An Update From AD Jon Gilbert

Pirate Nation:

Let me start with a simple THANK YOU.

I am thrilled to share with you the remarkable progress we have made with our Pirates Unite Campaign in less than two years, thanks to the unwavering generosity of our Pirate Club members. Your support has propelled us forward, enabling us to remain competitive in the ever-evolving collegiate landscape.

We have reached a significant milestone with $30 million committed to campaign. This achievement underscores the remarkable dedication and commitment of Pirate Nation towards enhancing ECU Athletics. We will be announcing several major gifts over the next couple of weeks.

I am particularly excited to provide updates on two projects within the campaign.

Isley Indoor Performance Center: Funding for the Isley Indoor Performance Center has reached nearly $21 million, bringing us close to our goal. With approximately $3 million needed to push this project over the finish line, we are on the brink of creating a state-of-the-art facility that will profoundly impact the development of our student-athletes and enrich our sports programs. I urge those with the means to consider supporting this transformative project or making a second gift to help us realize our vision.
Dick and Sarah Bennett Baseball Building Expansion: The funding for the expansion of current baseball building is also nearing fruition, with over $6.1 million already invested. We anticipate the total cost to fall between $7.5-8 million and are optimistic about securing additional support, including gift in kind contributions, to bridge the remaining gap. Your continued support will be instrumental in expediting the fundraising process.

As with the successful completion of the Minges Coliseum upgrades, we understand the importance of fully funding each project before proceeding. Thanks to our Pirate Club members, we are on the cusp of making these transformative projects a reality. We need one final push to achieve our goals. For more information about the campaign, please visit ecupirateclub.com/piratesunite or call (252) 737-4540.

Back-To-Back Tournament Titles For Men's Golf; Fourth Career Win For Augustsson
Congratulations to head coach Kevin Williams and the ECU men's golf team as they won the three-day 2024 Cutter Creek Intercollegiate over the weekend, the second consecutive tournament win for the Pirates. ECU sophomore Lucas Augustsson shot a 9-under par 207 to claim medalist honors, his program-best fourth career tournament win. Sophomore Philip Linberg Bondestad, who recorded rounds of 68, 72 and 68, finished runner-up.

Longtime ECU Athletics Administrator To Retire
It is bittersweet to the announce the retirement of longtime ECU administrator Mike Hanley. As a member of the ECU Athletics staff since 1990, Mike will officially retire on July 1.
Mike has served in a variety of roles with the Pirates, beginning his career as an athletic trainer before moving into an administrative role overseeing the sports medicine division in 2012. In addition to being a member of the department's leadership team, he also serves as the current sport administrator for the Pirates' lacrosse, tennis, cross country, track & field, and soccer programs.

Mike's dedication and commitment to ECU have left an indelible mark on our department and the countless lives he has impacted throughout his career. Throughout his time in Greenville, he has been a trusted advisor, mentor and friend to colleagues, coaches, and student-athletes. Mike is a true professional in every sense of the word and his integrity and genuine care for others have earned him the respect and admiration of all who have had the privilege of working with him.

While we will miss Mike, he leaves a lasting legacy with ECU Athletics and his impact will continue to be felt throughout the department.

NIL Support Appreciated; Team Boneyard Holding Auction
We understand that we ask our supporters to contribute to various facets of our athletics department, each representing a vital piece of the puzzle that enables us to remain competitive in today's dynamic environment. The word I hear a lot from supporters is "buckets."

The number of "buckets" have grown whether it is funding scholarships for our student-athletes through the Pirate Club, purchasing tickets for our athletic events, facility enhancements with the ongoing Pirates Unite Campaign, or contributing to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) endeavors through Team Boneyard or another avenue.

NIL has undoubtedly emerged as a significant part of athletic departments across the country, presenting both opportunities and challenges for our student-athletes and our programs as a whole. NIL opportunities are another crucial avenue through which we must garner support, and we recognize the tremendous impact it can have on the lives of our student-athletes and the future of ECU Athletics.

Team Boneyard has been terrific with providing unparalleled opportunities for our student-athletes and helping meet the financial challenges posed by NIL. Team Boneyard launched an auction last week that will generate additional NIL funds for our student-athletes. They have some great opportunities to meet our coaches and student-athletes through one-of-a-kind experiences. If you ever wanted to kick a field goal against a rush, you can bid on the opportunity to do it at the upcoming spring game.

While we are immensely grateful for the support of our large donors, we understand that funding NIL initiatives cannot solely rely on them. It must truly be a collective effort involving all members of Pirate Nation. We have so many businesses in our community and surrounding region, and we hope they will consider empowering our student-athletes through NIL opportunities.

Together, let's champion Team Boneyard and embrace NIL initiatives because success for our student-athletes and sports programs is directly linked to the support of our fan base.

Spring Game On The Horizon; Football Season Tickets Update
Mark your calendars for April 13, as you will have the opportunity to get your first look at the 2024 Pirates Football Team during the 39^th Annual Pigskin Pig-Out, sponsored by Piggly Wiggly. Information on the weekend's festivities can be found on the Pigskin Pig-Out Page.

The event will bring together fans, players, coaches, and the entire Pirate community for a weekend of excitement and anticipation. Players will be signing autographs on Saturday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. outside TowneBank Tower.

Excitement is already building for the 2024 season, as evidenced by the remarkable pace of season ticket sales. With 8,200 tickets sold, we are well ahead of last year's pace at this time. We are incredibly grateful for the enthusiastic support of our fans, and we are hopeful to maintain this momentum in the coming months as we work towards our goal of selling 15,000 season tickets.

Hall Of Fame To Return In 2025
Members of the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame Committee have voted to hold elections every other year with the next induction ceremony beginning in 2025. The decision was made to protect the integrity of the process and after a review of other athletic departments across the country. In terms of nominations, all individuals will be considered for three election cycles. With this change, individuals that were nominated in 2022 through June 30, 2025 will remain on the ballot for the 2025 election.

The ECU Athletics Hall of Fame began in 1974 to honor individuals who were former letterwinners, coaches, administrators, and others who, by participation made exceptional contributions to the Pirates sports programs. We had a tremendous 2023 class that included Justine Allpress, the late Jeff Charles, Roderick Coleman, and Seth Maness, bringing the total number of inductees to 187. We are making plans to honor all past Hall of Fame honorees on the field at a Pirates home football game each fall.

To nominate an individual for the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame, please complete the online Nomination Form.

AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco To Retire
In early December, AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco announced he would retire at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. As the only commissioner in the conference history, Mike has exhibited exemplary leadership, dedication, and commitment over the past 11 years to advance the interests of the AAC and its member institutions.

Mike has strongly advocated for the best interests of our schools and student-athletes as he navigated through numerous challenges and changes in the collegiate landscape. On a personal level, Mike has been tremendous to work with and always makes himself available. We will all miss his leadership and presence. He has laid the foundation for continued success of the AAC.

Busy Week On Grady-White Boats Athletic Campus
Get ready for an action-packed week filled with opportunities to see our student-athletes in action.

The women's golf team will host The Ironwood Invitational beginning today at Ironwood Golf and Country Club. The teams will play 36 holes today and conclude with 18 holes on Tuesday morning.

The 10th annual Bill Carson Invitational is set for Friday and Saturday at the Bate Foundation Track & Field Facility. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. on Friday with competition resuming at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The 2024 East Carolina senior class will be recognized at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The Pirates lacrosse team will host a pair of games in Johnson Stadium beginning with a 5 p.m. tilt against Clemson on Tuesday. Florida will visit Johnson Stadium at noon on Saturday.

Head over to Max R. Joyner Family Stadium this weekend as the Pirates softball team host UTSA for a three-game series beginning Friday at 5 p.m. First pitch on Saturday is at 4 p.m. and the series finale on Sunday is set for noon.

The women's tennis team will host Davidson on Saturday at River Birch Tennis Complex beginning at 2 p.m.

First Ever Pirate Club Ladies Night
Make sure you sign up for Pirate Club Ladies Night on Wednesday, April 17 in Harvey Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. Come enjoy food and beverages while shopping local business pop-up booths. We will have panels with current female student-athletes and moms of female student-athletes. All proceeds from the event will go to our varsity women's sports programs.

Our programs will have booths where you can learn more about each sport. We will conclude the evening with a raffle including various prizes from local businesses throughout Pitt County and surrounding areas.

Cheer And Dance Teams To Compete In National Championships
The Pirates cheer and dance teams head to Daytona Beach next week to compete in the NCA and NDA College National Championships. Preliminary performances are on April 11 with championship performances scheduled for April 12. Follow both of our teams on social media for updates, results and to show your support.

I hope to see you around campus soon. Thank you for your loyal support of the Pirates.

Go Pirates!

Jon

Players Mentioned

Philip Linberg Bondestad

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