An Update From AD Jon Gilbert

Pirate Nation:

As we approach August, I wanted to bring you the latest updates from our department. Our student-athletes are returning to campus and beginning preparation for their upcoming fall seasons. With less than a month until kickoff at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, there are many exciting events and milestones to share.

Football Kickoff Luncheon Set For August 19; All Proceeds To Team Boneyard
Tickets are on sale now for the annual Kickoff Luncheon in Minges Coliseum. This beloved event signifies the beginning of the football season and will feature insights from head coach Mike Houston, offensive coordinator John David Baker and defensive coordinator Blake Harrell. In addition, football student-athletes will also be in attendance for the first time. I am also hearing we could have some pretty unique live auction items as well.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to supporting NIL for our football student-athletes through Team Boneyard. Team Boneyard continues to play a vital role in the recruitment and retention of our rosters. We all must collectively work to generate NIL opportunities for our student-athletes to remain competitive in today's environment. This is a chance to support our football program while also hearing directly from our coaches about the upcoming season.

Excelling In The Classroom
We are proud of our 400-plus student-athletes, coaches, and staff for working together to have a record-breaking year in the classroom. Our student-athletes are committed to success in the classroom, and we are thankful for our dedicated staff in the Student-Athlete Academic Services led by Senior Associate AD Stephanie White.

Our student-athletes combined for a 3.24 grade point average (GPA) in 2023-24, the highest non-COVID GPA on record, with 71 percent of our student-athletes posting a 3.0 GPA or higher. Fourteen ECU teams recorded a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher.

The year was highlighted by 95 student-athletes receiving their degree over the fall, spring and summer combined. The Spring 2024 semester marked the 15^th consecutive semester with an average departmental GPA of 3.0 or higher and included a record 50 student-athletes with a perfect semester 4.0 GPA. A record 293 student-athletes made the 2023-24 AAC All-Academic Team (3.0 GPA or higher).

In the spring, ECU recognized 135 student-athletes on the Dean's List, 73 on the ECU Honor Roll and 30 that appeared on the Chancellor's List.

Football Season Tickets Update; Single-Game Tickets On Sale July 31
With a little over a month remaining until the season-opener at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, we are excited to report we are closing in on 14,000 football season tickets sold. August is normally a busy month, so we are hoping to get our number close to 15,000.

We have sold the most premium seats since the TowneBank Tower opened in 2019. All suites, loge boxes and Trade Club seats sold out for the third consecutive season in the TowneBank Tower. Fewer than 150 tickets remain in the Williams Clark Club on the north side.

I have used this space before to emphasize the importance of having a healthy football season ticket number. Our sales are vital to the success of our entire athletics department. In addition to the financial impact, a full Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium creates an atmosphere that is unmatched. Please consider purchasing tickets if you are able.

Any account that has not renewed their season tickets will need to call the Pirate Club or Athletics Ticket Office to ensure their seats. You can reach the ticket office at (252) 737-4500 or the Pirate Club at (252) 737-4540.

Single-game football tickets and away game tickets will go on sale beginning Wednesday, July 31 for Pirate Club members. Pirate Club members will have a two-week window to purchase seats before sales are opened to the general public.

Four Longtime Employees Set To Retire
We would like to take a moment to recognize the remarkable careers of four dedicated ECU Athletics employees – Mike Hanley, LaTrenda Britt, Carlester Crumpler and Curt Kraft – who are retiring after decades of service. Their contributions have profoundly impacted our student-athletes and the department as a whole.

Mike officially retired on July 1 after 30 years with ECU Athletics where he served in a variety of roles. He began his career as an athletic trainer before moving into an administrative role overseeing the sports medicine division in 2012 and was a member of our department's leadership team. Mike has been a great friend to me and someone who is respected universally in our department and across the sports industry.

LaTrenda has been a staple in the Pirate Club offices for the past 30 years. She was a welcome voice on the phone for our donors over the years and played a key role in the Pirate Club.

After a Hall of Fame career as an ECU student-athlete, Carlester returned to his alma mater in 1988 where he has served in the Office of Student Development as an academic coordinator. He has impacted thousands of student-athletes during his time at ECU with his leadership and passion for helping young people.

Coach Kraft recently announced his retirement after more than 20 years leading the Pirates track program. Curt is a friend and mentor to many in our department and we are very appreciative of his contributions.

These individuals will be missed and will forever be Pirates.

Facilities Update
I want to update you on the Pirates Unite Campaign and a few facility projects that we are working on.

Thanks to our generous donors, we are continuing to inch closer to funding for the Isley Indoor Performance Center and Dick and Sarah Bennett Baseball Building. We still need financial support to get both projects to the finish line. With football reseating in 2025, it is a terrific opportunity to earn double priority points by giving to the campaign.

The ECU Golf Facility by The Varner Family will open at the end of August. A new driving range at Ironwood Country Club and newly installed greens on the course are part of the work that was funded through Pirate Club donors. The next portion of the project is a clubhouse with men's and women's locker rooms adjacent to the driving range.

We will be installing new LED lights and sound system at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium and new lights at Johnson Stadium. If you have seen the new lights at Clark-LeClair Stadium, they make a stark difference. The marquee board is being replaced at the corner of Charles Blvd. and Greenville Blvd.

Fall sports returning to campus
As student-athletes return to campus, I encourage you to check out the updated schedules for our fall sports. We are excited to kick off another season and hope to see you cheering in the stands:

Click Here to view our ECU Football Schedule
Click Here to view our ECU Men's Golf Schedule
Click Here to view our ECU Women's Golf Schedule
Click Here to view our ECU Soccer Schedule
Click Here to view our ECU Women's Tennis Schedule
Click Here to view our ECU Volleyball Schedule
Click Here to view our ECU Cross Country Schedule

Pirate Cup
The 2024 Pirate Cup presented by Executive Personnel Group is set for Friday, September 6 at Ironwood Country Club. We will have two flights this year (8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. start) with all proceeds benefitting the Pirates men's and women's golf programs. You can sign up for the event here.

Calling All Women's Soccer Alumni
Head coach Gary Higgins and the women's soccer program will be hosting an alumni weekend on September 14-15. The event is a terrific opportunity to be around our current student-athletes, tailgate with the team on Saturday and enjoy a day at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium as the Pirates host Appalachian State. The following day the women will be in action against James Madison at Johnson Stadium. Interested participants can sign up here.

Submit Your Favorite Recipe
ECU Athletics sponsor Piggly Wiggly is back with the 2024 ECU Tastes and Traditions Recipe Book. Fans can submit their favorite recipes to be featured in the book. Click here to share your recipe with Pirate Nation.

Thank you for your continued support of ECU Athletics. The collegiate landscape continues to shift, but Pirate Nation is powerful when it is united.

See you soon,

Jon

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