Basketball Game Program vs. UM/AUM

Head Coach: Mike Helfer

Entering his 18th year with Valdosta State, Mike Helfer has established himself as one of the top coaches in the nation. he has recorded a 337165 record, including 14 winning seasons, and he has repeatedly established his program as one of the most exciting teams in the Gulf South Conference, South Region, and nationwide.

Helfer has guided the red and black to eight NCAA tournament appearances along with five-straight Gulf South Conference regular season titles. Helfer also led the 2020-21 Blazers to the prgoram’s first Gulf South Conference Tournament Championship. He has won 20 or more games four of the last five years and eight times during his time in Titletown. Helfer has also gone 93-37 over the last five years, marking the most wins in a five-year stretch in program history.

In 2020-21, the Blazers finished on top of the GSC East Division with a 14-4 overall record. Helfer reached his 500th career victory during a 91-87 win against Auburn Montgomery in 24 seasons of coaching. Helfer and the Blazers reached the GSC Tournament Final for the second year in-a-row last season. Helfer coached three All-Tournament Team players last season, along with the Most Outstanding Player Burke Putnam. The Blazers’ GSC Tournament win solidified the four seed in the NCAA South Region before the team finished the season ranked 24th nationally.

In 2018-19, the Blazers clinched their third-straight league regular season title, finishing the season 24-7 and 16-4 in the GSC. With a senior-led team, including standout Beau Justice, the Blazers reached the Gulf South Conference semifinal round and earned a berth into the NCAA South Regional. Justice finished his career as the all-time leader in made 3-pointers with 257, while he finished with 1,754 points for fourth alltime in school history in just three seasons at VSU. In addition, Helfer’s squad set the school-record for points in a season (2,782), three-pointers made (320), free throw percentage (.765) and assists (554).

Prior to his time as a head coach, Helfer spent seven years as an assistant coach. He began his career at his alma mater, Division III Capital University, where he served as an assistant for two years. Upon leaving Capital, Helfer joined the coaching staff at Division I Kent State in 1991 and worked with the school through the 1994-95 season. He also served as an assistant with Division II Grand Valley State during the 1996-97 season, helping the Lakers to a 23-6 record and the NCAA Division II tournament.

Records Broken Under Helfer Victories in a Season

2009-10: 28

Points in a Season

2018-19: 2,782

Free Throw Attempts in a Season

2009-10: 812

Three-Pointers in a Season

2018-19: 320

Three-Pointers in a Game

(February 28, 2015 at West Florida): 21

Assists in a Season

2018-19: 554

Blocked Shots in a Season

2012-13: 212

Season Records

2005-2006: 17-11 (7-7 GSC)

2006-2007: 20-9 (8-4 GSC)

2007-2008: 18-11 (8-4 GSC)

2008-2009: 24-7 (9-3 GSC)

2009-2010: 28-5 (9-1 GSC)

2010-2011: 21-9 (7-5 GSC)

2011-2012: 11-16 (3-11 GSC)

2012-2013: 19-10 (9-9 GSC)

2013-2014: 16-12 (9-11 GSC)

2014-2015: 10-18 (5-17 GSC)

2015-2016: 17-11 (13-9 GSC)

2016-2017: 26-6 (19-3 GSC)

2017-2018: 26-5 (18-2 GSC)

2018-2019: 24-7 (16-4 GSC)

2019-2020: 26-4 (18-2 GSC)

2020-2021: 17-5 (14-4 GSC)

2021-2022: 11-16 (7-13 GSC)

Head Coach:

Deandra Schirmer

Deandra Shirmer led the Lady Blazers to their first Elite Eight appearance since 1984 last season as the team ended the year with a 26-5 record and a 17-2 mark in the Gulf South Conference. The Lady Blazers upset the No. 1-ranked Union last season to clinch a berth into the Elite Eight.

in 2021, the Lady Blazers finished 13th in the final Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Top 25 to end the 2021 campaign. Schirmer improved her record to 3615 overall and 26-12 in GSC play, while graduate transfer Kwajelin Farrar earned GSC East Division Player of the Year honors, multiple all-region honors and became the first Lady Blazer since 1995 to earn WBCA First Team All-America accolades in 2021. Farrar became the seventh Lady Blazer to earn WBCA All-America honors in program history. Farrar finished the season leading the team in scoring at 14.2 points per game. Farrar was 134 of 226 from the field for a 59.3 average from the floor for ninth nationally and second in the GSC. Her 134 field goals made were good for fourth in the GSC and 35th nationally, while her 11 double-doubles put her tenth nationally and third in the league. Her 9.7 rebounds per game put her 33rd nationally and sixth in the league. She had a team-high 23 blocks for the season in 22 games played and 22 starts.

In her first season in Titletown, Schirmer guided the Lady Blazers to an 18-11 record overall and a 10-10 mark in Gulf South Conference play. Schirmer brought in a couple of key transfers this season in Cheray Saunders and Saniah Simpson-Patu. Schirmer’s squad also had junior Kayla Bonilla who eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark as the 27th player in school history to do so. Schirmer had her biggest win of the season as the Lady Blazers upset then-No. 4-ranked Lee 74-68 on Dec. 17, 2019. Bonilla earned second team all-conference honors this season. As a team, VSU finished third in the league in free throws made (408) for 61st nationally and was fourth in the league in free throws attempted (576) for 74th nationally. The Lady Blazers also were fourth in 3-point field goal shooting at a 33.3 clip for 78th nationally. Schirmer guided the team to its fourth-straight appearance in the Gulf South Conference Tournament.

Valdosta State Athletic Director Herb Reinhard announced Saturday, May 3, 2019, the hiring of Deandra Shirmer as the next women’s basketball coach at VSU.

Schirmer had been an assistant coach at Eckerd College in Florida for the past five years prior to coming to VSU and was elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2018. She also served as recruiting coordinator for the Tritons where her leadership and player development has helped produce the three most successful seasons in program history. Prior to Schirmer’s arrival at EC, the Tritons had not earned a NCAA postseason bid in the 32-year history of the program.

She began her playing career at Cloud County Community College (Kan.), earning allconference and all-region honors. While at Cloud County, she helped lead the team to a 26-7 record as a sophomore and was named Jayhawk Conference Western Division Second Team and was an all-region selection.

Shirmer earned her bachelor’s degree from USCA in business marketing and earned a master’s degree of sports administration from Georgia State.

History ∙ Tradition ∙ Pride GO BLAZERS!

WeDoChickenRight.

Tailgate with the Colonel

ORIGINAL RECIPE – CRISPY – GRILLED STRIPS – HOT WINGS

NEW ORIGINAL RECIPE BITES

The Blazers

Head coach Mike Helfer

Assistant coach Nate Nowicki

Graduate Assistant Timothy Finlayson

#4 Lee Flenor

#20 Ryan Black

#0 Jay Rucker

#1 Jacolbey Owens

#2 Maruice Gordon

#3 Cam Hamilton

#5 Mike Isler

#11 Mohamed Fofana

#15 Kelan Walker #12 Cam Selders

#21 Chris Connor #22 Dylan Garrington

#30 JJ Williams

#32 Jace Lavan

Athletic Trainer: Gracie Thurson

Strength Coach: Marc Struck

#33 Caden Boser

The Lady Blazers

Head coach Deandra Schirmer Assistant coach Alexis Uffmann Graduate Assistant Nicole Heyn

#5 Shanice Nelson

#23 Kayla Frey

#00 Jirah Ards

#1 Tamiya Francis

#3 Emma Martin

#4 India Jordan

#13 Taylor Searcey

#15 Lili Long

#22 Grace Beyer

#20 Kate Tanner

#30 Kendall Bollmer

#32 Aleisha Curry

#34 Kalifa Ford

Graduate Assistant Mallory Odell

The Blazers

The Lady Blazers

(Back Row L-R): Johnathan Kinsely, Dylan Harvey, Ryan Black, Jace Lavan Caden Boser, Jay Rucker. Lee Flenor, Mike Isler, Chris Connor, Tim Finlayson, Mike Helfer, Nate Nowicki (Front Row L-R): Keshaun Johnson, Gracie Thurson, Dylan Garrington, Kelan Walker Mohamed Fofana, Jacolbey Owens, Cam Hamilton, Maurice Gordon, Cam Selders, JJ Williams

(L-R): Brianna Jackson, Deandra Schirmer, Taela Johnson, Nicole Heyn, Gracie Brant, Mallory Odell, Grace Beyer, Aleisha Curry, Jirah Ards, Lili Long, Shanice Nelson, Kate Tanner, India Jordan, Emma Martin, Taylor Searcey, Kalifa Ford, Tamiya Francis, Kendall Bollmer, Hayley Widman, Kelsey Raducci, Alexis Uffmann, Charnell Tucker

Student Assistant Taela Johnson

Student Assistant Kelsey Raducci

Student Assistant Brianna Jackson

Student Assistant Gracie Brant

Student Assistant Charnell Tucker

Asst. Athletic Trainer Hayley Widman

Head coach

Mike Helfer Assistant coach Nate Nowicki

Graduate Assistant Timothy Finlayson

Student Assistant Johnathan Kinsely

Asst. Athletic Trainer Gracie Thurson

Student Assistant Dylan Harvey

Student Assistant Keshaun Johnson

2022-2023 BLAZER BASKETBALL SUPPORT STAFF

Jennifer Grubbs Senior Assoc. A.D.

Mason Barfield Director of Compliance

Kit Strief Asst. A.D. Comm.

Debbie Wisenbaker Executive Assistant

Dr. David Kuhlmeier Faculty Ath. Rep.

Vaconna Hardin Director of Ticketing & Game Ops.

Bobby Tucker Eligibility Coordinator

Herb Reinhard Director of Athletics

Team Results

Team Statistics

Team Results

Team Results

Team Results

Team Results

MONTEVALLO FALCON MBB

AUBURN MONTGOMERY WBB

AUBURN MONTGOMERY MBB

The Complex serves as the home to the Valdosta State basketball programs as well as Blazer volleyball. One of the rowdiest arenas in the NCAA Division II ranks, The Complex seats 5,350 fans for each Blazer home event. The venue nearly reached it’s capacity during the 2009-10 men’s basketball season, when a record 4,616 fans gathered on February 27, 2010 to watch Valdosta State take on the West Georgia Wolves.

The Complex has undergone several renovations since its opening in 1983 and is today one of the top arenas in the Gulf South Conference. The most recent update and perhaps one of the largest to the facility was a complete renovation of the lobby area in 2013. Locker room renovations were also implemented that same year. Prior to the 2006-07 season, the lower level seating along each sideline was replaced with new cushioned armchair-style seats. The entire south side seating in the lower level, as well as selected rows on the north side, are reserved seating for Valdosta State’s season ticket holders. Meanwhile, the lower end zone seating area, as well as the entire upper bowl, features bench style seating.

The benches for athletic events are located along the side sideline of the arena. Meanwhile, the west end zone bleachers are used to seat the Valdosta State cheerleaders, Red Hots dance team and pep band as well as the student-run Complex Crazies. The Complex also serves as a concert venue for select shows throughout the year, and graduation ceremonies are also often held in the arena.

In addition to the arena, The Complex also houses newly renovated locker rooms for Valdosta State’s two basketball teams, the volleyball program and the school’s two tennis teams. The south hall of the building also features two visiting team locker rooms as well as faculty locker rooms.

Offices housing Valdosta State’s Athletic Department are located along the east corridor of the facility while the University’s Kinesiology and Physical Education Department, a branch of VSU’s College of Education, is housed along the north hall. Classrooms, utilized by both the Athletic Department and KSPE Department, can also be found along both the north and south halls.

One of Valdosta State’s four Athletic Training Rooms, which features a full line of equipment for the needs of Blazer athletes, can be found along the north hall while the upper bowl of the arena also includes an indoor walking/running track.

Evidence of Valdosta State’s athletic dominance can be found throughout The Complex as the Athletic Department trophy case is located across the south hall from the Athletic Department offices. The trophy cases houses four of Valdosta State’s seven national championship trophies as well a a multitude of Gulf South Conference AllSport trophies and each of the school’s 24 GSC championship trophies along with numerous other momentos from VSU’s athletic past and present. Meanwhile, hanging in the rafters of the arena are banners commemorating some of the best teams in Valdosta State athletic history.

The home to the Valdosta State football and women's soccer programs is the Valdosta State Athletic Fieldhouse. The 41,000 square foot Fieldhouse opened in January 2009 at a cost of $5.8 million, giving the Blazer program one of the top athletic facilities in the nation.

Beyond football and soccer, the fieldhouse also houses the 7,690 square foot Jessie Tuggle Weight Room and a 2,437 square foot state-of-the-art Athletic Training Room that is used by all VSU teams.

The Tuggle Weight Room, which encases nearly 10 times the space of its predecessor, is one of, if not the top, weight facilities among NCAA Division II schools nationwide. It featJessie Tuggle Weight Room ures 10 brand new eight-post stations as well as a reinforced medicine ball wall. New self-contained dumbbell stations were also added to the area while a 30-yard speed track was included in the design of the floor. The Jesse Tuggle Weight Room also features elliptical machines and two stationary bikes for cardio workouts and a built-in microphone/stereo system to aid the strength and conditioning staff while working with large groups of VSU athletes. Additionally, each of the 10 eightpost stations has also been pre-wired for video recording, which will be added in the near future, for further evaluation and instruction by the strength and conditioning staff. The newest addition to the facility are two Cognisens "caves," which allow for an increased mental training to provide Blazer athletes with an additional edge in competition. Valdosta State is the only university on any level in the nation to own the Cognisens machines, with additional owners including Manchester United and multiple NHL hockey teams.

Next door to the Tuggle Weight Room is the Athletic Training Room. The area includes offices for the Valdosta State Athletic Training staff and a private physician exam room as well as a hydrotherapy room for rehabilitation work. The main Athletic Training area features six taping stations as well as six additional treatment areas plus a cardiovascular/rehabilitation area featuring stationary bikes.

Additionally, outside of the facility are two lighted football practice fields and a soccer stadium.

The Athletic Fieldhouse features many amenities that will aid the football team as it endures the rigors of a football season. A 3,265 square foot locker room is the centerpiece of the project and is lined with 126 lockers, enough to house all members of the VSU football squad. Adjacent to the locker room is a 2,100 square foot equipment room with secure “Football Locker Roompass-through” equipment bins that allow managers to address the equipment needs of all the Blazers while keeping each player’s equipment separated.

The remainder of the Athletic

Fieldhouse includes a 3,458 square foot office suite for the football coaches as well as 2,200 square feet of meeting rooms, each equipped with state-of-the-art video equipment. The academic needs of the student-athlete is also addressed as a 1,500 square foot computer lab is equipped with 19 computers.

Academic excellence and a leadership role in NCAA’s Division II make the Gulf South Conference (GSC) something special. Entering its 51st year, the GSC is a charter Division II member that prides itself as one of the first conferences to be created and administered by its CEOs. We take pride in our 50-plus National Team Championships in 13 sports, one individual men’s cross country champion, five men’s golf individual champions, and one track and field champion, as well as more than 150 regional titles, especially because there is no sacrifice on the academic side, where GSC student-athletes graduate at a much higher rate than the general student body. The conference saw all 13 full-time institutions either earn a conference title or advance to NCAA Championship action in 2021-22. The GSC sponsors 19 sports, including 18 championship events. Official sponsored sports include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, and volleyball. Prior to the 2020-21 academic year, the conference officially added women's lacrosse after three seasons as an emerging sport. In the summer of 1970, six college presidents met to discuss athletics and when the meeting ended, a new league emerged—the Mid-South Conference. Delta State, Florence State (now North Alabama), Jacksonville State, Livingston (now West Alabama), Tennessee-Martin (UTM) and Troy State (TSU) were the charter members, but scheduling problems for the 1970-71 academic year limited the conference to only football. Southeast Louisiana (SELA) and Nicholls State (NSU) joined in 1971 and the league opened an office in Hammond, La., changed its name to the Gulf South Conference, and began championships in nine men’s sports. Mississippi College (MC) and Northwestern Louisiana (NWLA, now Northwestern State) joined in 1972 and two years later, NWLA left for Division I, followed by SELA and NSU in 1979. The conference continued with seven teams until 1981, when the CEOs admitted Valdosta State and West Georgia (1983). In 1991, UTM and TSU went Division I, briefly dropping the GSC back to seven members, but an aggressive expansion resulted in 10 new members: Lincoln Memorial (1992-93); Alabama Huntsville, Henderson State, Central Arkansas and Mississippi University for Women (MUW, 1993-94); West Florida (1994-95); and ArkansasMonticello, Arkansas Tech, Montevallo and Southern Arkansas (1995-96). Jacksonville State moved to Division I at the end of 1992-93. MC dropped to Division III at the end of 1995-96, and was replaced by Christian Brothers to keep the conference at 16 schools. In July 2000, the GSC welcomed Harding University and Ouachita Baptist University, making it the largest NCAA-playing conference at any level with 18 schools. MUW dropped its athletics program at the end of the 2002-03 season, decreasing the membership to 17. Central Arkansas reclassified to Division I and Lincoln Memorial moved to the South Atlantic Conference following the 2006-07 year. Montevallo’s departure for the Peach Belt Conference dropped the number to 14 in 2009-10. North Alabama completed its final year with the GSC in 2017-18, as the Lions accepted an invitation to go Division I and join the Atlantic Sun Conference.

The GSC moved away from divisional play after the 2010-11 season after its six Arkansas members broke away, dropping the membership to eight. The league implemented a five-year expansion plan in 2012 resulting in the addition of new members Shorter University (2014-15), Union University (2014-15), Lee University (2015-16) and Auburn University at Montgomery (2019-20) along with the return of Mississippi College (2016-17) and Montevallo (2017-18). Auburn Montgomery became a provisional member in 2017-18 as they advanced through the NCAA membership process. The Warhawks are on track to be a full member, eligible for all awards and postseason opportunities, in 2019-20. The conference also adopted affiliate memberships to boost its ranks, resulting in sport-specific members, Flagler (women’s lacrosse), North Greenville (football), Spring Hill College (men’s and women’s soccer and women’s golf), and Young Harris College (women’s lacrosse).

BASKETBALL PARTICIPATING MEMBERS

GSC National1971-2022Championships (54)

Baseball (6)

West Florida (2011)

Delta State (2004)

Jacksonville State (1990, '91)

Troy State (1986, '87)

Men's Basketball (3)

North Alabama (1979, '91)

Jacksonville State (1985)

Women's Basketball (7)

Delta State (1975, '76, '77, '89, '90, '92)

Southeastern Louisiana (1977)

Football (13)

Valdosta State (2004, '07, '12, '18)

Delta State (2000)

West Alabama (1971)

West Florida (2019)

North Alabama (1993, '94, '95)

Jacksonville State (1992)

Troy State (1984, '87)

Men's Golf (5)

West Florida (2001, '08)

Troy State (1976, '77, '84)

Lee (2022)

Women's Golf (3)

Troy State (1984, '86, '89)

Women's Gymnastics (2)

Jacksonville State (1984, '85)

Men's Hockey (2)

Alabama-Huntsville (1996, '98)

Women's Soccer (2)

West Florida (2012)

Christian Brothers (2002)

Softball (2)

Valdosta State (2012)

North Alabama (2015)

Men's Tennis (6)

West Florida (2004, '05', '14, '17)

Valdosta State (2006, '11)

Men's Track and Field (1)

Southeastern Louisiana (1975)

Women's Volleyball (1)

North Alabama (2003)

* Mississippi College vacated national title in 1989 / Men's Hockey not GSC Sponsored Sport