FROM THE DESK OF THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
From the DESK OF THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Shane Hurley (12th Season)
As we are excited about the beginning of the fall sports seasons, it is amazing to look at the contrast between where we are now and where we came from. The fall of 2007 saw our “Saints” kick off the first season for men’s soccer and women's volleyball. Approximately 50 new student-athletes joined OLLU that year to partake of the opportunity to compete collegiately while striving toward a degree. There were very little resources back then, but the effort was the same. As each year passed, we saw changes, new sports and coaches, plus a whole lot more students! That number -50 - seems insignificant considering at a high we’ve seen very close to 250 student-athletes on campus, and that’s not counting the ones who are still here but no longer participating in intercollegiate sports, but have decided to focus on academics.
Currently, we have 13 teams representing OLLU, and we’ve had tremendous success in each sport, in the classroom and in the community. This spring, we had a record eight teams earn recognition as NAIA Scholar Teams - repeat teams are Women's Cross-Country, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball, and Men's Tennis; plus newcomers Men's Baseball and Soccer and Women's Track and Field. We also saw OLLU boast the highest cumulative GPA (3.08) with 96 of our student-athletes being recognized as RRAC Scholar Athletes for their success in the classroom. In competition, we just earned our fifth consecutive RRAC All-Sports Award. And, our teams are serious about giving back to the community through the Champions of Character program. Below are a few other accolades from the 2017-2018 year:
- 70 All-Conference Selections
- 17 All-Tournament Selections
- 2 Conference Gold Glove Selections
- 6 Teams at Nationals
- 1 individual at Nationals
- 8 Conference Postseason Participation
- 5 Conference Postseason Championships
- 2 Regular Season Championships
- 5 NAIA All-American Selections
- 2 Saints 1,000 Point Inductees
- 12 Conference Players of the Year
- 2 Academic All-American Selections
- 5 Coaches of the Year Awards
As we move forward over the next few years, there is an increasing demand for us to improve our facilities. This year, OLLU made a significant investment to expand our weight room and purchase all new equipment for it, as well as the cardio room. These resources are utilized by student-athletes, students, faculty and staff. However, each team and sport has its own unique needs, and you can continue to have an impact on what the future brings for the Saints. Please utilize the following link below to give back and impact the lives of future Saints!