ENMU Athletics News

By Sara Hill and Adam Pitterman

Continuing Success on the Gridiron and in the Arena

Although it will be difficult for the ENMU football and rodeo programs to duplicate the success experienced last year, both expect a strong season in the coming year. The football team is fresh off its second-ever Lone Star Conference championship and the first since the 1991 season. After opening 2013 with a 1-3 record, the Hounds closed with the longest running win streak in the conference, claimed the Wagon Wheel game, a win over Midwestern and a share of the LSC crown with a win at Texas A&M-Commerce. With 17 starters returning and over 30 newcomers, the Hounds are set to charge the field for the 2014 season with depth.

Coach Josh Lynn (MS 07, BS 03) and staff have adopted a motto for their student-athletes that translates to a way of life. Lynn preaches having a “Count On Me” attitude to his men. There are three facets to “Count On Me.” Greyhound football players are expected to “Count On Me” academically, “Count On Me” to be a productive member of society, and “Count On Me” on the football field. “‘Count On Me’ is like a three-legged stool. You cannot have success in one without having success in the other two,” Lynn said. He believes that life lessons also translate to the athletic field.

The women’s rodeo team also put together a magical season with eight first-place finishes in 11 rodeos and never finished lower than third. The squad earned their first regional title since the 1992 season and claimed the Southwest Region title by a wide margin over Tarleton State. At the College National Finals, Hayden Segelke-Todd won the national title in goat tying, while Logan Medlin successfully defended his national championship in the team roping. The duo represented the ENMU athletic department as the Greatest Zia and Greatest Greyhound for the 2013- 14 academic year.

LSC Football Festival

Alumni and Friends came from all over the country to attend the Lone Star Conference Football Festival in its

Coach Josh Lynn readies the Hounds for battle at the Lone Star Conference Football Festival held in AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys

fourth year. Collaboratively the ENMU Foundation, Alumni Association, Athletics Department and the Eastern Athletic Club held several functions over the weekend. A welcome reception was held at the ENMU host hotel, the DFW Marriott South, right outside of Arlington. On Saturday, fans gathered for a big send off at the team’s hotel. The team marched through a tunnel of the spirit squad, friends, family and alumni while en route to AT&T Stadium. Fans were hosted at a pregame party in the stadium field level club, Club Lite. They were able to watch pregame from field level and while mixing and mingling with other ENMU fans. The Hounds and Mustangs were the fourth and final game of the day at AT&T Stadium with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m.

E’lon Spight takes a charge down the field during the Lone Star Conference Football Festival in September. Spight rushed for 142 yards and 1 touchdown against the Mustangs.

Additions to the Team

The ENMU Department of Athletics is kicking off the 2014-15 seasons with a number of coaches either in their first or second seasons at the school. This fall, former Greyhound/Zia standouts Tyler Hart (BBA 11) and Danielle Jones-Kcholi (MS 13, BS 11) will enter their first seasons as head coaches. Hart, a former Greyhound soccer player will take the reins from his former mentor Harold Muñoz. Hart hails from Toronto, Canada. He received his undergraduate degree from ENMU in business administration and is currently working on his MBA. Jones-Kcholi, a former cross country and track and field athlete, will guide those programs. Although entering her first season, she served as the women’s cross country interim coach a couple seasons ago. Jones-Kcholi is a native of Albuquerque and received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in health and physical education from ENMU. She also adds another ENMU alumnus to the staff with her assistant and former teammate, Colton Coleman (BUS 13).

Melissa Moxley positions for a shot on goal. Moxley scored a long goal during the Zias first ever road win at West Texas A&M in early October.

Omar Morales, a long-time assistant coach at West Texas A&M, enters his first season as the head coach of the Zias and made an impressive exhibition debut at ENMU Soccer Field. Morales is a native of the El Paso area and brings not only his collegiate experience to the table, but also club experience. Stott Carter, the longtime Greyhound basketball assistant will enter 2014-15 as the interim head coach and look to continue the recent success the program has had. Carter joined the Greyhound staff in 2009 with former head coach Andrew Helton at the helm. He brings continuity to a young team.

For a chance to meet these new faces and see our other coaches and select studentathletes, join the Eastern Athletic Club for Monday noon luncheons. Call 575.562.2153 for a schedule or if you can’t make, visit goeasternathletics.com for video from each week’s luncheon.

Follow Your Greyhounds and Zias from the Comfort of Home

For alumni and fans, ENMU is offering live, in-game coverage of home games on the website. Almost without exception, all home games in football, volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, basketball, baseball and softball will feature live in-game statistics, with a running play-by-play. Links for this feature are available both on the calendar on the main page of the website and on the team schedules, next to each game. In addition, many home games in those sports will have streaming video at goeasternathletic.com/showcase.

Zach Walling racing the Blackwater Draw Course during the 2013 Lone Star Conference Championships.