Bennett pauses, briefly, to reflect and respond
By Jeff White
Published: April 24, 2009

On the final day of March, Tony Bennett accepted an offer to become men's basketball coach at the University of Virginia. He's been in almost perpetual motion since.

The latest evaluation period in the recruiting calendar closed Wednesday night, though, and Bennett sat down with Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter Jeff White yesterday at John Paul Jones Arena.

"It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks, maybe more, but it's been what I've expected," said Bennett, who came to U.Va. from Washington State, where he went 69-33, with two trips to the NCAA tournament, in three seasons as head coach.

Virginia finished 10-18 this season, after which Dave Leitao stepped down as coach. Eleven scholarship players are back, including three who are recovering from recent operations: guard Calvin Baker, forward Jamil Tucker and swingman Solomon Tat. Joining the veterans in 2009-10 will be incoming freshmen Tristan Spurlock and Jontel Evans.

Some excerpts from the interview:

After putting U.Va.'s returning players through workouts this month, what are your impressions of them?

"They're a hard-working group, and I think they're hungry. . . . We'll have to see how we fit together as a unit, but certainly I've been impressed with some of the nice athleticism, and guys have shot it well in some of the shooting drills. I've been impressed and been encouraged. They seem to be a group of good character, and that's a credit to Coach Leitao and his staff, that they instilled that in those guys. You're not having to coach effort, they look you in the eye, and they're respectful young men."

Have you been surprised that your offensive philosophy has generated so much discussion? (Washington State ranked among Division I's lowest-scoring teams under Bennett.)

"Everybody wants to know style of play. That's how it always is. It's one of those deals where, first of all -- and I said it again at the press conference -- you've got to look at your personnel. You've got to say, 'All right, what do we have to do?' You have to be able to adjust.

But there are some constants that any good offensive team, regardless of style, has to have, and that's what I'm after right now. And that's good decision-making, soundness and sureness with the ball, and then with that comes freedom, when those things are in place. And then there's some things defensively, too. As simplistic as it sounds, your goal as a team is to make the opponent shoot as many tough contested shots and offensively get as many good shots as you can."

Do you worry that your offense will remain an issue?

"I think when we start playing . . . people will be surprised at some of the freedom [players will] have in our offense. I think people think we're going to walk it down the floor every single play, we're going to make 10 to 12 passes, and then we're going to be allowed to shoot with under eight seconds on the clock.

I certainly hope that's not the case. We don't do that. It's just good, tough, hard-nosed basketball, and what that looks like, again, we'll see, but there will certainly be opportunity for things . . . You've got to be able to play both ways. I watch the NBA playoffs, having played in the NBA, and you've got to be able to run at certain times, and you've got to be able to play in the halfcourt at certain times offensively."

You hired [Richmond native and former U.Va. standout] Jason Williford as an assistant coach. What does he bring to your staff?

"When I interviewed Jason it was neat, because you could see without a doubt that he is so passionate about Virginia basketball and everything the university stands for. Certainly everybody I talked to talked about his character, his loyalty. He's played [for Virginia]. He was here when they certainly tasted great success, and he's well-known in the area. I like young, kind of go-getter types, and that's what he is."

You were able to persuade Tristan Spurlock and Jontel Evans to remain committed to U.Va. How important was that?

"I think what it does, first and foremost, it speaks volumes to the University of Virginia. Certainly they had built a relationship with the previous staff, but they also were drawn to U.Va. because of what U.Va. stands for and what it is. They didn't want to lose that opportunity. I think they needed to meet me, meet the staff, which is great . . . It was exciting that they both want to come, and I understood certainly their hesitancy at first."

Bennett hits the ground running
By Whitey Reid
Published: April 24, 2009

It has been three-plus weeks since Tony Bennett was named the new Virginia basketball coach. In that time, Bennett has been a busy fella.

The 39-year-old Wisconsin native has hired a coaching staff, convinced the program’s top two recruits to honor their national letters of intent, become acquainted with his new team and hobnobbed with school officials and alums.

He’s even found a little time to hit the Downtown Mall, grab a slice of pizza from Christian’s and satisfy his sweet tooth at the Ben & Jerry’s off Barracks Road. On Thursday, the former Washington State coach sat down for a one-on-one interview with beat writer Whitelaw Reid of The Daily Progress.

DP: What have your first few weeks on the job been like?

TB: It’s been fast and furious, but I certainly expected that coming in. Anytime you take over a job, that’s going to be the case for quite a while. I’ve really enjoyed driving around Charlottesville and seeing the great restaurants and just how beautiful everything is. They had brought me in [for the interview] at night, so I hadn’t gotten a really good view of it. I’ve just enjoyed that.

DP: How does Charlottesville compare to Pullman, Washington?

TB: There are certainly more restaurants and it’s bigger. The thing that was so great about Pullman was the people. It’s just a family- and community-oriented place — such a college town. Those things are similar. But there’s a Target here, an Outback Steakhouse — we didn’t have those places, and the people seem so friendly.

DP: At your introductory press conference, you said that your daughter had negotiated for a bigger room and a puppy after you told her you wanted to move to Charlottesville. What’s the status on that?

TB: My wife is coming out on Monday and is going to look for a house…the puppy is still in negotiation (laughs). If we can get it all set, maybe [the kids] will come out and finish school here. If not, they’ll finish out there.

DP: During the players’ recent group workouts, has anything surprised you?

TB: They’re all really hungry. When you don’t have to coach effort and you know they’re hungry, that’s a compliment to the previous staff — that these kids work hard and seem pretty tough-minded. They’ve all shown some nice things. There are some nice pieces here. We just have to see how everything fits as a unit with the two young men [Tristan Spurlock and Jontel Evans] that we have signed.

DP: When it came to recruiting, the last regime tended to go after a lot of the big fish — the Patrick Pattersons, the Ed Davises, the Elliot Williamses — and always finished as the runner-up. What is your philosophy on going after the “five-star” recruit?

TB: You have to have a balance. You have to try and go after some of those guys, but in the end you have to go after guys that are excited about coming to the University of Virginia and want to be part of turning the program around. You have to have kids who are passionate about that. You have to have the right kind of kids who can have success on the court and also in the classroom. They have to want to be a part of this. You can spin your wheels trying to convince a kid who really has no interest. In recruiting, you’re not going to get everyone you go after. You have to go after guys hard, but you have to have solid guys, the right kind of guys. I think here you have to recruit the state and the Eastern Seaboard, but you also have the possibility to look nationally and internationally and assemble the best team that you can over time.

DP: Boo Williams is obviously a big name when you talk about recruiting in this area. Have you met him yet? Have you offered to mow his lawn, perhaps donate a kidney?

TB: Yes, I have met him (laughs). Boo said realistically that it’s going to take some time. You’ve got to build relationships. He certainly has produced many great players. We feel like we have a lot to offer and we want kids who are excited about coming here and want to be part of something special.

DP: A lot of people who meet you are a little surprised when they find out that you played in the NBA (with the Charlotte Hornets from 1992-95). Why do you think that is?

TB: My wife and I have a fight about this. I say I’m 6 feet and she says, “No way, you’re 5-11.” I probably don’t pass the eye test. I was pretty quick and could shoot, but I probably don’t look like a typical NBA player. That’s why I stood by Mugsy [Bogues] during the timeouts. He was the only guy I was taller than.

DP: A lot of people compare your playing career to former Virginia point guard John Crotty’s. Accurate?

TB: I played against him [in the NBA]. We each played our 13 to 15 minutes per game and went at it hard. I just talked to John on the phone. I marvel at how long he lasted. I’ve had six knee surgeries, which kind of cut my career short.

DP: Toughest NBA opponent?

TB: Certainly Michael Jordan, but there were other guys. Trying to bring the ball up against Mookie Blaylock was scary. Guarding Mark Price was tough — his ability to shoot and his quickness. When Tim Hardaway was healthy, he was unbelievable. Kevin Johnson was so explosive and quick. Penny Hardaway would take me right to the post. There were so many good ones, but Jordan was the best. I probably played against him like 15 times and was just in awe.

DP: Do you have an NBA playoffs prediction this year?

TB: L.A. is certainly impressive. If I had to pick someone, I’d go with Lakers.

DP: Has it hit you yet that you’ll be coaching against the likes of Coach K and Roy Williams?

TB: Those are certainly two of the greatest names in college basketball. That’s an exciting challenge. That’s easy to say sitting here in April or May, but [I’ve gone] against the Arizona’s and UCLA’s — the Lute Olsons, Ben Howlands and all that in the Pac-10. Certainly [this] is the elite and will be a great challenge.

DP: It’s been pretty well-documented that you weren’t a fan of ties at Washington State — you didn’t wear one during games. Have you thought about what you’ll wear for games here at Virginia?

TB: At the press conference, [Craig] Littlepage said I was “coachable,” so I have no problem with that. It’s not a big sticking point with me. [A Virginia fan] sent me a dozen boxes of Cavalier-colored ties. That was awesome! But I guess that’s a hint.

DP: Your defensive-oriented system has been called by some — for a lack of a better adjective — “boring.” Does that bother you?

TB: Not one bit. I think any good coach looks at his team and says, “What gives us the best chance to win? We have to play in a way that gives us a chance to be successful.” Wherever I’ve been, I’ve always tried to do that. I’ve said, “Let’s look at our team and adjust to our talent.” You’re always adjusting. My style of play will adapt to whatever the league dictates…You want your opponent to take as many contested shots as possible, and on offense you want to get as many good shots as possible. Whether that comes early in the shot clock or late, that’s how you play. I think people have a view that we’re going to walk the ball up the court every time and make 10 to 12 passes and then when the shot clock gets below 8 seconds, shoot. That’s the furthest thing from the truth. But that’s how it is. People are going to use that to negatively recruit…but I’m very adaptable. You have to know who you are and what your strengths are.

DP: Do you have a favorite movie?

TB: “Rocky.”

DP: Favorite television show?

TB: “American Idol.”

DP: Who would play you in a movie?

TB: I like [Robert] DeNiro, [Al] Pacino and Sean Penn.

DP: Do the Tony Bennett-the-singer references and jokes ever get old?

TB: I’d be a rich man if I had a nickel for every time someone brought that up, but nah…I just roll with the punches, go with the flow.

DP: Your favorite music? What does Tony Bennett, the basketball coach, sing in the shower?

TB: I’m a big R&B guy — Beyonce, Ne-Yo. Back in the day, it was New Edition, Johnny Gill, Brian McKnight.

DP: What are your goals for this program?

TB: I want to recruit young men who are passionate about turning this around and playing quality basketball. The expectations that were explained to me was that it was going to take some time to get [my] players and system in place, but then be able to compete within the top four of the ACC and try and be fairly consistent in the NCAA tournament — make some pushes. But when you start a program, I think your goals need to be more about quality than quantity. I think you need the right kind of people. Like they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. That’s not a cop-out, but it’s going to take time. I want to build it for the long haul. That’s my goal.



 

Cavs’ Glading nears the end of a remarkable career

VIRGINIA VS. DUKE
ACC men's lacrosse tournament
Tonight:7:30 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

By Jeff White
Published: April 24, 2009

Their younger teammates haven't seen the last of Duke. For Danny Glading and the other seniors on the University of Virginia men's lacrosse team, though, tonight is it, barring an encounter with the Blue Devils in next month's NCAA tournament.

No current Virginia player has beaten Duke. The second-seeded Devils (10-3) will be seeking their seventh straight win in the series when they meet third-seeded U.Va. (13-1) at 7:30 p.m. in an ACC tournament semifinal in Chapel Hill, N.C.

In their most recent meeting, April 11, Duke routed previously unbeaten Virginia 15-10 in Durham. Glading had four goals and an assist in that game, and he doesn't buy the theory that the Devils psych out the Cavaliers.

"I think that they've just played well against us," Glading said. "They had great teams the past couple of years, and they have a good team this year. That's never even crossed my mind. I hope that it doesn't cross other people's minds, because that will just interfere with our play. I think we need to just play our best lacrosse."

Virginia coach Dom Starsia expects nothing less from Glading, a 6-2, 195-pound attackman from Bethesda, Md. Glading isn't the first member of his family to play at U.Va. -- his brother Billy was an All-American midfielder on the team that won the 2003 NCAA title -- but he's the most celebrated.

A graduate of Georgetown Prep, where his basketball teammates included Roy Hibbert, Glading entered U.Va. as the nation's top-ranked lacrosse recruit. He hasn't disappointed.

Glading was ACC rookie of the year in 2006, a third-team All-American in'07, a second-team All-American in'08 and yesterday was named all-ACC for the third consecutive year. This season, he leads the No. 1-ranked Wahoos with 49 points, on 23 goals and 26 assists.

"It's gone by so fast," Glading said. "It's four years kind of in the blink of an eye."

Starsia, who has won three NCAA championships at Virginia, ranks Glading among the finest attackmen he's coached. More important, Starsia said, "Danny's also just one of the finest young men I've ever been around. A student-athlete like Danny Glading is the reason why I do this, because I get a chance to rub elbows with him on a daily basis."

Only one class has been part of two NCAA championship teams at U.Va. -- the players who were freshmen in 2003 and seniors in '06. Glading's group can match that feat.

"Everyone knows how special that would be," he said. "That's a goal that we've been working toward since we first stepped back on campus in the fall, and I think we've made great progress toward that. But there's still a lot of work to be done and there's a lot of plays to be made."

Glading, an economics major who'll graduate next month, will leave a substantial legacy in the school's lacrosse program. He ranks seventh in career assists at U.Va., with 99, and ninth in career goals, with 110. With 209 career points, he's tied for seventh, and he's about to become only the second player in school history -- the first was Kevin Pehlke -- to total at least 100 goals and 100 assists.

And Glading has done all that, Starsia said, without possessing a "special skill." Consider former U.Va. greats Conor Gill and A.J. Shannon.

"When you watched A.J. shoot, you would take a deep breath," Starsia said. "When you watched Conor passing the ball, it kind of jumped out at you. I don't think there's a part of Danny's game that jumps off the page at you. He just does everything well.

"If he was a little bit more natural scorer, he would just be unbelievable. It's the one piece of his game that if it just was a little further along, he'd be one of the greatest of all time. As it is, he's one of the greatest of my lifetime."

 

Cavaliers Seek To End Skid to Duke in ACC Tournament
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 04/23/2009

CHAPEL HILL, NC—Although the calendar says it’s still April, this is the point in the season where teams begin to find out what kind of season they’ll ultimately have. Coaches and players all say it’s what happens in May that counts. As Virginia prepares for the next phase of its season with a match-up against Duke Friday night in the semifinals of the ACC Championship, the focus becomes a little clearer.

“We’re getting ready to enter the part of the season where it’s one and done and you’ve got to be willing to lay everything on the line,” said senior attackman Danny Glading.

The Cavaliers are 13-1 and ranked No. 1 entering the clash with the Blue Devils. Duke has had the upper hand in the recent history of the series, defeating Virginia six straight times going back to 2005. The Cavalier seniors have never beaten the Blue Devils. Duke is 10-3 overall this season and handed Virginia its only defeat of the season, 15-10 two weeks ago in Durham. As a result this is a game that the Cavaliers look forward to.

“I think we’re pretty privileged to have a second chance, everyone feels that way,” said midfielder Max Pomper.

“Playing Duke adds some incentive but it also adds a lot of focus, which I think is key,” added Glading. “We’re really been able to work on what we needed to this week and we’re going to be ready to play our best lacrosse on Friday night.”

In the first meeting between the two teams, Duke used a 7-1 run to take a one-goal lead out to a 9-3 advantage early in the second half. The Blue Devils used exceptional shooting throughout the day to gain its sixth straight win over the Cavaliers; they scored 15 goals on just 28 shots. Duke also won the faceoff battle, especially in the second half.

“We need to be better disciplined in the defensive end,” said Starsia. “We gave them some goals that even though they’re a fast team and an athletic team, if we had just been a little bit better disciplined in our patterns then I think that we could have prevented a couple of those. We clearly need to do that. The obvious thing of getting some saves and winning some faceoffs is still going to be there.”

While the defense gave up a season-high 15 goals to Duke, the offense was held to a season-low 10 goals. With offensive standouts such as Garrett Billings, Brian Carroll and Shamel Bratton, the Cavaliers don’t lack for goal scoring capability. In the first meeting they took 43 shots but few found the mark.

“We talked about it before the last game that, since this is an athletic defensive team, we needed to work hard to get good opportunities and then not settle for mediocre shots,” Starsia said. “We needed to be able to capitalize on those opportunities and make a goalie that hadn’t stood on his head all year, not let him be a factor in the game and we didn’t really do that in the offensive end.

“We need to be aggressive, but patient in the offensive end. Work for good shots, don’t settle for mediocre ones and can those opportunities when we get them.”

As for when the losing streak will come to an end, Starsia is as interested as anybody.

“We’ll beat them when we deserve to beat them, that’s essentially what it is,” he said. “We’re just going to have to play better; we certainly can play a lot better than we did the last time. But that doesn’t happen just because we’ve got another chance. We’re going to have to make it happen on the field. We’re going to have to execute in a much more disciplined manner than we did the last time. This is a very good Duke team that’s going to require our best effort in order for us to get this one.”

Faceoff at UNC’s Kenan Stadium is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. Top-seeded Maryland and No. 4 seed North Carolina clash in the first game at 5 p.m. Both games are available via webcast at ACCSelect.com.

UVa, Duke face off
By Whitey Reid
Published: April 24, 2009

According to Wikipedia, the law of averages is “a lay term used to express a belief that outcomes of a random event shall even out within a small sample.”

Virginia coach Dom Starsia is hoping like heck that the law kicks in this evening for his team when it takes on Duke in the semifinals of the ACC tournament.

UVa has dropped six straight games to the Blue Devils dating back to 2004.

“My hope is that I’ll still be working at Virginia the next time we beat Duke,” joked Starsia. “We have such a great senior class and it’s been a little confounding and a little frustrating at the same time. I told somebody after the last game that we’ll beat them when we deserve to beat them.”

Duke beat Virginia, 15-10, at home on April 11. It was Virginia’s first and only loss of the season.

“We were just a little impatient offensively and didn’t shoot great,” said Starsia, whose team bounced back with an impressive home win over Dartmouth in its regular-season finale last Saturday. “As we failed to score some goals, I thought we got a little more impatient as the game wore on.”

Most of Virginia’s struggles, however, came on the defensive end.

“We let them get behind us for too many easy goals,” Starsia said. “We didn’t give Adam [Ghitelman] a chance to help us in the goal at all.

“We have to tighten up in the unsettled game and not let them get in behind us…we were just a step slow and a dollar short at that end the whole day.”

Ground balls

Virginia had four players selected to the All-ACC first team on Thursday, the most of any school. Senior attackman Danny Glading, junior midfielder Brian Carroll, senior longstick midfielder Mike Timms and sophomore midfielder Shamel Bratton were all named to the first team. ... Starsia was voted ACC coach of the year for a record eighth time, while freshman attackman Steele Stanwick was selected as rookie of the year. Duke attackman Ned Crotty was named player of the year.

In ACC men's lacrosse, any team can grab title
Edward G. Robinson III - Staff Writer
Published: Fri, Apr. 24, 2009 12:30AMModified Fri, Apr. 24, 2009 12:22AM

Don't let the seedings for the ACC men's lacrosse tournament fool you. Being a top seed in this event ensures a team about as much as buying a lottery ticket.

In this four-team league, there are no guarantees or runaway favorites.

Judging by the close regular-season conference results, the outcome of this weekend's tournament at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill is wide open. Maryland comes in as the top seed, with Duke, Virginia and North Carolina seeded second, third and fourth, respectively.

But you can flip-flop those seedings when it comes to the latest U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association national poll, which ranks Virginia No. 1. The Blue Devils are ranked sixth, the Tar Heels are eighth and the Terrapins are tied for 11th.

"Everybody's relatively even," North Carolina coach Joe Breschi said. "I think that's what makes it exciting. Everybody is good. It might come down to hot goalie play or the team who has the ball last in each of the games."

The conference tournament seedings reflect the results from the regular season's head-to-head games, with Maryland, Duke and Virginia ending the conference schedule in a three-way tie for first place. The tie-breaker, according to conference rules, came down to the ACC statistic of goals allowed in conference games. Maryland gave up 18 goals against the Devils and the Cavaliers.

Though the Heels lost all three conference games, their games against Virginia and Maryland were decided by a goal each. On March 28, the Cavaliers outlasted the Terps 10-9 in a seven-overtime thriller that was the longest game in NCAA history. On April 11, the Devils handed the Cavaliers their only loss, 15-10 in Durham.

"We all know that Carolina could easily win this weekend," Duke coach John Danowski said. "There's no doubt in anybody's mind that they could do it. ... They have as good shot as anybody ... which says so much about the depth of our conference and the quality of our conference."

MARYLAND

COACH: Dave Cottle

RECORD: 8-5 overall, 2-1 ACC

GOALS PER GAME: 10.54

ASSISTS PER GAME: 6.85

GROUND BALLS PER GAME: 36.54

TURNOVERS PER GAME: 18.08

GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: 7.08

SAVES PER GAME: 9.31

PLAYERS TO WATCH: goalkeeper Jason Carter, 6-1, 210 sr. (49 saves, .527 save pct.); goalkeeper Brian Phipps, 5-9, 180, jr. (72 saves, ACC-best .585 save pct.); attackman Grant Catalino, 6-5, 240 soph. (22 goals, three game-winners)

DUKE

COACH: John Danowski

RECORD: 10-3, 2-1

GOALS PER GAME: 10.69

ASSISTS PER GAME: 6.92

GROUND BALLS PER GAME: 34.23

TURNOVERS PER GAME: 5.08

GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: 7.85

SAVES PER GAME: 8.15

PLAYERS TO WATCH: attackman Max Quinzani, 5-8, 170, jr. (ACC-leading 35 goals); midfielder Ned Crotty, 6-2, 190, sr. (conference-leading 36 assists); midfielder Brad Ross, 6-0, 180, sr. (13 goals, six assists)

VIRGINIA

COACH: Dom Starsia

RECORD: 13-1, 2-1

GOALS PER GAME: 13.29

ASSISTS PER GAME: 8.0

GROUND BALLS PER GAME: 42.57

TURNOVERS PER GAME: 18.64

GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: 7.56

SAVES PER GAME: 10.00

PLAYERS TO WATCH: attackman Shamel Bratton, 6-1, 195, soph. (22 goals); attackman Garrett Billings, 6-1, 195, sr.; (32 goals), defenseman Mike Timms, 6-5, 229, sr.

NORTH CAROLINA

COACH: Joe Breschi

RECORD: 10-4, 0-3

GOALS PER GAME: 12.14

ASSISTS PER GAME: 7.71

GROUND BALLS PER GAME: 46.71

TURNOVERS PER GAME: 17.07

GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: 8.05

SAVES PER GAME: 10.64

PLAYERS TO WATCH: attackman Billy Bitter, 6-0, 175, soph. (33 goals, 17 assists); defenseman Ryan Flanagan, 6-6, 237, soph.; midfielder Shane Walterhoefer, 5-9, 200, sr. (second nationally in faceoff win percentage, 203 wins, 111 losses)




 

Four Cavaliers Named to All-ACC Men’s Lacrosse Squad
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 04/23/2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Virginia leads the way with four players named to the 11-man All-Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Lacrosse squad announced by the conference office. The All-ACC team is determined by a vote of the league’s four head coaches.

Leading the way for the Cavaliers is senior attackman Danny Glading, selected for the third year in a row. One of the leading scorers in the history of the Virginia program, he is only the 15th player in school history named all-conference at least three times. He leads the team in scoring with 49 points and assists with 26.

Junior midfielder Brian Carroll joins Glading as a repeat selection from last season. Named for the second time, Carroll is among the nation’s midfield leaders with 24 goals and 33 points this season. He is UVa’s first two-time all-conference midfielder since Chris Rotelli in 2001-03.

Senior longstick midfielder Mike Timms and sophomore middie Shamel Bratton were named to the all-conference team for the first time.

Timms is having a dominant season from his defensive position and has been called the team’s MVP by head coach Dom Starsia. He leads the ACC with 30 caused turnovers and ACC LSMs with 53 ground balls.

Bratton has made a tremendous impact this season and become one of the most dangerous midfielders in the nation. He has scored 22 goals and added nine assists, among the top figures in the country by a midfielder. He is the only player in the conference to earn player of the week honors more than once this season.

Starsia was voted the ACC Coach of the Year for a record eighth time. He has guided the Cavaliers to a 13-1 record this season and a share of the league’s regular season crown. He was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame last November.

Attackman Steele Stanwick was selected the league’s Rookie of the Year. Rated the top recruit in the country by Inside Lacrosse, he leads conference rookies in goals (29), assists (13) and points (42). He is the first Cavalier to win the league’s top rookie award since Glading in 2006.

Maryland placed three players on the all-league squad—M Dan Groot, M Max Schmidt, and A Ryan Young. All three were named for the first time.

Duke placed two players on the team—A Ned Crotty and A Max Quinzani. Quinzani was named for the second year in a row.

North Carolina had two first-time selections—A Billy Bitter and FO Shane Walterhoefer.

Crotty was chosen the league Player of the Year, the third year in a row a Duke attackman has won the award. Crotty leads the league in scoring with an average of 3.77 points per game and assists with an average of 2.77 apg.

2009 All-ACC Team (listed alphabetically)
A Billy Bitter, So., North Carolina
M Shamel Bratton, So., Virginia
M Brian Carroll, Jr., Virginia
A Ned Crotty, Sr., Duke
A Danny Glading, Sr., Virginia
M Dan Groot, Md., Maryland
A Max Quinzani, Jr, Duke
D Max Schmidt, So., Maryland
LSM Mike Timms, Sr., Virginia
FO Shane Walterhoefer, Sr., North Carolina
A Ryan Young, So, Maryland

2009 Player of the Year
Ned Crotty, Duke, attack

2009 Rookie of the Year
Steele Stanwick, Virginia, attack

2009 Coach of the Year
Dom Starsia, Virginia

 

Cavaliers stop Hokies in ACC tournament opener
By Bart Isley
Published: April 24, 2009

BLACKSBURG — Virginia took care of step one. Now comes undefeated Maryland.

The Cavaliers women’s lacrosse team made short work of Virginia Tech on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament, jumping out to a six-goal halftime lead en route to a 13-5 victory.

Before the tournament, Virginia (11-6) appeared to need a victory over Virginia Tech and Maryland in order to ensure an NCAA bid, and now they’ve got the chance they were hoping for against the Terrapins.

“We’re excited that this one is behind us,” said coach Julie Myers. “All week we were thinking we need to be ready for three games but we need to take care of the first one. It’s nice to have the first one in the bank.”

Ashley McCulloch sparked Virginia with four goals and two assists, exploding for her highest point total since March 24 against James Madison. By the standard she’s set during a decorated career, McCulloch had been held in check over the last six games except for a four-point performance against George Mason.

“I think she’s been pretty frustrated the latter part of the season and I think she was definitely due for a big game,” said junior Brittany Kalkstein. “She really came out strong today.”

McCulloch picked up several of her goals on quick flashes in front of the cage, a big change for the senior who usually plays from behind goal while setting the table for teammates. Josie Owen played more behind the cage to free McCulloch up, and the freshman finished with three assists.

Jenny Hauser had four points, notching a hat trick while also dishing out an assist, while freshman Julie Gardner had a pair of goals.

Kalkstein led the way in the first half with a pair of assists and three draw controls. Virginia’s 7-2 advantage on the draw paved the way for the 7-1 halftime lead. The junior is now just five controls off the school’s season record, which she set as a sophomore.

“I think we work on draw controls every single practice,” McCulloch said. “To have Brittany come in and just dominate on them is so helpful.”

Controlling the draw also allowed the Cavaliers to work their motion offense and control the tempo of the game while limiting offensive chances for Virginia Tech (7-10). Virginia held a sizeable advantage over the Hokies in shots, taking 30 to Virginia Tech’s 17.

“We really wanted to go with ball movement and see what we could do, but Virginia Tech is good,” Myers said. “Against a goalie [Kari Morrison] as good as they have we had to make sure we had some clean open looks. She made a lot of great saves.”

Morrison finished with 11 saves, several of them from point-blank range.

It didn’t hurt either that Virginia goalie Sara Hairfield, in just her third start of the season, came up with five saves of her own, four of them in the second half. Hairfield’s first and only save of the first half on a free-position shot with 16:30 left before the break seemed to set the tone for Virginia defensively.

The senior also ranged out for a loose ball with six minutes left in the first to halt a Virginia Tech possession. Hairfield’s ground ball set the table for another McCulloch goal and a 5-1 lead less than a minute later.

Now, Virginia has to complete a challenging step two. Maryland is 16-0 and features four big-time scorers in a balanced offense. That quartet — Karri Ellen Johnson, Sarah Mollison, Brandi Jones and Caitlyn McFadden — is tied for fifth in points per game during ACC play.

“We’re going to have our hands full, they’ve got a lot of weapons,” Myers said. “We need to make sure that we’re sharp.”

Particularly with the season possibly on the line.

Free-position shots

Four Virginia players were named to the All-ACC first team announced Thursday. Blair Weymouth joined fellow attackers Hauser and McCulloch and midfielder Kaitlin Duff on the team.

 

Cavaliers Place Four on All-ACC Women’s Lacrosse Team
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 04/23/2009

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Three senior All-American attackers – Jenny Hauser, Ashley McCulloch and Blair Weymouth – and junior midfielder Kaitlin Duff were honored by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Thursday, being named to the All-ACC Women’s Lacrosse Team, as announced by the league office. The 20-member all-conference team is determined by a vote of the head coaches.

Hauser, a two-time All-American at Boston University, is a first-time All-ACC honoree.
A 2008 ACC All-Tournament Team selection, Hauser has tallied 34 goals and dished out 14 assists for the Cavaliers this season, ranking third on the team with 48 points. She also sits tied for 10th in the ACC, averaging 2.21 goals per game. The 2005 national rookie of the year has accumulated 191 goals throughout her four years on the field to rank as the sixth most potent active career goal scorer in the NCAA.

McCulloch, a second-team All-American a year ago, is a repeat selection from last season’s all-conference team. The team’s leader in assists, McCulloch recently became the fourth Cavalier in program history to reach the 100-assists mark. A two-time ACC All-Tournament team honoree, McCulloch is ranked second in the league and 13th in the NCAA with 30 assists. She was also named the ACC and national player of the week on Feb. 23, following back-to-back eight-point performances to open the season.

Weymouth, a three-time All-American and a top-25 finalist for this season’s Tewaaraton Trophy, is making her third appearance on the all-conference team. Leading the team in goals and points, with 49 and 64, respectively, Weymouth is ranked fourth in the league, averaging 3.00 goals per game. The 2006 national and ACC Rookie of the Year, Weymouth has scored in the last 25 games – the ninth-longest active goal scoring streak in the nation.

Duff is making her second appearance on the All-ACC team. The speedy midfielder leads the team in ground balls and caused turnovers, ranking fifth nationally with 40 caused turnovers. In causing 95 throughout her three-year career, Duff looks to become the fifth Cavalier to reach 100 caused turnovers. An All-South Region honoree last year, she has also racked up 29 goals and 16 assists to rank fourth in the team with 45 points.

The Cavaliers opened the 2009 conference tournament earlier this afternoon defeating Virginia Tech, 13-5. The win advances Virginia to tomorrow’s semifinals against top-seed No. 2 Maryland at 4 p.m.

2009 All-ACC Honors:
Kristin Igoe Sophomore Midfield Boston College
Katie Monaghan Senior Goalie Boston College
Sarah Bullard Sophomore Midfield Duke
Caroline Cryer Senior Attack Duke
Carolyn Davis Senior Midfield Duke
Karri Ellen Johnson Freshman Attack Maryland
Brandi Jones Sophomore Midfield Maryland
Caitlyn McFadden Junior Midfield Maryland
Laura Merrifield Sophomore Midfield Maryland
Sarah Mollison Sophomore Attack Maryland
Megan Bosica Junior Midfield North Carolina
Amber Falcone Senior Defense North Carolina
Logan Ripley Junior Goalie North Carolina
Jenn Russell Junior Midfield North Carolina
Kristen Taylor Junior Attack North Carolina
Kaitlin Duff Junior Midfield Virginia
Jenny Hauser Senior Attack Virginia
Ashley McCulloch Senior Attack Virginia
Blair Weymouth Senior Attack Virginia
Rachel Culp Senior Attack Virginia Tech

 

UVa Insider, The Column/Doug Doughty

When walk-on Matt Snyder went deep for a pass late in Virginia’s 2008 spring game, I’ll confess that I wondered if the Cavaliers were trying to catch the attention of his uncommitted younger brother, Jake.

It was more significant this past Saturday when Matt Snyder caught five passes for 55 yards and there was no need to impress Jake, a promising defensive lineman who signed a letter-of-intent with the Cavaliers in February.

There is a much younger Snyder brother, Will, but I doubt the Cavaliers had any ulterior motives Saturday. There is a good chance that Matt Snyder will see action for the Cavaliers, particulary now that they are in a “spread” formation that frequently will employ four wide receivers.

“This isn’t the last time his uniform will be dirty,” said UVa head coach Al Groh after Snyder caught five passes for 55 yards. “He’s the same guy every day: high energy, precise in what he does, very coachable, makes progress with what the coaches give him. Those are talents as well as ‘run fast.’

“Some players who run really fast, they have a hard time processing information. They don’t get any better. This kid gets better all the time. Through two falls, with him basically working against our defense, we’ve seen the same type of guts and same type of constant effort, but now he’s got a little more refinement to his game.”

Snyder, a 6-foot-4, 205-pounder, caught 67 passes as a senior at Deep Run High School in the Richmond suburb of Glen Allen and was named second-team All-Group AAA. He arrived at Virginia as an invited walk-on but did not participate in preseason practice after sustaining a broken collarbone in the 2007 VHSCA all-star game.

While Snyder was a prolific wide receiver at Deep Run, he apparently developed some blocking skills that have served him well in Virginia’s new offense.

“When you’re running the ball and there’s four wide receivers in the game, as opposed to having a tight end in the game, there’s still the same number of defensive players who have to be blocked," Groh said.

“And somebody has to take over the block that the missing tight end had. That somebody has to to be one of those receivers. If the receivers don’t block enthusiastically and don’t block effectively, then it’s going to be difficult to do business out on the perimeter, which is where most of the yardage gets gained.

“He is one of the players who gives us a chance to do a good job with that.”

AT A NORMAL VIRGINIA game, there is enough time before the snap to get all of the Virginia starters, which is the 11 players on either the offense or defense.

In a spring game, of course, there are 22 players running on the field at the same time and it’s hard to identify all of them before the ball is snapped.

I do believe the offense started the game in a four-wide set and that the receivers were a trio of redshirt sophomores – Snyder, Jared Green and Kris Burd – joined by redshirt freshman Javaris Brown.

Green had 12 receptions last year and Burd had seven. Snyder and Brown did not play,

Tight ends Joe Torchia and Colter Phillips combined for four receptions Saturday, although I noticed Phillips in the slot on several occasions, so I can’t provide a breakdown on which receptions came with Torchia and Phillips tight to the line and which came with them spread out.


Junior Dontrelle Inman, probably the most experienced of Virginia’s wide receivers, was in uniform but did not play as an injury-related precaution. Walk-on Staton Jobe, who started 12 of 13 games and had 17 receptions as a redshirt freshman in 2007, did not start but had three receptions.

Suffice to say, there should be plenty of competition in the fall, when SuperPrep All-American Tim Smith will head up an incoming receiving group that will include 6-2, 205-pound Kevin Royal and 6-6, 200-pound Bobby Smith.

Groh stopped during his postgame news conference to praise the speed of two other newcomers, Lovante Battle and Javanti Sparrow, and said that Sparrow could end up on offense. Also, while Quintin Hunter from Orange County might get a look at quarterback, he originally was recruited as an “athlete.”

 

Groh contacts assist Phillips
The NFL's Dolphins and Patriots are interested in Virginia tight end John Phillips.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

With at least one prominent NFL draft analyst projecting Virginia tight end John Phillips as the fifth-round choice of the Miami Dolphins, might one assume that UVa coach Al Groh and old friend Bill Parcells have been in contact?

"We have," Groh said Thursday.

Parcells is executive vice president for football operations for the Dolphins.

Groh was an assistant coach under Parcells with the New England Patriots and New York Jets, but that's not where Groh's NFL connections end. Groh and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick were Parcells assistants, and Groh was Belichick's defensive coordinator in Cleveland in 1992.

Is it any wonder that New England is another team with whom Phillips has been linked?

Wherever Phillips goes, chances are there will be a Groh connection, even if it's not Miami or New England.

"I think that's a very good possibility," Phillips said. "They have the same kind of coaching mentality and I feel that's how I am. Hard-working. Face-in-the-fan."

Here's what Groh has been telling the pros:

"This is the kind of player that good teams have," Groh said. "What stands out is, his passion for football, his 100-percent commitment to the team, his toughness, his willingness and enthusiasm to do any job you want him to do."

Phillips stands to become the fourth UVa tight end to be drafted since 2005, when Pittsburgh selected Heath Miller with the 30th pick of the first round.

Miller subsequently has picked up two Super Bowl rings. The other two draftees, Patrick Estes and Tom Santi, each made NFL rosters,

Phillips (6-6, 250) was named first-team All-ACC last season after catching a career-high 48 passes, but there's more to his game.

"John is similar to Heath in that they are tight ends that do not pay lip service to blocking," Groh said. "John really wants to be a good blocker, as Heath did.

"The other thing that's good about John is his real enthusiasm for playing on special teams, which is something that back-up tight ends almost have to do in order to get their roster spot."

You can use one hand to count the number of Group A players to receive Division I-A scholarships in a given year, much less get drafted, but UVa could have a pair this year, Phillips and running back Cedric Peerman from William Campbell High School. Peerman is projected as Miami's third-round pick by ESPN's Mel Kiper.

Phillips' older brother, Jake, played quarterback at William and Mary for the past four seasons and is hoping to get an invitation to an NFL camp, as is UVa inside linebacker Jon Copper, a walk-on from Northside High School who finished his college career with more than 300 tackles.

John Phillips will watch both days of the draft with family and friends in Bath County. He doesn't expect his name to be called during Saturday's telecast of the first two rounds, but will be waiting to hear the destination of several teammates, headed by offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, who could go in the first five picks.

"There's not much I can do at this point," said Phillips, who completed his degree requirements in 3 12 years. "I still work out. I really like to train. Seeing as I'm not in school, I don't have any other serious obligations."

On Thursday, Phillips was in Williamsburg to play in a golf tournament with his brother and his father, Gene, better known as "Bugs."

"They're both way better than I am," Phillips said. "My brother's gotten even better in college. I'm more of a hacker, but we're playing captain's choice. They bring me along to see how far I can hit it."
 

Morey comes on for Cavs
By Jay Jenkins
Published: April 24, 2009

Mother knows best.

Well, at least in the Morey household.

Following in the footsteps of his mom by matriculating at University of Virginia, sophomore Robert Morey spurned North Carolina, the alma mater of his father.

That decision two years ago has started paying huge dividends for Virginia’s baseball program.

Out of options due to weather-related issues, the right-handed pitcher was thrust into the starting rotation for the series finale at Georgia Tech on April 12.

Morey did not have a chance to develop butterflies about making his first league start against the Yellow Jackets. The Virginia Beach native learned at the team hotel late Saturday evening after a miraculous ninth-inning rally lifted Virginia past Georgia Tech.

“It was almost better that way because I didn’t have time to get nervous about anything,” Morey said. “I was just thinking that I had a job to do. Obviously, you want to have a quick first inning and have the momentum swinging your way out the gate.”

He did just that before the two team’s bullpens battled to a result that will stick with Morey for an eternity. The teams finished tied.

“I don’t really have any words for how that one finished,” Morey chuckled. “We ran into that problem with the Miami game here. It is just the travel policy. That’s the way it goes at times.”

Morey built off his first league start, hurling 7.2 innings of scoreless baseball at Boston College. En route to blanking the Eagles, something no other pitcher has done, he fanned a career-best 12 batters.

“It didn’t feel like it at all,” Morey said. “That was the thing. Somebody told me that and I didn’t really believe them.

“The game was just moving so fast and I was just focusing on hitting my pitches one pitch at a time and one inning at a time.”

Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said it may have been his team’s best performance this season, one that includes 32 wins.

“He was in complete command,” the skipper said. “He had command of all of his pitches. It was a dominating. It is probably the most dominating performance that we have had on the mound all year.”

Having been so masterful, a buzz around Virginia’s fan base centered on where the youngster came from.

“Last year, we had a great pitching staff,” said Morey, who finished with a 6.51 ERA in 16 appearances last year. “We had Jacob Thompson and we had Pat McAnaney right there and my best usage was coming out of the bullpen.”

Morey, of course, is not the same pitcher.

“I have matured so much since last year that luckily I got the opportunity from coach [O’Connor],” said Morey, “and I was fortunate to capitalize.”

It helped, Morey added, that he was able to spend last summer playing in the New England Collegiate League for the Newport (R.I.) Gulls.

“It was a chance for me to get away and reflect,” he said. “I was pitching late in the games, but I got my throwing work in when I needed to. Stepping away and being able to look back, I was learning more about the game instead of just throwing, throwing, throwing.

“That helped me a ton. Coming in this year, I felt so much more confident.”

O’Connor has witnessed it firsthand.

“He has had always had really great stuff, but he would tell you that he hasn’t been as consistent as he would have liked,” O’Connor said. “Sometimes when you give a player an opportunity they capture the opportunity and he has certainly done that.

“His two starts and his two relief appearances prior to that have been as good as you can pitch.”

Morey’s teammates have seen this type of dominance in the making.

Possessing a fastball that topped out at 95 miles per hour at Georgia Tech, the former Cape Henry Collegiate star can overpower batters.

“Ever since I faced him when I first got here I said, ‘That kid has some good stuff,’” Virginia sophomore Phil Gosselin said. “He probably has the best stuff on the team. He has a great curveball and a great slider. I think it was just a matter of him getting some confidence.

“His first couple of innings at Georgia Tech went well and it just grew from there. Confidence is really everything in baseball. It is such a mental sport. You saw what it can do for Robert. It has brought out all the talent that he really has. He has stepped up big time for us.”

Morey’s emergence, coupled with Matt Packer’s newfound success on Tuesday against VCU as a starter, has given Virginia ample options heading into the final 11 regular-season games.

“Even my freshman year, we really didn’t really have one solid starter at times,” Packer said. “This year, we have four or five. That could be pretty impressive.”

Morey knows, however, that his role can be changed at any point with that depth on the mound.

“That is the great thing about this team,” he said. “We are so competitive on the field and we are so close within this team. A spot can be open at any time.”

Luckily, Morey has logged only 30 innings to date, leaving him fresh for the stretch run.

“The most important time of the year is late in the year, the postseason,” Morey said. “I feel good and my arm feels great. I am ready to go out there for the next month.”

 

No. 11 Baseball Welcomes NC State for Three Games
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 04/23/2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 11 Virginia baseball team takes on North Carolina State in a three-game ACC series this weekend at Davenport Field. The teams will play at 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

ON AIR
The Friday and Sunday games both will be available online through ACC Select. The Saturday contest is the ACC Game of the Week and will be televised on the Regional Sports Network with Mike Hogewood and Dan Bonner on the call. Check your local listings for stations carrying the game. All three games will be available on radio with WINA 1070-AM and online at VirginiaSports.com through V Pass.


WEEKEND PROMOTIONS/NOTABLES
With forecast temperatures in the 80s and large crowds anticipated for all three games, fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance at VirginiaSports.com and to arrive early to Davenport Field. Gates and ticket booths open two hours prior to each game.

Sunday, because of an event at John Paul Jones Arena, baseball parking will only be available in the Cage lot and Emmet-Ivy Garage.

Friday is Youth Day at the stadium, with all youth 18 and under getting $1 off the general admission rate. Virginia baseball cards also will be given away to the first 1,000 fans.

Saturday is Fan Appreciation Day, as well as an ‘Orange Out.’ Fans are encouraged to wear orange to the game in support of the Cavaliers. Prizes will be given out to fans throughout the game. The 'Toss for $10,000' promotion also will be played, with one lucky fan getting the chance to win $10,000.

Sunday is Family Day (four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for $32). There also will be a post-game autograph session as well as base running for kids 13 and under.

NOTING THE SERIES
Here are the pitching matchups for this weekend (UVa listed first):
Fri. - LHP Danny Hultzen (5-0, 2.36 ERA) vs. LHP Jimmy Gillheeney (5-2, 3.48 ERA)
Sat. - RHP Andrew Carraway (4-0, 3.46 ERA) vs. TBA
Sun. - RHP Robert Morey (1-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. TBA

Virginia (32-8-1, 11-7-1 ACC) has won three straight games entering the weekend. After taking two of three at Boston College last weekend, the Cavaliers soundly defeated VCU (8-1) and Georgetown (9-3) this week.

With 32 wins, UVa joins Georgia and North Carolina with the most wins in the country. Only nine teams nationally boast 30 or more wins – George Mason has 31, while Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, LSU, New Mexico and Ole Miss each have 30 victories.

The Cavaliers continue to lead the ACC in batting (.347) and earned run average (3.11). As of the Tuesday NCAA rankings, Virginia ranks 11th nationally in team batting average (.349 entering the week). Eastern Illinois leads at .375. The Cavaliers also are sixth in hits (486), ninth in doubles (97), 12th in triples (16) and 15th in runs (344).

Virginia’s pitching staff ranks third in the country in ERA (3.17 entering the week). Only Texas (2.17) and Arizona State (2.48) are better. UVa also stands fourth in hits allowed per nine innings (7.66) and 10th in strikeouts per nine innings (9.7).

NC State (19-22, 7-14) has lost five in a row, but four of those came to ranked teams (No. 17 East Carolina and No. 15 Florida State). Devon Cartwright leads the Wolfpack with a .299 batting average, while Pratt Maynard is hitting .271 with a team-best 31 RBI. NC State is batting .265 as a team and has a 5.01 team ERA.

The Cavaliers and Wolfpack have played several close games of late, with six of the last seven contests decided by three runs or fewer. NC State holds a 116-63-1 edge in the all-time series after winning two of three last year in Raleigh. All three games in that series were decided by two runs. The Cavaliers have not won a series against NC State since 2001.


 

Vigilante Named ACC Coach of the Year
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 04/23/2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - First-year head coach Jason Vigilante has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Coach of the Year and first-year Morgane Gay has earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors, as announced Thursday by the conference office. The coach of the year honor marks the second conference honor for Vigilante, as he earned the award during the men’s cross country season, while the rookie of the year distinction is the first conference honor for Gay.

Vigilante led the Cavalier men to its first-ever ACC Outdoor Championship last weekend at the University of Miami, tying three-time National Champion Florida State for the title. Vigilante led sophomore Adams Abdulrazaaq to the program’s first-ever individual champion in the 110m hurdles, in addition to seeing senior All-American Yemi Ayeni win his third-consecutive discus title. Throughout the weekend, 11 Cavaliers made the podium, bringing home 15 medals.

The honor marks the third time a Virginia coach has brought home top honors and the first since Randy Bungard was named the coach of the year in 2001. Dennis Craddock also earned the honor in 1984.

Gay, a freshman from Bethesda, Md., earned her first All-ACC honor at the conference championship, finishing third in the 1500m. She also scored for Virginia in the 800m, finishing sixth. Gay has qualified for the NCAA regional meet in both events.

The freshman of the year honor marks the first-ever rookie honor for the Cavaliers.

 

Vigilante named ACC’s top coach
By The Daily Progress Staff
Published: April 24, 2009

Jason Vigilante, Virginia’s first-year track coach, was named ACC men’s coach of the year on Thursday, while freshman Morgane Gay was named women’s rookie of the year.

The coaching honor marks the second such accolade of the year for Vigilante, who was also named ACC cross country coach of the year. He led the Virginia men to their first-ever ACC outdoor championship last weekend as the Cavaliers tied with Florida State for the title.

Sophomore Adams Abdulrazaaq won the program’s first-ever 110-meter hurdles championship, while senior All-American Yemi Ayeni won his third consecutive discus title. Eleven Cavaliers reached the podium at the ACC meet, bringing home 15 medals.

Vigilante is the third Virginia coach to be named ACC coach of the year. Randy Bungard was named coach of the year in 2001 and Dennis Craddock earned the award in 1984.

Gay, Virginia’s first rookie of the year, earned her first all-ACC honor by finishing third in the 1,500 meters and finished sixth in the 800. She has qualified for the NCAA regional meet in both events.

Florida State’s Charles Clark was the men’s track performer of the year, while Georgia Tech’s Steve Marcelle was field performer of the year. Maurice Mitchell of Florida State and Will Mulherin of Virginia Tech shared men’s freshman of the year honors.

For the women, Queen Harrison of Virginia Tech was named track performer of the year, while Kim Williams of Florida State was field performer of the year. Bob Braman of Florida State is the women’s coach of the year.