Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Marshall student-athletes flex muscle with stellar academic performance
4/2/2020 11:50:00 PM | Baseball, Cross Country, Football, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming and Diving, Women's Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Big Green Scholarship Foundation, Word on the Herd
Fall 2019 was a record-setting semester for Herd in classroom
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – In the fall semester of 2014, the year before the Buck Harless Student-Athlete Academic Center opened inside the Chris Cline Athletic Complex, seven of Marshall University's 14 athletic teams had a team grade-point average of at least 3.0.
The stunning 14,100-square foot space, on the second floor of the building that also houses the indoor facility, MU Athletics Hall of Fame and Marshall Sports Medicine Institute, opened in June of 2015. The academic center solved important and long-running issues for student-athletes, who had to use facilities in the Shewey Building and Gullickson Hall, waiting to use computers and without ample, quiet work space.
In the fall semester of 2015, the first full term with the academic center in use, 11 of 14 teams had an average GPA of at least 3.0. Four years later, Marshall Athletics enjoyed its best semester of academic performance on record.
"Our GPAs continue to steadily climb and I think that is a true testament to the hard work and discipline that our student-athletes devote to their academics," said Lisa Williamson, Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services. "I believe it is also evident that this amazing academic facility that our donors made possible, has provided our student-athletes with the resources to be successful."
In the fall of 2019, 60 student-athletes received the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal, which goes to those who had a 3.75 cumulative GPA or better. A total of 224 student-athletes were named to the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll (3.0 cumulative GPA). Of those, 174 were on the Dean's List (3.30-plus semester GPA). A total of 242 student-athletes had at least a 3.0 for the semester, which represents 65 percent of all of Marshall's student-athletes.
That's not all. An incredible 42 student-athletes had a perfect 4.0 GPA. Overall, the average term GPA for all teams was 3.12, which is the best in at least eight years. The overall GPA was 3.15.
Now, instead of half of all teams ending the semester with a 3.0 team GPA, 13 of 14 teams accomplished the feat in the fall of 2019. The only exception is football, which has seen its success trend in the correct direction. The MU football team had a 2.74 GPA this fall, up from 2.55 from a year ago. That, Williamson said, is an impressive accomplishment given that the team had its entire season within the fall semester, and this past year made lengthy road trips to Idaho, Texas and Florida.
"I am very proud of what our student-athletes have been able to accomplish in the classroom," said Mike Hamrick, Marshall's Director of Athletics. "It's obvious they are taking advantage of the Buck Harless Academic Center and our incredible academic support staff. There are incredible demands placed on student-athletes, and it is more challenging than ever to balance all aspects of being a student-athlete. We are fortunate to have the facilities, academic staff and student-athletes that we do."
In addition to praising the student-athletes for their performance and lauding the benefits of the academic center, Williamson heaped credit to her team for their efforts in getting the best out of the student-athletes: Marcella Bisesi and Melissa Robles (football); J.T. Mellendick (baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's soccer, women's soccer and softball); Jordan Colliflower (women's golf, women's cross country, swimming and diving, women's track and volleyball); and Garrett Franskousky (men's cross country, men's golf and tennis).
"I think it's amazing how well our student-athletes do," said Dr. Jerome "Jerry" Gilbert, Marshall's President. "Typically, student-athletes do better at universities than the average population. But I think our athletes are better than what I've seen at other schools overall.
"It has to do with the types of student-athletes we recruit. All of the players I've interacted with are first-rate, first-class people. They're genuine. They have the right values. Every time I've ever talked to an athlete I've always been proud that they represent Marshall. They are what you would hope for in a college athlete."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and an eight-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).