2016-17 Academic Year Filled with Championships, Successes
General / August 28, 2017
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - What a year it was for the Northern Arizona University Athletics Department in 2016-17. From a National Championship to success in the classroom and the community, check out the highlights below.
ACADEMICS
- During the 2016-17 academic year, NAU Athletics finished with a 3.12 overall cumulative grade point average.
- Eight of 13 teams held at least a 3.0 GPA led by women's golf with a 3.30.
- During both fall and spring, nine of 13 teams finished the spring term with a GPA of at least 3.0.
- Four student-athletes received CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District honors
- Women's basketball's Rene Coggins and cross country/track & field's Tyler Day both picked up CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American Second Team honors.
- NAU had 123 total student-athletes earn All-Academic honors by the Big Sky and WAC.
- A total of 59 student-athletes earned their degrees during the 2016-17 academic year with a cumulative GPA of 3.23, and also finished their finals terms with an average GPA of 3.29.
- A total of 190 Northern Arizona University student-athletes were honored for their scholastic and athletic accomplishments at the 40th annual Golden Eagle Awards. The Golden Eagle Awards recognize NAU student-athletes who have made significant contributions to the Lumberjack athletics program while maintaining a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average. The Male and Female Scholar-Athlete Awards were presented to football student-athlete Patrick Baldenegro and women's basketball player Rene Coggins.
- Earning 2017 Big Sky Male and Female Scholar-Athlete recognition were football's Patrick Baldenegro and Rene Coggins from women's basketball. The honor is presented each year to the top male and female athlete of each conference institution for their academic and athletic performance.
- NAU had a Graduation Success Rate of 84 percent.
- All 15 NAU sponsored sports exceeded the NCAA Academic Progress Rate benchmark for the sixth straight year. Ten NAU programs recorded at least a 960 mark in the latest APR with three of those teams having a total of 980 or higher.
- 78 Student-Athletes earned a 3.5 GPA or higher
- 26 Student-Athletes earned a GPA of 4.0 in 2016-17
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CHAMPIONSHIPS
- The Men's cross country team captured the NCAA Division I National Championship - the first in school history.
- For the second time in four years, and the fourth time in school history, the Northern Arizona University Athletics Department swept the Big Sky Men's and Women's All-Sports Trophies.
- The Lumberjacks won a total of seven Big Sky Conference championships during the 2016-17 academic year and also received strong performances from several other programs.
- NAU saw 18 individual championships.
- Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Swimming and Diving, Men's and Women's Tennis and Women's Outdoor Track & Field all won conference championships.
- Nikki Huffman (Diving), Andy Johns (Swimming), Eric Heins (Cross Country) and Mike Smith (Track & Field) all earned Coach of the Year honors.
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GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
- Lumberjacks C.A.R.E. Program - The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks C.A.R.E. Program began in 2014 with the Flagstaff United School District (FUSD) and FITKIDS OF ARIZONA, as the first-two strategic partners in developing a year-long program where NAU Athletics and its student-athletes can inspire the Flagstaff youth by being positive peers in the community. Since then, the program has continued to have a positive impact on the Flagstaff and NAU Athletics community. The programs four main areas of focus are character, academics, responsibility, and exercise. Since its inception, the partnership has impacted more than 4,500 elementary students in the FUSD and nearly 9,000 for the entire district.
- Field Trip Day - One of NAU's biggest events during the school year is its annual Field Trip Day. The department sponsors pregame activities with over 35 volunteers to assist in the event. In 2016, it was the Fourth Annual Field Trip Day. Over 1,350 students and their teachers participated in this yearly event.
- NAU student-athletes and staff continue to make their imprint in the Flagstaff community and beyond as the athletes performed 4,650 hours of total community service. In the last four years, NAU student-athletes have registered over 4,300 hours in the community each academic year. NAU's community service hours have grown by almost 2,000 since the 2011-12 school year.
- At Northern Arizona giving back is a team effort. The impact of the student-athletes giving back has been so overwhelming that the NAU Athletics staff once again joined in on the community service efforts. During the 2016-17 school year, NAU coaches and staff recorded over 1,000 hours of community service for the second straight year.
- 158 Student-Athletes participated in 20 or more community service hours, with the average student-athlete at NAU chipping in 16 hours
