The University of Akron Athletics
Read the Latest Edition of Zips Line – April 9, 2015
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LET'S CELEBRATE!
It's that time of year for basketball celebrations. Our men's and women's teams have a lot to be proud of following the 2014-15 season.
The Men's Basketball celebration is set for next Friday, April 17, at Prime 93 in Akron. Make sure to RSVP by tomorrow to receive the early bird special; however, we will take reservations through next Thursday (April 16). From winning 21 games for a 10th-straight season to sending off our two seniors – Deji Ibitayo and Nyles Evans – the event is always a great way to celebrate our accomplishments and enjoy the company of fellow Zips fans.
The Women's Basketball celebration is set for Friday, May 1, on the FirstMerit Foundation Club Level (fifth floor) of InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. The women's team surpassed the 20-win plateau for the third-consecutive season for the first time in program history and senior Sina King became only the second Akron player to be named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring and rebounding. In addition to dinner and celebration festivities, there will be a silent auction for those in attendance.
Both celebrations are open to the public and I encourage all of you to attend these wonderful events. Please contact Amanda in the men's basketball office (330-972-7781) and Candace in the women's basketball office (330-972-8274) to RSVP.
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED
Today's an exciting day for Akron soccer as both the men's and women's teams announced their 2015 schedules.
Coach Embick's squad will face one of the strongest non-conference schedules in the nation as the Zips will take the pitch against 11 opponents from last year's NCAA Tournament, including three that advanced to the Round of 16. Eight of the team's first 10 matches will feature squad's from last year's tournament. The Zips will welcome three Big Ten, one ACC and one Pac-12 opponent to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
First-year head coach Noreen Herlihy has put together a solid schedule for the Zips that features eight home matches, beginning with the season-opener on Friday, Aug. 21. Coach Herlihy and the Zips return seven starters from last year's squad.
Season tickets for both the men and women are on sale now, as well as our Papa John's Zips All-Access 10-Pack and UA Alumni All-Sports Package.
COMPETITION SUBCOMMITTEE TO MEET NEXT WEEK
I am excited and looking forward to attending the next meeting of the NCAA Council next week in Indianapolis. As part of the meetings, each newly-formed subcommittee will also meet, including the Competition Subcommittee. As part of the Competition Subcommittee, I look forward to discussing a number of items pertaining to championship events for all Division I sports. It is an honor to represent both Akron and the Mid-American Conference on the subcommittee and to help shape the future of college athletics.
FOOTBALL SPRING GAME ON THE HORIZON
We are closing in on our annual Spring Game, which is set for Saturday, April 18, at 1 p.m. inside InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. Festivities will begin at 9 a.m. with the Football alumni event, followed by the annual youth clinic at 10 a.m. Make sure to visit Zips Fest, which will open at 11 a.m., before heading to InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. Gates for the Spring Game will open at noon.
Coach Bowden and the staff are working hard with our student-athletes to get better each and every day. Last weekend, the team held an intrasquad scrimmage. Check out George M. Thomas' report of the scrimmage in last weekend's Akron Beacon Journal.
GOOD LUCK TO …
… the Men's and Women's Track and Field teams as they head to Oxford, Ohio, for the All-Ohio Championships. Both the men's and women's squads look to defend their titles from last year's dominating performance …
… Softball, as the squad takes on Kent State on Friday in a doubleheader in Kent beginning at 1 p.m. The winner will earn a point in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge, in which we currently own a 5.0-4.0 lead. The squad then travels to Buffalo for games on Saturday and Sunday …
… Baseball, as it plays host to Northern Illinois this weekend at Lee R. Jackson Field …
… the Men's Golf team, as it concludes the regular season at the Irish Creek Intercollegiate this weekend …
… Women's Tennis against the Buffalo Bulls in Buffalo …
… Men's Soccer, as it plays host to Butler and Notre Dame College in exhibition play on Saturday at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field …
CONGRATS TO …
… Assistant Athletics Director for Communications Cathy Bongiovi, who will receive the 25-Year Award from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) during the organization's annual convention in June. She joined the Zips in August 2014 …
… senior high jumper Claudia Garcia Jou, for being named the Zips' Student-Athlete of the Week after establishing a school- and Stile Athletics Field House record in the women's high jump with a leap of 6-1.50 (1.87m) at the Northeast Ohio Quad on April 3 …
… Women's Soccer, who is undefeated through two exhibition matches this spring. Coach Herlihy and the Zips are 1-0-1 and have three patches left, including a home doubleheader on Friday, April 17 …
… Men's Soccer, for earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Louisville on Saturday. The Zips played the entire second half down two players after being shown two red cards in the first 45 minutes …
TIMEOUT WITH MEN'S GOLF HEAD COACH DAVID TRAINOR …
Head men’s golf coach David Trainor is currently in his fourth season at Akron after seven seasons at the University of Kentucky and a collegiate playing career at the College of Charleston.
Was being a head golf coach an aspiration that you always had? If not coaching, what other career could you see yourself in?
It wasn’t. When I was in school, it never crossed my mind to get into collegiate coaching. I did a lot after college and in between my time as a collegiate golf coach – I caddied on the PGA and European tours, I traveled the world as a golf instructor, worked as an assistant pro at several high-end private clubs, and even worked in the financial sector for a short while.
What is your favorite part about coaching? What made you continue to pursue the profession?
I have several favorite parts. I love helping my student-athletes reach their potential, I love competing and I love interacting with the kids and their families. I loved my time as a collegiate athlete and wanted to give my student-athletes a chance to do the same thing, and hopefully love it as much as I did.
What is the most important aspect of your coaching philosophy? Or, what do you focus on most as a coach?
My coaching philosophy has several parts – to provide a first-class student-athlete experience, to compete at the highest level possible, to help my student athletes play great golf, and to stress the importance of a good education. As far as what I focus on – I stress several things with my team: Do the right thing, attend class, earn good grades, play smart golf, take accountability for all actions and accept all results.
To read the full feature story on David Trainor, visit the Zips Insider blog.
ASK THE AD
As always, if you have a question or want to comment about Zips Athletics, click here now or at any time on the "Ask the AD" button on the home page of GoZips.com.
Go Zips!
Tom Wistrcill
Director of Athletics
