Bowling Green State University
Intercollegiate Athletics Tradition

The tradition of excellence that is the trademark of Bowling Green State University athletics extends both on and off the playing venues. In 1999-2000 two teams captured conference titles and two Falcon student-athletes earn Academic All-America honors. It was the 17th year in the last 18 seasons in which BGSU had at least one Academic All-American. Year in and year out BGSU has one of the top programs in the Mid-American Conference. BG's men have captured the Reese Trophy, awarded for overall athletic excellence, in two of the last seven years. The women's programs have captured the corresponding Jacoby Trophy in three of the last nine seasons.

While excelling athletically, BGSU student-athletes have performed equally well in the classroom, having earned Academic All-America honors a total of 59 times. As we move into the 21st century, the accomplishments of BGSU's coaches and student-athletes solidify the University's place among the top athletic programs in the country.

In the 1980s Bowling Green sports teams achieved a level of success matched by few and, based on the performance of Falcon teams of the last decade, they are maintaining their place among the elite in collegiate athletics. Bowling Green claimed 24 conference titles during the 1980s with 21 teams earning berths in postseason play. During the '90s, BG teams won 22 league titles with 20 teams making appearances in postseason action. Off the field, Falcon student-athletes have a 2.97 grade-point average and a peer graduate rate of 70%.

Following is a brief synopsis of each program in the BGSU Athletic Department.

Baseball
The program has become one of the best in the MAC under 11th-year head coach Danny Schmitz, who played eight seasons of professional baseball. Schmitz's teams have won MAC East Division titles in two of the last three seasons, also winning the league tournament and advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 1998 and 1999. His 1995 squad also captured a conference title. Overall during the last six seasons, the program has won 185 games, an average of more than 30 per season. Many former BGSU players have gone on to play professional baseball including pitchers Roger McDowell and Orel Hershiser.

Men's Basketball
Coach Dan Dakich begins his fourth season after leading BG a MAC title and NIT berth in 2000. Historically, BGSU leads the MAC in postseason appearances (24 games), victories (eight) and number of All-Americans (eight). BG boasts the earliest NBA picks in MAC history in Hall-of-Famer Nate Thurmond. Antonio Daniels was the #4 overall pick in 1997 draft. Thurmond and coaching great Harold Anderson were inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985.

Women's Basketball
The tradition-rich program is under the guidance of one of its own-former player Dee Knoblauch who begins her third season this year. BGSU has compiled an impressive 273-133 record during the last 14 years, with at least 20 wins in four of the last nine seasons. The Falcons are the winningest team in MAC history, having captured six league tournament and five regular season championships. The success of the program has attracted large crowds to Anderson Arena, including 4,408 fans for the 1993 NCAA tournament game against Florida.

Cross Country
The women's program has dominated the MAC the last few years, winning three of the last five conference titles while finishing second in another year. The women's team made MAC history becoming the first league team to qualify for the NCAA meet in 1995. Cami Wells begins her first full season as head coach, having come on board midway through the 1999 season. Sterling Martin begins his third year as head of the perennially strong men's program and hopes to bring it back to prominence among the MAC.

Football
The winningest MAC team in the '60s and '80s, the men's football program, with 10 league titles, is among the most respected in the country. BG won 19 straight league games in head coach Gary Blackney's first three seasons and compiled a 28-2-2 MAC mark over his first four years. BG's 58-41-2 overall record the last eight seasons is one of the best in the country among Division I-A schools and makes Blackney the 26th-winningest (by percentage) active coach in the country. BGSU alumni include former NFL all-pros Phil Villapiano (Oakland), Mike Weger (Detroit) and Doug Smith (Los Angeles Rams), 12-year veteran Bob Reynolds (St. Louis) and Jamie Rivers (St. Louis).

Golf
Both the men's and women's teams play on some of the most challenging courses in the country and in some of the most prestigious tournaments on the collegiate level. Kurt Thomas coaches the women's team and Garry Winger the men's program. The Falcon men's program, which was second in the MAC in 1995, its best finish since 1983, has won four league titles and made four NCAA tournament appearances. The women's program is annually among the best in the region and now competes for a MAC title each year. Shelley Binzel earned second-team All-MAC honors in 2000 as a freshman.

Gymnastics
Under head coach Dan Connelly, twice the MAC Coach of the Year in his first four seasons, the women's gymnastics program is quickly becoming one of the best in the region. Two years ago, freshman Marny Oestreng became the first BGSU gymnast to qualify for the NCAA meet, winning the national championship in the floor exercise and wiping out every school record. Oestreng returned to NCAA regional competition last season. Bowling Green, which has won three MAC titles, should be a strong contender for top league honors this season.

Hockey
Having narrowly missed NCAA berths in recent seasons, head coach Buddy Powers is looking to get his 2000-2001 squad in the NCAA tournament. One of only five teams in the country to earn 20 or more wins every year between 1981 and 1990, the Falcons have appeared in nine NCAA tournaments, winning the 1984 national title. In all, the Falcons have won 11 conference titles. BGSU has produced some of college hockey's greatest players, including current NHL players, defensemen Garry Galley, Rob Blake and Dave Ellett, and forwards Nelson Emerson and Brian Holzinger. BG is also the home of two players who have captured the Hobey Baker Award.

Men's Soccer
With six NCAA tournament appearances, four of those in the last eight seasons, the program is well respected in the nation. After posting a winning record in all but one year of the 1980s, the team remained successful in the '90s, compiling a 131-59-12 mark. BG has been nationally ranked in three of the last five seasons, reaching as high as a #3 national ranking.

Women's Soccer
The newest program in the department, women's soccer will play its fourth intercollegiate season in 2000. The sport will also compete for a Mid-American Conference title. New head coach Andy Richards has all 11 starters returning from last season, and boasts the first senior class (six members) in program history.

Softball
One of the most successful programs in the MAC, BGSU softball earned league titles in 1993 and 1988. Last season, BGSU tied for the MAC's East Division title and advanced all the way to the championship game of the league tournament. The program annually plays some of the top teams in the country in addition to its demanding league schedule. Head coach Leigh Ross-Shaw is in her third season.

Swimming and Diving
Randy Julian begins his sixth year with the men's and women's programs, with a goal of continuing a winning tradition. Thirteen dual meet wins by the women's program in 1991-92 established a school record; the women finished third or better in 12 of 19 MAC meets. The Falcons train at beautiful Cooper Pool, one of the Midwest's top swimming and diving facilities.

Tennis
The Falcon tennis teams have the advantage of playing and practicing at one of the finest facilities of its kind in the region--Robert Keefe Courts. The men's team, under head coach Jay Harris ,tied for the MAC regular-season title last year and has never finished lower than fourth. The women's program is under the guidance of Penny Dean, who is in her 11th season.

Track and Field
In the last nine seasons, Bowling Green, long associated with success in track and field, has had 18 athletes compete in the NCAA, nine of those earning All-America honors. Among the track alumni is six-time NCAA All-American and 1972 Olympic gold medalist Dave Wottle. Long-time assistant coach Scott Sehmann assumed the reins of the women's program in 2000; the men's program is headed by third-year coach Sterling Martin. Both squads also have a full indoor schedule of meets while training at the Charles E. Perry Field House, one of the best facilities of its kind in the region.

Volleyball
Coach Denise Van De Walle has steadily built the Falcon volleyball program into one of the best in the country. The 1992 team won a school-record 30 matches on its way to a third MAC title in four seasons. BG has won 20 or more matches in eight of the last 13 years, including last year's 21-12 team. Van De Walle, three times named the league Coach of the Year, has led the Falcons to 280 wins during the last 14 seasons--a victory almost three out of every four times they've played.

Head Coaches
BaseballDanny Schmitz
Men's BasketballDan Dakich
Women's BasketballDee Knoblauch
Men's Cross CountrySterling Martin
Women's Cross CountryCami Wells
FootballGary Blackney
Men's GolfGarry Winger
Women's GolfKurt Thomas
GymnasticsDan Connelly
Ice HockeyBuddy Powers
Men's SoccerMel Mahler
Women's SoccerAndy Richards
SoftballLeigh Ross-Shaw
Men's and Women's Swimming & DivingRandy Julian
Men's TennisJay Harris
Women's TennisPenny Dean
Men's TrackSterling Martin
Women's TrackScott Sehmann
VolleyballDenise Van De Walle

Practical, hands-on experience is available to students interested in a career in intercollegiate athletics. The department of intercollegiate athletics seeks and welcomes student assistance in the areas of academic advisement, event management, compliance, business, concessions, marketing, promotions, development and fund raising, media relations, athletic training, team management, equipment management and video support.

A number of key contacts include:

Senior Women's Administrator/Associate ADJanna Blais
Associate AD for Development Scott Seeliger
Assistant AD for Marketing/CommunicationsKristen Bernert
Assistant AD for Financial AffairsLauren Kelly
Assistant AD for Internal Affairs Jim Elsasser
Assistant AD for Compliance Sid Sink
Interim Assistant AD for Academic Affairs Dr. Jack Taylor
Assistant to the AD/ConcessionsColby Blair
Director of Ticket OperationsScot Bressler
Director of Athletic CommunicationsJ.D. Campbell
Head Athletic TrainerBill Jones
Athletic Equipment ManagerJoe Sharp

For more information contact:
BGSU Athletic Department
Paul Krebs, Athletic Director
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
(419) 372-2401