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Show SPORTS B1 Sights set on Wolverine basketball faces the crucial task of improving its roster prior to its inagural season in the WAC By Kyle Spencer Sports Editor @kyledspencer As head coach Dick Hunsaker and his staff approach the off-season agenda, their efforts focus on developing a team that can experience the exhilarating emotion of competing in the NCAA tournament. Joining the Western Athletic Conference has completely transformed the culture and mentality of the athletic programs at UVU. There is now one glaringly obvious goal that every Wolverine basketball team will set its sights on—qualifying to play during the most entertaining month in college sports. To reach its destination the team will need strengthen its current roster through recruiting. "We are still in the recruiting process," said Hunsaker. "We understand that we are making the move to the WAC and we'll need to improve our talent level if we're going to be able to be competitive in our new conference." That process now includes the lure of playing in a conference that provides the opportunity to bypass the inclinations of a biased selection committee by winning its postseason tournament. "There will always be a special place in my heart for those who played without the automatic qualifier," Hunsaker said. "Even the last four years. We were NCAA tournament eligible, if we went undefeated. So we've been NCAA tournament eligible but when you have to win every game the circumstances make the percentage of that occurring very minute. There's tremendous excitement. This is a wonderful opportunity to now be in an automatic qualifying conference. It's a new day at Utah Valley." The new possibility will surely awaken interest in talented recruits that in previous years may have dismissed the notion of playing for UVU, but the coaching staff remains concentrated on the tedious process that has equated the signing of quality players in the past. "My recruiting philosophy is that we're trying to find the best player that we can get," Hunsaker said. "We certainly always start within the state of Utah. There is a lot of competition for the talent within the state. There are some institutions that are well established with rich traditions . We do our best to uncover and locate players that aren't quite polished, or for whatever reason might be overlooked. We start within the state and build out." Coach Hunsaker's tenure has allowed Wolverine fans to experience the majestic athleticism on display at the highest level. Ronnie Price, who graduated from UVU in 2005, is entering his ninth season in the NBA this year. Ryan Toolson, who completed his degree at UVU in 2009, led his team in scoring while competing in Spain's top professional basketball league. Nick Thompson, who led the team in assists last year, is hopeful he will begin his professional career this year—an aspiration that appears close to being realized after he was invited to work out for the Jazz prior to the NBA draft. "The fundamental basics of our program demonstrate that we run a pro philosophy style of play," Hunsaker said. "What so many young kids don't understand is the cerebral part of the game—the thinking part—is of great value as you go up the levels and if you want to play at the professional level. The little things are the separator and we have heightened in on our players to think and understand the game and I think that's enabled a number of the guys to find success after they left Utah Valley." It was announced last week that Holton Hunsaker, son of coach Hunsaker, would be honored alongside lady Wolverine and alleverything forward Sammie Jensen as GWC scholar-athletes of the year. The award is the most prestigious acknowledgement of excellence awarded by the Great West Conference, a testament of the athletic and academic achievements of both Hunsaker and Jensen, as well as their outstanding demonstration of leadership and attitude. Coach Hunsaker's individual basketball camp, which is always an inviting opportunity for former Wolverines—like Price and Toolson—to return to campus and assist in the development of younger players, has been concluded and the 2013-14 schedule is forthcoming. The current priority suggests that in the coming months the roster may take a very different shape. This will be a welcome change if it helps propel the school to its first taste of the thrills of March madness. The dancing shoes have already been ordered, but it will take a WAC championship to be able to use them on the big stage. Antoine Hosley and the Wolverines are determined to take advantage of the new oppotunities in the WAC. JOSH ROSE/UVU REVIEW One final salute to a UVU visionary Athletic Director Mike Jacobsen has finished his tenure at UVU By Garrett Coleman Assistant Sports Editor garretjcoleman@gmail.com Mike Jacobsen has traveled a long road, one filled with service and devotion to UVU athletics. Jacobsen officially ended his 29-year career as athletic director of UVU, retiring in June. No one has done more for UVU athletics than Jacobsen. Having started 29 years ago, no one could have dreamed of the accomplishments that were to follow his hard work. "He built a program virtually from scratch in many regards and now leaves us with a quality Division I level operation in a regionally competitive conference," said UVU President Matthew Holland. When Jacobsen started, the school was still primarily competing against other junior colleges and was having success. However, Jacobsen knew the athletics could accomplish more, especially at a higher level. In 2001, Jacobsen applied with the NCAA to explore moving then-UVSC athletics to NCAA Division I. COURTESY OF UVU REVIEW Mike Jacobsen leaves after succesfully transitioning UVU Athletics to Division I. In July 2008, Utah Valley completed the lengthy provisional period, and became the first community college in modern day history of the NCAA to transition from a two-year school to Division I. "Moving up to Division I would have to be my highest point," explained Jacobsen. "To have the athletic programs competing at such a high level in such a short time is spectacular." While competing as an Independent before joining the Great West Conference in 2010, UVU continued its success under Jacobsen. Over the course of time the Wolverines claimed a host of region championships and had top-ten national finishes in volleyball, basketball, softball, track, golf and cross-country along with a national championship in softball and a provisional men's basketball title in 2004. Since joining the GWC, UVU has slain the competition, winning championships in almost every sport associated with the conference and capturing the Commissioner"s Cup in four consecutive years, beginning in 2010. The numerous achievements of the 11-year run since the submission of the application for D-I entry have earned the Wolverines the opportunity to secure bids in the major NCAA tournaments, which comes as a result of joining the WAC in 2013. Jacobsen's legacy of hard work and service has not gone unnoticed. He had a vision of what the athletic program could be and followed that vision until he was able to make it a reality—redefining the impossible in college sports in the process. Under Jacobsen's direction, Utah Valley University has gone from playing their games at local high schools to having outstanding oncampus facilities. The basketball teams play in the 8,500-seat UCCU Center, while volleyball and wres- 61 [Mike Jacobsen] built a program virtually from scratch in many regards and now leaves us with a quality Division I level operation in a regionally competitive conference MATTHEW HOLLAND President of UVU UU Cling use the 2,000-seat Activity Center. The 5,000-person capacity of Brent Brown Ballpark is the home to UVU baseball, one of the premier baseball stadiums in the West. Most recently, Utah Valley completed the Hal Wing Track & Field, another quality facility. This all adds to Jacobsen leaving UVU athletics in a much better state that he found it in. He will be missed, but his stewardship moved UVU athletics in the right direction, overcoming various roadblocks on the way to the promised land of Division I. The future looks bright for the Wolverines who will now be able to compete at an even higher level of competition by joining the WAC. The time has come to salute and thank Mike Jacobsen for his everlasting contributions, his decorated legacy now complete. |
