soccer | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Red Oak, Texas |
Myca Crum | So. | Women’s Soccer | Undecided | Fort Worth, Texas |
Kati Culpepper | Jr. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | General Studies | Amarillo, Texas |
Travis Dafft | Fr. | Football | Undecided | Prosper, Texas |
Riley Davidson | Fr. | Volleyball | Undecided | Commerce, Texas |
Dylan Davis | Fr. | Football | Undecided | Sunnyvale, Texas |
Princess Davis | Jr. | Women’s Basketball | All Level Kinesiology | Shreveport, La. |
Katie Dean | Jr. | Softball | Marketing | Whitesboro, Texas |
Courtnee Dooley | Sr. | Athletic Training | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Lancaster, Texas |
Raini Dorman | Fr. | Football | Undecided | Henderson, Texas |
Caitlin Duty | Jr. | Women’s Soccer | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Crandall, Texas |
Celeste Emeott | Sr. | Women’s Golf | Business Administration | Plano, Texas |
Kylie Ferguson | So. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Grandview, Texas |
Vita Riera Ferrantelli | Fr. | Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Miami, Fla. |
Kendric Ford | Fr. | Football | Undecided | Dallas, Texas |
Rylie Fuentes | So. | Volleyball | Wildlife Conservation | Robinson, Texas |
Paige-Lee Garris | Fr. | Women’s Golf | Undecided | West Palm Beach, Fla. |
Katie Givens | Fr. | Women’s Soccer | Undecided | Rockwall, Texas |
Nicole Gonelli | Fr. | Volleyball | Undecided | Round Rock, Texas |
Jordan Gray | Fr. | Football, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Frisco, Texas |
Taylor Green | Fr. | Women’s Basketball | Undecided | Georgetown, Texas |
Joshua Hall | Fr. | Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | Psychology | Portland, Texas |
Blake Hartford | So. | Men’s Golf | Undecided | Spring, Texas |
Deionte Haywood | Jr. | Football | Psychology | Costa Mesa, Calif. |
Sophie Haywood | Sr. | Women’s Soccer | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Hull, England |
Kinsie Hebler | So. | Softball | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Cypress, Texas |
Sophie-Charlott Hempel | Fr. | Women’s Golf | Undecided | Pirmasens, Germany |
Dylan Henderson | So. | Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Dallas, Texas |
Jacob Henderson | Fr. | Athletic Training | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Mesquite, Texas |
Baylea Higgs | Sr. | Softball | Interdisciplinary Studies | Arlington, Texas |
Sarah Hogan | Jr. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Psychology | Gatesville, Texas |
Kendall Holmes | So. | Football | All Level Kinesiology | Tyler, Texas |
Chloe Horn | Fr. | Softball | Undecided | Commerce, Texas |
Mariah Jameyson | Sr. | Softball | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Seattle, Wash. |
Lacie Jessup | Sr. | Volleyball | Accounting | Irving, Texas |
Easton Jones | Fr. | Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Wylie, Texas |
Jazmynn Kennebeck | Fr. | Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Rowlett, Texas |
Kayla Kilcrease | Jr. | Softball | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Kerens, Texas |
Michelle Kotlik | So. | Women’s Soccer | Sociology | Grapevine, Texas |
Leo Lara | Fr. | Men’s Basketball | Sports & Recreation Management | Santa Rosa, Texas |
Ruth Leach | Fr. | Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Whitesboro, Texas |
Lauren Leslie | Jr. | Women’s Golf | Management | Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas |
Preston Lienemann | Jr. | Volleyball | Public Health | Loveland, Colo. |
Layne Little | Sr. | Volleyball | History | Abilene, Texas |
Sir Morgan Loudd | Fr. | Football, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Waco, Texas |
Justice Luce | Jr. | Football | Psychology | Fairview, Texas |
Katherine Lyles | So. | Women’s Golf | Finance | Daingerfield, Texas |
Kristov Martinez | Jr. | Football | Management | Edinburg, Texas |
Samantha Martinez | Fr. | Softball | Undecided | Ennis, Texas |
Kendall Mathis | Fr. | Football | All Level Kinesiology | Maud, Texas |
Autumn McGowan | Fr. | Athletic Training | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Fort Worth, Texas |
Kamryn McKee | Sr. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Kinesiology & Sports Studies | Lewisville, Texas |
Jenna McLaughlin | Jr. | Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Interdisciplinary Studies | Sunnyvale, Texas |
Tate McMillan | Fr. | Men’s Cross Country, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | Undecided | Humble, Texas |
Desmond McNiel | Fr. | Men’s Basketball | Construction Engineering | Whitewright, Texas |
Dallas Millin | Fr. | Men’s Golf | Finance | Wright, WY |
Trevor Montgomery | Jr. | Men’s Cross Country, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field |
Lions move up to No. 10 in NABC Coaches’ Poll, setting up monster LSC weekend.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team has risen two spots to No. 10 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Poll, as released Tuesday.
After defeating Tarleton State in their only action last week, the Lions have moved their record to 14-1 overall and lead the Lone Star Conference with a 7-0 record with two more games remaining in the first loop through the LSC round robin schedule.
Those two games left in the first round have emerged as colossal matchups in the conference and national scene, as West Texas A&M is ranked No. 7 and UT Permian Basin is ranked No. 11. It is the Lions’ highest national ranking since ending the 2004-05 season ranked No. 5.
The Lions travel to Odessa on Thursday to take on No. 11 UT-Permian Basin for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. Saturday will see the Lions go to Canyon for the NCAA Division II National Showcase game against No. 7 West Texas A&M for a 4:00 p.m. tipoff. That game will be broadcast online on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN family of mobile apps. All Lion basketball games are broadcast on the Lion Sports Network, with KETR 88.9 FM as the flagship station, streaming online at KETR.org.
NABC/Division II Rankings
(Jan. 16, 2018 – Poll No. 8)
Record | Points | Last | ||
1. | West Liberty, W.Va. (15) | 15-0 | 399 | 3 |
2. | Northwest Missouri State (1) | 14-1 | 381 | 4 |
3. | Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. | 15-1 | 370 | 5 |
4. | Queens, N.C. | 16-1 | 339 | 1 |
5. | Ferris State, Mich. | 18-1 | 330 | 7 |
6. | Bellarmine, Ky. | 14-1 | 321 | 2 |
7. | West Texas A&M | 16-1 | 311 | 8 |
8. | Northern State, S.D. | 18-1 | 290 | 9 |
9. | Western Oregon | 15-1 | 275 | 10 |
10. | A&M-Commerce | 14-1 | 239 | 12 |
11. | UT Permian Basin | 14-2 | 229 | 6 |
12. | Virginia State | 15-1 | 226 | 13 |
13. | West Florida | 15-1 | 215 | 15 |
14. | Morehouse, Ga. | 14-0 | 180 | 20 |
15. | Findlay, Ohio | 17-2 | 166 | 16 |
16. | Wheeling Jesuit, W.Va. | 13-2 | 142 | 19 |
17. | Dallas Baptist, Texas | 14-2 | 129 | 23 |
18. | West Chester, Pa. | 14-1 | 119 | 17 |
19. | Barry, Fla. | 11-3 | 103 | 11 |
20. | Claflin, S.C. | 17-1 | 81 | NR |
21. | Valdosta State, Ga. | 14-2 | 66 | NR |
22. | Christian Brothers, Tenn. | 13-3 | 49 | 18 |
23. | Arkansas-Fort Smith | 14-3 | 39 | 14 |
24. | Southern Nazarene, Okla. | 12-1 | 37 | NR |
25. | William Jewell, Mo. | 14-2 | 31 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 24, Minot State (N.D.) 18, Fort Lewis (Colo.) 17, Western Washington 13, California Baptist 12, Kutztown (Pa.) 11, Cal Poly Pomona 10, Colorado School of Mines 10, Chaminade (Hawai’i) 7, Central Missouri 5, Bridgeport (Conn.) 3, Cal State San Marcos 3.
Dropped out: Fort Lewis (21), Colorado School of Mines (22), California Baptist (24), Cal Poly Pomona (25).
Records are through games of Jan.14, 2018.
Lion Athletics Announces Administrative Reorganization.
COMMERCE – Texas A&M University-Commerce Director of Athletics Tim McMurray has announced a reorganization of the Lion Athletics Executive Team, along with administrative staff additions and adjustments.
The Lion Athletics Executive Team now consists of Judy Sackfield, Deputy Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Success (formerly Senior Associate Athletics Director); Josh Manck, Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Communications (formerly Associate Athletics Director for Communications); Conner Moreno, Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations (formerly Assistant Athletics Director – Internal Operations); Katelyn Severance, Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Administration (formerly Associate Athletics Director for Compliance); Taylor Phelps, Executive Director – Lion Champions Fund; and Morgan Phelps, Administrative Associate to the Athletics Director / Chief of Staff.
“On the heels of a historical fall for our student-athletes in the classroom, our NCAA Award of Excellence nomination for community engagement, and our historic football and volleyball NCAA accolades, it is a sensible time to maximize efficiency and alignment in our administration,” McMurray said.
“We have consolidated two positions and realigned several others to maximize efficiencies and skill sets of our talented administrative team. I am so pleased to have Judy, Josh, Conner, Katelyn, and Taylor take on additional responsibilities and form collaborative approaches across our external, internal, and student-athlete success units. It will truly be ‘Best in Class’ for our student-athletes and coaches.”
In addition to executive team realignment, several deserving athletics staff members have had their duties realigned recently. Victoria Kisluk is now Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Success, Austin Weyant is Assistant Director of Compliance, AJ Audet is Athletics Facilities and Operations Manager, and Taryn Driver is now External Operations Coordinator.
Driver (Volleyball, Class of 2017) and Taylor Phelps (Men’s Basketball, Class of 2014) are both A&M-Commerce Honors College alumni and former student-athletes. Working closely with Manck and his communications/marketing team, it gives external relations a team-approach that has already paid dividends during the NCAA National Championship for football and men’s and women’s basketball early season crowds.
“Our approach to our Best in Class mission from a staff perspective is simple – spend time developing people that are passionate, talented, and committed to taking the initiative. With our new organizational structure and our talented administrators, those three key elements are already flourishing,” McMurray noted.