Message and Update from AD Guthrie - Summer Edition

Hello Zips Nation: as we kick off the new fiscal year and the 2023-24 season for the Akron Zips, I wanted to provide an update on a few things I know are near and dear to our fan, donor, and community members - capital projects and facility upgrades.

Track and Field: Coming off a Men's Outdoor MAC title for the ninth time, we are so pleased with our newly upgraded outdoor Track & Field complex. We are still working to raise additional revenue to complete the $1.8 million project.

Speaking of continued Track & Field team success, Hunter Garretson, Brian Masai, William Gross and Charles Sanders turned in stellar performances at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Redshirt sophomore Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) garnered First-Team All-America accolades with a runner-up performance in the men's pole vault. Freshman Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in the men's 5,000 meters. Redshirt sophomore William Gross (Newfane, N.Y.) garnered Second-Team All-America accolades placing 16th in the men's hammer with a season-best mark of 221-3 (67.45m). Redshirt senior Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) earned Honorable Mention All-America laurels for the first time crossing the line in 46.71 in the semifinal round of the men's 400 meters.

Men's & Women's Basketball: We are putting the finishing touches on our brand-new basketball practices facility. We plan to showcase the facility when we host our annual basketball tip-off event in early November. Our teams have been training hard all summer and are looking forward to some competitive opportunities in the non-conference schedule leading up to MAC conference play. The men's team is headed to Puerto Rico on August 14 as part of a Foreign Tour and will be headed back to the Cayman Islands the week before Thanksgiving. The women's team is headed to Daytona Beach, Fla., November 24-25. Additionally, we've continued to make ongoing improvements to the JAR this offseason including some much-needed enhancements to the Tommy Evans Lounge.

Football: We just returned from MAC Football Media Day in Detroit and the start of camp is right around the corner. The team will begin camp the first week of August. We continue to work toward our desired goal for a new InfoCision Stadium Digital Scoreboard. This offseason we replaced the InfoCision turf for the second straight year due to a product specification error, the University of Akron and AstroTurf worked together to ensure the replacement was completed with NO charge to the University. We also begin much needed concrete repairs on lower bowl areas of the football stadium.

Weight Room: Thanks to generous donors, our student athletes will return to campus with two (2) renovated weight rooms. The Louis and Freda Stile Athletic weight room will feature new weights, new flooring, new lights and state-of-the art technology. The secondary varsity weight room - located inside InfoCision Stadium will be revamped and provide many of our Olympic sports a top-notch training space.

Baseball/Softball: Per NCAA rule changes, baseball and softball will be outfitted with protective safety wall pads around both parks. Additionally, the installation of pitch clock will be installed at Skeeles Baseball Field.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to give on Zips Day of Giving. Your commitment to our student-athletes is helping us continue the momentum. Additionally, thanks to your support we will begin the process towards upgrading team lockers in the North Endzone of InfoCision stadium. Programs impacted by the pending upgrades include men and women's soccer, baseball and softball.

Welcome New Head Coaches:
Women's Lacrosse: Elaine Jones
Baseball: Bryan Faulds

Upcoming Events:
Basketball Alumni Weekend, Friday, August 4
Soccer Kick-Off Reception, Thursday, August 10
Football Kick-Off Reception, Sunday, August 20
Coaches Classic Golf Tournament, Monday, September 18

Onwards,

Charles Guthrie
Director of Athletics

The University of Akron Athletics

Message and Update from AD Guthrie - Summer Edition

Players Mentioned

Hunter Garretson

William Gross

Brian Masai

Brian Masai

Charles Sanders

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