University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Board of Trustees: Pitt Highlights
Dear Members of the Board of Trustees:
I hope this email finds you well and in the midst of an enjoyable holiday season. While I have marveled at Pitt’s dynamic Oakland setting, that feeling has been especially true this month, my first December here, with the arrival of holiday lights and decorations across our campus. From the festive decorations throughout the Cathedral to the giant blue and gold holiday tree decorated by our athletics staff in the main lobby of the Petersen Events Center, the campus is glowing with energy and excitement.
The onset of the holidays also coincided with the conclusion of our fall sports season and the ratcheting up of our winter competition schedules. As we reach this first milestone on the calendar, I wanted to share some notable highlights, on and off the field, from the past three months of the academic year.
As I’ve previously stated, we are wholeheartedly dedicated to building a culture of comprehensive excellence in each endeavor we undertake. We cannot do it alone and I am grateful for your tremendous support and leadership as we strive to build a championship future for Pitt Athletics.
Happy Holidays to you and your family, and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2018.
Heather Lyke
Director of Athletics
HISTORIC SEASON FOR VOLLEYBALL
Our volleyball program, under the direction of Head Coach Dan Fisher, captured the first ACC championship in program history and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive year. Upon my arrival, we talked about Pitt Athletics winning only one team title (wrestling) in our four years of ACC competition. Now make that two and counting! We are dedicated to making championship celebrations a regular occurrence at Pitt!
We celebrated our volleyball team’s accomplishment with a new tradition called Breakfast of Champions in the main lobby of the Petersen Events Center where our entire department congratulated our student-athletes and coaching staff. Coach Fisher was also honored as the ACC Coach of the Year and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) East Coast Region Coach of the Year.
COACH NARDUZZI SIGNED TO LONG-TERM EXTENSION Last week we informed you about the contract extension for our head football coach, Pat Narduzzi. Under Coach Narduzzi, our team has earned signature wins over 2016 national champion Clemson, historic rival Penn State and, to conclude this season, a 24-14 win over No. 2 Miami, the highest-ranked opponent Pitt has ever defeated at home. The Pitt-Miami game was ABC’s most-viewed “Black Friday” game in more than 10 seasons. Pitt was also named the National Team of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) for the Miami win. (And, because one time is never enough, you can re-watch the excitement of this victory through our video team’s outstanding “Field Pass” feature.)
BUILDING CHAMPIONS THROUGH THE CATHY AND JOHN PELUSI FAMILY LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM
We have a responsibility to build champions on and off the field. In that effort, the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program is a tremendously valuable resource that has no peer across college athletics. In October, the program hosted its annual Career Networking Night, which provides our student-athletes with the opportunity to expand their professional skills and make vital professional contacts. This year marked our largest networking event ever with more than 130 networkers representing more than 70 organizations, including seven Fortune 100® and 13 Fortune 500® firms.
Another integral part of the Pelusi Family Life Skills Program is its emphasis on being community minded and giving back through service. We have made this a high priority for 2017-18 and to that end I’m proud to report that during the fall semester our student-athletes, coaches and staff dedicated more than 270 hours to various charitable and community causes throughout the region and beyond. The organizations and causes served include: American Cancer Society, Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, the United Way, Autism Speaks, Grady's Decision, Angels' Place, St. Anthony Charitable Foundation and Children’s Hospital.
In this season of giving, I thought you would especially enjoy these video images from our men’s basketball team’s November visit to Children’s Hospital.
A further reflection of our ties and collaborations with the community is our new partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools in which we distributed nearly 2,000 tickets for students to come to a Pitt football game who might otherwise not have the opportunity to do so.
PITT LAUNCHES "OFF SCRIPT"
This fall we launched a new initiative to enhance our efforts to tell the stories of Pitt’s people. It’s called Off Script and provides weekly in-depth feature content and podcasts that highlight the stories behind the athletic department, our student-athletes, staff and programs. It has gained immense popularity in a short period of time. You can find the latest episode and features here.
OTHER NEW INITIATIVES
Pitt Athletics launched a number of new initiatives this past fall designed to impact student-athlete unity, communications, development and digital technology.
The Panthers Unite initiative was launched at the September 30 Pitt football game vs. Rice. Panthers Unite showcases all 19 Pitt intercollegiate sports programs by bringing all of our student-athletes together to support each another. One event from each of the teams’ schedules is designated as a Panthers Unite promotion. Said Pitt wrestling head coach Keith Gavin, himself a University of Pittsburgh graduate and former NCAA wrestling champion: "The Panthers Unite initiative is a great way for us to show support for all of our teams as a collective unit.”
From a communications standpoint, the inaugural edition of Lyke Lights was published and distributed to Pitt supporters across the country and beyond. This will be a quarterly “Letter to Panther Nation” from the Director of Athletics Office, keeping fans of the Blue and Gold connected to the department’s vision, priorities and accomplishments.
In September, a new Pitt Athletics Mobile App was introduced in coordination with our new partnership with SIDEARM Sports. The app is customizable for each of Pitt’s 19 sports and includes enhanced ways to get news, tickets, live audio and stats and the latest PantherVision videos.
From a development perspective, Pitt Athletics introduced its first-ever crowdfunding effort, done in collaboration with Pitt's Office of Institutional Advancement. The campaign raised $85,000 for the purchase of an Alter G machine, regarded as the finest rehabilitation equipment in the country. Additionally, Pitt Athletics held a Friends and Family Flash Sale where fans were able to purchase Pitt Nike sport-branded apparel with proceeds ($55,000) directly benefitting the Panther Club Athletic Scholarship Fund.
FALL ALL-ACC HONOREES
I hope this email finds you well and in the midst of an enjoyable holiday season. While I have marveled at Pitt’s dynamic Oakland setting, that feeling has been especially true this month, my first December here, with the arrival of holiday lights and decorations across our campus. From the festive decorations throughout the Cathedral to the giant blue and gold holiday tree decorated by our athletics staff in the main lobby of the Petersen Events Center, the campus is glowing with energy and excitement.
The onset of the holidays also coincided with the conclusion of our fall sports season and the ratcheting up of our winter competition schedules. As we reach this first milestone on the calendar, I wanted to share some notable highlights, on and off the field, from the past three months of the academic year.
As I’ve previously stated, we are wholeheartedly dedicated to building a culture of comprehensive excellence in each endeavor we undertake. We cannot do it alone and I am grateful for your tremendous support and leadership as we strive to build a championship future for Pitt Athletics.
Happy Holidays to you and your family, and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2018.
Heather Lyke
Director of Athletics
HISTORIC SEASON FOR VOLLEYBALL
Our volleyball program, under the direction of Head Coach Dan Fisher, captured the first ACC championship in program history and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive year. Upon my arrival, we talked about Pitt Athletics winning only one team title (wrestling) in our four years of ACC competition. Now make that two and counting! We are dedicated to making championship celebrations a regular occurrence at Pitt!
We celebrated our volleyball team’s accomplishment with a new tradition called Breakfast of Champions in the main lobby of the Petersen Events Center where our entire department congratulated our student-athletes and coaching staff. Coach Fisher was also honored as the ACC Coach of the Year and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) East Coast Region Coach of the Year.
COACH NARDUZZI SIGNED TO LONG-TERM EXTENSION Last week we informed you about the contract extension for our head football coach, Pat Narduzzi. Under Coach Narduzzi, our team has earned signature wins over 2016 national champion Clemson, historic rival Penn State and, to conclude this season, a 24-14 win over No. 2 Miami, the highest-ranked opponent Pitt has ever defeated at home. The Pitt-Miami game was ABC’s most-viewed “Black Friday” game in more than 10 seasons. Pitt was also named the National Team of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) for the Miami win. (And, because one time is never enough, you can re-watch the excitement of this victory through our video team’s outstanding “Field Pass” feature.)
BUILDING CHAMPIONS THROUGH THE CATHY AND JOHN PELUSI FAMILY LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM
We have a responsibility to build champions on and off the field. In that effort, the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program is a tremendously valuable resource that has no peer across college athletics. In October, the program hosted its annual Career Networking Night, which provides our student-athletes with the opportunity to expand their professional skills and make vital professional contacts. This year marked our largest networking event ever with more than 130 networkers representing more than 70 organizations, including seven Fortune 100® and 13 Fortune 500® firms.
Another integral part of the Pelusi Family Life Skills Program is its emphasis on being community minded and giving back through service. We have made this a high priority for 2017-18 and to that end I’m proud to report that during the fall semester our student-athletes, coaches and staff dedicated more than 270 hours to various charitable and community causes throughout the region and beyond. The organizations and causes served include: American Cancer Society, Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, the United Way, Autism Speaks, Grady's Decision, Angels' Place, St. Anthony Charitable Foundation and Children’s Hospital.
In this season of giving, I thought you would especially enjoy these video images from our men’s basketball team’s November visit to Children’s Hospital.
A further reflection of our ties and collaborations with the community is our new partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools in which we distributed nearly 2,000 tickets for students to come to a Pitt football game who might otherwise not have the opportunity to do so.
PITT LAUNCHES "OFF SCRIPT"
This fall we launched a new initiative to enhance our efforts to tell the stories of Pitt’s people. It’s called Off Script and provides weekly in-depth feature content and podcasts that highlight the stories behind the athletic department, our student-athletes, staff and programs. It has gained immense popularity in a short period of time. You can find the latest episode and features here.
OTHER NEW INITIATIVES
Pitt Athletics launched a number of new initiatives this past fall designed to impact student-athlete unity, communications, development and digital technology.
The Panthers Unite initiative was launched at the September 30 Pitt football game vs. Rice. Panthers Unite showcases all 19 Pitt intercollegiate sports programs by bringing all of our student-athletes together to support each another. One event from each of the teams’ schedules is designated as a Panthers Unite promotion. Said Pitt wrestling head coach Keith Gavin, himself a University of Pittsburgh graduate and former NCAA wrestling champion: "The Panthers Unite initiative is a great way for us to show support for all of our teams as a collective unit.”
From a communications standpoint, the inaugural edition of Lyke Lights was published and distributed to Pitt supporters across the country and beyond. This will be a quarterly “Letter to Panther Nation” from the Director of Athletics Office, keeping fans of the Blue and Gold connected to the department’s vision, priorities and accomplishments.
In September, a new Pitt Athletics Mobile App was introduced in coordination with our new partnership with SIDEARM Sports. The app is customizable for each of Pitt’s 19 sports and includes enhanced ways to get news, tickets, live audio and stats and the latest PantherVision videos.
From a development perspective, Pitt Athletics introduced its first-ever crowdfunding effort, done in collaboration with Pitt's Office of Institutional Advancement. The campaign raised $85,000 for the purchase of an Alter G machine, regarded as the finest rehabilitation equipment in the country. Additionally, Pitt Athletics held a Friends and Family Flash Sale where fans were able to purchase Pitt Nike sport-branded apparel with proceeds ($55,000) directly benefitting the Panther Club Athletic Scholarship Fund.
FALL ALL-ACC HONOREES
| Sport | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Football | Brian O'Neill, OT | First Team |
| Football | Ryan Winslow, P | First Team |
| Football | Quadree Henderson, SP | Second Team |
| Football | Avonte Maddox, CB | Third Team |
| Football | Alex Bookser, OG | Honorable Mention |
| Football | Alex Officer, OG | Honorable Mention |
| Football | Oluwaseun Idowu, LB | Honorable Mention |
| Football | Quadree Henderson, AP | Honorable Mention |
| Volleyball | Dan Fisher | ACC Coach of the Year |
| Volleyball | Nika Markovic, RS | First Team |
| Volleyball | Kamalani Akeo, S | First Team |
| Volleyball | Stephanie Williams, OH | First Team |
| Volleyball | Kayla Lund, OH | All-Freshman Team |
| Volleyball | Chinaza Ndee, MH | All-Freshman Team |
| Men’s Soccer | Javi Perez, M | Second Team |
| Men’s Soccer | Pol Planella, M | Third Team |
| Men’s Soccer | Alexander Dexter, F | All-Freshman Team |
| Men’s Soccer | Edward Kizza, F | All-Freshman Team |