Every year, Colorado State Athletics faces a unique set of opportunities and challenges as we pursue excellence and aspire to be the preeminent program in the Mountain West Conference. As we reflect back, the 2017-2018 academic year was filled with significant milestones in numerous areas: • Student academic achievements • Conference championships • Student growth and development through life skills programming • The successful opening of Canvas Stadium • Record self-generated revenues • A high level of engagement from those who share in the pride of being a CSU Ram
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
It’s important to measure our progress to ensure we remain true to our mission – To Educate, Engage and Excel.
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This 2017-2018 annual report highlights OUR collective accomplishments as a Ramily. We cannot achieve any level of success without the commitment of thousands. Every Ram – alumni and students, donors and sponsors, season ticket holders and individual game buyers, community members and fans – make a difference by engaging with CSU Athletics, voicing their enthusiasm for our student-athletes and embracing opportunities to support our efforts to seek excellence. The academic and athletic success of our student-athletes goes hand-in-hand with your investment in our program. As you read through this report, please feel the pride in the accomplishments and accept our heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support of CSU Athletics and Colorado State student-athletes. With deep appreciation, Go Rams!
R E P O R T A N N U A L CANVAS STADIUM NAME DEDICATION
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2 0 1 7 - 1 8 AT H L E T I C S ANNUAL REPORT
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
TA B L E
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1 5 9 15 17 19 21 22 23 25 27 31
O F
C O N T E N T S
A D St a t e men t A ca d e m i c E xcel l en ce C a n v a s St adiu m Fu n d r a i si n g & Rev en u e G re e n & G lobal O u t r e a ch an d E n gagem en t Ra mb i t i o n G e t Yo u r Gr een On Ra m F a n E n gagem en t Na t i o n a l Ch am pion M o u n t a i n West Recogn it ion St a l w a rt Leader sh ip
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A N N U A L
R E P O R T
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE 2014-15
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EDUCATE. ENGAGE. EXCEL. GUIDING PRINCIPLES: • Student-Athletes First And Foremost. • Play By The Rules! Always. • Compete. Win. Be A Champion.
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
• Be A Stalwart Teammate.
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• Respect Ourselves. Respect Others. • Embrace The Opportunity. Honor The Privilege. • Adapt To Change. Drive Progress. • Build Strength Through Our Diversity. • Share Our Story. Grow Our Family. • Pause And Celebrate.
2015-16 81 2016-17 90 2017-18 89
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD The Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award is one of the highest academic honors bestowed by the Conference. To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least two academic terms at the member institution, while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better, and have participated in varsity competition in a Mountain West-sponsored sport.
ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least one academic term at the member institution while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better, and be a starter or significant contributor on their athletic team. 2014-15 142 2015-16 150
• We Are Green And Gold. 2016-17
152 2017-18 138
RAM TAG RECIPIENTS
BRONZE
(3.25+ TERM GPA)
SILVER
(3.5+ TERM GPA)
GOLD
(3.75+ TERM GPA)
STUDENT-ATHLETES vs. GENERAL STUDENT BODY
JD PAIGE MEN’S BASKETBALL | 2014-2018
FALL 2017 2.983 FALL 2017 2.936 SPRING 2018 3.038 SPRING 2018 2.989
A N N U A L
CUMULATIVE GPA
R E P O R T
Ram tags serve as a representation of the Athletic Director Honor Roll. This high honor can be achieved in either the spring or fall semester, and is based on a student-athlete’s semester GPA. Students with a GPA of 3.25+ receive a bronze tag. Students with a GPA of 3.50+ receive a silver tag, and students with a GPA of 3.75+ receive a gold tag. A student receiving his or her first award is given a name tag with name and sport engraved, in addition to the tag representing the GPA.
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156 106 STUDENTS STUDENTS
Colorado State registered the top performance by Academic Progress Rate (APR) standards in the Mountain West in 201617, the NCAA announced May 16, 2018. Out of all 14 programs, 7 scored perfect 1,000s from the made the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in Spring 18 last completed academic year and an overall department APR (term GPA of 3.25 or greater) of 978. Women’s swimming was recognized as an NCAA Top Performing Team with a 4-year APR score of 1000.
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
made the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in Fall 17 (term GPA of 3.25 or greater)
TOP PERFORMERS
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The men’s and women’s cross country programs were recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as national All-Academic teams for 2017, for having a team cumulative GPA above 3.0. The women’s team GPA was 3.61, and the men’s was 3.29.
The volleyball program earned an American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for having a team cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better, one of 164 Division I programs recognized, and among five from the MW.
IMPACTING PERFORMANCE THROUGH COLLABORATIVE HEALTH
SPORTS MEDICINE
COUNSELING/MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
HEALTH &
PERFORMANCE
HEALTH & PERFORMANCE The Health and Performance unit utilizes technology like Bod Pods to help maximize performance through assessment of training loads, identification of nutritional needs based on training demands and injury screening assessments. Wearable technology like the Polar Team Pro Systems and other innovated tools help assist student-athletes in reaching their performance and wellness goals.
BOD PODS POLAR TEAM PRO SYSTEMS
FUELING & HYDRATION STATIONS SPORTS NUTRITION
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CARE The Colorado State University Sports Medicine facility exists to support the medical needs of the CSU student-athletes. The Sports Medicine Staff strives to provide a comprehensive approach to supporting student-athletes as they navigate their lives and sport with the intent to maximize their functionality to the highest levels in their personal, academic and athletic experiences.
The Fueling Stations are grab-and-go nutritional centers located within the athletic complex of Moby arena and the Stadium designed to provide “on-the-go” food to supplement the nutritional needs of the student-athletes at CSU. Hydration Stations are located within the athletic complex of Moby Arena and Canvas Stadium designed to provide hydration and electrolytes to fuel the performance needs of the Rams. Student-athletes have special access to CSU’s Sports Dieticians who assist with individual consultations for meal planning and nutritional assessments, tailored team-specific nutrition meetings, nutrition education, recommendations on fueling for performance: pre-exercise, post-workout recovery, injury and illness prevention, and body composition assessments.
R E P O R T
A 9,100-square-foot weight room with equipment customized to CSU’s strength program is adjacent to a fueling station for pre- and post-workout nutrition. Down the hall is an 11,000-square-foot sports medicine facility that can accommodate up to 60 athletes at once including training tables, rehab stations, cold/hot tubs and a therapy pool.
A N N U A L
EXCELLENCE ON/OFF THE COURT AND FIELD
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NEW OPPORTUNITIES Colorado State University announced one of the largest collegiate athletic venue naming agreements in history in April 2018, a $37.7 million partnership with Public Service Credit Union, which was in the process of completing a re-branding initiative to Canvas Credit Union. The credit union’s name change and the name Canvas Stadium were introduced in June 2018. The agreement, which when added to the $20 million given in 2016 to name Sonny Lubick Field, brought the total naming rights revenues at Colorado State to $57 million for the stadium. This is comparable to the $69 million United Airlines Memorial Coliseum at University of Southern California and the $41 million Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium at the University of Washington. The Colorado State agreement with Canvas Credit Union is for 15 years and includes annual escalator clauses for inflation, as well as a signing bonus, in recognition of the visibility and success of the new on-campus stadium, which opened in August 2017 and set numerous records during its first year of operation.
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
Learfield’s Rams Sports Properties and their Campus+ business brokered the agreement as part of its ongoing support for Colorado State University Athletics.
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The playing field continues to be named for the Rams’ legendary head coach Sonny Lubick, who also happens to serve as Vice President of Community Outreach for Canvas Credit Union.
+
$37.7m
15-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCALLY BASED, CUSTOMER OWNED CREDIT UNION
3rd CAMPUS-WIDE COLLABORATION INCLUDING: • Strategic retail presence • Academic integration • Financial literacy curriculum • Program-based projects • Multi-media marketing campaign
A N N U A L
FOOTBALL STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS CONTRACT IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
R E P O R T
LARGEST
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FIRST GAME
vs
58 - 27 AUGUST 26, 2017 vs. OREGON STATE
FIRST TOUCHDOWN
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
AUGUST 26, 2017 vs. OREGON STATE
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BALL CARRIER:
IZZY MATTHEWS 1-YARD RUN
FIRST SELLOUT AUGUST 26, 2017 vs. OREGON STATE
On Saturday, August 26, the new on-campus stadium officially opened when the Colorado State Football team hosted Oregon State. A sold-out crowd watched as the Rams defeated the Beavers 58-27. The state-ofthe-art structure has been heralded as one of the premier venues in the country thanks to its numerous unique fan amenities and cutting-edge team facilities.
T O TA L R E V E N U E
EXPENSES
$3,140,461
B O N D PAY M E N T
$4,166,405
CONTRIBUTION T O AT H L E T I C S
$3,000,000
$3,645,974
A L LO C AT I O N T O AC A D E M I C O P E R AT I O N S
A D D I T I O N A L A L LO C AT I O N T O AT H L E T I C O P E R AT I O N S
$500,000
$1,125,446
A N N U A L
S TA D I U M RESERVE
R E P O R T
$15,578,286
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EVENTS INCLUDED:
EVENTS AT THE STADIUM
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
Canvas Stadium at Colorado State University is the newest and most exclusive venue in Northern Colorado. The Orthopedic & Spine Center of the Rockies Field Club, Markley Family Hall of Champions, Stadium Club, Indoor Rams Club, UCHealth Suite Level and business inspired meeting rooms provide unique, luxurious spaces that can accommodate guest groups from 12 up to 1,200.
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AMENITIES INCLUDE: • • • • • •
Event space for 5 hours Standard setup/teardown Standard cleaning, garbage removal/recycling Standard equipment (e.g. tables and chairs) Built-in audio/visual Views of Sonny Lubick Field, CSU campus, Fort Collins and the Rocky Mountains • Directional signage • Events Manager plus event day staffing • 30 minutes on field (contingent on event size and field availability)
• Weddings • Fundraisers • Holiday Parties • Prom • Graduations • Celebrations • Mother’s Day Brunch • Expos • Festivals • And many more!
PREMIUM SPACES FOR RENT: • New Belgium Porch • OCR Field Club • Indoor Club • Stadium Club • Hall of Champions • Multipurpose Rooms
NEW FEATURES: RamVision video board and services.
SURVEY SAYS IN THE FIRST YEAR, THERE WERE NEARLY:
300 EVENTS
&
100,000 GUESTS SERVED
81% OF CLIENTS WOULD LIKELY BOOK AN EVENT AT THE STADIUM AGAIN
INDOOR RAMS CLUB
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A N N U A L
R E P O R T
5M
SUPPORTING COLORADO STATE
$
RAM CLUB GOLF TOURNAMENT Over $30K to benefit scholarships
STADIUM PREMIUM SEATS $1.8M collected from Premium Seating Payments. Includes suites, loge boxes, indoor club and stadium club
SOCCER GRASSROOTS RAM FUNDER Raised over $10K
RAM GOODTIME AUCTION Over $280K to benefit scholarships. 2nd alltime best for the auction
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
R A I S E D F O R C S U AT H L E T I C S
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5,770 TOTAL RAM CLUB DONORS
44%
OF RAM CLUB DONORS DURING THE 2017-18 FINANCIAL YEAR WERE CSU ALUMNI CSU ALUMNI DONORS INDICATED IN GOLD
= 100 DONORS
6 5 4 3 0
5 NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERS
5.638
3.947 3.687
11.7%
2015
2016
2017
55,262
48,272
42,162
GROWTH
GROWTH
4.1%
GROWTH
4.2%
20.7%
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
GROWTH
NET REVENUE
NEARLY $1M IN NEW REVENUE AND 41 NEW PARTNERS $966K IN TOTAL REVENUE AND UPSOLD RETAINED CLIENTS FOR $482K IN REVENUE
2 NEW RADIO AFFILIATES AND TUNEIN RADIO PARTNERSHIP
15,003
R E P O R T
REVENUE (MIL.)
COLORADO STATE FOOTBALL TICKET SALES GROWTH
8,690
546
SEASON TICKETS
1,751
MINI PLANS
SINGLE GAME TICKETS
TICKETS SOLD = 2015 = 2016 = 2017
A N N U A L
11,046 9,096
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A N N U A L
R E P O R T
immersion, social action, and communitybased learning. • Educational visits include the Ditsowo indigenous community, local handcraft market, La Argentina farming community.
R E P O R T
Third year plans – Costa Rica • Staff-led service learning • Collaboration of Athletics Diversity, Student-Athlete Support Services, CSU Student Affairs, Earth University • Visiting EARTH University • Serve 15+ hours on need-based service projects with Earth students, • Explore the country and culture through field trips, presentations and community events. • The program focuses on cultural
A N N U A L
• Second year of program. • Collaboration of Athletics Diversity, Student-Athlete Support Services, CSU Student Affairs • 19 students and staff participated • Representation from Softball, Women’s Track and Field, Women’s Basketball, Football, Volleyball, Swim and Dive, Soccer, VP of Student Affairs • Visited rural community of Petersfield of the Westmoreland parish • Participants experience a 10-day cultural immersion trip • Filled with exploration of the Roaring River Park, Bluefields Beach, and Savannah La Mar • Visited local education destinations including the Labor Revolution March in Frome and the Maroon Village • Visited with students and a faculty at local high schools and primary schools • Experienced historical and cultural presentations from local residents • Participated in multiple days of volunteer service including service on Jamaica’s Labor Day
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A N N U A L
R E P O R T
5,000 20+ 20,000 O V E R
local youth reached
COMMUNITY OUTREACH During the past year, the community outreach program has embedded CSU Athletics in a direct and purposeful way into thousands of lives in Northern Colorado and the Denver metro area. With an aim of broadening the reach of Rams Athletics, our actions have added to the student-athlete experience at CSU. Hundreds of student-athletes have been involved, and thousands in our community have been introduced to Rams Athletics. Some of these opportunities include middle school visit days with first generation panels, Reading with the Rams, Ram Jam, Special Olympics Unified Games and more!
R E P O R T
schools visited
A N N U A L
community service hours logged
O V E R
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Rambition is a program dedicated to help foster the overall personal, professional and leadership development of Colorado State University’s female student-athletes. Rambition strives to enhance the experience female student-athletes have as both students and athletes while cultivating a network amongst each other and women in the community. The overall purpose of the program is to help female student-athletes leave Colorado State University as stronger individuals prepared for the next chapter of their lives.
GRATITUDE EVENT
A N N U A L
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POWER OF PERCEPTION PANEL Women in the community discussed challenges and biases they have faced in their careers due to being a woman.
“
“
R E P O R T
Student-athletes gathered to create thank you cards for women and staff at CSU.
Rambition gives our female student-athletes an opportunity to develop not just as students and athletes but as individuals. I am proud of the work the program has done in the last five years and of the impact it has had on our female student-athletes.
- SHALINI SHANKER
SENIOR ASSOCIATE A.D. FOR COMPLIANCE/SWA
GET YOUR GREEN ON
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
Get Your Green On is a weekly celebration of Colorado State University. Each Friday and Football game weekend, faculty, staff, students, alumni, fans and friends of the University are asked to wear or display CSU Green. Every Friday and Football game weekend, show your Ram Pride. Wear CSU Green!
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RAM FAN ENGAGEMENT RamVision produces all of the in-venue video board productions, streaming broadcasts, and video creation for Colorado State Athletics.
During the 2017-18 year, RamVision produced:
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
POEM CONTEST
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Colorado State University, the Mountain West Conference and the College Football Playoff Foundation team up for the Extra Yard for Teachers program. Colorado State has received $10,000 grant from the College Football Foundation to help with the public schools in Fort Collins and the recognition of their amazing teachers. The Community Outreach department along with the partnership of the Poudre School District created a poem contest for student in the grades of K-5. Students submitted poems about their CSU pride and the winning entries that were voted by fans won prize money for their schools and classrooms. The winners were presented tickets by CAM the Ram and we honored on the field. This is just one of many programs that the CSU Athletics Community Outreach department creates. Other experiences include cancer awareness, military appreciation, civic and service day and faculty and staff commitment to campus days.
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streamed productions
in-venue productions
• 9 Softball • 1 Football • 7 Men’s Basketball • 7 Soccer • 19 Volleyball • 19 Women’s Basketball • 6 Football • 19 Volleyball • 20 Women’s Basketball • 18 Men’s Basketball
RamVision produced 14-episodes of the acclaimed series, “The Grind.”
FOLLOWERS
2017-18 $715,062
4.8% INCREASE
26,410 27,674
2016-17
12.4% INCREASE
25,887 29,101
$573,438
17.2% INCREASE
13,332 15,635
233,631
2015-16 $478,866
TOTAL FOLLOWERS
35 CHANNELS ACROSS FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
2014-15 $355,160
24.7% GROWTH IN OFFICIALLY LICENSED MERCHANDISE ROYALTIES
Ram Pride from Afghanistan Facebook social post
#ProudToBe “I said I’m proud to be a CSU Ram” is a chant often heard in Canvas Stadium, Moby Arena, and many of our competition facilities. The hashtag #ProudToBe has been embraced as a rallying cry for Ram Nation to share their pride in being a Ram and in cheering on their Rams. This hashtag has also been utilized during home events to promote fan engagement and participation.
RAMS CREATIVE ON THE RISE! Rams Creative was voted as one of the top 25 visual communicators among Social Media Sports institutions via an online nine-person panel by SkullSparks.com as well as ranking at #10 for football specific content among all collegiate athletic programs in the United States.
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
2,030 FACEBOOK ENGAGEMENTS
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R E P O R T A N N U A L
- BRIAN BEDARD TRACK & FIELD HEAD COACH
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“
In all my years of coaching, I don’t know if I’ve had an athlete as composed and disciplined as he is, and I’ve had some great ones that I don’t want to discount. Mostafa’s a special person. He’s a dominant performer, but more than that, he represents everything that you look for in a student-athlete. He’s serious about his academics, respected his teammates and bought into what we’re trying to do at CSU. He was a leader, and the ultimate student-athlete for us.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
NCAA CHAMPION
2017-18 • Third place, shot put (2018 outdoor) • First place, shot put (2017 indoor) 2016-17 • Second place, shot put (2017 outdoor) • First place, shot put (2017 indoor) 2015-16 • Third place, shot put (2016 outdoor) • Fifth place, shot put (2016 indoor)
MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017-18 • First place, shot put (2018 outdoor) • Second place, discus (2018 outdoor) • First place, shot put (2017 indoor) • Second place, weight throw (2017 indoor) 2016-17 • First place, shot put (2017 outdoor) • Sixth place, discus (2017 outdoor) • First place, shot put (2017 indoor) • Fourth place, weight throw (2017 indoor) 2015-16 • First place, shot put (2016 outdoor) • Fourth place, discus (2016 outdoor) • First place, shot put (2016 indoor)
NCAA WEST PRELIMINARY MOUNTAIN WEST INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS | SHOT PUT DAVID HIRSCHMANN
MOSTAFA HASSAN
U T A H S T AT E
C O L O R A D O S T AT E
2ND PLACE
1ST PLACE
2016-17 INDOOR
SHOT PUT 69-10.75/21.30M
ALL-TIME MOUNTAIN WEST AND CSU RECORD NO. 10 PERFORMER IN NCAA HISTORY
ALEX BLAHO
3RD PLACE
C O L O R A D O S T AT E
2017 OUTDOOR
SHOT PUT 69-11/21.31M
ALL-TIME MOUNTAIN WEST AND CSU RECORD
2018 • Fifth place, shot put 2017 • First place, shot put 2016 • Second place, shot put 2017 OUTDOOR
DISCUS 180-5/54.99M 12TH IN CSU HISTORY
R E P O R T
• Two-time NCAA champion, indoor shot put (2018, 2017) • USTFCCCA Indoor Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2018) • The Bowerman Award Men’s Watch List (June 6, 2017; May 18, 2017; May 4, 2017; April 20, 2017; March 16, 2017; March 2, 2017) • Three-time First-Team All-American, outdoor shot put (2018, 2017, 2016) • Three-time First-Team All-American, indoor shot put (2018, 2017, 2016) • CoSIDA Second-Team Academic All-America (2017) • USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men’s Field Athlete of the Year, outdoor season (2017) • Two-time Mountain West Men’s Indoor Track & Field Student-Athlete of the Year (2018, 2017) • Mountain West Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Co-Student-Athlete of the Year (2016) • Three-time Mountain West champion, outdoor shot put (2018, 2017, 2016) • Three-time Mountain West champion, indoor shot put (2018, 2017, 2016) • Three-time All-Mountain West performer, outdoor shot put (2018, 2017, 2016) • Three-time All-Mountain West performer, indoor shot put (2018, 2017, 2016) • All-Mountain West, discus (2018) • All-Mountain West, weight throw (2018) • Six-time Mountain West Outdoor Track & Field Men’s Field Athlete of the Week (May 9, 2017; April 25, 2017; April 18, 2017; March 28, 2017; April 13, 2016; March 29, 2016) • Four-time Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Men’s Field Athlete of the Week (Feb. 13, 2018; Jan. 30, 2018; Feb. 14, 2017; Jan. 24, 2017) • Three-time Academic All-Mountain West (2018, 2017, 2016) • Three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic (2018, 2017, 2016) • CoSIDA Academic All-District (2017)
A N N U A L
ACCOLADES
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MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONS The Colorado State Rams claimed two Mountain West championships in 2017-18, in men’s cross country and volleyball. Tom Hilbert’s volleyball program made its schoolrecord 23rd consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament and claimed its 19th overall MW championship, with Hilbert earning MW Coach of the Year honors. The Rams defeated Michigan in the first round of the tournament before falling to a Stanford team—on its home floor—that advanced all the way to the Final Four. Hilbert added to his career record (538126) as the winningest Division I collegiate head coach in any sport in the state of Colorado. The men’s cross-country program, under Mountain West Coach of the Year Art Siemers, recorded its best finish at the NCAA Championships since 1978, placing 9th in what was its fourth trip to the national championships as a team in the last five years. Jerrell Mock was MW champion for the second year in a row and Cole Rockhold earned All-America honors. The ninth-place finish was the Rams’ thirdbest in program history, and is just the 10th national Top 10 finish by a Colorado State team in any sport.
R E P O R T
Individually, 10 Rams earned 13 MW championships, led by the men’s and women’s track and field programs, which claimed 10 individual championships.
A N N U A L
Overall, six of 16 CSU Athletics programs finished in the top two in the MW—two champions and four secondplace finishes (men’s golf, women’s indoor track & field, men’s indoor track & field and men’s outdoor track & field). Half of the Rams programs—8 of 16—finished in the top 3 of the MW standings.
In 2017-18 the Rams were represented in the postseason, whether as a team or by individuals, in 11 sports: NCAA Championships (8): Volleyball, men’s cross country, men’s indoor and outdoor track & field, women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, men’s golf and women’s golf. Bowl Game (1): Football. National Tournament (1): Women’s basketball. National 27Invitation Invitational Softball Championship (1): Softball.
ALL-AMERICA 10 AWARDS BY 5 STUDENT-ATHLETES
COLE ROCKHOLD
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY INDOOR MEN’S TRACK & FIELD (FIRST TEAM IN MILE) INDOOR MEN’S TRACK & FIELD (SECOND TEAM IN 3,000M) OUTDOOR MEN’S TRACK & FIELD (SECOND TEAM IN 5,000M)
MICHAEL GALLUP FOOTBALL (CONSENSUS FIRST TEAM)
MOSTAFA HASSAN INDOOR MEN’S TRACK & FIELD (FIRST TEAM IN SHOT PUT) OUTDOOR MEN’S TRACK & FIELD (FIRST TEAM IN SHOT PUT)
KELCEY BEDARD
OUTDOOR WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD (SECOND TEAM IN HAMMER THROW)
A N N U A L
INDOOR MEN’S TRACK & FIELD (SECOND TEAM IN 5,000M) OUTDOOR MEN’S TRACK & FIELD (SECOND TEAM IN 10,000M)
R E P O R T
GRANT FISCHER
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R E P O R T A N N U A L
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Art Siemers earned MW men’s cross country Coach of the Year honors by leading the Rams to their best finish at the NCAA Championships since 1978, placing 9th in what was their fourth trip to the national championships as a team in the last five years. Siemers’ top runner Jerrell Mock was MW champion for the second year in a row and Cole Rockhold earned All-America honors. The Rams reached a national ranking of No. 8 during the season, and the ninth-place finish was the Rams’ third-best in program history, while also standing as just the 10th national Top 10 finish by a Colorado State team in any sport in the school’s history.
Tom Hilbert guided his CSU volleyball program to its school-record 23rd consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament (22nd under his leadership) and claimed the Rams’ 19th overall MW championship. It was Hilbert’s 10th MW Coach of the Year honor earned in the 19year history of the league. The 2017 CSU Rams went 29-4 under Hilbert’s guidance— including a 17-1 mark in MW play—and defeated Michigan in the first round of the NCAA tournament before falling to a Stanford team—on its home floor—that advanced all the way to the Final Four.
In earning his first league honor, Christian Newton led CSU to its final regular-season ranking of No. 40 according to Golfweek and No. 43 according to Golfstat, as well as back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Mountain West Championship, the top back-to-back combined placings in program history. The program also made its first NCAA Regionals appearance as a team since 2012 under his leadership, finishing seventh.
CSU had four student-athletes earn Mountain West Athlete of the Year or Player of the Year distinction in 2017-18: Mostafa Hassan (men’s track and field), Jerrell Mock (men’s cross country), Katie Oleksak (volleyball) and Haley Rowley (women’s swimming & diving).
A N N U A L
R E P O R T
Hassan won the MW shot put title in both the indoor and outdoor seasons and won the indoor national title for the second consecutive season. Mock won his second consecutive MW individual cross-country title and placed ninth at the NCAA championships. Oleksak was again the cornerstone of the Rams’ offense, leading the league in assists while guiding one of the nation’s most efficient offenses. Rowley won three events at the 2018 MW Championships and set several school records along the way.
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A N N U A L
R E P O R T
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A N N U A L
R E P O R T