Missouri Southern Athletic Director: We will be back

(From MSSU Sports)

Lion Pride –

As I write this letter, our nation, no, the world, is in uncharted waters that no one had ever dreamed of, nor prepared for.

As the collegiate world began the journey it did a month ago to make the unprecedented decision to cancel the finale of winter championships and all of the spring competitions, it was clear the main focus should be on the health and safety of not only our student-athletes and staff, but also for that of the public, as well.

I want to take this time to assure you that while we’d all love to be experiencing the ping of the bats, the hitting of the pads of spring football, the wonder that is the track and field student-athlete in competition, or the joy that is a simple game of golf, those things have taken a back seat to the health and safety of everyone.

I’m sure we were all ready to watch our men’s basketball or track and field teams perform at the NCAA Championships and make a title run, but again it’s times like these that bring life into focus.


With that said, we would like to reflect on the year that was and the opportunities that are afforded us. After taking care of our families, I think we can look back at the many accomplishments that our teams and student-athletes have had this year. 

I’d like to share some of those with you and I hope this helps to put a little sunshine on an otherwise cloudy situation that is facing all of us.

· Athletic Department GPA over 3.00 for fourth-straight semester.

· 188 student-athletes with a 3.00 GPA or higher and 10 with a perfect 4.00 GPA 

· 23 MIAA Athletes of the Week throughout the year

· Two National Players of the Week

· 55 All-MIAA, 24 All-Region and multiple All-American honors (not including the spring sports where it looked like we would have had tremendous success, as well)

· Gidieon Kimutai/Jamie Burnham named MIAA and NCAA Central Region Men’s Cross Country Athlete and Coach of the Year

· MIAA Men’s Indoor Track and Field Coaching Staff of the Year

· Bryan Schiding Named Men’s Indoor Track and Field Regional and National Coach of the Year

· 2019 MIAA Men’s Cross Country and Men’s Indoor Track and Field Team Champions

· Jason Francis named Men’s Indoor Track and Field Regional Coach of the Year

· Rajindra Campbell and Emily Presley named Men’s and Women’s Indoor Field Athletes of the Year

· Numerous records were broken, including Cam Martin setting the Men’s Basketball single-game scoring record (54), Elyjah Clark extending his career three-point record (365), Zoe Campbell setting the single-game, single-season and career blocked shots record, while track and field broke more school records than I can mention. 

· Zach Parish became the MIAA’s all-time baseball strikeout king. 

· Student-athletes and staff participating in more than 5,000 hours of community service

· Numerous facility improvements including a complete remodel of the weight room inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center and an indoor golf training facility

In closing, we will be back, and we will get past these days of uncertainty, to roar toward what I believe is a bright future for our University. We are one family and one pride. We are strong and we will prevail.

Jared Bruggeman

Missouri Southern State University Athletic Director