General News. High Marks Continue For Lions

June 13, 2013

2012-13 APR Report | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter

LOS ANGELES - The more than 425 student-athletes at LMU continue to put up impressive numbers, and once again the numbers in the classroom rise above the nation's average. In the most recent Academic Progress Rate (APR) data released this week by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), LMU continues to post high marks, including nine of the 19 listed NCAA Division I varsity programs earning perfect 1,000 scores.

Pacing the marks are women's swimming, women's water polo, women's tennis and men's golf, who were honored the NCAA Public Recognition Awards to being in the top 10-percent of their sport for multiyear APR. All four of those programs earned perfect 1,000 scores in 2011-12 and continue to post perfect scores for their multi-year APR rate.

Joining those four programs in 2011-12 with perfect scores were women's volleyball, women's track, women's rowing, men's tennis and men's soccer.

"Since the APR came into being, we have consistently been among the highest rated programs" said Athletics Director Dr. William Husak. "This legacy of academic success is a testament to the type of student-athletes we recruit, the commitment of our coaches to academics and the support of our Student-Athlete Academic Center staff."

Here are some specific achievements by several Lion programs:

• Women's water polo is one of just seven programs nationally with a multi-year average of 1,000, and one of just three from the state of California (Stanford and Santa Clara).

• In the WCC, men's golf is the only program to earn a perfect multiyear score of 1,000, while Women's tennis is one of just two (Santa Clara).

• Women's swimming is one of just 24 programs in the country with a perfect 1,000 score

• Men's soccer ranks second in the WCC with its Multi-year rate of 986, representing 99 student-athletes the last four academic years (the most of any LMU program in that time period).

Every Division I sports team calculates its APR each academic year, based on the eligibility and retention of each scholarship student-athlete. Teams scoring below certain thresholds can face penalties, such as scholarship reductions. Rates are based on the past four years' performance.

Overall, the West Coast Conference ranked sixth among all Division I conferences and third amongst non-football conferences in 2011-12 - the most recent year for which data is available. Three West Coast Conference sports posted an average APR of 991: women's cross country, women's golf, and women's volleyball.

The APR provides a real-time view of a team's academic success by tracking the progress of each student-athlete during the school year. By measuring eligibility and retention each semester or quarter, the APR provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.

- GO LIONS -

View the original article here

M. Basketball. Tom Abatemarco Joins Lions

June 17, 2013

LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter

LOS ANGELES - LMU Head Men's Basketball Coach Max Good has announced the hiring of Tom Abatemarco as an assistant coach to the Lions' program, bringing with him more than 40 years of coaching experience at the professional and collegiate level.

"Tom and I have known each other a long time and I am very excited to have him join our staff," said Good, who enters his sixth season at the helm of the Lions in 2013-14. "He brings to our program a wealth of knowledge and experience, and it will be difficult to keep up with him as he will bring a lot of energy to everything we do."

Abatemarco has spent the last three seasons with the University of Colorado, his second stint with the Buffaloes. In three seasons on Tad Boyle's staff at CU, the Buffaloes posted back-to-back 24-win seasons in 2010-11 and 2011-12, and a 21-win season a year ago. They are coming off back-to-back NCAA tournament berths for the first time in 60 years.

"This is an opportunity for me that I really like, I've known Max for many years and I think LMU could be a sleeping giant in the West Coast Conference," said Abatemarco. "Dr. William Husak, LMU Athletic Director, has been tremendous to me. It's going to be exciting and a challenge for me, and I think great things can happen here at LMU. I can't wait to get going with this program."

In 2011-2012, Abatemarco helped CU earn its first NCAA Tournament appearance in nine years, upsetting No. 6 UNLV in the second round and advancing to the third round. At the inaugural Pac-12 Conference tournament, the Buffs became just the 10th team in the nation to win at least four games in four days to capture the tournament title (a CU first since winning the Big 8 in 1968-69).

"First of all, I want to thank Coach Boyle for the great opportunity to be on his coaching staff for three years, I had a lot fun," said Abatemarco. "I also want to thank (CU Chancellor) Dr. Phil DiStefano and (former CU Athletic Director) Mike Bohn for everything they did, and most of all, our players, they were terrific. The players that I came in with or were already here, Alec Burks, Cory Higgins and the players that I helped recruit, it's been a great run and a lot of fun."

Before arriving to Boulder, Abatemarco served a brief stint with the Sacramento Kings as a player personnel and scouting coach. In addition, he spent seven years as a broadcaster with the Kings. Abatemarco also served as an assistant coach for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League (NBDL) during its inaugural 2008-09 season, helping the team to a 25-25 record.

"Tom is known as a very good recruiter and is very well respected where ever he goes," said Good. "He also has a vast knowledge of the game and he will really help in the development of our players."

His time with the Kings wasn't the first time he was in Sacramento, as he served as an assistant coach in the WNBA with the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs from 2003-09.

In those six years with the Monarchs, he guided the team to the 2003 WNBA Western Conference Finals, a feat they would reach again in 2004, before winning a championship in 2005. The Monarchs would again reach the WNBA Finals in 2006, falling in the championship series.

Before making the transition to the WNBA, Abatemarco spent the previous 30 years on various college campuses as an assistant or head coach.

Abatemarco was the head coach at Sacramento State from 1997-2000, and also coached two campaigns as an NCAA Division I head coach at Lamar University (1986-88) and Drake University (1988-90).

His college coaching experience also includes stints at the University of Utah (2004-05) and Rutgers University (1994-97) after he spent three seasons at CU under Jim Harrington from 1991-94. Prior to taking the head coaching positions, Abatemarco served as assistant at North Carolina State from 1982-86 when the Wolfpack won the 1983 NCAA Championship under the late-Jim Valvano.

Additional coaching experience includes stints at Virginia Tech (1981-82); at Maryland under Lefty Driesell (1979-81); under Lou Carnesecca at St. John's (1978-79); Davidson (1977-78); Iona (1975-77); and the New York Institute of Technology (1974-75).

As an assistant coach, Abatemarco enjoyed nine NCAA Tournament appearances, five Elite Eight appearances (two with Maryland & N.C. State, one with St. John's), and a trio of NIT appearances (Colorado - twice, Virginia Tech).

- GO LIONS -

View the original article here

Rowing. High Marks Continue For Lions

June 13, 2013

2012-13 APR Report | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter

LOS ANGELES - The more than 425 student-athletes at LMU continue to put up impressive numbers, and once again the numbers in the classroom rise above the nation's average. In the most recent Academic Progress Rate (APR) data released this week by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), LMU continues to post high marks, including nine of the 19 listed NCAA Division I varsity programs earning perfect 1,000 scores.

Pacing the marks are women's swimming, women's water polo, women's tennis and men's golf, who were honored the NCAA Public Recognition Awards to being in the top 10-percent of their sport for multiyear APR. All four of those programs earned perfect 1,000 scores in 2011-12 and continue to post perfect scores for their multi-year APR rate.

Joining those four programs in 2011-12 with perfect scores were women's volleyball, women's track, women's rowing, men's tennis and men's soccer.

"Since the APR came into being, we have consistently been among the highest rated programs" said Athletics Director Dr. William Husak. "This legacy of academic success is a testament to the type of student-athletes we recruit, the commitment of our coaches to academics and the support of our Student-Athlete Academic Center staff."

Here are some specific achievements by several Lion programs:

• Women's water polo is one of just seven programs nationally with a multi-year average of 1,000, and one of just three from the state of California (Stanford and Santa Clara).

• In the WCC, men's golf is the only program to earn a perfect multiyear score of 1,000, while Women's tennis is one of just two (Santa Clara).

• Women's swimming is one of just 24 programs in the country with a perfect 1,000 score

• Men's soccer ranks second in the WCC with its Multi-year rate of 986, representing 99 student-athletes the last four academic years (the most of any LMU program in that time period).

Every Division I sports team calculates its APR each academic year, based on the eligibility and retention of each scholarship student-athlete. Teams scoring below certain thresholds can face penalties, such as scholarship reductions. Rates are based on the past four years' performance.

Overall, the West Coast Conference ranked sixth among all Division I conferences and third amongst non-football conferences in 2011-12 - the most recent year for which data is available. Three West Coast Conference sports posted an average APR of 991: women's cross country, women's golf, and women's volleyball.

The APR provides a real-time view of a team's academic success by tracking the progress of each student-athlete during the school year. By measuring eligibility and retention each semester or quarter, the APR provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.

- GO LIONS -

View the original article here

Track. High Marks Continue For Lions

June 13, 2013

2012-13 APR Report | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter

LOS ANGELES - The more than 425 student-athletes at LMU continue to put up impressive numbers, and once again the numbers in the classroom rise above the nation's average. In the most recent Academic Progress Rate (APR) data released this week by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), LMU continues to post high marks, including nine of the 19 listed NCAA Division I varsity programs earning perfect 1,000 scores.

Pacing the marks are women's swimming, women's water polo, women's tennis and men's golf, who were honored the NCAA Public Recognition Awards to being in the top 10-percent of their sport for multiyear APR. All four of those programs earned perfect 1,000 scores in 2011-12 and continue to post perfect scores for their multi-year APR rate.

Joining those four programs in 2011-12 with perfect scores were women's volleyball, women's track, women's rowing, men's tennis and men's soccer.

"Since the APR came into being, we have consistently been among the highest rated programs" said Athletics Director Dr. William Husak. "This legacy of academic success is a testament to the type of student-athletes we recruit, the commitment of our coaches to academics and the support of our Student-Athlete Academic Center staff."

Here are some specific achievements by several Lion programs:

• Women's water polo is one of just seven programs nationally with a multi-year average of 1,000, and one of just three from the state of California (Stanford and Santa Clara).

• In the WCC, men's golf is the only program to earn a perfect multiyear score of 1,000, while Women's tennis is one of just two (Santa Clara).

• Women's swimming is one of just 24 programs in the country with a perfect 1,000 score

• Men's soccer ranks second in the WCC with its Multi-year rate of 986, representing 99 student-athletes the last four academic years (the most of any LMU program in that time period).

Every Division I sports team calculates its APR each academic year, based on the eligibility and retention of each scholarship student-athlete. Teams scoring below certain thresholds can face penalties, such as scholarship reductions. Rates are based on the past four years' performance.

Overall, the West Coast Conference ranked sixth among all Division I conferences and third amongst non-football conferences in 2011-12 - the most recent year for which data is available. Three West Coast Conference sports posted an average APR of 991: women's cross country, women's golf, and women's volleyball.

The APR provides a real-time view of a team's academic success by tracking the progress of each student-athlete during the school year. By measuring eligibility and retention each semester or quarter, the APR provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.

- GO LIONS -

View the original article here

Softball. 10 Lions Named to PCSC Commissioner's Honor Roll

June 26, 2013

Complete 2013 PCSC Commissioner's Honor Roll | LMU on Facebook |!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); Follow @Twitter

LOS ANGELES - Ten LMU softball players are among 72 total student-athletes named to the 2013 Pacific Coast Softball Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll, PCSC Commissioner Ellen Moore announced Wednesday.

The 72 honorees from the league's seven member institutions recorded a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average for the 2012-13 academic year.

Three schools placed at least 10 players on the honor roll, including San Diego with 15, BYU with 13 and LMU with 10. This marks the second straight year that the Lions placed 10 student-athletes on the list.

The Lions earning recognition include freshman Sara Cohen (C/OF, 3.00, psychology), junior Kathryn Dutton (C, 3.50, political science), senior Erica Grady (RHP, 3.55, animation), junior Meghan Harman (3B, 3.70, heath and human sciences), freshman Stephanie Maciel (SS, 3.11, marketing), senior Molly Medeiros (RHP, 3.34, marketing), freshman Jordan Price (OF, 3.25, psychology), sophomore Breeanna Sandoval (OF, 3.00, sociology), sophomore Sterling Shuster (2B, 3.68, film production) and senior Danielle Smith (OF, 3.31, economics).

This marked the fourth straight appearance for Smith, while Dutton and Harman earned their third appearance. Shuster marked her second time on the honor roll.

-GO LIONS-

View the original article here