The 2018 campaign for men’s soccer at OLLU begins Friday. Twenty-three returners and 16 newcomers make up the team this year. The soccer teams are welcoming a brand-new in-game announcer and “Voice of the Saints” Rudy Rubio. He will announce all home soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball and baseball games.

Michael Thompson, the livestreaming “Voice of the Saints,” will return to call all home games that will broadcast on the OLLU Saints Network. There will be a $7.95 charge for livestreaming games, and packages will be available for same-day women and men’s soccer matchups. More information on this will be available soon.

All home games are free and open to the public. A new addition to the field location is a building for restrooms for the convenience of all those in attendance.

OLLU has announced the hiring of men’s basketball Assistant Coach Dustin Karrer. He joins recently hired Head Coach Chris Dial, and both will lead the team as they kick off the 2018-2019 season in November.

Karrer was born and raised in New Braunfels, Texas. He attended Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, and graduated with degrees in kinesiology and history.

Karrer joins one of OLLU’s most successful athletic teams, being the first team to advance to the Round of Eight at the NAIA National Tournament in 2016 – a feat the team repeated last season. The team has an overall 193-92 record and has advanced to the post season each year since its inaugural season in 2009. In their first year, the Saints were co-champions of the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). In 2011-2012, the Saints captured the regular season, and in 2014-2015, they were co-champions of the conference. The team has made four trips to the national tournament, and together with the two Round of Eight finishes, the Saints added two Round of 16 finishes.

The Saints are regularly ranked in the NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll and were ranked as high as fifth in the nation. They finished out the 2017-2018 season ranked No. 21 in the nation.

The Saints will begin their 10th season on Nov. 5 with a game against Southern University of New Orleans in New Orleans. They will play their first home game on Dec. 13, when they open their RRAC schedule against the University of St. Thomas.

OLLU presented the Hispanic Sports Foundation for Education’s (HSFFE) 12th Annual National Hispanic Heritage Hall of Honor (NHHHH) Induction Ceremony and Scholarship Awards Banquet on Aug. 4, 2018. The banquet took place at OLLU’s University Wellness and Activities Center (UWAC).

The Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony included the awarding of scholarships to 10 incoming OLLU student-athletes. These students have committed to staying in school and achieving academic success.

Athletic Director Shane Hurley commented during the ceremony, “We are proud of our partnership with this group since 2009, and we are grateful that our partnership has awarded 99 well-deserving students with $336,000 to date.” Read full story at www.ollusaintsathletics.com.

OLLU has announced that Chris Dial is the new men’s basketball head coach effective immediately.

OLLU Athletic Director Shane Hurley commented, “It is exciting for our athletic program to bring in someone with such a deep breadth of basketball experience on so many levels. He is a true teacher of the game, and we feel he will bring a high-level and lasting success to the program.”

Dial was born and raised in San Antonio, where he attended East Central High School, and where he coached basketball at St. Gerard Catholic High School and McCollum High School, as well as Pope John Paul II Catholic High School in Schertz and New Braunfels High School. Read full story at www.ollusaintsathletics.com.

“Dumb Jock” is a well-known and often-used cliché or myth that has no real merit. Clichés are usually not acceptable in academic writing because they are poor substitutes for actual evidence. Clichés are not specific, and they do not offer strong enough commentary to prove a point. And, a myth is a widely held but false belief or idea. At OLLU, “Dumb Jock” might as well be a four-letter word.

In 2017-2018, the university recorded another year of athletic and academic excellence. The student-athletes who represent OLLU are setting a standard of excellence in their respective sports and in the classroom. Close to 50 percent of the student-athletes at OLLU recorded a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or better – each earning Red River Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete awards. The 13 athletic teams recorded a record overall cumulative 3.08 GPA. Plus, eight teams (women’s cross-country, volleyball, soccer, softball, track and field; men’s baseball, soccer and tennis) – the most in school history – secured NAIA Scholar Team recognition.

This is not to say the efforts of those earning below 3.0 should be diminished. In the NAIA, student-athletes must have a 2.0 GPA or better to play sports. All-in-all, the student-athlete contingent at OLLU as part of the NAIA has higher standards to maintain (see eligibility requirements) than most nonathletes. It is a fact that student-athletes must do everything that is required by nonstudent-athletes, plus play their sport and volunteer in the community.

Athletic Director and Men’s Soccer Head Coach Shane Hurley commented, “The OLLU Athletic Department provides opportunities for our student-athletes to realize their full potential. When we recruit them, we encourage them to commit to academics and athletics, as well as to their personal development and service to the community. It’s all part of the Champions of Character program.” The NAIA’s Champions of Character program is based on the values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the teams that have earned the distinction for Scholar-Teams for the 2017-2018 academic year. OLLU proudly boasts seven teams earning this honor – the most in school history. OLLU’s NAIA Scholar Teams are: Women’s Cross-Country, Soccer, Softball, Track and Field and Volleyball; Men’s Baseball, Soccer and Tennis. For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar-Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes. Read full story here.

OLLU is proud to announce that 96 student athletes have earned Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Scholar Athlete recognition. The cumulative GPA for all 207 student-athletes during the 2017-2018 season is 3.08 – the highest in Saints history.  Of OLLU’s 96 student athletes (some played two sports and are counted separately) honored in 2017-2018, 10 earned a 4.0; 41 earned between a 3.5-3.99 GPA; and 45 earned between a 3.0-3.49 GPA. The RRAC boasted 885 scholar athletes across the conference, while seven RRAC teams posted cumulative GPAs over 3.0. Read full story here.

OLLU golfer Kane Ybarra has been busy this summer and has had a successful time of it recently. He competed in the 98th Annual Greater San Antonio (GSA) Men’s Championship last week and finished one stroke behind the eventual winner Jake Stephenson from St. Mary’s University. He carded a 6-under 207, while Stephenson recorded a 7-under 206. The competition took place at The Quarry Golf Course in Northeast San Antonio. The men’s championship featured 84 area players’ ages 18-older who were separated into 28 pairs of three. The men played a 54-hole stroke tournament through three days with 18 holes played each day from July 13-15.

Current Saint Steve Landry finished with a tie for 10th place after shooting a 4-over 214 with round scores of 72, 67, 75. In addition, current Saint Logan Rochelle shot an overall 244. Former Saint Alan Crosswell-Karam shot a 9-over 222 with round scores of 73, 76, 73. Also a former Saint, Gerardo Daniel shot a 14-over 227 with rounds scores of 71, 86, 70. Head Coach Alan E. Baxter shot a 6-over 219 with round scores of 73, 75 and 71.

OLLU will hold the Baseball Summer Prospect Showcase on July 19.  The showcase will take place at Missions Baseball Academy, the home of Saints baseball. The facility is located at 5707 Hwy. 151, San Antonio, 78227.

To register and to fill out a medical release form, click here. The showcase is for all 2018 and 2019 high school graduates, as well as current college students who may be interested in transferring to OLLU. Transfers must provide a signed release form from their current institution to participate in the event.

Head Coach Bryan Aughney and his coaching staff will conduct the showcase. It is designed for student-athletes to showcase their baseball skills in a pro-style workout setting with possible scholarship and walk-on opportunities. The workout will include catcher pop times, 60 times, hitting and defensive assessment. Velocity measurements will include: infield/outfield throws, bat exit and pitching. Each pitcher will be evaluated in a 15-pitch bullpen setting. Every student-athlete will receive an official workout evaluation sheet at the end of the day. Pitchers and catchers will be evaluated from 10 a.m.-noon, and registration will take place at 9 a.m. Position players will be evaluated from 1-3 p.m., with registration at 12 p.m.

Pre-registration cost is $60 (check only) and will cover two positions only. Onsite/late registration is $80. Payment will be accepted at the field during the registration time on the day of the showcase. Checks should be made out to: Our Lady of the Lake University, Attn: Baseball.

For additional information, contact Coach Aughney at 210-528-7049 or bdaughney@ollusa.edu, or Assistant Coach Jeremy Flores at 361-489-9647 or jflores3@ollusa.edu.

President Diane E. Melby, EdD, announced last week the resignation of Vice President for Student Life/Athletic Director Jack Hank. Shane Hurley, head men’s soccer coach, will serve as interim athletic director, while George A. Williams Jr., PhD, dean of Student Success, will serve as vice president for Student Life.

Hurley, who was the first coach hired at OLLU in 2006, will remain head men’s soccer coach and assistant women’s soccer coach. He has had great success, accumulating a 113-67 record and 11 conference tournament berths, with one championship and a trip to nationals.

Dr. Williams oversees the Student Success Center at OLLU. The center offers advising, retention and transfer services; writing and tutoring; disability services; and the McNair Scholars Program. As interim director for Student Life, Williams will manage residence halls and dining services, health services, counseling services, student leadership and development and the International Folk Culture Center.