August 19, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - After producing the program’s fifth consecutive 10-plus win season and matching the school-record for wins in a season with a 12 in 2007, the Gonzaga University women’s soccer team enters the 2008 season looking to continue its recent success and make a run at an NCAA Tournament berth.

With the opening of the new Gonzaga Soccer Field, 10th year head coach Shannon Stiles is looking forward to seeing this year’s squad compete at one of the top facilities in all of Division I.

“We are looking forward to playing in front of our fans on our new field. The environment that Gonzaga has created for soccer with the new stadium is fantastic,” said Stiles.

The Zags will be led by six returning starters from last season’s 12-7-1 squad, including senior Kelcey Goddard, a 2007 All-WCC second team selection, and sophomore keeper Lauren Ames, who was tabbed for the WCC All-Freshman team a season ago.

Eight players on the 2008 roster appeared in at least 15 games for the Bulldogs last season. In the addition to the large group of returners, Gonzaga also brings in one of the top recruiting classes in the West Region, according to Soccer Buzz Magazine. Seven new players join the team this year and each is expected to make an immediate impact.

“Our group of freshmen, along with our junior college transfer, will be big contributors for us this season,” explained Stiles. “They each bring a dynamic set of skills that will help our club and make every player around them better.”

One of the Zags strengths last season was their defense. After posting nine shutouts last year, a good core of one of the top defenses in the WCC returns to lead the Bulldog charge. Sophomore Ames returns after securing the starting keeper position late in the season. She posted a 0.43 goals against average in six starts as a freshman. Joining Ames will be junior Jessie Thalman who led the team with eight wins and five shutouts last season.

“Both Ames and Thalman played well for us with Ames becoming a key part of our success in the latter half of our season. She helped us pick up two big WCC wins including the win over 13th ranked Santa Clara,” stated Stiles.

Thalman and Ames, along with redshirt junior Kayla Jerde, will be pushed by two-time all-conference junior college transfer Amy Danielson.

“Danielson provides size and strength in the goal and will be a very welcome addition to our goalkeeper lineup,” Stiles said of the incoming keeper. “The depth at our keeper position will allow us to push our keepers in order to find the starting goalkeeper for our team.”

Goddard, along with sophomores Catherine Cullen and Elle Sweeney will head the back line for the Bulldogs. Lack of experience will not be a factor for the Zags on defense as Goddard and Cullen made 18 and 19 starts, respectively, and Sweeney appeared in 18 of the 20 games last season. The defense will again have some depth with the return of redshirt freshman Katie Spangenberg and additions of a very talented group of freshmen Casey Gould, Corey Protzman, and one of top players out of Colorado, Ashley Railey.

At midfield, sophomores Ashley Riley and Sheridan Jones each return looking to build off of their impressive freshman campaigns. Riley finished tied for the team lead with 12 points after scoring four goals and recording four assists and Jones finished with two goals and an assist from her attacking midfield position. Looking to join the two will be another highly touted freshman, Sarah Rhodes who was a three-time All-Provincial selection in British Columbia.

“We are excited about the combination of Riley, Jones, and our young freshman (Rhodes). We are expecting good things from this group this season, each player has the ability to make big plays,” commented Stiles of her attacking midfielders. “Sarah compliments Riley and Jones very well; she brings a wide variety of skillful passes and can really finish an offensive attack. She will be a great asset for us throughout the season and her career.”

Juniors Taylor Hall and Christi D’Agostino also are expected to see valuable minutes and contribute for the Bulldogs at the midfield lines. Hall returns after recording six points a year ago including a goal and tied for the team-high with four assists.

“Our veteran players in Hall and D’Agostino will serve important roles as defensive center midfielders this season. Both players have the skill set to play physical and both distribute the ball very effectively,” said Stiles.

Senior Lauren Dascenzo and redshirt junior Lori Conrad each returns to lead the front line for the Zags in 2008. Both players are coming off solid 2007 seasons in which Conrad started all 20 games and Dascenzo appeared in 18 games with each player recording one goal. Freshman Emma Dolcetti, from Canada, is expected to make an immediate impact with the veterans on the frontline for the Bulldogs.

“Conrad gave us a much needed offensive spark last season and in the final couple games, proved to us that she can be an attacking threat. Her diving header to lift us past Pepperdine in double overtime was one of the highlights of last season. Dascenzo played a valuable role for us last year and we are expecting a solid senior season from her,” Stiles said of her veteran returners.

“We add a talented freshman in Dolcetti to our frontline with Dascenzo and Conrad. Dolcetti is a big, strong, tall target and will work well in the box for us,” said Stiles. “With Conrad, Dascenzo, and Dolcetti, we now have size, speed, and experience on our front line.”

Redshirt sophomore Jessie Sorenson, and sophomore transfer Caitlyn Salo will see time on both the front and midfield lines throughout the season. Sorenson returns after receiving a medical redshirt last season after appearing in 14 matches her freshman campaign. Senior Lacey Castleberry is expected to miss the season while recovering from off season knee surgery.

The addition of one of the best recruiting classes in the Stiles era to a team that has a veteran presence returning at each line, will hopefully see the 2008 Bulldogs make a run at earning a NCAA Tournament berth.

“We finished on real high last year by winning our final two games and we are looking to carry over the momentum into this year,” said Stiles. “With our new field, one of our top recruiting classes, and our talented group of returners, we look forward to accomplishing our goal of returning to the NCAA tournament.”

August 14, 2008

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Gonzaga University men’s soccer, which lost 10 seniors off last season’s team, has been picked to finish sixth in a pre-season poll of West Coast Conference coaches.

Coming off of an undefeated season in conference play and a trip to the third round of last year’s NCAA Championships, Santa Clara University has been selected the favorite to take home the regular- season title.

The Bulldogs, who earned a NCAA Tournament at-large bid a year ago, received 12 votes. Gonzaga lost seven starters off a team that went 9-7-4 overall, 4-4-4 in the WCC for fourth place. Head coach Einar Thorarinsson, entering his 14th season at the helm, has four returning starters among his 10 returning lettermen - defenders Tim Muravez and Nick Barclay, and midfielders Ben Funkhouser and Nick Heinrichs. Of the other returning letterwinners, midfielder Tye Perdido started eight of his 20 appearances.

The Broncos, who will be returning seven starters from last year’s squad, received six first place votes for a total of 36 points. This marks the fourth time in the past five years that SCU Clara has been voted the pre-season favorite.

Tabbed second was the University of San Diego, which totaled 30 points with one first place vote. Rounding out the top three was the University of Portland (25), which advanced to last year’s NCAA Tournament. Behind Portland were the University of San Francisco (20), Loyola Marymount University (14), Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s College (10).

The Broncos return 15 letterwinners from last year’s squad, including two of their top three scorers from last season. Leading the way for Santa Clara will be last year’s WCC Freshman of the Year and All-WCC first team member, Jalil Anibaba (1g, 2a). Also expected to make contributions this year will be Stephen McCarthy (6g, 1a), a 2007 All-WCC second team selection, and Jide Ogunbiyi (6g, 2a), who earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season. The Broncos also welcome in the 9th best recruiting class in the country, according to Collegesoccernews.com.

The Toreros will be returning nine starters and 16 letterwinners from last year. San Diego returns two of the top defenders in the conference in senior Sam Reeder and junior Tim Grey, as both players earned All-WCC second team honors last season.

The Pilots, who return six starters and 16 letterwinners from last year, advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. Headlining the list of returners for Portland is junior midfielder Collen Warner (3g, 4a) and sophomore goalkeeper Austin Guerrero, both of whom earned All-WCC first team honors last season.

The Dons, looking for their fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last five years, return six starters and 18 letterwinners. Loyola Marymount returns six starters and 18 letterwinners, including sophomore forward/midfielder Rafael Baca, who was named to the All-WCC second team and the All-WCC freshman squad. Saint Mary’s will be led by junior midfielder Dylan Leslie, a 2007 All-WCC first team selection, and senior defender Corey Heldreth, an All-WCC second team member last season.

West Coast Conference Men’s Soccer
2008 Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parenthesis)

1. Santa Clara (6) 36
2. San Diego (1) 30
3. Portland 25
4. San Francisco 20
5. Loyola Marymount 14
6. Gonzaga 12
7. Saint Mary’s 10

August 13, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Gonzaga University women’s soccer team has been picked to finish sixth in the West Coast Conference for the 2008 season according to a preseason vote of the league’s head coaches.

The University of Portland was selected to repeat as WCC champions after receiving seven first place votes. The Pilots return 14 players that were part of the Portland squad that advanced to last season’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Santa Clara University, who returns 12 players from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, was picked to finish second and also received one first place vote. The Broncos were followed in the poll by the University of San Diego (37), which advanced to the 2007 NCAA Tournament, and by Loyola Marymount University (30), which narrowly missed postseason play after posting a 12-6-1 record last season. Selected fifth was Pepperdine University, which tallied 24 points, followed by Gonzaga University with 22 points. The University of San Francisco (11) and Saint Mary’s College (9) round out this year’s preseason poll in seventh and eighth place, respectively.

The Bulldogs return 17 players from last year’s squad, including six starters, two All-WCC selections in senior midfielder Kelcey Goddard and sophomore keeper Lauren Ames, and welcome in one of the top recruiting classes in the West Region according to Soccer Buzz Magazine. The 2007 team produced the program’s fifth consecutive 10-win season and tied the school-record for most wins in a season with 12. Gonzaga finished fifth in the 2007 WCC standings with a 12-7-1 overall record and 3-4 in the WCC.

The Zags open their 2008 season on the road at Long Beach State in Long Beach, Calif. on Aug. 22 and return home to host Portland State University for the inaugural game at the new Gonzaga Soccer Field on Aug. 24 at 1 p.m.

WCC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Portland - 49 (7)

2. Santa Clara - 42 (1)

3. San Diego - 37

4. Loyola Marymount - 30

5. Pepperdine - 24

6. Gonzaga - 22

7. San Francisco - 11

8. Saint Mary’s - 9

(First place votes)

August 5, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - Ten former Gonzaga University players have continued to climb baseball’s professional ranks by producing solid seasons this summer.

Jason Bay and Mike Redmond each continue their big league careers. Bay was part of the July 31 three-team trade that saw him land as the new Boston Red Sox left fielder. He had been patrolling outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2003. Through 110 games this season, Bay is hitting .284 with 23 homers and 68 RBI. Redmond continues to serve as the backup catcher for the Minnesota Twins, posting a .270 average in 28 games this season.

Three former Bulldogs remain one step away from the big leagues, currently playing at the AAA level. First baseman Nate Gold, drafted in the 10th round of the 2002 draft, is currently second on the Oklahoma Redhawks (Texas Rangers) with 20 home runs and 75 RBI. Catcher Mike Richardson is also playing for the RedHawks, the 2003 un-drafted free agent entered the month of August with five homers and 20 RBI. Pitcher Clayton Mortensen, the St. Louis Cardinals firs round pick last year, was promoted to the Memphis Redbirds this summer. He entered the month of August with a 5-3 record.

Infielder Scott Campbell also has produced a solid season. The Toronto Blue Jays 10th round pick in 2006 has led the AA Eastern League in batting average for most of the season. Campbell was named to the Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star team and also was selected to play in Major League Baseball’s Future’s Game that took place during MLB’s All-Star weekend at Yankee Stadium.

Infielder Darin Holcomb, a 2007 12th round pick by the Colorado Rockies, earned a spot on the High-A South Atlantic League All-Star team this summer. Entering the month of August, Holcomb was leading the South Atlantic league with 82 RBI and was third in batting average at .325. Pitcher Bobby McEwen is the latest former Zag to join the professional ranks. He recently signed with the Milwaukee Brewers and was assigned to Arizona League.

Two former Bulldogs are currently rehabbing injuries. Outfielder Jeff Culpepper is inactive in the Cubs organization with a leg injury and catcher Kiel Thibault is on the seven-day DL for the AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City).

July 31, 2008

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Gonzaga University will open the 2009 West Coast Conference men’s basketball season Jan. 10 at home against the University of Portland.

WCC Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich announced the WCC slate Thursday that includes 17 games to be televised by the ESPN family of networks. The WCC is also reverting back to a Thursday-Saturday format for conference action, making the switch from the Saturday-Monday scheduling in effect the past three seasons that allowed the WCC to be a part of ESPN’s “Big Monday” package. Game times will be announced later by ESPN.

The Bulldogs will appear on ESPN2 six times and on ESPNU twice during conference play. Gonzaga will play four straight games on ESPN2 beginning Jan. 29 at home against Saint Mary’s College, and followed by games Jan. 31 against the University of San Diego, Feb. 5 at Portland and Feb. 10 at SMC. A fifth straight ESPN game will be Feb. 14 at the University of San Francisco on ESPNU on Feb. 14. Gonzaga will also host Pepperdine University on ESPNU on Feb. 21, then conclude the final week of WCC play with ESPN2 road games Feb. 26 against Santa Clara University and Feb. 28 at USD.

The move to Thursday/Saturday will mark the West Coast Conference’s debut on ESPN’s “Thursday Night Showcase”. ESPN is the exclusive national television provider of the West Coast Conference.

“We are very excited about the change back to the Thursday/Saturday format,” said Zaninovich. “The move will give us valuable Thursday night national television exposure on ESPN and we also believe it will be more advantageous to our student-athletes from an academic perspective and our campus communities from a fan perspective.”

“ESPN is excited to continue our long relationship with the West Coast Conference, especially coming off a banner year for the conference,” ESPN Director of College Basketball Programming Ilan Ben-Hanan said. “With the WCC now having a regular presence in our Thursday Night Showcase, college basketball fans will be able to enjoy as many as five games every Thursday on ESPN and ESPN2.”

The conference’s regular season ESPN package will conclude at the 2009 WCC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. ESPN2 will air both men’s semifinals live on Sunday, March 8, and ESPN will broadcast the championship game live on Monday, March 9 in prime time at 6 p.m. Pacific time.

Last season, the West Coast Conference advanced a record three schools for the NCAA Tournament. San Diego, which defeated Connecticut in the first round of the tournament, received the automatic bid by virtue of winning the WCC Tournament, while Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s each received at-large selections. On a percentage basis, the WCC qualified 37.5 percent of its teams for the NCAA Tournament, which ranked fifth in the nation behind only the Pac-10, Big East, Big 12 and the SEC.

The Gaels, Toreros and Bulldogs combine to return 13 of their 15 starters for the 2008-09 season, and in total, the conference returns a record eight All-WCC first team selections. Highlighting the returning All-WCC selections are Patrick Mills of Saint Mary’s, who will represent Australia in the 2008 Olympic Men’s Basketball Tournament, and Jeremy Pargo of Gonzaga, the reigning WCC Player of the Year. The conference also welcomes three new head coaches in Bill Bayno at Loyola Marymount, Tom Asbury at Pepperdine and Rex Walters at the University of San Francisco.

Additional men’s basketball telecasts will be arranged and announced by the conference’s eight member institutions. The dates and times of these broadcasts will be posted on wccsports.com as they become available.

Gonzaga’s complete basketball schedule will be announced as soon as it is finalized and all television games and times are in place. KHQ-TV in Spokane and FSN in Seattle will once again televise all Gonzaga games that are not televised by another entity.

2008-09 WCC MEN’S BASKETBALL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Friday, January 9
San Diego at San Francisco
Santa Clara at Saint Mary’s (ESPNU)

Saturday, January 10
Loyola Marymount at Pepperdine (ESPNU)
Portland at Gonzaga

Sunday, January 11
San Diego at Santa Clara
Saint Mary’s at San Francisco

Thursday, January 15
Santa Clara at Gonzaga
San Francisco at Portland
Loyola Marymount at Saint Mary’s
Pepperdine at San Diego

Saturday, January 17
San Francisco at Gonzaga
Santa Clara at Portland
Loyola Marymount at San Diego
Pepperdine at Saint Mary’s

Thursday, January 22
Saint Mary’s at San Diego (ESPN2)
Portland at Loyola Marymount (ESPNU)
Gonzaga at Pepperdine

Friday, January 23
San Francisco at Santa Clara (ESPNU)

Saturday, January 24
Gonzaga at Loyola Marymount
Portland at Pepperdine

Thursday, January 29
Saint Mary’s at Gonzaga (ESPN2)
San Diego at Portland
Loyola Marymount at Santa Clara
Pepperdine at San Francisco

Saturday, January 31
San Diego at Gonzaga (ESPN2)
Saint Mary’s at Portland
Loyola Marymount at San Francisco
Pepperdine at Santa Clara

Thursday, February 5
Gonzaga at Portland (ESPN2)
Santa Clara at San Diego
San Francisco at Saint Mary’s

Saturday, February 7
Pepperdine at Loyola Marymount
Saint Mary’s at Santa Clara
San Francisco at San Diego

Thursday, February 12
Gonzaga at Saint Mary’s (ESPN2)
Portland at San Francisco
Santa Clara at Pepperdine
San Diego at Loyola Marymount

Saturday, February 14
Gonzaga at San Francisco (ESPNU)
Portland at Saint Mary’s
Santa Clara at Loyola Marymount
San Diego at Pepperdine

Thursday, February 19
San Diego at Saint Mary’s (ESPNU)
Loyola Marymount at Gonzaga
Pepperdine at Portland

Saturday, February 21
Pepperdine at Gonzaga (ESPNU)
Loyola Marymount at Portland
Santa Clara at San Francisco

Thursday, February 26
Gonzaga at Santa Clara (ESPN2)
Portland at San Diego
San Francisco at Loyola Marymount
Saint Mary’s at Pepperdine

Saturday, February 28
Gonzaga at San Diego (ESPN2)
Portland at Santa Clara
San Francisco at Pepperdine
Saint Mary’s at Loyola Marymount

WCC Championships @ Las Vegas

Friday, March 6
No. 5 vs. No. 8 - 6 p.m.
No. 6 vs. No. 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 7
No. 5/8 vs. No. 4 - 6 p.m.
No. 6/7 vs. No. 3 - 8 p.m.

Sunday, March 8
No. 5/8/4 vs. No. 1 - 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
No. 6/7/3 vs. No. 2 - 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Monday, March 9
Championship Game - 6 p.m. (ESPN)

July 31, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AP) -After a nasty split with the Boston Red Sox, Manny Ramirez is Hollywood-bound.

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired the enigmatic slugger Thursday, giving up two minor leaguers in a startling, three-team trade that sent outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh to Boston.

The Dodgers also received cash considerations, general manager Ned Colletti said, in a deal that was completed just before the 4 p.m. EDT deadline for making trades without waivers.

The Red Sox will pay the estimated $7 million owed to Ramirez through the end of the season, at which time he can become a free agent. Ramirez was in the final guaranteed year of an eight-year, $160 million contract, and the Red Sox held $20 million options for the next two seasons.

As part of the trade, the club options were eliminated.

So when all was said and done, the Dodgers picked up a summer rental they hope will give them a shot at improving upon a woeful postseason track record in the past 20 years. Since winning the 1988 World Series, they’ve made just four playoff appearances and won only one postseason game.

“We figured we had to do it,” Colletti said before the Dodgers opened a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a matchup of the NL West’s top teams. “There was obviously a point in time that you have to make a major decision. We did and we were glad we did it. Hopefully it pays dividends. We’re confident we’ve got one of the best hitters in baseball coming in here - one of the best hitters of his generation from the right side.

“He’s a champion, he’s a winner, and we really couldn’t be happier with trying to make the club better at this point in time than to do this. We wanted this player at least for the next two months, and hopefully longer. So we’re willing to take the chance and go with this guy.”

In return, the Red Sox got the 29-year-old Bay, a two-time All-Star who was hitting .282 with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs for Pittsburgh. Tampa Bay pursued Bay before he wound up with the Red Sox, who trail the first-place Rays by three games in the AL East.

Bay, a native of Trail, British Columbia, played two seasons for the Bulldogs in 1999-2000. He is in the Gonzaga single-season top five for home runs (20), RBI (74) and runs scored (35) and is also third in career home runs with 35 in just the two seasons. He was a two-time All-West Coast Conference selection.

Bay broke into the big leagues in 2003 with the San Diego Padres and was traded to Pittsburgh during the 2003 season and has been with the Pirates ever since. He was the 2004 National League Rookie of the Year, was a two-time All-Star selection and was the starting right fielder for the NL in the 2006 mid-summer classic played in Pittsburgh.

“We expect him to be here tomorrow and most likely play,” Colletti said.

As of early Thursday, it appeared Ramirez might be on his way to the Florida Marlins. But when those talks fizzled, the Red Sox and Pirates found a willing third partner in the Dodgers.

Colletti said Boston general manager Theo Epstein got in touch with him early Thursday.

“It really wasn’t many hours at all,” Colletti said. “Theo reached out to me in midmorning and wanted to gauge our interest, and I said, `You know what? We have an interest.’ Then, we probably spent the next two-plus hours hammering it out. This wasn’t on the board for very long.”

Ramirez, the MVP of the 2004 World Series, remains one of baseball’s best hitters and has enjoyed plenty of big moments in October. But his relationship with the Red Sox soured - again - in recent months.

So now, Manny can be Manny on the West Coast.

“Manny being Manny can also mean he’ll hit a lot of home runs and drive in a lot of runs,” Colletti said.

Dodgers infielder Nomar Garciaparra, who played for the Red Sox from 1996-2004, said he’s always had the utmost respect for Ramirez, who helped Boston win another title last year.

“It’s nice to see we’ve done something like this, to make a push for the next two months,” Garciaparra said. “I think he’ll be just fine. Manny is really a simple person. He works extremely hard. He just wants to play baseball and go home and be with his family. How can you not respect and love a guy like that?”

Even before landing Ramirez, Los Angeles had a crowded outfield. Dodgers manager Joe Torre has been juggling Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre.

“When a player like Manny becomes available, I don’t think there’s a manager in baseball who wouldn’t say they’re interested,” said Torre, whose Yankees teams went toe-to-toe with Ramirez for years. “Manny’s certainly not a simple personality, that’s for sure. He’s complex. But I’ve seen him when he competes.”

The Dodgers, who began the day one game behind the Diamondbacks, were seeking a big bat. Boston, in the middle of the AL East race and chasing a second straight World Series title, wanted a productive hitter in return and got that in Bay.

The 36-year-old Ramirez hit his 500th home run this season. He was batting .299 and led the Red Sox with 20 homers and 68 RBIs. He is one of eight players to hit at least 20 homers in 14 consecutive seasons.

Among active players, he ranks third in RBIs (1,672), fifth in home runs (510), sixth in on-base percentage (.409) and seventh in batting average (.312). He also ranks eighth in baseball history, and second among active players behind only Albert Pujols (.620), with a .590 slugging percentage. His 2,318 hits rank 10th among active players and his 493 doubles are tied for fourth.

“It’s good for them,” Arizona’s Orlando Hudson said. “He’s one of the greatest hitters ever to play the game. It’s going to be a battle between us, starting tonight.”

Ramirez has made it clear in recent days he wanted out of Boston. Perhaps the final straw came Wednesday, when he told ESPNdeportes: “The Red Sox don’t deserve a player like me. During my years here I’ve seen how they have mistreated other great players when they didn’t want them to try to turn the fans against them.”

The often contentious relationship between player and team included Ramirez requesting trades after the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Earlier this year, he knocked down team traveling secretary Jack McCormick in the visitors’ clubhouse before a game in Houston when he asked for tickets, the Providence Journal reported.

The Pirates looked to the future with their acquisitions.

Hansen, a 24-year-old right-hander, was 1-3 with two saves and a 5.58 ERA in 32 games. A first-round draft choice in 2005, he became the first Boston player to reach majors in the year he was picked.

LaRoche, the younger brother of Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche, hit .203 with two home runs and six RBIs in 27 games for the Dodgers. A power-hitting prospect at 24, he spent most of this year at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Moss, also 24, split the season between Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket. He hit .295 with five doubles and two homers in 78 at-bats. Last year, he led the International League with 59 extra-base hits.

Morris, a 21-year-old right-hander, was 2-4 with a 3.20 ERA for Class A Great Lakes.

Jason Bay Career Statistics

Regular Season

Year, Team AB R H HR RBI Avg.

2003, SD/Pit 87 15 25 4 14 .287

2004, Pit 411 61 116 26 82 .282

2005, Pit 599 110 183 32 101 .306

2006, Pit 570 101 163 35 109 .286

2007, Pit 538 78 133 21 84 .247

2008, Pit 393 72 111 22 64 .282

Totals 2598 437 731 140 454 .281

---

AP Sports Writers Howard Ulman in Boston and Alan Robinson in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.

July 29, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Gonzaga University and Oklahoma State University will be the Thanksgiving Day dessert when the two tip off in the 6 p.m. Pacific Time nightcap of the 2008 Old Spice Classic to be held at the Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.

ESPN Regional Television, Inc. (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN, announced today the matchups for the third annual basketball showcase.

The event will include 12 games in three days, and will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. This year marks the first time the Old Spice Classic will air on ESPN, with two games on the network. Tournament sponsors include Old Spice, ESPNU and Disney’s Wide World of Sports, with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) serving as the event’s sponsoring conference.

The Bulldogs and Cowboys will be meeting for the third time since the 2004-05 season. The inaugural meeting came Dec. 28, 2004, at the All-College Challenge in Oklahoma City, Okla., as the 12th-ranked Bulldogs upset the third-ranked Cowboys 78-75. The last meeting was Dec. 10, 2005, at the Battle in Seattle in a game in which Adam Morrison’s banked trey with 2.5 seconds left gave Gonzaga an improbable 64-62 victory.

Other Thanksgiving Day pairings have the University of Tennessee facing Siena College at 9 a.m. Pacific Time. Wichita State University will meet Georgetown University at 11 a.m. Pacific Time and the University of Maryland will battle Michigan State University at 4 p.m. Pacific Time.

All four Thanksgiving Day games will be televised on ESPN2.

“We are excited about the growth of this event and the quality of this field that represents outstanding conferences from around the country,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN Regional Television. “The Old Spice Classic continues to provide a terrific off-the-court experience for the student-athletes, coaches and staffs. Fans have the opportunity to watch great college basketball games while also enjoying everything the Walt Disney World Resort and Orlando area have to offer.”

The two teams that remain undefeated throughout the tournament will face off in a championship match at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time Sunday, Nov. 25, on ESPN2.

The inaugural Old Spice Classic was played in 2006 with Arkansas defeating West Virginia in the championship game at Disney’s Milk House. In 2007, North Carolina State edged Villanova for the Old Spice Classic championship.

“We loved this opportunity when we first signed on, and it just keeps getting better,” said James Moorhead, Old Spice Brand Manager. “We think it has quickly become the pre-season basketball event of the season and we’re excited to be partnering with ESPN to make that happen.”

Tickets to the 2008 Old Spice Classic will go on sale August 15 online through Ticketmaster of by calling 407-839-3900. Fans can also purchase travel packages to the tournament through Anthony Travel online or by calling 1-800-736-6377. 

July 25, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University head men’s soccer coach Einar Thorarinsson announced the Bulldogs 2008 schedule Friday, including eight regular-season dates on the new Gonzaga Soccer Field.

“This is another challenging schedule, and we’re looking forward to having a new home in the Gonzaga Soccer Field. It will be one of the best soccer surfaces on the West Coast, if not in the entire country,” said Thorarinsson as he embarks on his 14th season at the helm.

The Bulldogs will open the regular season with four straight away matches beginning Aug. 29 at Creighton University. The Blue Jays received a first-round bye into the NCAA Tournament a year ago, downed SMU 3-0 in the second round and lost to the University of Illinois-Chicago 2-0 in the third round. SMU had advanced to face Creighton with a 1-0 home victory over Gonzaga in the opening round.

Gonzaga will play at the Oregon State University Diadora Classic Sept. 7 and the UNLV adidas Invitational Sept. 12-14 prior to making its home debut with the Gonzaga/Nike Soccer Classic Dept. 19-21. First-round matchups have Oregon State face Cal State Bakersfield at 1:30 p.m. with the host Bulldogs meeting the University of Missouri-Kansas City at 4 p.m. Sunday’s action will have OSU and UMKC squaring off at 11:30 a.m. followed y Gonzaga and CS Bakersfield at 2 p.m.

The Bulldogs will open West Coast Conference play Sept. 26 at the University of Portland, the Pilots advancing to the NCAA Tournament last season as an at-large selection.

The final non-conference action for the Bulldogs will be Sept. 28 at the University of Washington, another NCAA Tournament team from last season that downed Portland 1-0 in the opening round. Gonzaga defeated Washington for the first time in 20 meetings last season with a 2-1 home victory over the then 15th-ranked Huskies.

Gonzaga will make its WCC home debut Oct. 3 against the University of San Francisco, followed by a visit Oct. 5 from defending WCC champion Santa Clara University. The Broncos advanced to the third round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

The Bulldogs went 9-7-4 overall last season, 4-4-4 and fourth place in the WCC. Gonzaga must fill the gap left by the departure of 10 seniors from last year’s squad. 

July 17, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University head baseball coach Mark Machtolf has announced the promotion of volunteer assistant pitching coach Steve Bennett to full-time.

He replaces Gary Van Tol who resigned to pursue other professional opportunities.

“Steve has done an excellent job for us. If you look at the quality pitching staffs we have had, Steve is the reason. Plus, Steve played for Gonzaga, he is loyal to this place and he is a good ambassador for the baseball program, the university and the city,” Machtolf said.

Bennett just completed his fourth season as a member of the Bulldog coaching staff and has produced five All-West Coast Conference selections and two All-Americans in his two years while working with the pitchers.

Under Bennett’s guidance this past season, pitchers Matt Fields and Cody Martin received All-West Coast Conference honorable mention honors. Martin also set a school record with nine saves and was named to the Freshman All-American Third Team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America.

In his first season serving as the pitching coach in 2007, Bennett had Clayton Mortensen earn the program’s inaugural WCC Pitcher of the Year award. Mortensen was also named third team All-American and was the 36th overall draft pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He was currently promoted to the St. Louis Cardinals’ AAA affiliate in Memphis where he is 4-2 with a 4.17 ERA in seven starts.

A 2000 graduate of Gonzaga, Bennett was a 4-year letter-winner for the Bulldogs appearing in 54 games over his career. He earned WCC honorable mention as a freshman, was selected second-team All-WCC as a junior and was drafted by the New York Mets in the 28th round after his senior season. Bennett chose to return to the Bulldogs for his fifth year where he earned first-team All-WCC. He then went on to play four years in the Mets organization reaching as high as the AA level.

The native of Helena, Montana is engaged to Abby Cullen, an assistant volleyball coach for the Bulldogs, and will be married later this month.

July 16, 2008

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Women’s soccer player Lauren Zuckerman of Gonzaga University and men’s basketball player Mitchell Henke of Santa Clara University have been named the winners of the 2008 West Coast Conference Postgraduate Scholarships as announced by Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich.

For the fifth consecutive year, the WCC is providing one male and one female student-athlete with a scholarship to assist in their graduate school or professional school education. Candidates must own a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, demonstrate a significant athletic contribution on the varsity athletic level in a WCC sponsored sport, and participate in a WCC sport for a minimum of two years. In addition, candidates must have a record of participating in campus or community activities, completed their athletic eligibility, and competed in intercollegiate athletics in the academic year in which they are nominated.

“The West Coast Conference is dedicated to supporting the postgraduate success of our remarkable student athletes,” Zaninovich said. “We are pleased to honor Mitchell and Lauren as WCC Postgraduate Scholars, and wish them all the best in their future academic studies.”

Zuckerman, who graduated from Gonzaga with a major in accounting and minor in mathematics, finished with a major GPA of 4.0 and an overall GPA of 3.92 to graduate Summa Cum Laude. She is already enrolled in the Gonzaga Graduate School of Business pursuing a Master’s in Accounting, and plans to intern with one of the “Big Four” accounting firms before taking her CPA exam.

Zuckerman, a native of Lafayette, Calif., also succeeded on the field being named the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player in 2004, team MVP in 2006, and twice being named All-WCC Honorable Mention. Academically, Zuckerman was a four-time WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll member, four time Gonzaga University President’s List member, four-time recipient of the Gonzaga Trustee Scholarship and winner of the 2008 Gonzaga Student-Athlete of the Year award. Zuckerman has also spent many hours in the community volunteering for the Spokanimal Humane Society, holding an annual Christmas Toys for Tots drive and volunteering at Habitat for Humanity.

“Lauren exemplifies the type of student-athlete we have at Gonzaga,” said Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth. “She is a hard worker both on the field of competition and in the classroom, and has done an excellent job of juggling the time demands that come with being a student-athlete. Lauren is very deserving of the WCC Postgraduate Scholarship. We know she will be successful in her postgraduate and career endeavors.”

Henke, a finance major, finished with a cumulative GPA of 3.76. He was also a two-time CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII First Team selection, a three-time WCC All-Academic Team selection and a member of the 2008 Division I-AAA Scholar Athlete Team. Henke was a four-year member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and served as President his senior year. Henke’s career aspiration is to be an investment banker on Wall Street, and he has already interned with Cargill and hopes to attend the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

On the court, Henke was a four-year letter-winner and three-year starter. He played and started in all 31 games as a senior and averaged 9.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Among his community service activities are organizing a Santa Clara Student-Athlete canned food and clothing drive, volunteering at the Courageous Kids event for the American Cancer Society, and organizing a trip to the Stanford Children’s Hospital. 

July 15, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - Former Gonzaga University second baseman Scott Campbell participated in the Major League Baseball Features Game played at New York’s Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

Campbell scored a run in his four at-bats while playing for the World Futures team who beat the U.S. Futures squad 3-0. He was one of the Top-50 prospects chosen by Baseball America along with each MLB organization to play in the game that split the players into U.S. and World teams based on the player’s place of birth. Campbell is a native of Auckland, New Zealand.

In 80 games played this season for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Class AA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, Campbell leads the Eastern League in batting average (.337) and is second in the league in hits (101) and on-base percentage (.427). He has 17 doubles, five home runs, 34 RBI, and 50 runs scored.

Campbell was the 10th round pick by the Blue Jays in the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft after playing two seasons for the Zags. He was an All-West Coast Conference first- team selection his sophomore season in 2005 and earned All-WCC Honorable Mention his junior year prior to being drafted by and signing with Toronto at the end of the season.

June 27, 2008

Complete 2008 Women’s Soccer Schedule

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University’s 2008 women’s soccer schedule features five matches against teams that made a 2007 NCAA Tournament appearance and a total of 10 home matches that will be played at the new Gonzaga Soccer Stadium, according to the schedule announced Wednesday by head coach Shannon Stiles. A Bulldog squad that returns two All-West Coast Conference selections from a year ago will face University of Denver, University of Colorado, Santa Clara University, University of San Diego, and University of Portland who all participated in last season’s NCAA Tournament.

“We are very excited about this year’s schedule. We will be playing some opponents for the first time and we will also get to play 10 games in our brand new Stadium,” Stiles said. “Playing some teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament as well as some teams that finished well in the highly competitive Big Sky and Pacific-10 conferences last season will prepare for us for WCC play later in the year.”

The Zags open the season Aug. 22 on the road against a tough Long Beach State University squad that finished second in the Big West Conference a year ago. The Bulldogs will then play five of their next six matches at home, beginning with the inaugural match in the new Gonzaga Soccer Stadium Aug. 24 against Portland State University.

Following a match at the University of Idaho on Aug. 29, the team begins a four-game home stand, squaring off against the University of Washington on the last day of August. The longest stretch of home matches runs through the first two weeks of September and will see the Bulldogs host Cal State Bakersfield, University of Montana and the University of Wyoming before the team heads out on the road for their next three.

Two 2007 College Cup participants, Denver and Colorado, await the Zags at the Colorado Soccer Classic hosted by Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Sept. 19-21. The Bulldogs match-up with a tough Denver squad Sept. 19 and then squares off with the veteran Buffaloes that advanced to the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga will wrap up their non-conference schedule with three of the next four matches on the road. A trip to Pullman to face Pac-10 member Washington State University Sept. 26 is followed by a home match against Eastern Washington University Sept. 28. The non-conference season comes to a close with a road swing to Idaho State University and Weber State University. Weber State finished tied for second in the Big Sky Conference and will provide one final test for the Bulldogs prior to the start of West Coast Conference play.

Three home matches ease Gonzaga into WCC play, starting against the defending conference champion and elite eight participant Portland Oct. 12. The Bulldogs then face Pepperdine University Oct. 17 and close out the home stand two days later against Loyola Marymount University. Three of the final four matches are on the road as the Zags make stops at Saint Mary’s College Oct. 24 and the University of San Francisco Oct. 26 prior to closing their home schedule against San Diego on Halloween. The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season at Santa Clara Nov. 8.

Gonzaga produced a 12-7-1 record in 2007, equaling the school record for wins set by the 2005 team, and recording a fifth consecutive 10-win season. 

June 26, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - The 2007 Comcast Battle in Seattle set the attendance record for a college basketball game in the state of Washington. That record may not last for long.

Following five great years of the popular neutral site contest, Northwest Sports & Entertainment announced Thursday the game is back for what will be its most anticipated match-up to date. Entering the KeyArena for the sixth annual Comcast Battle in Seattle will be two of the most successful programs in the last fifteen years as the Gonzaga University Bulldogs go up against the University of Connecticut Huskies. The event will take place on Saturday Dec. 20.

To tip off the annual event, nine members of the Gonzaga men’s basketball team will be at the Battle in Seattle booth in Riverfront Park signing autographs for players and fans as part of the Spokane Hoopfest weekend. Players will be available Thursday, Friday and Saturday. An 8x10 photo is provided at no cost along with the new Battle in Seattle collectable poster to all in attendance. Signatures are limited to time, but are free to the public.

The autograph schedule will have Andrew Sorenson, Robert Sacre and Micah Downs at the booth Thursday from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Steven Gray, Will Foster and Josh Heytvelt will be in attendance Friday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Ira Brown and Matt Bouldin will be available Saturday from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. followed by Jeremy Pargo from 11 a.m.-noon.

The upcoming season will mark the first time a Hall of Fame inductee and National Championship winning coach will be on the sidelines for the Comcast Battle in Seattle. Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun will bring more than 700 wins, a NIT Championship and two NCAA Championships into the KeyArena, with the hopes of adding to his already impressive win total. But that is not all Calhoun will be bringing to Seattle. He will also have with him what could be one of his best teams in his 24 years at the university.

Led by reining NABC National Defensive Player of the Year and the Big East Defensive Player of the Year Hasheem Thabeet, the 2008-09 version of the Huskies will look to add to their success of a year ago during which they won 24 games and earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The 7-3 center from Tanzania would have likely been a lottery pick in the NBA Draft this off season, but chose to return to school with the hopes of winning a national championship. Joined by nearly every key contributor from last year’s team, that goal is not out of the question.

The team returns all five starters and their top six scorers, all of whom scored at least 7.5 points per game. Leading the Huskies with 14.8 points per game was forward Jeff Adrien. The powerful Adrien also led the team with 9.1 rebounds per game and has scored more than 1,000 points in his UConn career. The 6-7 forward will enter his senior year as one of the top players in the country.

Finishing second on the team in scoring was point guard A.J. Price. Price, a highly touted recruit coming out of high school, finally lived up to his potential as he averaged 14.5 points per game, 5.8 assists per game and was named an All-American honorable mention. The senior will be coming off knee surgery, but is expected to be at full strength when the Huskies open the season.

The opposite bench in the 2008 Comcast Battle in Seattle will also feature a University with a Hall of Fame quality coach and a team loaded with experienced returnees. The Bulldogs are coming off of a season during which they won more than 20 games for the 11th straight year and in 2008 made their 10th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.

This could be the Zags deepest team in school history as six of their top seven scorers return from the team that won 25 games and captured the West Coast Conference regular-season championship for the eighth straight year.

Directing the Bulldogs will be senior guard Jeremy Pargo. The Chicago native was named the 2008 West Coast Conference Player of the Year and was an All-America honorable mention. He averaged 12.1 ppg and led the team with 6.0 assists/game a season ago.

Assisting Pargo will be junior guard Matt Bouldin and sophomore forward Austin Daye. Bouldin led the Zags in scoring last season, averaging 12.6 ppg. He also tallied an impressive 2.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds per contest. Daye broke into the college basketball scene scoring in double figures in six of his first seven games, including a double-double (20 points and 10 rebounds) against Montana in this college debut. The son of former NBA player Darren Daye, Austin finished third on the team in scoring (10.5) and second on the team in rebounding (4.7).

Other key Gonzaga returnees include senior Josh Heytvelt, sophomore Steven Gray, sophomore Robert Sacre, and senior Micah Downs.

The Bulldogs and the Huskies last met Dec. 1, 2007 in Boston with the Zags prevailing by the score of 85-82. Connecticut holds a 2-1 all-time series lead over Gonzaga. 

June 25, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Fifteen Gonzaga University student-athletes were named to the West Coast Conference spring all-academic teams announced Wednesday by Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich.

The spring team honors athletes in the sports of baseball, women’s rowing, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s tennis.

Baseball and women’s rowing led the way with four selections each for the Bulldogs, while men’s and women’s golf and women’s tennis each had two selections and men’s tennis one.

Baseball players named to the squad were sophomore outfield Mark Castellitto (3.23 grade point average in business), junior infielder Jason Chatwood (3.55, physical education), junior outfielder Grant Kveder (3.34, business) and junior shortstop Evan Wells (3.92, journalism).

Women’s rowers named to the team were junior Whitney Engle (3.53, accounting), senior Kelsey Koenig (3.29, exercise science), senior Julie Smetana (3.78, art) and graduate student Kelly Steinhaus (4.0 in Master’s of Education and Leadership).

On the men’s golf team, sophomore Derek Cheney (3.35, business) and senior Trevor Loe (3.83 accounting) were selected, while women’s golfers honored were seniors Lacey Jo Manwaring (3.53, business) and Sarah Sheffield (3.79, English).

Women’s tennis players named to the team were senior Emily Anderson (3.27, business) and junior Aglaya Kokurina (3.58, accounting), while sophomore Roman Dojcak (3.88, business) was named to the men’s tennis team. 

June 18, 2008

BOISE, Idaho - Gonzaga University head men’s basketball coach Mark Few and his wife Marcy have been named 2008 recipients of the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame Nell and John Wooden Coaching Achievement Award.

The Wooden Award, which will be presented during the Humanitarian Hall’s Induction Ceremonies June 24 in Boise, annually honors a coach along with his or her spouse who has made exceptional contributions to their players and their futures.

“I’m proud of this award because it brings out the importance of the support that comes from your wife,” said legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. “I’ve watched Mark’s Gonzaga teams for some time and they are very sound fundamentally - I’ve been very impressed with him. And what I’ve heard of him as a person is pleasing too,” Wooden said. “Bringing his players along as good citizens is extremely important. It should be the responsibility of every school. They are teaching about life. To have Mark and Marcy receive this award is very pleasing and very appropriate.”

Few, along with his wife Marcy, is the only active coach to receive the award since its inception in 2003. Former recipients include Eleanor and Lyle Smith (2007, Boise State University football coach), Barbara and Vince Dooley (2006, University of Georgia football coach), Barbara and Frosty Westering (2005, Pacific Lutheran University football coach), Florence and Pete Newell (2004, University of California at Berkeley basketball coach) and the inaugural award in 2003 to Nell and John Wooden, UCLA basketball coach.

“To be honored for what you do away from the court, and to be honored with an award named after a truly outstanding couple like Nell and John Wooden is humbling,” Few said. “When you look at the list of people who have won this award in its short existence, and when you look at the members of the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame, it’s like reading a Who’s Who in sports. It is an honor to be associated with these legends.”

Few is entering his 10th year as head coach and 20th year overall with the Gonzaga program. Since 1992 - his first year as a fulltime assistant coach with the Bulldogs - Gonzaga has posted a 405-134 record for a .751 winning percentage. In 2008, the Bulldogs captured their eighth straight West Coast Conference title and their 10th in the last 11 years. Under Few, the Bulldogs advanced to the WCC Tournament title game in 2008 for the 11th straight season and earned their 10th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Since Few arrived on the Gonzaga staff, the Bulldogs have produced 54 All-West Coast Conference selections, 10 WCC Player of the Year recipients and six Academic All-Americans.

For the 2003-07 academic years, the Bulldogs’ Academic Progress Rate (APR)—the measure by which the eligibility, retention and graduation of an NCAA school’s scholarship athletes is tracked—is 965 of a possible 1,000. Gonzaga’s APR places the West Coast Conference school among the 80th to 90th percentile nationally within the sport of men’s basketball. Since 1997, eight players that have been a part of the Gonzaga program have been drafted into the NBA.

“When a young man enters the Bulldog basketball program, I believe it is our responsibility as coaches to help them reach their potential in every facet of their lives,” Few said. “Our commitment to the players will always go far beyond the basketball court with a goal of producing the complete individual, one that Gonzaga University will be proud of long after their playing days.”

In addition to a commitment to their players, the Fews have been involved in the Spokane community, helping to found the local Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tournament and Gala in 2002. The event is the second largest Coaches vs. Cancer event in the country, having raised $2.95 million in its 6-year existence to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Other humanitarian awards to be presented at the Hall’s 2008 Induction Ceremonies include: USA Weekend Most Caring Youth Coach Awards: Mark Rhodes, York, Pa., Marciano Cruz, Santa Cruz, Calif., Mike McGee, Fairfield, Md. Founder’s Award: John Tuschman, Houston, Texas, Sports Philanthropist. Idaho Humanitarian Award: Coach John Owen and the North Idaho College Wrestling Program.

The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame Class of 2008 includes NFL running back Warrick Dunn, international basketball legend Vlade Divac and Olympic skier Jimmie Heuga. The three sports humanitarians will be enshrined in Boise for their exceptional humanitarian achievements, distinguishing them as role models in the community.

The 2008 World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies take place Tuesday, June 24 in Boise, Idaho. Tickets are available at SportsHumanitarian.com.

The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame (SportsHumanitarian.com), located on the Boise State University campus in Idaho, recognizes individuals and organizations from the world of amateur and professional athletics who, through their humanitarian efforts, distinguish themselves as role models in the community. Over 35 sports-humanitarians have been enshrined in Boise including tennis great Arthur Ashe, Major League Baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson, NFL coaching legend Tom Landry, the NBA’s David Robinson, soccer great Pelé and the Harlem Globetrotters.

The Hall was the inspiration behind Boise’s Humanitarian Bowl and its Humanitarian Awards program annually recognizes exceptional community-focused organizations and leaders from Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, NCAA College Football and other organizations. The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame is open weekdays to visitors and humanitarians of all ages.

Nell and John Wooden Coaching Achievement Award Recipients

2008 - Marcy and Mark Few, Gonzaga University (Basketball)
2007 - Eleanor and Lyle Smith, Boise State University (Football)
2006 - Barbara and Vince Dooley,University of Georgia (Football)
2005 - Barbara and Frosty Westering, Pacific Lutheran University (Football)
2004 - Florence and Pete Newell, University of California (Basketball)
2003 - Nell and John Wooden, UCLA (Basketball)