LETTER FROM PRESIDENT Ke y M. Mi er
To the Islander Community,
There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of Islanders Athletics. At Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, our studentathletes and coaches have delivered another year of extraordinary achievements—further elevating the profile of our university on the national stage and reinforcing what we know: Islanders Athletics is becoming a mid-major breakthrough.
From conference championships to postseason appearances, our teams have competed with heart and determination. Whether it’s volleyball, basketball, tennis, or golf, Islanders are showing up and showing the nation what we’re made of. But what truly sets us apart is the spirit and resilience of our student-athletes. They are excelling in their sports while succeeding in the classroom, graduating at record rates, and serving our community with humility and strength. They embody the best of the Islander spirit, and we are immensely proud of their growth as both competitors and individuals
Additionally, the energy on our courts, fields, tracks, and all around our campus have been undeniable, driven by a commitment to building a championship culture that reaches beyond our Island. It is a culture of excellence that gains national attention and makes Texas A&M-Corpus Christi a destination for top talent and top-tier competition. Our success does not happen by accident. It is the result of a shared vision, collective e ort, and a deep belief in being ALL IN. To our student-athletes, coaches, athletics sta , donors, alumni, and fans: thank you. Your commitment is the fuel behind our momentum
LE!!ER FRO, A!0LE!.C
Islanders,
As we reflect on the 2024-25 academic and athletic year, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for everything we’ve accomplished together as Islanders Athletics continues to uphold its high standards. There’s a deep sense of pride in all that our studentathletes, coaches, and sta! have achieved over the past year.
Islanders Athletics has been a preeminent force within the Southland Conference. This season, we captured four championship titles and made three NCAA Tournament appearances, continuing to cement our position as a premier program in the league. Notably, we have won 18 conference championships over the past three years — more than any other school in the Southland Conference, a true reflection of both the dedication and hard work of our student-athletes and coaching sta! and of the support from our community.
Our volleyball team made their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2021 by sweeping Southeastern Lousiana in the SLC championship match, simultaneously snapping the nation’s longest winning streak when they handed the Lady Lions their first loss since September and delivering their first loss to a conference opponent since the 2023 season. The volleyball team then headed to the state capital and took on the No. 7 Longhorns in the NCAA First Round. The women’s golf program, under first-year head coach Chris Adams, took us back to the NCAA Tournament after leading the team to a Southland Conference Tournament victory, their first since 2009. This punched their ticket to the Lubbock Regional for their second ever NCAA Tournament appearance and fifth consecutive postseason appearance after winning the PGA WORKS Collegiate Tournament the previous four years.
Kickstarting the national spotlight in 2024-25, however, was Dominic Kiptum of our men’s cross country team when he, in his debut collegiate season, punched his ticket to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Madison, Wisconsin. He became the fourth Islander in program history to race at the NCAAs, securing his spot as an automatic qualifier in program record-breaking fashion with a 29:38.2 time in the men’s 10K for an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country South Central Regional meet.
Our men’s and women’s tennis teams also contributed to the schools’ growing championship count as the Islanders Tennis
program secured its 36th and 37th championship after both won the conference regular season crowns. Between the two teams, Islanders Tennis has seen 16 consecutive years of winning a championship.
And yet all this still doesn’t encapsulate the footprint Islanders Athletics left in 2024. Island U was represented not only nationally, but also on an international stage in Paris, France, last summer for the 2024 Olympic Games. Giuliana Poletti Corrales ’23, an alumna of our Beach Volleyball program, represented her home country of Paraguay after making history by qualifying the Beach Volleyball team for the biggest multi-sports event in the world for the first time. Additionally, A&M-Corpus Christi’s very own Ryann Phillips ’25 earned her spot to compete in the summer games, representing Team USA for trapshooting. Both made Island U incredibly proud on the world’s biggest stage.
Bringing it back locally, a lot of our success comes right here in South Texas. In the South Texas Showdown, we competed against The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley across 12 sports, and kept the trophy this year after Women’s Tennis team delivered the clinching points in the annual competition. We have won the rivalry seven out of the nine years the competition has been held.
Equally impressive has been success of our student-athletes in the classroom. For the fourth consecutive year, Islanders Athletics proudly earned the Southland Conference Academic Performance Award, underscoring our commitment to academic excellence and the holistic development of our student-athletes. Additionally, we were honored to receive the SLC All-Women’s Sport Award for the fourth straight year, highlighting the outstanding achievements of our female athletes across all sports.
This year also marked the exciting launch of the Islanders Club, the new fundraising arm of Islanders Athletics designed to expand support for our student-athletes. Contributing to the Islanders Club will drive meaningful enhancements and support, including scholarships, facilities, travel, equipment, nutrition, and sports performance. In today’s highly competitive Division I landscape, private support is not just helpful; it’s essential, and Islanders Club will o!er a direct and impactful way to elevate our student-athletes’ success and make a lasting impact on the future of Islanders Athletics.
We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of our coaches, sta!, university leadership, alumni, donors, and fans. Your belief in our mission and continued partnership fuels our ability to build a championship culture grounded in character, commitment, and community. With your continued support, the future of Islanders Athletics is brighter than ever.
Thank you for being a vital part of our journey. Here’s to another year of excellence, unity, and keeping Island U the Island of Champions.
Go Islanders and Shakas Up!
Adrian Rodriguez Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics
Adrian Rodriguez D.REC!OR 05
K e Brockman
My name is Kate Brockman ’25 and I am the outgoing 2024-2025 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President. This year, our Islanders student-athletes accomplished so much not only in athletics but in academics as well.
To start, we saw 142 student-athletes on the Southland Conference Spring Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and Islanders Athletics won the SLC Academic Performance and Women's All-Sport Awards for the fourth straight year! This shows that Islanders hold themselves to the same level of dedication in the classroom as they do in competition.
This May, Islanders Athletics launched the Islanders Club which will provide monumental support to all of the athletics programs on campus providing resources that teams need to help elevate Islanders Athletics. This year was one of great accomplishments. Our track and field teams set multiple school records, volleyball won an exhilarating SLC Tournament Championship and competed at the NCAAs, while golf won the SLC Championship for only the second time in program history earning their trip to the NCAAs, and tennis continued to rack up championships as they captured both the Men’s and Women’s SLC regular season championships!
I could not have asked for any more from my time as an Islander at TAMU-CC. The relationships that I have made, the memories I've gained, and the skills I have learned in my time as an Islander are priceless. I am beyond grateful to my coaches, advisors, administration, and everyone that makes being a student-athlete an unforgettable experience.
Shakas Up!
Kate Brockman
Kate Brockman ’25
Cross Country and Track and Field
.SLANDERS .N !0E CLASSROO,
Academic All-Conference
29 student-athletes earned All-Academic recognition
Graduation Stats
62 student-athletes graduated in 2024-2025
Academic
En route to the fourth consecutive year of earning the SLC Academic Award, five of A&M-Corpus Christi’s teams posted perfect scores of 1,000 for their multi-year Academic Progress Rate, including: Men’s Cross Country, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Cross Country, and Women’s Tennis. Overall, 11 of the 14 teams (indoor and outdoor track combined as one) logged multi-year scores that met or surpassed the national average in their sport. These sports included the five that posted perfect scored of 1,000 as well as Men’s Basketball (995), Beach Volleyball (994), Women’s Golf (992), Women’s Soccer (989), Men’s Track (983), and Women’s Track (984).
ISLAND OF CHAMPIONS
2024-25 Islanders Athletics Accolades
22
First Team All-Southland Conference honors
2
SLC Coaches of the Year
6 Student-athletes won “Of the Year” honors
7 SLC All-Tournament honors
24 SLC Players of the Week
4 Southland Championships
25 Southland Championships Islanders Dominate the SLC!
The Islanders have won 25 Southland Conference championships over the last four years, making the Islanders the preeminent athletic program in the SLC!
The Islanders have won over 10 more SLC championships than any other SLC school in the last four years!
18 ISLANDERS SLC AWARDS
Be in Academics & Women’s Sports
Best Academic Performance Last 4 Years
The SLC Academic Performance Award is awarded annually to the member institution that compiles the highest academic progress rate (APR), and for the fourth year in a row, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders Athletics was the recipient of the Southland Conference Academic Performance award.
Best Women’s Programs in 4 Years
The Islanders women’s programs secured the fourth straight Women’s All-Sport Award after finishing with 93.0 points in the commissioner’s standings, 5.5 points higher than Stephen F. Austin State University. Golf, Women’s Tennis and Beach Volleyball earned the most points available, while Women’s Cross Country and Soccer both finished second in their standings for 11.0 points a piece.
SOUTH TEXAS SHOWDOWN
Islanders Win Back toBack
Dominating the South Texas Showdown - Yet Again!
Islanders won the 2024-25 South Texas Showdown for the second year in a row, defeating UTRGV in the annual competition.
Presented by Rally Credit Union, the annual rivalry series has Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV compete against each other in 12 sports: including twice each in volleyball, golf, men’s and women’s basketball, and tennis, once in women’s soccer and a three-game series in baseball. The winner of men’s and women’s cross country and outdoor track & field comes down to final standings at the Southland Conference Championships. Islanders have won the South Texas Showdown seven of the nine years we’ve competed for the trophy.
Volleyball captures the SLC Tournament Championship in Hammond, Lousiana, and punches their ticket to the First Round of the NCAAs.
Southland Champions VOLLE2BALL
Trip to NCAA Tournament
The run to the 2024 NCAA Tournament marked the fifth appearance in the big dance for the Islanders Volleyball, and the first since the 2021 season when they took down Lousiana’s McNeese State University in the Southland Conference Championship before bowing out against Baylor in the first round. They also broke the 20-win mark for the sixth time in program history, doing so in back-to-back years after reaching 22 victories in 2023. Islanders Volleyball made their return to the NCAA Tournament
after topping No. 1 Southeastern Lousiana 3-0 in the Southland Conference Tournament. It punched their ticket to the Big Dance which took them to Austin to face two-time defending national championships, the University of Texas. Although the Islanders dropped their game against the nationally ranked Longhorns, the NCAA tournament appearance marked the end of another incredibly successful year for the program.
Islanders vs. Longhorns in NCAA First Round in Austin, Texas.
2024 VOLLE2BALL RECO3N.!.ONS
CSC Academic All-America Finalist and AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention: Kyndal Payne ’24
6 3 3 4 4 1
All-Conference First Team: Kyndal Payne, Leah Stolfus ’25, Alex Hoglund ’25.
All-Tournament Team: Alex Hoglund (MVP), Kyndal Payne, Brooklyn Jaeger ’27.
CSC Academic All-District: Kyndal Payne, Leah Stolfus, Kayla White ’25, Brooklyn Jaeger
SLC All-Academic Team: Kyndal Payne, Alex Hoglund, Leah Stolfus, Brooklyn Jaeger (Second Team)
Players of the Week: Kyndal Payne (2), Alex Hoglund (2), Brooklyn Jaeger (2)
All QR codes take you to sport specific highlight.
CROSS CO4N!R2 Fir Year Breakthroughs
National Seashore Opener
The Islanders men’s and women’s cross country teams kicked o! their seasons in the sand back in August, hosting the Opener at the Seashore at the Padre Island National Seashore. Behind sophomore Mathayo Kiptoo Bundotich’s ’27 individual win in the 6K, the men cruised to victory with a perfect score, while the women finished second in the 4K behind only regionally ranked Southern Methodist University.
SLC Champion & NCAA Qualifier
Elizabeth Khatevi ’28 put together one of the best individual in women’s cross country program history at the Southland Conference Championships, breaking the school record in the women’s 6K and becoming the ninth individual conference champion in program history and the third for the women’s program. She also became the first freshman from any school to win the women’s conference title since 2014. Dominic Kiptum ’28 qualified for the NCAA Championship with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country South Central Regional, earning an automatic spot after finishing the 10K with a time of 29:38.2. The freshman went on to be just the fourth Islander to ever race for a national championship, and the first since Dennis Kipngeno ’24 did so in the
Dominic Kiptum
Elizabeth Khatevi
First-Year Success Under New Head Coach Daniel
Clitnovici
• Best Southland Conference finish in program history (2nd)
• First winning season in program history (10-5-5)
• Most total wins in program history (10)
• Most wins at home in program history (6)
• Longest unbeaten streak in program history (7)
• Most conference shutouts in program history (6)
Coastal Bend Athlete of the Year
Kyndal Payne !24 was named Coastal Bend Athlete of the Year at the second annual Coastal Bend Hall of Fame & Awards Show held June 3 at The American Bank Center. Payne graduated from the Island in fall 2024 after making arguably untouchable history on the Islanders Volleyball program as the first two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and second three-time AVCA All-Region honoree. She concluded her collegiate career in 2024 on the biggest stage as the Islanders took on No. 3 Texas in the NCAA First Round after she helped the Islanders punch their ticket back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since her freshman season (2021). Overall, Payne helped the program to three Southland Conference Championships and two trips to the NCAA Tournament during her career.
Coastal Bend Moment of the Year
Christian Smith-Johnson Moment of the Year at the awards when he generated a lot of buzz after what was pegged the “Catch of the Year” during the Islanders Baseball matchup at Texas A&M in College Station. It came from a leaping e the sophomore right-fielder who jumped over the outfield fence while maintaining control of the ball in his glove for the out, robbing the Aggies of a grand-slam and going viral for it instantly. The grand-slam robbery quickly became the talk of the sports world, as ESPN sent out a blast about the snag before it was named the No. 1 play on SportsCenter’s Top-10. It also got picked up on “Good Morning America” and “The Today Show” the next morning.
COASTAL BEND AWARDS 2025 Ha of Fame 19
Coach Malone accepting for Christian Smith-Johnson
Kyndal Payne: Athlete of the Year
Christian Smith-Johnson
Women’s Golf captures the SLC Tournament Championship at Kissing Tree Golf Club in San Marcos, Texas, and punches their ticket to the Lubbock Regional of the NCAAs.
10 MEN’S BAS-ETBALL
Islanders
Jim Shaw Named Joe B. Hall Coach of the Year Finalist
Jim Shaw led the Islanders men’s basketball team to back-to-back 20+ win seasons in his first two years as head coach. He is the second coach in program history to post debut consecutive 20-win seasons. His predecessor accomplished it two seasons prior when Shaw was on sta! as an assistant coach.
In his first season as head coach, Shaw guided the Islanders to the program’s best regular season with a 21-10 mark. It led him to be named a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Coach of the Year award, which is presented annually to the top rookie, first-year head coach in Division I college basketball.
WOMEN’S BAS-ETBALL H ps
Islanders Open with Signature Win at Texas A&M
The Islanders women’s basketball team kicked o! its season with a bang, going on the road to College Station and taking down Texas A&M University 62-56. This marked the team’s first win over the Aggies, and it was its fourth-ever victory over a Power 5 program.
! Chadwick Retires
Royce Chadwick Retires After 13 Seasons with Islanders
After a 41-year coaching career, including 13 spent as the head coach for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women’s basketball program, Royce Chadwick announced his retirement.
Chadwick came to the Island as the fourth head women’s basketball coach in A&M-Corpus Christi history on April 11, 2012. The Floydada, Texas, native made stops at Marshall University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Oklahoma Panhandle State, and Howard Junior College prior to his position with the Island University.
The winningest women’s basketball coach in Southland Conference history, Chadwick topped the league’s record book with 211 career conference wins following the regular season finale in 2021-22. He surpassed James Smith’s mark of 210 from 1987-04 at Northwestern State. Chadwick’s career SLC record was 250-125 including 13 wins at Sam Houston, 111 at Stephen F. Austin and finished with 126 at A&M-Corpus Christi.
Chadwick also reached the 750-win total in his career in 2023-24 and retired after hoisting a 765-485 final career record. Two hundred and two of those wins came leading the Islanders, making him the first Islanders basketball coach – men’s or women’s – to reach the 750 win milestone on the Island.
In his 41 years at the Division I level, Chadwick has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances. The most rerent came in 2023-24 when he made his return to the Big Dance after leading the Islanders to their first-ever Southland Conference Tournament championship with a 68-61 win over Lamar. It marked the program’s first trip to the NCAAs, but Chadwick’s eighth after guiding SFA to the postseason seven times. He is the last coach to guide a Southland Conference team to a win in the NCAA Tournament after leading
No. 11 SFA to a 73-72 victory over No. 6 Xavier in Baton Rouge, Lousiana in 2000. It also marked the third championship in five years for the Islanders, all coming under Chadwick’s direction, after the program won its second regular season championship in 2022-23 with a 14-4 SLC record. That led the team to its first postseason appearance since 2005 as the Islanders earned the league’s automatic bid to the Women’s National Inventational Tournament at Wyoming.
The 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons marked the first time the program had back-to-back championship seasons or made a postseason tournament appearances in consecutive years. Chadwick coached the 2022-23 SLC Player of the Year in Alecia Westbrook ’23, who also repeated as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year that season. It marked the first time in program history that an Islander was named Player of the Year, as well as the first time a player repeated a superlative.
Chadwick coached two SLC Defensive Player of the Years in three seasons after Alexes Bryant also won in 2019-20. The 2019-20 season proved to be the best in program history for A&M-Corpus Christi, as the Islanders finished the regular season with a 23-7 overall record and a program best 17-3 mark in SLC play. The Islanders claimed their first regular season conference title in program history and earned the No. 1 seed in the Southland Conference tournament, which was ultimately canceled due to COVID-19.
Chadwick was named the SLC Coach of the Year for both 2019-20 and 2013-14. Chadwick became the first coach in program history to win 100 games on the Island, as he collected his 100th win against UTRGV on Nov. 23, 2019. After the Islanders won the 2020 regular season SLC Championship, Chadwick became the only women’s basketball coach in conference history to win a regular season championship at two di!erent SLC institutions.
25
Regular Season Champs
Winningest Tennis Program in Southland History
Men’s Tennis Adds to Historic Championship Totals
The A&M-Corpus Christi Men’s Tennis team came out on top in a winner-take-all firstplace battle over UTRGV 4-3 to claim the Southland Conference regular season title.
The men locked up the No. 1 seed for the SLC Championships after securing their 13th regular season title and 23rd overall championship, the second most all-time championships in any sport in the 64-year history of the conference. It marks the men's and women’s tennis teams’ 37th combined championship. It comes after a perfect 5-0 conference season, the men’s first undefeated record in the SLC since the 2021 season.
WOMEN’S TENNIS Regular Season Champs
Clinched at Midnight
Kseniya Ramanouskaya !28 clinched at midnight to send Islanders Women’s Tennis to their fifth straight conference final. Relying on singles play, Ramanouskaya entered a decisive third set at No. 4 singles. Winning a massive deuce point at 6-5 in the third to clinch a 4-3 victory against New Jersey Institute of Technology, Ramanouskaya aced her opponent for the 6-4 victory to clinch the Southland Conference Tournament Semifinals match.
Women Earn Third Straight Regular Season Title
The Islanders Women’s Tennis team concluded a season that saw their third consecutive regular season championship, seventh overall, and 14th total combined with tournament titles. This also led them to being the No. 1 seed for the Southland Conference Tournament. It was the fifth year in a row that the Islanders made the tournament finals after they won the previous four years to make four straight NCAA Tournaments the first time in Southland history.
Most in SLC History!
12 WOMEN’S
Southland Champions
First-Year Islanders Head Coach
Punches Ticket to NCAAs
The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Women’s Golf team had a dominant performance at the SLC Championships to win the title for the first time in 16 years. They ended with a 17-stroke advantage to come away with the SLC Championship and were the only team under 900 for the week. This marks the program’s second conference title! It punched their ticket to the Lubbock Regional in the NCAA Tournament.
Golf Program Earns Back-to-Back Victories in Islander Classic
The Islanders hosted their two-day home Islanders Classic tournament, featuring nine teams at the Corpus Christi Country Club. For the second year in a row, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi golf program refused to relinquish ownership of the tournament trophy, by winning again by a 13-stroke margin. The Islanders had four players in the Top 10 and produced the top two performers in their home tournament – Samantha Gibbs ’27 claimed the individual title and Elsa Tornvall ’26 finished as the tournament runner-up.
TRAC- AN& FIEL& Record Breaking Performances
Breaking Records
The Islanders Men’s and Women’s Track & Field program put together a season for the ages in 2024-25, setting 20 new program records combined between the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Emmanuel Ekuma ’27
SLC Outdoor Newcomer of the Year
Program Records:
Outdoor Shot Put
Hammer Throw
Indoor Shot Put
Weight Throw
Phylis Kibet ’28
SLC Indoor Freshman of the Year
Program Records:
Indoor 800-meter
Indoor Mile
Indoor 3,000-meter
Reaching New Heights
The women’s team also made history all throughout the year, finishing in fourth at both the Southland Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships marking their highest-ever finish at the former and tying their previous best at the latter.
Elizabeth Khatevi ’28
The Trifecta
Elizabeth Khatevi ’28 had perhaps the best individual performance in program history at the SLC Outdoor Championships in May, winning gold medals in three di!erent distance events – the 800, 1,500 and 5,000-meter – all on the final day of the meet. The freshman became just the tenth woman in the history of the Southland Conference to win three di!erent events at the Outdoor Championships and the first Islander to ever accomplish the feat.
Cyan Green ’26
SLC Indoor Weight-throw Champion Program Records: Outdoor Shot Put Weight Throw
Alicia Hy-Finnis ’28
SLC Indoor 5,000-meter champion
BASEBALL
Highlight R l
Winning Weekend Against Power Conferences
For the 14th consecutive year, the Islanders brought some big-name competition to the Coastal Bend, hosting power-conference opponents UCLA, Michigan State, and Washington State at Whataburger Field for the 2025 Kleberg Bank College Classic in February. The team kicked o the weekend with its biggest win of the season, earning its first victory over a Bruins team that would later go on to advance to the second round of the Men’s College World Series. The Islanders then knocked o the Washington State Cougars two di erent times on back-to-back days to start the all-time series between the two o on a high note.
Head Baseball Coach
Senior Day Special
Islanders Walk-o) Victories
The Islanders softball team had two walk-o victories in conference home games this season, both courtesy of Karisa Lopez !27. The first came in game three against University of Incarnate Word where her ball to the right center gap salvaged the series in a 3-2 victory. It was echoed in the home finale in game three against Stephen F. Austin State University on Senior Day. After the Islanders tied the ballgame in the eighth at 3-3, a lead-o walk became the final go-ahead run as Lopez once again hit one to the gap, this time to left field, for the game-winning RBI-double.
BEAC2 VOLLE3BALL
Four Straight 20+Win Season
The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Beach Volleyball team concluded a season that saw its fourth consecutive 20+ win season, finishing this year with the 22-13 record. Throughout the season, the Conference championship punched ticket to NCAAs and received votes every week in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll. This is the fifth year in a row that the Islanders have made the Southland Conference Tournament Championship Final.
Islanders’ Ryann Phillips Earns Spot on USA Trapshooting Team
Ryann Phillips !25 secured a place on the USA Trap Shooting Team for the 2024 Summer Olympics after winning the U.S. Nationals in Arizona. Phillips, 20, began competing in shotgun sports through 4-H in third grade and has since earned medals worldwide. Grateful for the support she’s received, Phillips will continue training locally and competing internationally.
Giuliana Poletti Corrales Competes at Paris 2024
Former Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beach volleyball star Giuliana Poletti Corrales !23 competed in the 2024 Olympic Games with the Paraguay Women’s Beach Volleyball Team, the country’s first Olympic appearance in the sport. Poletti Corrales and partner Michelle Valiente clinched their Olympic spot by winning the South American Continental Qualifier in Asunción, defeating Peru and Argentina. At A&M-Corpus Christi, Poletti Corrales was a four-year starter, two-time conference champion, and AVCA Top Flight Award recipient. She helped lead the Islanders to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022 and a second title run in 2023.
ISLANDER OLYMPIANS Paris 2024 37
ISLANDERS IN THE COMMUNITY
Volleyball Wins the Ship Cup
The Ship Cup was revived to bring a new level of excitement, connection, and competition to Islanders Athletics. The university-based award recognizes a team’s excellence in campus engagement, community service, Islanders SAAC participation, Islander spirit, life skills involvement, and academic and athletic achievement for the year. This year’s winner was a team that demonstrated the importance of these values by showing up to early morning send-o s, life skills events and community projects, and always supporting their fellow athletes. They embodied consistency, culture, and class and led on the court by winning a Southland Conference Championship, in the classroom with a team average of a 3.4 GPA, and in the community serving at multiple events. The Islander Volleyball team was the 2024-25 Ship Cup winner!
2,800+ hours of community service completed by student-athletes
The 2024-25 Ship Cup winner - Islanders Volleyball
Islanders Payne, McGill Continue Pro Careers Overseas
After four standout years with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Volleyball, Kyndal Payne has signed a professional contract with Pölkky Kuusamo in Finland’s top women’s volleyball league, whose season ran from January–April 2025. A two-time AVCA All-American, Payne helped lead the Islanders to three Southland Conference titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances. She departs as the program’s all-time leader in kills (1,658) and total attacks (4,209), and the only player to surpass both 1,500 kills and 1,000 digs.
Nabaweeyah McGill !25, who finished her Islanders basketball career in March, signed to play professionally for Ármann in Reykjavík, Iceland. The Tampa native played in 123 games over five seasons, setting a program record with 133 career blocks and leading the Southland Conference in blocks per game in her final two years. McGill was part of the program’s historic run, including its first Southland Conference Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2023-24.
Their signings mark the second straight year for both the volleyball and Women’s Basketball programs to send players to the professional ranks overseas.
GOING PRO Islanders Playing Overseas 39
New Women’s Basketba Head Coach TOYELLE WILSON
Toyelle Wilson was announced as the fifth head coach in the history of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women’s basketball team.
Wilson joins the Islanders to add to an illustrious coaching career already spanning nearly two decades, with impactful roles as both a head coach and assistant coach at the highest levels of collegiate basketball. She brings to the Island 110 career wins and five postseason appearances out of the seven seasons she’s been a head coach. Including her time as an assistant coach, Wilson has made 13 NCAA Tournaments with two runs to the Sweet 16, four to the Elite Eight, and the National Championship Title in 2019. A nationally respected leader in women’s college basketball, Wilson brings a championship pedigree, a proven track record in player development, and an unwavering commitment to excellence both on and o! the court.
Most recently, Wilson spent the last four seasons serving as the head coach at Southern Methodist University, where she orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the Mustangs, finishing tied for fourth — the program’s highest finish in the American Athletic
Prior to SMU, Wilson was a key figure on sta! at the University of Michigan from 2019-21, helping the Wolverines reach back-to-back NCAA Tournaments including a historic Sweet 16 appearance in 2021, the first in program history.
From 2013-19, Wilson served as an assistant coach at Baylor University under Hall of Fame Coach Kim Mulkey. During her time with the Lady Bears, the program captured six Big 12 regular season titles and the 2019 NCAA National Championship. Wilson played a central role in Baylor’s success, contributing to four Elite Eight appearances and one Sweet 16 run.
Wilson’s head coaching journey began at Prairie View A&M from 2010-13, where she made history by leading the Lady Panthers to three consecutive SWAC Tournament Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances, a first in program history. She earned SWAC Coach of the Year honors twice and helped elevate Prairie View’s national profile through both athletic and academic excellence. Prior to accepting the head coach position, Wilson was the Panthers’ top assistant for four years and
110
13
5
Total Career Wins
Postseason Appearances (in last 16 years of coaching: 11 NCAA and 2 WNIT)
Postseason Appearances (in 7 years as head coach, 3 NCAA and 2 WNIT)
7 Elite 8 Appearances
Sweet 16 Appearances
5 National Championship
1
“I am absolutely honored to be named the next head coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. This position is an incredible opportunity, and I am grateful to lead such a remarkable program. I look forward to connecting with the Islanders community, our amazing fans, and the players as we embark on this exciting journey together. Go Islanders!”
MARK MONTGOMERY
New Softba Head Coach
Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Adrian Rodriguez has named Mark Montgomery as the next head softball coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Montgomery becomes the ninth leader in Islanders Softball history, bringing 23 years of collegiate head coaching experience, including 20 at Division I level. He has accumulated 858 total wins with over 650 at the college level and four NCAA Tournament appearances. He most recently served as head softball coach at the University of Maryland from 2020-23.
Montgomery completed his fourth season at Maryland with a record-setting 2023 campaign, leading the Terps to a 38-19 record — their most wins since 2011. Maryland defeated ranked opponents No. 3 Oklahoma State and No. 22 Oregon, posted a program-record .977 fielding percentage that led the Big Ten, and hit 36 home runs. The Terps made their first postseason appearance since 2012 at the NISC Tournament, finishing as semifinalists. In 2022, Montgomery led Maryland to 29 wins and their first Big Ten tournament victory. The team finished second in the NCAA in stolen bases with 127 and maintained a 3.6 team GPA, ranking in the top 20 nationally.
Montgomery earned 2019 Conference USA Co-Coach of the Year honors at Louisiana Tech (2013-19), leading the program to two conference tournament championships, two NCAA Regional appearances, and five consecutive 30+ win seasons. His final season produced 45 wins and the program’s first regular season conference title. His prior head coaching stops include Georgetown College in Kentucky from
2001-02, Centenary College from 2003-10, and the University of Northern Colorado from 2011-12. At Centenary, he led the program to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2004 and 2005, winning more than 200 games with upset victories over Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, and other major programs.
Montgomery’s teams have consistently excelled academically, maintaining team GPAs above 3.0 for 15 years. His 2012 Northern Colorado team ranked No. 2 nationally in team GPA. Before collegiate coaching, Montgomery coached the softball team at Lafayette High School in Kentucky to seven district titles, five regional titles, and one state championship with a 170-73 record.
Montgomery earned his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky in 1992 and master’s degree from Georgetown College in 2000. He has three daughters: Bailey, Emma, and Adrienne.
“I am honored to be the next head softball coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. I believe in the power of hard work, collaboration, and a winning mindset
S5IRIT AN& TRA&ITIONS
Home to The Deep End, the O cial Student Section of Islanders Athletics, and the Islander Pep Band - the Department of Spirit and Traditions amplifies student engagement at athletic events and defines what it means to be an Islander. Spirit and Traditions is committed to building a strong foundation of school spirit, creating a culture that empowers student leaders, fostering a connected student experience, and celebrating Islander pride!
GREEK NIGHTS
ISLANDER PEP BAND
LIGHTING OF THE “I” IZZY’S TAILGATE
ISLANDERS SPIRIT TEAMS
Izzy the Islander was named the “coolest mascot” by USA Today in 2023
BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
WBB COMMUNITY KID’S CLINIC
MUSIC WALK ISLANDER TAKEOVER
COASTAL BEND SPORTS HALL OF FAME & AWARDS SHOW
TENNIS SUCCESS WITH ISLANDERS TENNIS
ADMITTED STUDENT DAY
HOMECOMING HALL OF HONOR BANQUET
SUMMER CAMPS AND CLINICS
CASINO NI02T
Islanders Casino Night, held in August each year, is the department’s premier fundraiser. It is a night of casino gaming that o!ers a silent bid board and live auctions, food, and lots of fun. It has grown into a must-attend event in Corpus Christi. Proceeds from the event directly support student-athlete scholarships. This event helps provide Islanders Athletics with critical resources as we continue to grow as a championship level program that our university, alumni, and local community can call its own. Contributions help ensure we are successful in our goal of providing a first-class experience for our student-athletes during which they compete for championships, excel academically, and achieve a degree in their chosen field. In 2024, Casino Night continued to break records and raise the bar, collecting $168,000 in support of scholarships.
TI5-OFF &INNER
The Islanders annual Basketball Tip-O! Dinner takes place in late October each year and kicks o! the basketball season, building excitement and engagement amongst fans and supporters. The event will feature messages from Men’s Basketball head coach Jim Shaw and Women’s Basketball head coach Toyelle Wilson as well as interactions with the basketball student-athletes. Championship rings have also been presented at this exclusive event.
ISLAN&ERS 0OLF CLASSIC
Each spring, Islanders Athletics hosts a fundraising golf outing at the Corpus Christi Country Club. In addition to 18 holes of golf and lunch, the Golf Classic includes interactions and contests with A&M-Corpus Christi student-athletes throughout the course. The event is popular in the community, with many teams donning matching outfits. Proceeds from this event directly support scholarships for student-athletes. The 19th annual Golf Classic held in 2025 resulted in just under $92,000 to support scholarships for student-athletes at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The total set a new record for the long-standing event, surpassing the prior year’s record fundraising totaling $84,000.
All sport growth for 2024-25 compared to 2023-24
Islanders Athletics
Launches Islanders Club
The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Athletic Department launched Islanders Club — previously known as the Islander Athletic Fund (IAF) — to provide streamlined information about how fans can directly support Islanders student-athletes.
Islanders Club o ers new membership levels and benefits including a membership card that grants access to rewards programs and discounts through participating businesses in Islanders Club such as Hot Chicken Run, the Campus Store, and more.
Islanders Club is currently in its annual fund drive to renew members and garner new support from the Coastal Bend community and beyond for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year.
