Howdeshell letter graphic

General

A Letter from Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Howdeshell

Oct. 4, 2024

From the Desk of the Director of Athletics
 
Hello UCM Nation!

It is hard to believe it is already October. September was a good month for our Mules and Jennies as our fall sports have gotten off to a great start, and our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, are working hard to make you proud. Here are some of the highlights:

Fall 2024
  • Mules Football: No. 12-ranked football enters the week with an overall record of 3-1 and a MIAA mark of 1-1 after defeating Nebraska Kearney Sept. 28, 36-35.
  • Jennies Soccer: No. 7-ranked Jennies soccer is off to a 5-2-1 start and are 2-0 in the MIAA.
  • Jennies Volleyball: On Friday, Sept. 27, before UCM's match against No. 3-ranked Nebraska Kearney, the Jennies held a court rededication ceremony in honor of Dr. Peggy Martin, who coached UCM to an impressive 1,064-281 record over 33 seasons from 1975-2008. Central Missouri installed a new, state-of-the-art Taraflex court prior to the beginning of the 2024 season.
  • Mules Cross Country: placed in the top 10 in its opening two meets of the 2024 season. Central Missouri was third at the SBU Invitational Sept. 6 before posting a fifth-place finish at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational Sept. 20.
  • Jennies Cross Country: tallied an eighth-place finish at the SBU Invitational Sept. 6 to open its 2024 season.
  • Mules Golf: has two top 10 finishes in three tournaments so far during its fall 2024 season.
  • Jennies Golf: The No. 15-ranked Jennies picked up their first tournament win of the season at the MIAA Conference Fall Preview Sept. 23-24 in Kearney, Neb.
New Staff
Over the summer we added some new staff members, especially on the external side. All are committed to elevating the student-athlete experience: Student-Athlete Support
We continue to be impressed by and appreciative of the support we've receive from the UCM Community. Your support enhances the resources available for our student-athletes to be successful:
  • Corporate partner gross revenue is up 18% over last year's actuals.
    • Includes our first three partnerships from outside the 660 area code.
  • Cardinal & Black Fund membership is up 92% over last year's actuals.
  • Cardinal & Black Fund revenue is up 52% over last year's actuals.
  • Ticket sales for the Get the Red Out home opener nearly doubled 2023's Get the Red Out home opener. Ticket sales for last weekend's game against UNK were even higher!
Student-Athlete Fueling Station
Thanks to the generous support of a passionate donor, the UCM Student-Athlete fueling station is operational! All student-athletes in every sport receive a protein shake to help them recover and ensure they are being properly fueled to maximize their athletic output. This was the top requested enhancement of our student-athletes in surveys and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!

Fueling station AD update photo

NIL Night
Want to learn more about NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and how you can support UCM student-athletes? Through UCM Athletics' partnership with Opendorse, hear from them how you can properly support the Mules & Jennies through NIL initiatives on Wednesday, Oct. 9.The event will take place at Players from 4:30-6. Opendorse will be on-site giving a short presentation with a Q&A to follow.

Basketball Season Tickets
Basketball is right around the corner. Practice begins soon for both of our teams and the excitement level is awesome. Season ticket renewals are in process and tickets will open to the public on Monday October 7th. Be sure to get your basketball season tickets ASAP, as we anticipate another fun season in the Hughes Center!

Thank You!
We continue to make progress daily on our strategic plan, and our mission to establish UCM as the premier NCAA D-II athletic department. We could not do any of this without your support.
 
You play a key role in the lives of UCM student-athletes on and off the field as they strive for greatness. If you have not already given to our Cardinal & Black Fund, please do so today, by clicking here. Gifts to the Cardinal & Black Fund are vital for our teams and our student-athletes pursuit of excellence. If you have already given, thank you, and please consider other ways you might be able to help.
 
Go Mules & Jennies!
 
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