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BEARCATS STAFF
COACHING STAFF 51
HEAD EAD COACH OACH
HEAD CO ACH COA
LAURIE PIRTLE
BEARCATS STAFF
UC’S WINNIN GES T COACH ENTERS HER INNINGES GEST 21ST YEAR AS BEAR CAT MENT OR EARC ENTOR
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Committed to Bearcat Basketball Committed. Determined. Intense. Three words that easily describe Laurie Pirtle, head coach of the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team. Pirtle, who is entering her 21st year as the Bearcats’ mentor, is without question the most successful women’s basketball coach in UC history and has put together one of her most impressive coaching jobs in the first season in the powerful BIG EAST Conference. During her tenure, the Bearcats have won 295 games and have advanced to postseason play more times than they have under any other coach. In the last 10 years, Pirtle has guided UC to eight winning seasons, five 20-plus win campaigns and eight postseason appearances, including seven straight from 1997-2004. Cincinnati also had its first player play in the WNBA as K.B. Sharp will enter her fourth season in the league in 2006. Last season Pirtle took a team coming off a nine-win season, added five freshmen, and produced one of the biggest turnarounds in school history. Starting at least two freshmen in each game, UC won eight more games than in 2004-05, scored 10 points per game more and had a +6.4 rebounding margin, second-best in school annals. The 2002-03 Bearcats began the season ranked as high No. 18, the first time a Cincinnati team was ever ranked to begin a season. Under Pirtle’s direction, UC set a school record for consecutive home wins (21) and a C-USA mark for most consecutive league games won (15). The Bearcats finished second in C-USA in the regular season and the tournament, reaching the title game for the third-straight year. UC performed the unprecendented feat of having three players, Sharp, Valerie King and Debbie Merrill, named first team All-C-USA. During the 2001-02 season, UC posted its best start to a season ever with 11 straight wins. On Dec. 31, Cincinnati received it’s first-ever ranking in the polls, coming in at No. 23 in the USA Today/ESPN poll and No. 25 in the Associated Press poll. After suffering four losses in six games, the Bearcats responded with a school record 14-game winning streak, which included a C-USA Tournament title and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win, a 76-63 overtime thriller against St. Peter's. King earned honorable mention All-American honors, UC's first in 16 years. The foundation for success was put in place back in 1986 when Pirtle first stepped foot on campus. It took her just two seasons to transpose a 6-22 program into an 18-11 winning team. Her outstanding efforts were rewarded in 1988, when she picked up Coach of the Year honors in the Metro Conference following UC’s second-place finish in the league. Pirtle also earned her 100th career win that same year. A season later, the Bearcats earned their first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament. In that star-studded season (1988-89), Cincinnati won 12 straight games, knocking off powerhouses Ohio State, UCLA and Kentucky. UC won the mythical state championship of Ohio Division I schools with a 7-1 slate against intrastate rivals.
Determined To Put UC In The Limelight After a period of rebuilding, Pirtle’s hard work paid off as the Bearcats registered a 1711 record during the 1996-97 season, advancing to the second round of the Conference USA Tournament and capturing their second mythical state championship of Ohio Division I schools with a 5-0 slate. A year later, Pirtle carried the Cincinnati program into the national spotlight when she guided the Bearcats to their third postseason appearance and first showing in the WNIT. UC posted its first 20-win season in nine years and received votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ poll. With her sights on an NCAA Tournament appearance, Pirtle brought her team to the next level in 1998-99. Highlighted by the team’s second straight 20-win season, Cincinnati earned a share of the C-USA regular season title, a runner-up finish in the league
HEAD COACH tournament and received votes in both national polls, including a No. 27 ranking by the Associated Press. Most significantly, though, was that Pirtle reached her goal–a bid to the Big Dance. After producing a 20-7 regular season record, Pirtle was honored as the C-USA Coach of the Year, the eighth similar honor in her career. A season later, Cincinnati earned its second bid to the WNIT. Powered by Madinah Slaise’s 32 points, UC defeated Pittsburgh, 76-60, in the first round to record the program’s second postseason win. The Bearcats closed out the season as one of five Conference USA schools ranked in the top 60 in the final RPI Report. In 2000-01, the Bearcats extended the school’s postseason streak, making a late run to earn their second straight bid to the WNIT. Winners of eight of its last 10 games, Cincinnati faced Ohio State in the first round, losing on a basket at the buzzer, 61-60. The team finished at 22-10, its third 20-plus win campaign in four years. Other season highlights included freshman Valerie King’s selection as the C-USA Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She also became the fifth UC player in six years to be selected to the league’s all-freshman team. Prior to Cincinnati, Pirtle served a four-year stint as the head coach at Capital University, posting an 83-16 (.838) mark. Under her direction, the Crusaders made their
first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III Final Four after a 27-4 showing during the 1985-86 season. They also won a pair of Ohio Athletic Conference titles. Pirtle was named the OAC and Converse Division III District Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1986, and was the Ohio Intercollegiate Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1985. Pirtle earned her first coaching position, following her graduation from Ohio State in 1980, serving one season (1981-82) as an assistant coach at William Fisher Catholic High School in Lancaster, Ohio. At OSU, Pirtle was a three-year starter after entering the program as a walk-on. A gifted ball-handler, Pirtle still ranks in the top 10 for career assists (317 in 104 games). She earned her B.S. and M.S. from OSU in 1980 and 1986, respectively. Following graduation, Pirtle signed and practiced with the New Mexico Energee of the Ladies Professional Basketball Association. She also competed in the Venezuelan Basketball League for the Venezuela Oilers in 1980. Loyal To Cincinnati And Its Community A dynamic motivator, Pirtle is recognized throughout the Cincinnati community and speaks at various camps and clinics in the area. Pirtle entertained young campers
LAURIE PIRTLE’S COACHING HISTORY School Capital Capital Capital
Rec. 17-4 16-6 23-2
Pct. .810 .727 .920
1985-86
Capital
27-4
.871
Four-year Capital totals
83-16
.838
1986-87 Cincinnati 1987-88 Cincinnati 1988-89 Cincinnati 1989-90 Cincinnati 1990-91 Cincinnati 1991-92 Cincinnati 1992-93 Cincinnati 1993-94 Cincinnati 1994-95 Cincinnati 1995-96 Cincinnati 1996-97 Cincinnati 1997-98 Cincinnati 1998-99 Cincinnati 1999-2000 Cincinnati 2000-01 Cincinnati 2001-02 Cincinnati 2002-03 Cincinnati 2003-04 Cincinnati 2004-05 Cincinnati 2005-06 Cincinnati 20-year Cincinnati totals 24-YEAR C AREER TOTALS CAREER
6-22 18-11 21-9 7-21 4-23 11-17 13-15 9-18 7-20 8-19 17-11 21-9 22-9 18-13 22-10 27-5 23-8 15-16 9-19 17-12 295-287 378-303
.214 .621 .700 .250 .148 .393 .464 .333 .259 .296 .607 .700 .710 .581 .688 .843 .742 .484 .321 .586 .507 .555
Honors
Converse Division III District Coach of the Year, OAC Coach of the Year, inals AA R egional FFinals OIBC Coach of the Year, NC NCAA Regional Converse Division III District Coach of the Year, OAC Coach of the Year, NCAA Final Four Two NC AA Tour namen ts NCAA ournamen naments
Metro Conference Coach of the Year NCAA First Round
BEARCATS STAFF
Year 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85
WNIT AA FFirst irst R ound C-USA Champion, C-USA Coach of the Year, NC NCAA Round WNIT WNIT AA SSec ec ond R ound C-USA Tournament Champion, Ohio Coach of the Year, NC NCAA econd Round NCAA First Round WNIT WNIT Four NC AA Tour namen ts ostseason A pp ear anc es NCAA ournamen naments ts,, Nine P Postseason App ppear earanc ances
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HEAD EAD COACH OACH/SUPPORT UPPORT STAFF TAFF THE PIRTLE FILE Personal Full Name .................................................... Laurie Lee Pirtle Hometown ..................................................... Columbus, Ohio Education High School ............................................. Hilliard High School College ................................................. Ohio State University B.S. in Physical Education, ‘80 M.S. in Sports Management, ‘86 Coaching Experience Assistant Coach .............................................................. 1982 William Fisher Catholic H.S. Head Coach ............................................................... 1983-86 Capital University (83-16 record) Head Coach ....................................................... 1987-present University of Cincinnati (278-275 record) Playing Experience Ohio State ................................................................. 1976-80 New Mexico Energee (LPBA) ........................................ 1980 Venezuela Oilers ............................................................ 1980 Coaching Honors Ohio Intercollegiate Basketball Coaches Association ..... 1985 Converse Division III District Coach of the Year ..... 1985, 1986 Ohio Coach of the Year ................................................... 2002 Conference Coach of the Year Ohio Athletic Conference ............................. 1985, 1986 Metro Conference ................................................. 1988 Conference USA .................................................... 1999
at the 2001 Oscar Robertson Basketball Camp with her ball-handling routine. Pirtle represents the university at championship events and other professional organizations such as the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. She also serves as a committee member for the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Women’s Sports Association, who recognizes the area’s leading female athletes. Following the 1999-00 season, the Leading Women of Cincinnati selected Pirtle as a Leading Woman in the area for her outstanding contributions to women’s athletics. A longtime member of UC Athletics, Pirtle remains true and loyal to Bearcat basketball for one reason--it’s home. She knows Bearcat women’s basketball more than anyone else. She lives it.
SUPPORT STAFF Niki Cianciola Director of Operations, 1st year Michigan, 1996 In her first year with the Bearcats, but sixth in the UC Department of Athletics, Niki Cianciola handles the administrative duties for the team. She is responsible for planning the team travel and meals as well as managing the team’s budget. Prior to joining the women’s basketball staff, Cianciola served the men’s basketball team in a similar capacity for a year. She also worked in the Athletics Development Office for a year and the Athletics Ticket Office for three years. Cianciola earned a BA in Sports Management and Communications from Michigan in 1996.
BEARCATS STAFF
Coaching Highlights NCAA Final Four ................................................ 1 (1986 D-III) NCAA Tournament Bids ...... 6 (1985-86, 1989, 1999, 2002-03) WNIT Bids ................................ 5 (1998, 2000-01, 2004, 2006) Milestone Wins at UC No. 1 ................... January 5, 1987 (74-63 vs. Southern Miss) No. 50 ................. February 15, 1990 (76-61 at Wright State) No. 100 .................... January 14, 1995 (70-35 vs. Saint Louis) No. 150 ....................... January 1, 1999 (61-58 at Marquette) No. 200 ..................... February 16, 2001 (73-50 at Charlotte) No. 250 ................... February 21, 2003 (71-67 vs. DePaul OT) Coaching Accomplishments • Conference Titles .............................................................. 3 Ohio Athletic Conference ................................... 1985, 1986 Conference USA .......................................................... 1999 • Conference Tournament Titles .......................................... 1 Conference USA .......................................................... 2002 • Two All-Americans • One Freshman All-American • Three CoSIDA Academic All-District selection • 22 All-Conference selections, including seven first-team honorees • 10 Conference All-Freshman Team choices • 14 Conference All-Tournament selections, including two MVPs • Developed seven players who were taken in the WNBA Draft or signed professional contracts as free agents
Bill Walker Asst. AD/Sports Medicine
Bianca Roldan-Jarus Student Assistant Coach
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Krystal Warren Assoc. SID/WBK Contact
Brian Cloes Student Manager
Jennifer Van Fleet Student Manager
Annie Rymer Academic Advisor
Paul Ivkovich Assistant Strength Coach
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH
DAWN HOOSIER AT A GLANCE
coaching with Laurie Pirtle for the past 15 years. She has learned a wealth of basketball knowledge from her college coach, watching, listening, learning and soaking in everything and filing it all away. Hoosier has developed in to one of the best coaches in the game, contributing initiatve and her distinguishing style to the Bearcats. Hoosier’s quest to make the UC program successful takes on many other forms. In addition to working with the guards, Hoosier is also the director of the Laurie Pirtle Summer Basketball Camp. She has improved the camp three-fold since taking it over nine years ago. Hoosier has seen the team camp grow from three squads to 70 during her tenure. The Cincinnati native earned four letters with the Bearcats from 1989-93. She earned her degree in health education at UC in 1995. Hoosier is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
BEARCATS STAFF
Dawn Hoosier is entering her third year as associate head coach, 12th on Laurie Pirtle’s staff and 16th as part of the program. True to her alma mater, the former Bearcats guard was a four-year letterwinner for Cincinnati before entering the coaching ranks. Hoosier devotes countless hours to the program on and off the court. In addition to coaching the guards, she spearheads UC’s scouting efforts and is responsible for game scheduling . She has also been an integral part of the recruiting team that has produced four top 25 recruiting classes, including the 2005 class which was ranked in the top 10. Hoosier is aware of the sense of urgency to win placed on every basketball program and the unforgiving hours put into a season. She understands the importance of getting things done and correctly, and she loves it. Her expertise has paid off as three Bearcats guards that she had a hand in coaching, have gone on to play professionally in the WNBA. In her 12th season on the bench, Hoosier has developed into one of the best X and O coaches around. Her application of strategies, understanding of fundamentals and attention to detail make her an asset. Such dedication to the mental side of the sport often gives Hoosier a hard-nosed, all business persona that is not found in the young coach. Instead, her student-athletes look to her when they need help. Confidence and respect run high between Hoosier and her players. The Bearcats count on her to give them the edge over their opponents. Getting the edge on opponents is where Hoosier excels. As Cincinnati’s primary scout, her competitive nature swells when the schedule is finished and she can start collecting every film, statistic, innuendo or play on the opponent. Her scouting reports echo anything and everything you could want to know about a particular player. Hoosier spends countless hours with her stacked VCR’s scrutinizing and itemizing every play. Hoosier has been mentored by one of the best in the business, playing for and
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Education: Cincinnati (BS in Health Education, 1995)
Coaching Experience 1995-present .............................................................. University of Cincinnati Associate Head Women’s Basketball Coach ............................12th season
Playing Experience 1989-93 .............................................................. University of Cincinnati
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BEARCATS STAFF
ASSISTANT SSISTANT COACH OACH
Dave Dagostino brings nine years of experience, including three years as a head coach, into his first season at Cincinnati. He serves as the Bearcats’ recruiting coordinator as well as assisting in the development of the UC post players. Dagostino joined UC after six years at Jacksonville State, the last three as head coach, where he posted a 44-41 record. Dagostino led his 2004-05 team to its first Ohio Valley Conference final four and finished with back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in the program’s Division I history. During the 2003-04 season Dagostino enjoyed an 18-10 record for JSU’s best winning percentage (.643) in 12 years. Prior to becoming head coach, Dagostino served three years as the recruiting coordinator for the Gamecocks. While on board he produced a conference Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year, in Shanika Freeman, as well as orchestrating several nationally recognized recruiting classes. Before arriving at Jacksonville State, Dagostino served as the recruiting coordinator and head of player development for Division II powerhouse, College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y. While there, Dagostino saw four players top the 1,000-point plateau, while the school assists and three-point records were both shattered. During the 1999-2000 season, St. Rose made its only Elite Eight appearance falling to the eventual national champions Northern Kentucky University. The Knight’s held the nation’s longest winning streak at 34 games (finished 34-1), earning the distinction of the No. 1 national ranking for five months. They finished the 1999-00 season ranked No. 3 in the nation.
DAVE DAGOSTINO AT A GLANCE Hometown: Schenectady, N.Y. Education: Union (BS Psychology & Modern Languages, 1995); Albany (MA TESOL, 1998)
Coaching Experience 2006-present .............................................................. University of Cincinnati Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach ......................................... 1stseason 2004-06 .............................................................................. Jacksonville State Head Coach ....................................................................... Three seasons 2001-03 .............................................................................. Jacksonville State Assistant Coach ................................................................. Three seasons 2000 .................................................................................. College of St. Rose Assistant Coach ..................................................................... One season 1998-99 .................................................................................... Union College Assistant Coach .................................................................... Two seasons
Playing Experience 1992-95 ........................................ Union College (basketball and baseball)
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He also acted as the recruiting coordinator at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. and is put in high regard with fellow coaches for his recruiting talent. Dagostino was captain of his baseball and basketball teams at Union College before beginning his coaching career at his alma mater. After graduation, Dagostino played professional baseball for one year in the Northeast Independent League. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Modern Languages. He also obtained a Master’s in Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages in 1998.
Tammy Douglass returns to her alma mater for her first college coaching assignment. In her first year on Laurie Pirtle’s staff, Douglass will tutor the UC post players, a position she knows well, manning the paint during her four years with the Bearcats. Besides coaching, Douglass also serves as the academic liaison for the team and handles the equipment needs of the team. She is also the coordinator for the Laurie Pirtle Basketball Camps. Douglass has a gift for working with people, giving her tremendous managing skills, which is a huge asset in women’s college basketball. After graduating from UC in 2002, Douglass served as a caseworker in the Marion County (Ind.) Adult Probation Department. She will make a seamless transition in her first collegiate coaching position. Douglass has fantastic hoops intelligence and knows the game of basketball. She continued to be involved with the UC women’s basketball program following her graduation. The current players respond well to her personality and tutelage, adding yet another facet to Pirtle’s knowledgeable staff. Douglass was a four-year letterwinner for the Bearcats and was a captain on the 2001-02 team that won a school-record 27 games and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She played in 105 games in her career and still ranks seventh in UC history with a .497 career field goal percentage. Douglass averaged 9.3 points and 6.3 rebounds over the final two years of her career. She earned a degree in criminal justice from UC in 2002.
TAMMY DOUGLASS AT A GLANCE
BEARCATS STAFF
ASSISTANT COACH
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind. Education: Cincinnati (BS in Criminal Justice, 2002)
Coaching Experience 2006-present .............................................................. University of Cincinnati Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach ...................................... First Season
Playing Experience 1997-2002 ........................................................... University of Cincinnati
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PRESIDENT RESIDENT
DR. NANCY L. ZIMPHER
ADMINISTRATION
Since October 1, 2003, Nancy L. Zimpher has served as the University of Cincinnati’s 25th President and its first woman president. At UC, Dr. Zimpher has launched a comprehensive academic planning process that involved a wide spectrum of the university’s stakeholders and resulted in the university’s strategic vision, UC|21: Defining the New Urban Research University. From 1998 to 2003, Dr. Zimpher was the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and held a faculty position in its School of Education. Prior to her appointment in Wisconsin, she served as the Executive Dean of the Professional Colleges and Dean of the College of Education at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. During her career, Dr. Zimpher has worked in various administrative positions and engaged in research and development efforts concerned with improving the preparation of teachers, especially teachers for urban contexts. Dr. Zimpher is the co-author and co-editor of books on university leadership as well as books on teacher education and urban education. She also has authored and co-authored many monographs, book chapters, and academic journal articles related to academic leadership, school/university partnerships and teacher education, and in many instances her co-author has been her
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husband, Dr. Kenneth R. Howey, a research professor in education at UC. She often is sought after as a key participant at both national and international conferences, making numerous presentations for groups such as the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), Association of Teacher Educators (ATE), American Educational Research Association (AERA), American Association for Higher Education (AAHE), National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) and the American Council on Education (ACE). Currently, she serves as chair of a national network of presidents of Urban Serving Universities (USU), chairelect of the NASULGC Board of Directors and on the boards of ACE and the National Commission on Writing for America’s Families, Schools, and Colleges. A past president of a national education reform network, The Holmes Partnership, she has previously served on the Executive Board of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, as key investigator in the eightyear Research About Teacher Education (RATE) Study, on the American Council on Education’s Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness Commission, on the Board of Directors of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, as chair of NASULGC’s Commission on International Programs and as Project Director for a U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Grant. Dr. Zimpher participates on numerous state, regional, civic and community commissions and boards. Presently, she co-chairs the Ohio Board of Regents’ Articulation & Transfer Advisory Council, serves on the board of the Governor’s Ohio Partnership for Continued Learning and is a co-founder of a new coalition of higher education constituencies in Ohio called the Higher Education Leadership Coalition. She also serves on the Cincinnati Business Committee and co-chairs its Education Task Force; serves on the boards of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the United Way of Greater Cincinnati; and chairs the Uptown Consortium, a five-way partner-
PRESIDENT ship in neighborhood development adjacent to UC and the consortium partners. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s Chief Executive Leadership Award; Ohio State University’s Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award; the Association of Teacher Educators’ Distinguished Research Award; the AACTE’s Edward C. Pomeroy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education; and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Distinguished Woman Scholar Award. In 1998, she was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, and she has been recognized with the YWCA’s Women of Achievement award in Columbus, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.
UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES
Jeffrey L. Wyler Chairman
C. Francis Barrett
Anant R. Bhati, M.D.
Margaret E. Buchanan
Phillip R. Cox
Gary Heiman
Sandra W. Heimann
Thomas H. Humes
H. C. “Buck” Niehoff, Esq.
DR. NANCY R. HAMANT FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE Nancy Hamant is in her 21st year as Cincinnati’s faculty athletic representative. She also serves on the Athletic Policy and Planning Committee. As UC’s Faculty Representative, she is a liaison with the NCAA and the BIG EAST Conference. She recently completed a term on the NCAA Division I Management Council and currently is a member of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. A University of Cincinnati graduate with degrees from Arts and Sciences and Education, Hamant is a past president of the UC Alumni Association. She joined the UC faculty in 1964 and is currently Associate Professor and Coordinator of Professional Experiences in the College of Education. The new Academic Center in the Richard Lindner Athletic Center, bears her name in honor of her service to the Athletics Department.
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
On Aug. 1, 2005 at the Chicago Athletic Club, ThoCup in each year of Thomas’ tenure there while at the mas received the General Robert R. Neyland Outstandsame time was in the Top 10 nationally in studenting Athletic Director Award for his tremendous achieveathlete graduation rates. ments at Akron. The award was presented by the AllThomas brought that model with him to Akron. Under American Football Foundation. his direction, the Zips rose from last place to second Prior to assuming the Director of Athlettics postion at among Mid-American Conference schools in the UA, Thomas spent seven years as an associate director Director’s Cup annual rankings. Simultaneously, Akron of athletics at the University of Virginia. As part of the vaulted from last to second place in the MAC Academic senior management team at UVa, he handled a wide Achievement Awards. range of responsibilities including the direction of eight Thomas hired highly successful football and men’s varsity programs, oversight of all game operations and basketball head coaches at Akron, resulting in the Zips’ athletics facilities, and the management of several defirst-ever Division I-A bowl game and a 42-20 men’s partmental and program budgets. basketball record the past two seasons. In his 20-year career he has worked with coaches with over 30 national championships among them. Thomas increased the financial base of the Akron athletic program through increasing corporate sponsorship levels by 750 percent and boosted annual giving to athletics to its highest level in the school’s history. Community support was rallied, with marked increases shown in football and men’s basketball University of Cincinnati athletics director Mike attendance. Thomas has compiled a wealth of experience in all Thomas improved Akron’s multimedia presence, phases of the administration of intercollegiate athletics overseeing the development of the Zips Sports Raat the major university level. dio and Television Networks, which increased UA’s Thomas took charge of UC’s 18-sport intercollegiate statewide radio coverage from 200,000 to 5 million program on Dec. 1, 2005. He met several immediate homes and broadened television exposure. Akron’s athletics image was re-branded, resulting in a challenges head-on upon his arrival. Thomas’ first double-digit increase in the department’s licensing order of business was to select the Bearcats’ new men’s and merchandising royalties. basketball head coach Mick Cronin, reuniting the During his Akron tenure Thomas oversaw more program with a Cincinnati native who had been part of than $25 million worth of athletics capital improveits success. ments, with the crown jewel being the university’s In June, upon his six-month anniversary at UC, Athletics Field House/Indoor Golf Facility. The $18.6 The Thomas’s: Mick, Mike, Vince, Jenifer, Joey Thomas unveiled CATAPULT, the action plan for the million, 155,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art fa- and Meredith (front). university’s athletics program that focuses on athletics cility opened in 2004 and is one of the finest facilities success, academic achievement and community of its kind in the nation and is the host site for the BIG engagement. Thomas also played an integral role in Virginia’s $86 EAST Indoor Track & Field Championships Thomas also Thomas served as the Director of Athletics at The million football stadium expansion and supervised sevlaid the fundraising and physical planning groundwork University of Akron the previous five years, during which eral capital projects during his tenure at the school. He for a new 30,000 seat on-campus football stadium the school’s 18-sport program experienced unparalleled served on several committees including those related which will be constructed in Downtown Akron. growth and success on and off the field or court of to development, fiscal matters, gender equity and straRecognized for his administrative acumen by his competition. tegic planning. Thomas was active in the Atlantic Coast peers, Thomas has served on several national and Thomas brings two decades of diverse and Conference as he chaired the league’s committees on conference committees, including the NCAA Division I comprehensive experience to the helm of the UC athletic men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and rowing, Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, NCAA Dividepartment. He spent seven years as associate athletic and was a member of the sportsmanship committee. sion I Women’s Basketball Issues Committee, and presdirector at the University of Virginia, an institution known Thomas also served on the NCAA Rowing Committee. ently serves on the Division IA Athletic Directors Assofor achieving impressive success both academically and Before joining the staff at Virginia, Thomas spent ciation Legislative Review Committee. athletically. Virginia finished in the Top 25 in the Director’s seven years as the assistant director of athletics for internal operations at the University of Denver. In that position, he supervised the areas of programs, compliMIKE THOMAS AT A GLANCE ance, business affairs, facilities and event operations. College: Colorado State (BS 1983), Western Illinois (MS 1986) Prior to that post, he was on the athletics promotions Administrative Experience: and marketing staff at the University of Iowa. University of Iowa (1985-86), marketing and promotions associate. Thomas, 46, received his B.S. degree in Business AdUniversity of Denver (1986-93), assistant athletics director ministration from Colorado State University in 1983, and his University of Virginia (1993-2000), associate athletics director M.S. in Athletic Administration from Western Illinois UniUniversity of Akron (2000-05), director of athletics versity in 1986. He and his wife, Jenifer, have four children: University of Cincinnati (2005-present), director of athletics Vincent (21), Joseph (17), Mick (15), and Meredith (11).
ADMINISTRATION
MIKE THOMAS
Personal: Married, wife Jenifer; children Vince (21), Joey (17), Mick (15), Meredith (11)
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ADMINISTRATIVE DMINISTRATIVE STAFF TAFF
Bob Arkeilpane Deputy Director of Athletics
Brian Mand, PhD. Sr. Associate Director of Athletics
Mike Waddell Sr. Associate Director of Athletics
Andy Hurley Associate Director of Athletics
Paul Klaczak Associate Director of Athletics
JeanetteShoecraft Associate AD/Chief Financial Officer
StephanieRousseau Assistant AD/SWA
TomHathaway Assistant AD/Sports Communications
Jeff Smith Assistant AD/UCATS/ Athletics Development
Bill Walker Assistant AD/Sports Medicine
Meagan Kantor Manager, Customer Service & Ticket Oper.
Bill Frigge Coord. of Operations and Facilities
Janet Carl Men’s & Women’s Golf
Brian Cleary Baseball
Mick Cronin Men’s Basketball
ADMINISTRATION
2006-07 CINCINNATI HEAD COACHES
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Mark Dantonio Football
Hylton Dayes Men's Soccer
Tabby Fagan Cheerleaders
Meridy Glenn Women's Soccer
Monty Hopkins Swimming & Diving
Kimberly Jones Tennis
Pam Mork Rowing
Laurie Pirtle Women's Basketball
Bill Schnier Men’s Track & Field
Jim Schnur Women’s Track & Field
Lisa Spears Dance Team
Reed Sunahara Volleyball
COACHING STAFF 51
HEAD EAD COACH OACH
HEAD CO ACH COA
LAURIE PIRTLE
BEARCATS STAFF
UC’S WINNIN GES T COACH ENTERS HER INNINGES GEST 21ST YEAR AS BEAR CAT MENT OR EARC ENTOR
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Committed to Bearcat Basketball Committed. Determined. Intense. Three words that easily describe Laurie Pirtle, head coach of the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team. Pirtle, who is entering her 21st year as the Bearcats’ mentor, is without question the most successful women’s basketball coach in UC history and has put together one of her most impressive coaching jobs in the first season in the powerful BIG EAST Conference. During her tenure, the Bearcats have won 295 games and have advanced to postseason play more times than they have under any other coach. In the last 10 years, Pirtle has guided UC to eight winning seasons, five 20-plus win campaigns and eight postseason appearances, including seven straight from 1997-2004. Cincinnati also had its first player play in the WNBA as K.B. Sharp will enter her fourth season in the league in 2006. Last season Pirtle took a team coming off a nine-win season, added five freshmen, and produced one of the biggest turnarounds in school history. Starting at least two freshmen in each game, UC won eight more games than in 2004-05, scored 10 points per game more and had a +6.4 rebounding margin, second-best in school annals. The 2002-03 Bearcats began the season ranked as high No. 18, the first time a Cincinnati team was ever ranked to begin a season. Under Pirtle’s direction, UC set a school record for consecutive home wins (21) and a C-USA mark for most consecutive league games won (15). The Bearcats finished second in C-USA in the regular season and the tournament, reaching the title game for the third-straight year. UC performed the unprecendented feat of having three players, Sharp, Valerie King and Debbie Merrill, named first team All-C-USA. During the 2001-02 season, UC posted its best start to a season ever with 11 straight wins. On Dec. 31, Cincinnati received it’s first-ever ranking in the polls, coming in at No. 23 in the USA Today/ESPN poll and No. 25 in the Associated Press poll. After suffering four losses in six games, the Bearcats responded with a school record 14-game winning streak, which included a C-USA Tournament title and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win, a 76-63 overtime thriller against St. Peter's. King earned honorable mention All-American honors, UC's first in 16 years. The foundation for success was put in place back in 1986 when Pirtle first stepped foot on campus. It took her just two seasons to transpose a 6-22 program into an 18-11 winning team. Her outstanding efforts were rewarded in 1988, when she picked up Coach of the Year honors in the Metro Conference following UC’s second-place finish in the league. Pirtle also earned her 100th career win that same year. A season later, the Bearcats earned their first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament. In that star-studded season (1988-89), Cincinnati won 12 straight games, knocking off powerhouses Ohio State, UCLA and Kentucky. UC won the mythical state championship of Ohio Division I schools with a 7-1 slate against intrastate rivals.
Determined To Put UC In The Limelight After a period of rebuilding, Pirtle’s hard work paid off as the Bearcats registered a 1711 record during the 1996-97 season, advancing to the second round of the Conference USA Tournament and capturing their second mythical state championship of Ohio Division I schools with a 5-0 slate. A year later, Pirtle carried the Cincinnati program into the national spotlight when she guided the Bearcats to their third postseason appearance and first showing in the WNIT. UC posted its first 20-win season in nine years and received votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ poll. With her sights on an NCAA Tournament appearance, Pirtle brought her team to the next level in 1998-99. Highlighted by the team’s second straight 20-win season, Cincinnati earned a share of the C-USA regular season title, a runner-up finish in the league
HEAD COACH tournament and received votes in both national polls, including a No. 27 ranking by the Associated Press. Most significantly, though, was that Pirtle reached her goal–a bid to the Big Dance. After producing a 20-7 regular season record, Pirtle was honored as the C-USA Coach of the Year, the eighth similar honor in her career. A season later, Cincinnati earned its second bid to the WNIT. Powered by Madinah Slaise’s 32 points, UC defeated Pittsburgh, 76-60, in the first round to record the program’s second postseason win. The Bearcats closed out the season as one of five Conference USA schools ranked in the top 60 in the final RPI Report. In 2000-01, the Bearcats extended the school’s postseason streak, making a late run to earn their second straight bid to the WNIT. Winners of eight of its last 10 games, Cincinnati faced Ohio State in the first round, losing on a basket at the buzzer, 61-60. The team finished at 22-10, its third 20-plus win campaign in four years. Other season highlights included freshman Valerie King’s selection as the C-USA Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She also became the fifth UC player in six years to be selected to the league’s all-freshman team. Prior to Cincinnati, Pirtle served a four-year stint as the head coach at Capital University, posting an 83-16 (.838) mark. Under her direction, the Crusaders made their
first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III Final Four after a 27-4 showing during the 1985-86 season. They also won a pair of Ohio Athletic Conference titles. Pirtle was named the OAC and Converse Division III District Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1986, and was the Ohio Intercollegiate Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1985. Pirtle earned her first coaching position, following her graduation from Ohio State in 1980, serving one season (1981-82) as an assistant coach at William Fisher Catholic High School in Lancaster, Ohio. At OSU, Pirtle was a three-year starter after entering the program as a walk-on. A gifted ball-handler, Pirtle still ranks in the top 10 for career assists (317 in 104 games). She earned her B.S. and M.S. from OSU in 1980 and 1986, respectively. Following graduation, Pirtle signed and practiced with the New Mexico Energee of the Ladies Professional Basketball Association. She also competed in the Venezuelan Basketball League for the Venezuela Oilers in 1980. Loyal To Cincinnati And Its Community A dynamic motivator, Pirtle is recognized throughout the Cincinnati community and speaks at various camps and clinics in the area. Pirtle entertained young campers
LAURIE PIRTLE’S COACHING HISTORY School Capital Capital Capital
Rec. 17-4 16-6 23-2
Pct. .810 .727 .920
1985-86
Capital
27-4
.871
Four-year Capital totals
83-16
.838
1986-87 Cincinnati 1987-88 Cincinnati 1988-89 Cincinnati 1989-90 Cincinnati 1990-91 Cincinnati 1991-92 Cincinnati 1992-93 Cincinnati 1993-94 Cincinnati 1994-95 Cincinnati 1995-96 Cincinnati 1996-97 Cincinnati 1997-98 Cincinnati 1998-99 Cincinnati 1999-2000 Cincinnati 2000-01 Cincinnati 2001-02 Cincinnati 2002-03 Cincinnati 2003-04 Cincinnati 2004-05 Cincinnati 2005-06 Cincinnati 20-year Cincinnati totals 24-YEAR C AREER TOTALS CAREER
6-22 18-11 21-9 7-21 4-23 11-17 13-15 9-18 7-20 8-19 17-11 21-9 22-9 18-13 22-10 27-5 23-8 15-16 9-19 17-12 295-287 378-303
.214 .621 .700 .250 .148 .393 .464 .333 .259 .296 .607 .700 .710 .581 .688 .843 .742 .484 .321 .586 .507 .555
Honors
Converse Division III District Coach of the Year, OAC Coach of the Year, inals AA R egional FFinals OIBC Coach of the Year, NC NCAA Regional Converse Division III District Coach of the Year, OAC Coach of the Year, NCAA Final Four Two NC AA Tour namen ts NCAA ournamen naments
Metro Conference Coach of the Year NCAA First Round
BEARCATS STAFF
Year 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85
WNIT AA FFirst irst R ound C-USA Champion, C-USA Coach of the Year, NC NCAA Round WNIT WNIT AA SSec ec ond R ound C-USA Tournament Champion, Ohio Coach of the Year, NC NCAA econd Round NCAA First Round WNIT WNIT Four NC AA Tour namen ts ostseason A pp ear anc es NCAA ournamen naments ts,, Nine P Postseason App ppear earanc ances
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HEAD EAD COACH OACH/SUPPORT UPPORT STAFF TAFF THE PIRTLE FILE Personal Full Name .................................................... Laurie Lee Pirtle Hometown ..................................................... Columbus, Ohio Education High School ............................................. Hilliard High School College ................................................. Ohio State University B.S. in Physical Education, ‘80 M.S. in Sports Management, ‘86 Coaching Experience Assistant Coach .............................................................. 1982 William Fisher Catholic H.S. Head Coach ............................................................... 1983-86 Capital University (83-16 record) Head Coach ....................................................... 1987-present University of Cincinnati (278-275 record) Playing Experience Ohio State ................................................................. 1976-80 New Mexico Energee (LPBA) ........................................ 1980 Venezuela Oilers ............................................................ 1980 Coaching Honors Ohio Intercollegiate Basketball Coaches Association ..... 1985 Converse Division III District Coach of the Year ..... 1985, 1986 Ohio Coach of the Year ................................................... 2002 Conference Coach of the Year Ohio Athletic Conference ............................. 1985, 1986 Metro Conference ................................................. 1988 Conference USA .................................................... 1999
at the 2001 Oscar Robertson Basketball Camp with her ball-handling routine. Pirtle represents the university at championship events and other professional organizations such as the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. She also serves as a committee member for the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Women’s Sports Association, who recognizes the area’s leading female athletes. Following the 1999-00 season, the Leading Women of Cincinnati selected Pirtle as a Leading Woman in the area for her outstanding contributions to women’s athletics. A longtime member of UC Athletics, Pirtle remains true and loyal to Bearcat basketball for one reason--it’s home. She knows Bearcat women’s basketball more than anyone else. She lives it.
SUPPORT STAFF Niki Cianciola Director of Operations, 1st year Michigan, 1996 In her first year with the Bearcats, but sixth in the UC Department of Athletics, Niki Cianciola handles the administrative duties for the team. She is responsible for planning the team travel and meals as well as managing the team’s budget. Prior to joining the women’s basketball staff, Cianciola served the men’s basketball team in a similar capacity for a year. She also worked in the Athletics Development Office for a year and the Athletics Ticket Office for three years. Cianciola earned a BA in Sports Management and Communications from Michigan in 1996.
BEARCATS STAFF
Coaching Highlights NCAA Final Four ................................................ 1 (1986 D-III) NCAA Tournament Bids ...... 6 (1985-86, 1989, 1999, 2002-03) WNIT Bids ................................ 5 (1998, 2000-01, 2004, 2006) Milestone Wins at UC No. 1 ................... January 5, 1987 (74-63 vs. Southern Miss) No. 50 ................. February 15, 1990 (76-61 at Wright State) No. 100 .................... January 14, 1995 (70-35 vs. Saint Louis) No. 150 ....................... January 1, 1999 (61-58 at Marquette) No. 200 ..................... February 16, 2001 (73-50 at Charlotte) No. 250 ................... February 21, 2003 (71-67 vs. DePaul OT) Coaching Accomplishments • Conference Titles .............................................................. 3 Ohio Athletic Conference ................................... 1985, 1986 Conference USA .......................................................... 1999 • Conference Tournament Titles .......................................... 1 Conference USA .......................................................... 2002 • Two All-Americans • One Freshman All-American • Three CoSIDA Academic All-District selection • 22 All-Conference selections, including seven first-team honorees • 10 Conference All-Freshman Team choices • 14 Conference All-Tournament selections, including two MVPs • Developed seven players who were taken in the WNBA Draft or signed professional contracts as free agents
Bill Walker Asst. AD/Sports Medicine
Bianca Roldan-Jarus Student Assistant Coach
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Krystal Warren Assoc. SID/WBK Contact
Brian Cloes Student Manager
Jennifer Van Fleet Student Manager
Annie Rymer Academic Advisor
Paul Ivkovich Assistant Strength Coach
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH
DAWN HOOSIER AT A GLANCE
coaching with Laurie Pirtle for the past 15 years. She has learned a wealth of basketball knowledge from her college coach, watching, listening, learning and soaking in everything and filing it all away. Hoosier has developed in to one of the best coaches in the game, contributing initiatve and her distinguishing style to the Bearcats. Hoosier’s quest to make the UC program successful takes on many other forms. In addition to working with the guards, Hoosier is also the director of the Laurie Pirtle Summer Basketball Camp. She has improved the camp three-fold since taking it over nine years ago. Hoosier has seen the team camp grow from three squads to 70 during her tenure. The Cincinnati native earned four letters with the Bearcats from 1989-93. She earned her degree in health education at UC in 1995. Hoosier is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
BEARCATS STAFF
Dawn Hoosier is entering her third year as associate head coach, 12th on Laurie Pirtle’s staff and 16th as part of the program. True to her alma mater, the former Bearcats guard was a four-year letterwinner for Cincinnati before entering the coaching ranks. Hoosier devotes countless hours to the program on and off the court. In addition to coaching the guards, she spearheads UC’s scouting efforts and is responsible for game scheduling . She has also been an integral part of the recruiting team that has produced four top 25 recruiting classes, including the 2005 class which was ranked in the top 10. Hoosier is aware of the sense of urgency to win placed on every basketball program and the unforgiving hours put into a season. She understands the importance of getting things done and correctly, and she loves it. Her expertise has paid off as three Bearcats guards that she had a hand in coaching, have gone on to play professionally in the WNBA. In her 12th season on the bench, Hoosier has developed into one of the best X and O coaches around. Her application of strategies, understanding of fundamentals and attention to detail make her an asset. Such dedication to the mental side of the sport often gives Hoosier a hard-nosed, all business persona that is not found in the young coach. Instead, her student-athletes look to her when they need help. Confidence and respect run high between Hoosier and her players. The Bearcats count on her to give them the edge over their opponents. Getting the edge on opponents is where Hoosier excels. As Cincinnati’s primary scout, her competitive nature swells when the schedule is finished and she can start collecting every film, statistic, innuendo or play on the opponent. Her scouting reports echo anything and everything you could want to know about a particular player. Hoosier spends countless hours with her stacked VCR’s scrutinizing and itemizing every play. Hoosier has been mentored by one of the best in the business, playing for and
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Education: Cincinnati (BS in Health Education, 1995)
Coaching Experience 1995-present .............................................................. University of Cincinnati Associate Head Women’s Basketball Coach ............................12th season
Playing Experience 1989-93 .............................................................. University of Cincinnati
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BEARCATS STAFF
ASSISTANT SSISTANT COACH OACH
Dave Dagostino brings nine years of experience, including three years as a head coach, into his first season at Cincinnati. He serves as the Bearcats’ recruiting coordinator as well as assisting in the development of the UC post players. Dagostino joined UC after six years at Jacksonville State, the last three as head coach, where he posted a 44-41 record. Dagostino led his 2004-05 team to its first Ohio Valley Conference final four and finished with back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in the program’s Division I history. During the 2003-04 season Dagostino enjoyed an 18-10 record for JSU’s best winning percentage (.643) in 12 years. Prior to becoming head coach, Dagostino served three years as the recruiting coordinator for the Gamecocks. While on board he produced a conference Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year, in Shanika Freeman, as well as orchestrating several nationally recognized recruiting classes. Before arriving at Jacksonville State, Dagostino served as the recruiting coordinator and head of player development for Division II powerhouse, College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y. While there, Dagostino saw four players top the 1,000-point plateau, while the school assists and three-point records were both shattered. During the 1999-2000 season, St. Rose made its only Elite Eight appearance falling to the eventual national champions Northern Kentucky University. The Knight’s held the nation’s longest winning streak at 34 games (finished 34-1), earning the distinction of the No. 1 national ranking for five months. They finished the 1999-00 season ranked No. 3 in the nation.
DAVE DAGOSTINO AT A GLANCE Hometown: Schenectady, N.Y. Education: Union (BS Psychology & Modern Languages, 1995); Albany (MA TESOL, 1998)
Coaching Experience 2006-present .............................................................. University of Cincinnati Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach ......................................... 1stseason 2004-06 .............................................................................. Jacksonville State Head Coach ....................................................................... Three seasons 2001-03 .............................................................................. Jacksonville State Assistant Coach ................................................................. Three seasons 2000 .................................................................................. College of St. Rose Assistant Coach ..................................................................... One season 1998-99 .................................................................................... Union College Assistant Coach .................................................................... Two seasons
Playing Experience 1992-95 ........................................ Union College (basketball and baseball)
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He also acted as the recruiting coordinator at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. and is put in high regard with fellow coaches for his recruiting talent. Dagostino was captain of his baseball and basketball teams at Union College before beginning his coaching career at his alma mater. After graduation, Dagostino played professional baseball for one year in the Northeast Independent League. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Modern Languages. He also obtained a Master’s in Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages in 1998.
Tammy Douglass returns to her alma mater for her first college coaching assignment. In her first year on Laurie Pirtle’s staff, Douglass will tutor the UC post players, a position she knows well, manning the paint during her four years with the Bearcats. Besides coaching, Douglass also serves as the academic liaison for the team and handles the equipment needs of the team. She is also the coordinator for the Laurie Pirtle Basketball Camps. Douglass has a gift for working with people, giving her tremendous managing skills, which is a huge asset in women’s college basketball. After graduating from UC in 2002, Douglass served as a caseworker in the Marion County (Ind.) Adult Probation Department. She will make a seamless transition in her first collegiate coaching position. Douglass has fantastic hoops intelligence and knows the game of basketball. She continued to be involved with the UC women’s basketball program following her graduation. The current players respond well to her personality and tutelage, adding yet another facet to Pirtle’s knowledgeable staff. Douglass was a four-year letterwinner for the Bearcats and was a captain on the 2001-02 team that won a school-record 27 games and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She played in 105 games in her career and still ranks seventh in UC history with a .497 career field goal percentage. Douglass averaged 9.3 points and 6.3 rebounds over the final two years of her career. She earned a degree in criminal justice from UC in 2002.
TAMMY DOUGLASS AT A GLANCE
BEARCATS STAFF
ASSISTANT COACH
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind. Education: Cincinnati (BS in Criminal Justice, 2002)
Coaching Experience 2006-present .............................................................. University of Cincinnati Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach ...................................... First Season
Playing Experience 1997-2002 ........................................................... University of Cincinnati
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PRESIDENT RESIDENT
DR. NANCY L. ZIMPHER
ADMINISTRATION
Since October 1, 2003, Nancy L. Zimpher has served as the University of Cincinnati’s 25th President and its first woman president. At UC, Dr. Zimpher has launched a comprehensive academic planning process that involved a wide spectrum of the university’s stakeholders and resulted in the university’s strategic vision, UC|21: Defining the New Urban Research University. From 1998 to 2003, Dr. Zimpher was the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and held a faculty position in its School of Education. Prior to her appointment in Wisconsin, she served as the Executive Dean of the Professional Colleges and Dean of the College of Education at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. During her career, Dr. Zimpher has worked in various administrative positions and engaged in research and development efforts concerned with improving the preparation of teachers, especially teachers for urban contexts. Dr. Zimpher is the co-author and co-editor of books on university leadership as well as books on teacher education and urban education. She also has authored and co-authored many monographs, book chapters, and academic journal articles related to academic leadership, school/university partnerships and teacher education, and in many instances her co-author has been her
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husband, Dr. Kenneth R. Howey, a research professor in education at UC. She often is sought after as a key participant at both national and international conferences, making numerous presentations for groups such as the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), Association of Teacher Educators (ATE), American Educational Research Association (AERA), American Association for Higher Education (AAHE), National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) and the American Council on Education (ACE). Currently, she serves as chair of a national network of presidents of Urban Serving Universities (USU), chairelect of the NASULGC Board of Directors and on the boards of ACE and the National Commission on Writing for America’s Families, Schools, and Colleges. A past president of a national education reform network, The Holmes Partnership, she has previously served on the Executive Board of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, as key investigator in the eightyear Research About Teacher Education (RATE) Study, on the American Council on Education’s Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness Commission, on the Board of Directors of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, as chair of NASULGC’s Commission on International Programs and as Project Director for a U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Grant. Dr. Zimpher participates on numerous state, regional, civic and community commissions and boards. Presently, she co-chairs the Ohio Board of Regents’ Articulation & Transfer Advisory Council, serves on the board of the Governor’s Ohio Partnership for Continued Learning and is a co-founder of a new coalition of higher education constituencies in Ohio called the Higher Education Leadership Coalition. She also serves on the Cincinnati Business Committee and co-chairs its Education Task Force; serves on the boards of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the United Way of Greater Cincinnati; and chairs the Uptown Consortium, a five-way partner-
PRESIDENT ship in neighborhood development adjacent to UC and the consortium partners. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s Chief Executive Leadership Award; Ohio State University’s Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award; the Association of Teacher Educators’ Distinguished Research Award; the AACTE’s Edward C. Pomeroy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education; and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Distinguished Woman Scholar Award. In 1998, she was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, and she has been recognized with the YWCA’s Women of Achievement award in Columbus, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.
UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES
Jeffrey L. Wyler Chairman
C. Francis Barrett
Anant R. Bhati, M.D.
Margaret E. Buchanan
Phillip R. Cox
Gary Heiman
Sandra W. Heimann
Thomas H. Humes
H. C. “Buck” Niehoff, Esq.
DR. NANCY R. HAMANT FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE Nancy Hamant is in her 21st year as Cincinnati’s faculty athletic representative. She also serves on the Athletic Policy and Planning Committee. As UC’s Faculty Representative, she is a liaison with the NCAA and the BIG EAST Conference. She recently completed a term on the NCAA Division I Management Council and currently is a member of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. A University of Cincinnati graduate with degrees from Arts and Sciences and Education, Hamant is a past president of the UC Alumni Association. She joined the UC faculty in 1964 and is currently Associate Professor and Coordinator of Professional Experiences in the College of Education. The new Academic Center in the Richard Lindner Athletic Center, bears her name in honor of her service to the Athletics Department.
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
On Aug. 1, 2005 at the Chicago Athletic Club, ThoCup in each year of Thomas’ tenure there while at the mas received the General Robert R. Neyland Outstandsame time was in the Top 10 nationally in studenting Athletic Director Award for his tremendous achieveathlete graduation rates. ments at Akron. The award was presented by the AllThomas brought that model with him to Akron. Under American Football Foundation. his direction, the Zips rose from last place to second Prior to assuming the Director of Athlettics postion at among Mid-American Conference schools in the UA, Thomas spent seven years as an associate director Director’s Cup annual rankings. Simultaneously, Akron of athletics at the University of Virginia. As part of the vaulted from last to second place in the MAC Academic senior management team at UVa, he handled a wide Achievement Awards. range of responsibilities including the direction of eight Thomas hired highly successful football and men’s varsity programs, oversight of all game operations and basketball head coaches at Akron, resulting in the Zips’ athletics facilities, and the management of several defirst-ever Division I-A bowl game and a 42-20 men’s partmental and program budgets. basketball record the past two seasons. In his 20-year career he has worked with coaches with over 30 national championships among them. Thomas increased the financial base of the Akron athletic program through increasing corporate sponsorship levels by 750 percent and boosted annual giving to athletics to its highest level in the school’s history. Community support was rallied, with marked increases shown in football and men’s basketball University of Cincinnati athletics director Mike attendance. Thomas has compiled a wealth of experience in all Thomas improved Akron’s multimedia presence, phases of the administration of intercollegiate athletics overseeing the development of the Zips Sports Raat the major university level. dio and Television Networks, which increased UA’s Thomas took charge of UC’s 18-sport intercollegiate statewide radio coverage from 200,000 to 5 million program on Dec. 1, 2005. He met several immediate homes and broadened television exposure. Akron’s athletics image was re-branded, resulting in a challenges head-on upon his arrival. Thomas’ first double-digit increase in the department’s licensing order of business was to select the Bearcats’ new men’s and merchandising royalties. basketball head coach Mick Cronin, reuniting the During his Akron tenure Thomas oversaw more program with a Cincinnati native who had been part of than $25 million worth of athletics capital improveits success. ments, with the crown jewel being the university’s In June, upon his six-month anniversary at UC, Athletics Field House/Indoor Golf Facility. The $18.6 The Thomas’s: Mick, Mike, Vince, Jenifer, Joey Thomas unveiled CATAPULT, the action plan for the million, 155,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art fa- and Meredith (front). university’s athletics program that focuses on athletics cility opened in 2004 and is one of the finest facilities success, academic achievement and community of its kind in the nation and is the host site for the BIG engagement. Thomas also played an integral role in Virginia’s $86 EAST Indoor Track & Field Championships Thomas also Thomas served as the Director of Athletics at The million football stadium expansion and supervised sevlaid the fundraising and physical planning groundwork University of Akron the previous five years, during which eral capital projects during his tenure at the school. He for a new 30,000 seat on-campus football stadium the school’s 18-sport program experienced unparalleled served on several committees including those related which will be constructed in Downtown Akron. growth and success on and off the field or court of to development, fiscal matters, gender equity and straRecognized for his administrative acumen by his competition. tegic planning. Thomas was active in the Atlantic Coast peers, Thomas has served on several national and Thomas brings two decades of diverse and Conference as he chaired the league’s committees on conference committees, including the NCAA Division I comprehensive experience to the helm of the UC athletic men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and rowing, Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, NCAA Dividepartment. He spent seven years as associate athletic and was a member of the sportsmanship committee. sion I Women’s Basketball Issues Committee, and presdirector at the University of Virginia, an institution known Thomas also served on the NCAA Rowing Committee. ently serves on the Division IA Athletic Directors Assofor achieving impressive success both academically and Before joining the staff at Virginia, Thomas spent ciation Legislative Review Committee. athletically. Virginia finished in the Top 25 in the Director’s seven years as the assistant director of athletics for internal operations at the University of Denver. In that position, he supervised the areas of programs, compliMIKE THOMAS AT A GLANCE ance, business affairs, facilities and event operations. College: Colorado State (BS 1983), Western Illinois (MS 1986) Prior to that post, he was on the athletics promotions Administrative Experience: and marketing staff at the University of Iowa. University of Iowa (1985-86), marketing and promotions associate. Thomas, 46, received his B.S. degree in Business AdUniversity of Denver (1986-93), assistant athletics director ministration from Colorado State University in 1983, and his University of Virginia (1993-2000), associate athletics director M.S. in Athletic Administration from Western Illinois UniUniversity of Akron (2000-05), director of athletics versity in 1986. He and his wife, Jenifer, have four children: University of Cincinnati (2005-present), director of athletics Vincent (21), Joseph (17), Mick (15), and Meredith (11).
ADMINISTRATION
MIKE THOMAS
Personal: Married, wife Jenifer; children Vince (21), Joey (17), Mick (15), Meredith (11)
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ADMINISTRATIVE DMINISTRATIVE STAFF TAFF
Bob Arkeilpane Deputy Director of Athletics
Brian Mand, PhD. Sr. Associate Director of Athletics
Mike Waddell Sr. Associate Director of Athletics
Andy Hurley Associate Director of Athletics
Paul Klaczak Associate Director of Athletics
JeanetteShoecraft Associate AD/Chief Financial Officer
StephanieRousseau Assistant AD/SWA
TomHathaway Assistant AD/Sports Communications
Jeff Smith Assistant AD/UCATS/ Athletics Development
Bill Walker Assistant AD/Sports Medicine
Meagan Kantor Manager, Customer Service & Ticket Oper.
Bill Frigge Coord. of Operations and Facilities
Janet Carl Men’s & Women’s Golf
Brian Cleary Baseball
Mick Cronin Men’s Basketball
ADMINISTRATION
2006-07 CINCINNATI HEAD COACHES
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Mark Dantonio Football
Hylton Dayes Men's Soccer
Tabby Fagan Cheerleaders
Meridy Glenn Women's Soccer
Monty Hopkins Swimming & Diving
Kimberly Jones Tennis
Pam Mork Rowing
Laurie Pirtle Women's Basketball
Bill Schnier Men’s Track & Field
Jim Schnur Women’s Track & Field
Lisa Spears Dance Team
Reed Sunahara Volleyball
