ENMU Sports News

By Sara Hill and Adam Pitterman

New Head Coaches for Two Women’s Programs

This past summer, ENMU Athletics was pleased to add head women’s basketball coach Josh Prock to their staff. On Saturday, November 25, Prock and the Zias step onto the court to make their home debut against cross-state rival, Western New Mexico University.

Josh Prock

In five seasons at Howard Payne University, Prock posted an impressive 108-31 record over his five seasons (20082012), with a 9-5 mark in postseason play. In the 2010 and 2012 seasons, he was chosen as the American Southwest Conference West Division Coach of the Year. During that time, the Yellow Jacket’s lineup featured two All-Americans, a pair of American Southwest Players of the Year and five all-region selections. His squad was just as successful in the classroom with 13 Academic All-ASC honorees. Prock also served as the assistant athletic director for development at Howard Payne.

Kristen Soukup took over as the new softball coach in June. She is the eighth head coach in the history of the Zia softball program. She returns to coaching after spending a year in the ENMU NCAA Compliance office.

Kristen Soukup

Soukup served as an assistant coach at Concordia University (Minn.) from 2006-2011 and oversaw all aspects of the program. It was at CU where she developed her knowledge of conditioning programs and recruiting skills. Soukup also served as the athletic facilities assistant and assistant strength and conditioning coach while at Concordia. She showed her versatility as an administrator at CU by working in the athletic training room and events management office as well.

We are proud to welcome both these coaches into the ENMU Athletics family.

Bench Club Renamed Eastern Athletic Club

Eastern New Mexico University Athletic Director Dr. Jeff Geiser has announced that the ENMU Bench Club board of directors voted to change the name of the organization to the Eastern Athletic Club. The decision came after a survey in which only 17 percent opposed the name change while a resounding 47 percent supported it in a survey sent to all members. The change also reflected the desire of the board of directors to select a name that more closely identifies with both Zia and Greyhound teams.

The number one priority of the organization will be to continue to support the vision of the ENMU athletics department, “Athletic Excellence on the High Plains.” The club will provide additional support to over 400 studentathletes and their coaches and award $48,000 annually in scholarships to Eastern’s 12 NCAA Division II sports. First-time lettermen and women will receive letter jackets, courtesy of the EAC.

To become a member of the Eastern Athletic Club, visit goeasternathletics.com.

2013 Hall of Honors Inductees

Eastern New Mexico University Athletics Director Dr. Jeff Geiser announced the list 2013 inductees for the Hall of Honors. Five former athletes/coaches will be inducted at a banquet on Friday, October 25th: Tommy Joe Smith (BBA 64) for football, Elizabeth Richards-Capps (Attended) for basketball, Lindsey Davidson-Masiarek (BS 01) for volleyball, Phil Clabaugh for baseball and Mike Maguire (MS 85) for volleyball/ athletic director. The inductees will also be honored on Saturday, October 26 when the Greyhounds play Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Candidates for induction are nominated through the goeasternathletics.com website and voted on by the ENMU Athletics Hall of Honors committee. The committee, chaired by Dr. Thurman Elder (MA 66, BS 64) includes Charles Chambers, Bill Joy (MS 70), Mike Maguire (MS 85), Wayne Moore, Dr. Kathleen Salter, Dustin Seifert, Buck Wilson (BS 60), Jerry Wright (MS 78, BS 76, ENMU Foundation Board), and ex-officio members Sara Hill and Dr. Jeff Geiser.

Football

The Greyhound defense took the ball away from Sul Ross State five times, including two fumble recoveries, at AT&T Stadium, en-route to a 55-24 victory. The game marked Eastern’s second consecutive win at the Lone Star Conference Football Festival.

Greyhound Football Coach Josh Lynn (BS 03) is wrapping up his second season on the sidelines at ENMU. His plans for the season were to build on the successes from his first year In 2013, the former Greyhound tight end guided the Greyhounds to their second straight Lone Star Conference Football Festival win with an emphatic 55-24 victory over Sul Ross State at AT&T Stadium. The Greyhounds dominated play and forced five turnovers, which included two fumble recoveries by Benjamin Pedro Langford. Eastern’s 55 points was the most by the Hounds since a 55-20 win over Southeastern Oklahoma State on October 30, 2010. ENMU’s 348 rushing yards was the highest total since 357 on November 10, 2007 at Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Side Notes

Over the summer, Athletics updated its website, goeasternathletics.com. They added a navigational menu and teamed up with the industry leader in live, ingame statistics, StatBroadcast Systems. Zia and Greyhound fans will still be required to register and pay for the service.

Karra Day and Bree Anna Lucero go for the block. The Zias snapped a 16-game skid in conference play on September 25th and won their conference opener for the first time since the 2005 season.

The volleyball team’s sweep of Midwestern State marked the first win over the Mustangs since the 2004 season. It was also the first time the Zias won back-to-back Lone Star Conference games on the road since the 2004 season.

The Zia cross country team is ranked seventh in the South Central Region. This is the first time in two years the ENMU women’s team has entered the poll.

Kal Herbert from the men’s soccer team has scored goals in a team-record six consecutive games.

Rafael Love with the jumper against the West Texas A&M Buffaloes. Love made Second Team All-Lone Star Conference for the Greyhounds last season.

Erica Armendarez returns to the Zia lineup after bashing a team-best five home runs last season along with 18 runs batted in.