August 2021 – Page 2

OLLU selects Jillian Flores as new women’s basketball head coach

OLLU has announced the hiring of Jillian Flores as the new head coach for women’s basketball. Flores comes to OLLU after an assistant coach position at Iowa Western College in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Athletic Director Shane Hurley commented, “We are excited to have Jillian Flores. Her experience in recruiting and coaching at a top two-year program will benefit the current and future players. That experience comes off a very high caliber as a former player and now coach. OLLU women’s basketball has consistently been performing in the national spotlight, and I look forward to seeing Coach Flores put her vision into motion at OLLU.”

While at Iowa Western, under Head Coach Lindsey Vande Hoef, Flores assisted the team in accumulating a 23-9 record, plus a Region XI Championship and a berth in the District K Championships in 2018-2019. Eleven players were named to the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) All-Academic Team, while six were honored with National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Academic recognition. Her teams had a 100-percent graduation rate.

In 2019-2020, the Reivers had an overall record of 19-10, and Flores guided several players to NJCAA All-American and ICCAC recognition. She helped moved seven players to four-year institutions and guided the team to a 100-percent graduation rate and a 3.42 GPA.

This past season, the team marked a 22-3 record, were Region XI Champions and Central District Champions and qualified for the national tournament. The team was 15th in the nation for assists per game, and several of her players were in the top five and top 10 in field-goal percentage. Two earned All-American status, and five were named to the All-Region Team. The team also had a 100-percent graduation rate and accumulated a 3.5 GPA.

Before her three years at Iowa Western, Flores was the assistant coach at NAIA’s Bellevue University in Bellevue, Neb. For two years, she was a coach at Peru State College in Peru, Neb. While at Peru, also an NAIA school, Flores implemented various fundraising endeavors and was responsible for budget tracking.

“It’s an honor to be named the next women’s basketball head coach at Our Lady of the Lake University. I am thrilled to be joining an institution with such a rich history and a women’s basketball program with a known tradition of winning. I am extremely grateful to Athletic Director Shane Hurley for his belief in me to lead this program forward and also grateful to follow in the footsteps of Coach Stacy Stephens.

“I am beyond excited to begin my career as a head coach at a Hispanic-serving Institute that is known for its strong community and ability to foster growth for its diverse student population,” Flores commented. “My Hispanic heritage is something I am extremely proud of, so to begin my career at OLLU is a dream come true.

“My philosophy as a coach is simple; I want my teams to compete and win at the highest level while also developing off the court and in the classroom. My goal is to win and to prepare our players for life. I bring a lot of passion to the gym every day, and I am excited to share that passion with the current women on our roster. These team members have already impressed me with their maturity and desire to get to work. I look forward to the year ahead with my Saints family!”

Flores received a Master of Science in Organizational Management from Chadron State College in Chadron, Neb., and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology from Benedectine College in Atchison, Kan., where she played basketball and was a two-time scholar-athlete. She also received an Associate of Arts from Iowa Western. Flores played basketball there, was the team’s captain and twice earned Academic All-American, All-Regional Academic and Dean’s List honors. She recently married Jarrod Bennett, and the two will reside in San Antonio.

The Saints enter their 13th season in 2021-2022. They earned spots in the postseason every year except last year when the team opted out to compete in the postseason due to COVID-19 concerns. The women have captured seven regular-season titles in the Red River Athletic Conference, plus three tournament championships. The Saints have made nine trips to the NAIA National Championship Tournament, ending with four first-round and three Sweet 16 round finishes. The women made it all the way to the Fab Four round in 2018-2019 – marking the university’s best-ever finish for a team in history. In 2019-2020, after a 26-6 overall and 17-1 conference record, the Saints were on their way to the national tournament when COVID-19 precipitated its cancelation.

This upcoming season begins in Oklahoma in late October. The women play Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Nov. 6 for their first home game. Flores joins Assistant Coach Tommy Turgeon, who joined the team in August 2020.

OLLU WINS RED RIVER ATHLETIC CONFERERENCE TOP GPA AWARD

OLLU was honored with its second Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) GPA Award as the conference program delivering the best academic performance in 2020-2021. An RRAC member since 2008 and part of the NAIA since 2007, OLLU also led the RRAC with a record-breaking 166 student-athletes earning a 3.0-grade point average or better last year. The cumulative GPA total for OLLU’s student-athletes was best-ever 3.24. (Special note: eight student-athletes competed in two sports and will be honored with two awards.)

The RRAC GPA Award is presented annually to the athletic program with the best cumulative GPA among all of its student-athletes in the most recent academic year. The award encompasses all conference sports and any NAIA-certified student-athletes during the 2020-2021 seasons.

“The results speak for themselves,” says OLLU Athletic Director Shane Hurley. “We are a great team here at OLLU. Our coaches support our professors, and our professors, academic advisers, tutors, counselors and student services support all of us. It’s a wonderful place to be because everyone is putting the student first and success is, therefore, a product that is being cultivated. Hats off to our student-athletes for this accomplishment!”

WOMEN’S SOCCER WELCOMES NEW ASSISTANT COACH

OLLU has announced the hiring of Natalie Stahmann as the new women’s soccer assistant coach. She arrives at OLLU after serving as an interim assistant coach for the men’s soccer team at Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas. Stahmann was also the assistant coach for the women’s team.

Prior to coaching in Paris, Stahmann assistant coached the girls’ team at 6A Charles Page High School from 2018-2019 in Sand Springs, Okla. She also coached at Soccer Shots in Tulsa, Okla., and the San Antonio Sting Club.

Stahmann commented, “I am excited to join the women’s soccer program as its assistant coach. It’s an honor to be able to work with such a successful soccer program. I look forward to working with Head Coach Arthur Salazar and learning from him about helping our student-athletes improve both on and off the field. Go, Saints!”

Stahmann graduated from Blanco High School in Blanco, Texas. She received her Master of Science in Kinesiology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. While in Corpus Christi, Stahmann earned certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NCSA).

She received a Bachelor of Science in Fitness Management Composite/Personal Training and Strength Specialization at Wayland Baptist University (WBU). She is currently working on an MBA from WBU in addition to coaching for the Saints.

Her playing career started with the New Braunfels Ajax’s Soccer Club from 2005-2012. Stahmann was the team captain for the WBU women’s soccer team and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 as a freshman. She also played for the Malick City Football Club in Trinidad and Tobago in the 2013 Summer Trinidad and Tobago Women’s League.

Stahmann brings the following skills and certifications to OLLU:

Coached the van driver course
The National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) Personal Training Certification
CPR and First-Aid Certification
Training as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
U.S. Soccer Grassroots Certification (11v11, 9v9, 7v7)
U.S. Soccer D License
United Soccer Coaches Diplomas: Goalkeeper 1 and LGBT: Diversity and Inclusion
A part of Coaches Outreach

WOMEN’S SOCCER BEGINS RRAC TITLE DEFENSE THIS FALL

After achieving its first undefeated regular season and fourth undefeated conference record in program history during a delayed season in the spring, the women’s soccer team is ready for its 14th season. The Saints will take on local rival NCAA D2 St. Mary’s University (3-4-2) at the OLLU Soccer Field on Friday at 4 p.m.

Team goals
Head Coach Arthur Salazar aims for another successful season in 2021. “It comes down to the team having the mentality and the desire to compete,” Salazar said. “The 11-1 record last season was special, but in reality, that probably can’t happen every year. In the event of adversity, we have the mental capacity to bounce back from issues.” The women’s program was picked second in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Preseason Poll.

Salazar has a .845 winning percentage and 57-10-1 mark in RRAC competition. He was named Red River Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season last spring and fourth overall.

Beginning the season
The game against St. Mary’s will be the first regular-season game. This will be the two teams’ Seventh Annual Halo Classic. The series is tied at 3-3 with OLLU hanging onto the trophy and hoping to keep it another year.

OLLU will face Schreiner University (4-0), Concordia University-Texas (6-1), No. 2-ranked William Carey University (0-2), University of Mobile and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley before opening RRAC play. (Numbers after school indicate all-time records).

Conference opponents
OLLU opens RRAC competition at home against LSU-Shreveport (6-3-2) on Sept. 23. The Saints welcome Texas A&M University-Texarkana (4-1) two days later. The team travels to Louisiana to face LSU-Alexandria (7-1-1) on Sept. 30 and the newest RRAC member Louisiana College on Oct. 2.

The University of the Southwest (18-1) and Paul Quinn College (6-0) head to San Antonio on Oct. 7 and Oct. 9. The Saints then make a trip to face teams to which they have never lost. They play Texas College (12-0) on Oct. 14 and Jarvis Christian College (7-0) on Oct. 16. OLLU returns home to take on the University of Houston-Victoria (14-1) on Oct. 21, and then hits the road two days later versus Huston-Tillotson University (10-3). The series finale features the first matchup in program history against Texas A&M University-San Antonio on Oct. 30 at home.

OLLU MEN’S SOCCER TAKES ON TLU TODAY AT 4 P.M.

OLLU men’s soccer program returns to normalcy for its 15th season this fall after a delayed 2020 season that was pushed to spring of 2021. The Saints take on Texas Lutheran University (3-1-2) today at 4 p.m. on the OLLU Soccer Field.

Head Coach Arthur Salazar is entering his first year of managing both the men’s team, while also head coaching the women’s program for his ninth season.

Beginning the season
OLLU will face off with Schreiner University (4-1) in Kerrville, Texas, on Sept. 1 for the first regular-season match. They continue the road trip by traveling to Hattiesburg, Miss., to play No. 13-ranked William Carey University (0-1) on Sept. 10 and No. 18-ranked the University of Mobile in Mobile, Ala., the following day.

Prior to Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) competition starting, the Saints visit nearby rivals NCAA D2 St. Mary’s University (1-4) on Sept. 16. (Numbers after school indicate all-time records).

Conference opponents
OLLU, picked fourth in the preseason conference poll, starts RRAC play at home on Sept. 23 against one of the tougher teams in the conference, LSU-Shreveport (5-4), which has been selected to finish second in the poll. Texas A&M University-Texarkana (7-0), picked sixth, travels to San Antonio two days later to face the Saints. The first road trip starts on Sept. 30 with a match against LSU-Alexandria (2-5-3), picked third, and RRAC newcomer Louisiana College, picked tied for eighth, on Oct. 2.

The Saints return home to battle the University of the Southwest (11-5), picked fifth, on Oct. 7 and Paul Quinn College (3-1), picked 12th, on Oct. 9. The squad travels to Tyler, Texas, to face Texas College (9-2-1), picked tied for 10th, on Oct. 14 and Jarvis Christian College (7-0), picked tied for 10th, in Hawkins, Texas, on Oct. 16. The last three matches of the season include a home match against the University of Houston-Victoria (7-7-2), picked first, on Oct. 21, a road test versus Huston-Tillotson University (8-8-1), picked seventh, on Oct. 23 and the season finale at home for the first-ever match against Texas A&M University-San Antonio, picked tied for eighth, on Oct 30.

Eligible Service Award recipients for 2021 to be honored at Spirit Day

During the Spirit Day Mass on Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. in the Mall Area, employees eligible for Service Awards will be recognized. The listing below includes names and years of service of full-time employees whom Human Resources records show as being eligible to receive a Service Award.

Employees must have completed full-time service in increments of five years beginning with the 10-year mark and continuing in 2021 to be eligible to receive the Service Award.

Staff and Faculty members who believe they are eligible to receive a Service Award for full-time service years at OLLU, but do not see their name on the list, should contact Human Resources as soon as possible via email at hrteam@ollusa.edu.

Service Award Recipients Download

Spirit Day T-Shirts on sale in cafeteria

Spirit Day T-shirts are available for $15 from University Ministry. Staff members will be in the cafeteria during lunchtime each weekday until Spirit Day selling shirts, answering questions and raffling prizes. Shirts also can be purchased in the Elliott House each weekday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or online through this link: https://bit.ly/get2021spiritdayshirts.

For more information, email ministry@ollusa.edu

OLLU criminal justice students reach new heights, send experiments into space

OLLU’s Criminal Justice Society recently joined with the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute (CCIRI) of Atlanta and JP Aerospace, to launch the first Forensic Space Program. OLLU faculty and criminal justice students developed forensic based experiments to examine what occurs to evidence forensically in space. The experiments traveled on high-atmospheric lighter-than-air flights into the upper atmosphere.

“You can say the OLLU Criminal Justice and Criminology Program and the CCIRI, went to new heights,” said Kim Brisco, adjunct professor and Criminal Justice Society adviser.

In January, the Criminal Justice Society won the National Criminal Justice Month Education Award for their work with the CCIRI.

University archives receives gift of video from 2008 fire

On Aug. 12, during a special ceremony in the Sueltenfuss Library, the university archives received a gift of video that was taken of the 2008 fire that damaged the roof and fourth floor of Main Building. Xavier Ramirez, a field producer for the Archdiocese of San Antonio and Catholic Television of San Antonio donated the video and still images that he shot on the evening of the fire. The video and images are now part of the OLLU archives which are overseen by the Sueltenfuss Library.

On the evening of the May 6, 2008 fire, university camera and video equipment was in the Main Building and could not be accessed. As such, the university did not have any images or video of the event that played such a significant part in OLLU’s history. Ramirez, who was in the area on the evening of the fire, drove to campus when he heard about it on a news report and began capturing footage. Immediately following the fire, Ramirez allowed the university to use his images. With this permanent donation to the archives, future generations will have access to the video and still images.

During the Aug. 12 ceremony, OLLU Library Director Maria Cabaniss accepted the gift and thanked Ramirez for the donation. President Diane Melby presented Ramirez with a certificate of appreciation. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller was present for the ceremony and offered a blessing. OLLU President Emeritus Sister Jane Ann Slater, who was instrumental in securing the donation, also took part in the ceremony.

Donor Xavier Ramirez pictured with President Emeritus Sister Jane Ann Slater, CDP; President Diane Melby, EdD, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, Library Director Maria Cabaniss, Special Collections Librarian Jason Bourgeois and Director of Sponsored Programs Caitlin Solis.

Presidential Search Committee to host open forums

Please make plans to attend the Presidential Search Committee Open Forums this week to share your thoughts on OLLU’s key needs, priorities and the attributes we will be searching for in the university’s next president.

STUDENTS
Tuesday, Aug. 24
Noon-12:45 p.m.
Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.
In-Person Attendees: RSVP was required by noon on Aug. 20. If you’re still interested in attending, submit an RSVP. Forum will be held in Main Building, Room 311.

Virtual Attendees: Please use this TEAMS link to join.

Wednesday, Sept. 1
5:15-6 p.m.
This forum will be virtual.
Please use this TEAMS link to join.

FACULTY
Tuesday, Aug. 24
5:15-6 p.m.
In-Person Attendees: RSVP by today. Forum will be held in Main Building, Room 311.
Virtual Attendees: Please use this TEAMS link to join.

Wednesday, Aug. 25
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.
In-Person Attendees: RSVP was required by noon on Aug. 20. If you’re still interested in attending, submit an RSVP. Forum will be held in Main Building, Room 311.
Virtual Attendees: Please use this TEAMS link to join.

STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION
Wednesday, Aug. 25
9-10 a.m.
In-Person Attendees: RSVP was required by Aug. 20. If you’re still interested in attending, submit an RSVP. Forum will be held in Main Building, Room 311.
Virtual Attendees: Please use this TEAMS link to join.

Thursday, Sept. 2
12:30-1:30 p.m.
This forum will be virtual.
Please use this TEAMS link to join.

Please visit this site for updates in case technical difficulties arise the day of the sessions.

For those unable to attend a forum, a stakeholder survey will also be made available for your input.