Bethune-Cookman University Athletic Director Lynn W. Thompson

As we rapidly approach the close of the 2008-09 academic year, I think it would be prudent for us to pause and take a look back at the tremendous accomplishments of this year.

While human nature has a tendency to propel us towards new challenges in our quest for victory after victory, I am of the mindset that we need to take the opportunity to "smell the roses." We should never forget that we exist on this campus to mentor and mold the lives of young people...that means that we should find reasons to celebrate through the amazing victories and event the heartbreaking defeats. In each of these instances there are teachable and touchable moments.

B-CU's 2008-2009 sports year has had some impressive team and individual accomplishments (and we still have spring sports to compete into May/June). It has been a record-setting year for Wildcat Athletics.

In the fall, the 2008 B-CU Football Team, with its 8-3 record,  and second place tie in the MEAC, earned Head Coach Alvin B. Wyatt the new school record for career wins by a Head Football Coach with 85, breaking the long-standing record by Hall of Famer and Wildcat legend "Bunky" Matthews. 

In the beginning of the winter, B-CU Men's Track All-American Ronnie Ash made school history by winning the 2009 NCAA's Indoor 60 meter hurdle championship and earning third place NCAA honors in the 2008 outdoor, 110-meter hurdles. Ash is B-CU's first-ever NCAA Division I individual champion in any sport.

Other notable Wildcat accomplishments include:

· The Wildcat baseball team winning back-to-back-to-back MEAC Championships (third straight in 2008) - baseball will compete for its fourth straight MEAC title and NCAA Tournament bid May 14-17, with B-CU hosting the MEAC Championships.

 · B-CU men's basketball team - compiling the first-ever NCAA Division I winning season, going 17-16 in 2008-2009, tied for third place in the MEAC with Wildcat freshman guard C. J. Reed earning MEAC Rookie of the Year and All-Tournament Team honors. 

· B-CU's women's basketball team with an outstanding turn-around season winning 12 games in 2008-2009 (more wins than the past two seasons combined - for First Year Head Coach Vanessa Inge).

· Tennis Coach Trey Bogue earned two MEAC Coach of the Year honors being named the 2009 Women's Coach Of The Year and Co-Coach of the Year in Men's Tennis.

In May, the softball team hosts the MEAC Softball Championships in Ormond Beach as they attempt to regain their dominance of the past 5 years. Also, the Men's and Women's golf teams  have earned four team championships between them in 2008-2009 and will be among the team favorites at the NCAA Minority Golf Championships in May.

This has truly been a year to remember and for the thousands of fans and supporters who follow the Wildcats I would like to say thank you for your unwavering support and faith.

Let's Go Wildcats!

Thanks so much for being a part of our family and congratulations to each of you for helping to make us into what we are now and what we are to become in years to come.

Sincerely yours,

Lynn W. Thompson
Director of Athletics
Bethune-Cookman University

Mission Statement
The primary function of the Bethune-Cookman College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to work to fulfill the educational mission of the college by promoting the values of sportsmanship and ethical conduct in all aspects of the intercollegiate athletics program. These values, along with the Christian Principles of the college shall be manifested not only in athletics participation but also in the broad spectrum of activities affecting the intercollegiate athletics program. The role of the college is to prepare students in the Christian Tradition for careers by developing their abilities to think clearly, make sound judgments and communicate effectively, as well as to utilize specifically developed academic skills and practices within their chosen career. The college is further committed to developing in students and employees a desire to sustain lifelong learning by gaining an appreciation of self and of others and their views, and an awareness of the ethical and aesthetic choices that life presents. The role of the department of athletics is to provide mechanisms by which to meet the needs of each student-athlete with these educational, athletic, social and moral experiences. Policies and procedures are established that will promote gender equity and cultural diversity so that each student and employee may be afforded the best opportunities for a positive experience in an academic setting. The college and department of athletics is responsible for providing the best possible environment for its student-athletes to compete against quality opponents within the rules of the institution, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Revised - June, 2000 Approved by the Board of Trustees November, 2000