2016-17
T R O P E R L A U ANN
Introducing
GENE TAYLOR
16th Athletics Director in K-State History
I’ve known Gene Taylor since his days at the U.S. Naval Academy. He’s always impressed me with his diligent preparation and attention to detail. He’s an outstanding person as well as a purpose-driven leader. I look forward to welcoming him to the Big 12 Conference. – Joe Castiglione
I had the special privilege of working with Gene Taylor for 13 years while at North Dakota State. Gene is an exceptional leader. I am thrilled that he and Cathy are joining the K-State Family. – Ryun Godfrey K-State Cross Country Head Coach
Oklahoma Athletics Director
I applaud the work of General Myers and the K-State selection committee on their choice. Gene has a very impressive background and well versed in intercollegiate athletics. I look forward to working with him in advancing the Big 12 Conference. – Bob Bowlsby Big 12 Commissioner
Gene Taylor is one of the most respected athletic administrators in the country. He has such a great combination of passion, experience and the ability to lead by bringing people together toward a common goal. He’s made a big difference during his time with the Hawkeyes. – Gary Barta Iowa Director of Athletics
I enjoyed working with Gene when we were together in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. I found him to be a down-to-earth, evenminded, quality leader who is great with coaches. He’s a person of high integrity, and I very much look forward to working with him in the Big 12 Conference. – Sheahon Zenger
University of Kansas Athletic Director
BIG 12 CHAMPIONS
1 OF 3 schools to win a bowl game and advance past the first round of NCAA Tournament in Volleyball, Women’s and Men’s Basketball.
The Women’s Track & Field team won the program’s third Big 12 Conference Outdoor Championship, and first since 2002.
COACHING MILESTONES
Bill Snyder, Football 200th Career Win Suzie Fritz, Volleyball 300th Career Win Bruce Weber, Men’s Basketball 400th Career Win Jeff Mittie, Women’s Basketball 500th Career Win
1 OF 4 schools to have at least one student-athlete selected in the MLB, NFL, WNBA and NBA drafts.
NCAA REGIONAL Selected as the No. 13 seed in the 2017 NCAA Athens Regional, Women’s Golf made its first regional appearance since 2004.
NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS (2): Christoff Bryan – Outdoor High Jump Shadae Lawrence – Outdoor Discus
BIG 12 INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS (6):
22 23
ALL-AMERICANS
Christoff Bryan – Indoor High Jump Brett Neelly – Outdoor Shot Put Janee’ Kassanavoid – Indoor Weight Throw, Outdoor Hammer Throw Shadae Lawrence – Outdoor Discus Nina Schultz – Outdoor High Jump Morgan Wedekind – Outdoor 3000 Meter Steeplechase
2
NATIONAL
ALL-BIG 12 SELECTIONS (23):
Baseball – 3, Men’s Basketball – 2, Women’s Basketball – 2, Football – 12, Rowing – 1, Volleyball – 3
ALL-BIG 12
SELECTIONS
CHAMPIONS
BIG 12
CHAMPIONS
SPECIALTY AWARDS:
Katie Brand – Senior CLASS Award All-American, AVCA All-Midwest Region, CoSIDA Academic All-District; Will Brennan – Big 12 Baseball All-Freshman Team; Kersten Kober – CoSIDA Academic All-District; Breanna Lewis – WBCA All-Region 3 Team, Big 12 Women’s Basketball All-Defensive Team; Shaelyn Martin – CoSIDA Academic All-District; D.J. Reed – Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year; Cliff Rovelto – USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Coach of the Year, Big 12 Women’s Coach of the Year; Elle Sandbothe – Big 12 Volleyball All-Freshman Team; Brooke Sassin – AVCA All-Midwest Region; Nina Schultz – USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Field Athlete of the Year, Big 12 Outstanding Freshman of the Year; Cam Thompson – Big 12 Baseball All-Freshman Team; Reggie Walker – Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year; Greg Watson – USTFCCCA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year; Jordan Willis – Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year; Eternati Willock – Big 12 Women’s Basketball All-Freshman Team
TEAM
Baseball Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Men’s Cross Country Women’s Cross Country Football Men’s Golf Women’s Golf Men’s Indoor Track Women’s Indoor Track Men’s Outdoor Track Women’s Outdoor Track Rowing Soccer Tennis Volleyball
OVERALL W-L 29-26 21-14 23-11 — — 9-4 — — — — — — — 4-9-3 12-15 21-10
BIG 12 W-L 8-16 8-10 11-7 — — 6-3 — — — — — — — — 2-7 9-7
BIG 12 FINISH 9th 6th 4th — — 4th — — — — — — — — 8th t4th
BIG 12 POSTSEASON
— Semifinals [1-1] Semifinals [1-1] 8th 10th — 7th 8th 6th 6th 9th 1st 3rd — Quarterfinals [1-1] —
NCAA POSTSEASON
— NCAA First Round [1-1] NCAA Second Round [1-1] Midwest Regional [18th] Midwest Regional [21st] Texas Bowl [W, 33-28] — NCAA Athens Regional [13th] NCAA Championships [48th] NCAA Championships [t27th] NCAA Championships [t26th] NCAA Championships [9th] — — — NCAA Second Round [1-1]
Congrats
GRADUATES
K-State celebrated 91 graduates and their families in 2016-17 with bi-annual student-athlete graduation receptions. Pictured are Spring graduates from Rowing and Track & Field.
APR
137 ACADEMIC
ALL-BIG 12
Highlighted by Big 12-leading marks from Men’s Golf and Women’s Cross Country, all of K-State’s athletic teams met and exceeded the NCAA’s APR multi-year standard for the sixth straight year.
Baseball - 6 • Men’s Basketball - 5 Women’s Basketball - 8 Men’s Cross Country - 5 Women’s Cross Country - 4 Football - 29 • Men’s Golf - 6 Women’s Golf - 4 • Rowing - 29 Soccer - 3 • Tennis - 7 Men’s Track & Field - 10 Women’s Track & Field - 10 Volleyball - 11
COMMISSIONER'S
HONOR ROLL 263 Student-Athletes named to the Fall Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
241 Student-Athletes named to the Spring Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
SCHOLARSHIP
WINNERS Jake Wodtke (Baseball) and Tia Gamble (Track & Field) were selected by the Big 12 Conference to receive the 2016-17 Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarships.
BIG 12 LEADING
A Big 12-high eight Wildcats received the Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award, which is the Big 12 Conference’s highest academic honor.
SPECIAL
1,817
OLYMPICS
HOURS
101 Special Olympians from Northeast Kansas attended the annual Sports Clinic hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
K-State student-athletes logged 1,817 hours of community service in 2016-17.
CATS 4 CANS
175 student-athletes collected $10,326 and 4,100 pounds of food to benefit the Flint Hills Breadbasket.
TIP OFF
FOR TP 40 student-athletes raised $1,719 for the annual Tip Off for TP event benefiting the Manhattan Emergency Shelter.
CATS IN THE CLASSROOM Seven area elementary schools partnered with K-State student-athletes volunteering in classroom activities, playing games on the playground, and reading to students.
COURTS FOR KIDS
15 student-athletes traveled to Nicaragua for a nine-day service trip marking K-State’s second trip through a partnership between its “Cats Across Continents” program and Courts for Kids, which brings countries in need of a multi-purpose court together with groups willing to help build it.
$28.2 MILLION
Overall cash gifts to the department in FY 2017, including a record $18.4 million designated for the Ahearn Fund annual giving program.
FY 2017 Balanced budget and surplus for the 8TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
$73.4M $72.7M
2017
2018
$73.4 MILLION
STUDENT-ATHLETE SUPPORT $100,000 increase in scholarship costs as the department enters into the third year of providing “full cost of attendance.”
Projected balanced budget of $73.4 million for FY 2018, a $700,000 increase over FY 2017.
RANKED
FAN SAFETY After successful implementation of a Clear Bag Policy in 2016-17, K-State Athletics continues its mission to provide a safe environment for all its fans. Beginning in 2017-18 enhanced security screening will be implemented.
Princeton Review ranked K-State:
NO. 1 Great Town-Gown Relations NO. 2 Best Athletic Facilities NO. 3 Students Pack the Stadiums NO. 5 College Football Fan Happiness by ESPN
33 CONSECUTIVE
SELLOUTS
The Wildcats are averaging 52,453 fans during the sellout streak.
PEP
RALLIES K-State is known for its large pep rallies the day before bowl games.
LEADERSHIP
TEAM
Gene Taylor announced Jill Shields as Deputy Athletics Director headlining a restructure in his leadership team.