An Update From AD Jon Gilbert

Pirate Nation:

We are excited for another action-packed week in ECU Athletics – and once again, the national spotlight is shining brightly on East Carolina University.

For the fourth consecutive game, the Pirates Football team will take the national stage in prime time. Join us at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. as we host Tulsa in a key conference matchup under the lights for the annual Night of the Boneyard/Paint it Black game.

Parking lots and Tailgate Plaza will open at 4:00 p.m. with Spare Change performing beginning at 5:30 p.m. International DJ, producer, influencer and model - Madison Louch (MADDS) - will be performing in Treasure Island for ECU students beginning at 5 p.m.

Looking ahead, only two home football games remain following this week:

Saturday, November 8 – Homecoming / Hall of Fame / Letterwinners Weekend vs. Charlotte
Saturday, November 15 – Senior Day vs. Memphis

Game times will be announced two weeks prior to kickoff. Let's finish strong, together.

2026 Football Opponents Set
The American Conference announced earlier today the conference football games for the 2026 season. The Pirates will host Florida Atlantic, Rice, South Florida and Temple with road games at Army, Charlotte, Memphis and UAB.

The non-conference portion of our 2026 schedule are road games against Alabama (Sept. 5) and Old Dominion (Sept. 19) and Appalachian State (Sept. 12) and N.C. Central (Sept. 26) at home.

You can read more here about the schedule and how the conference sets the opponents.

Limited Seats Remain for Hall of Fame Induction Banquet
There are only 100 seats remaining for this year's ECU Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, and we don't want you to miss this special evening of celebration. Join us on Friday, November 7, 2025, in Harvey Hall at the Pete & Lynn Murphy Center as we honor a remarkable group of Pirates who have made lasting contributions to ECU Athletics.

This year's induction class includes Tynita Butts (Track & Field), Shane Carden (Football), Daniel Monroe (Wrestling), Justin Hardy (Football), Dwayne Harris (Football), and Terry Holland (Athletic Director). The Team of Distinction this year is the 1981–82 Women's Basketball Team who earned the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. The evening will begin with a social at 5:00 p.m., followed by the banquet at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person, and seating is limited.

To reserve your spot, please call the Pirate Club at 252-737-4540 today. We look forward to celebrating this outstanding class.

Men's and Women's Golf Programs Shine
It was an incredible week for our Men's and Women's Golf programs led by Director of Golf/Head Coach Kevin Williams, as both teams secured home tournament victories – with standout individual performances to match.

Men's Golf captured the title at the Ironwood Collegiate Classic, finishing eight strokes ahead of second-place UCF. Philip Linberg Bondestad, who hails from Drobak, Norway, earned individual honors for the second straight tournament, carding an 11-under-par 205 over 54 holes.
Women's Golf dominated the Pirate Collegiate Classic at Greenville Country Club, posting the second-lowest tournament score in program history with a combined 16-under. Sophomore Lisa Forss, from Gothenburg, Sweden, claimed medalist honors in the 54-hole event, highlighted by a school-record 10-under 62 in the second round. Her 54-hole total of 204 (12-under) was also a program record.

A huge congratulations to all our student-athletes, and thank you to the staff and supporters who make these events possible.

Men's and Women's Basketball Tipoff Dinners
Excitement is building for the upcoming basketball season, and our annual tipoff dinners are right around the corner. Proceeds benefit the Pirate Club's Purple & Gold Society, supporting our recruitment and retention efforts for ECU basketball programs.

Attendees will hear directly from Head Coaches Kim McNeill (Women's Basketball) and Michael Schwartz (Men's Basketball), as well as student-athletes from both teams, as they share insights and expectations for the upcoming season.

2025 Women's Basketball Tip-Off Dinner
Tuesday, October 21
6:30 p.m.
Click here to purchase tickets

2025 Men's Basketball Tip-Off Dinner
Tuesday, October 28
5:30 p.m.
Click here to purchase tickets

Basketball season tickets
With tipoff less than a month away, make sure you purchase your basketball season tickets. You can check out the full men's basketball schedule here and the women's basketball schedule here.

Pirate Club members can renew their season tickets now. Season tickets are open to the general public on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Fans interested in buying or renewing tickets for the upcoming season can visit ECU's Online Ticket Center or contact the ECU Ticket Office at (252) 737-4500.

Conference Honors for Volleyball Freshman
Sydney Buchanan, a native of Frankfort, Illinois, was named the American Conference Freshman of the Week after starring for the Pirates last weekend against Temple and Florida Atlantic. In the two games, she recorded 37 kills, 17 digs and three blocks.

The Pirates are on the road this weekend at North Texas (Friday) and UTSA (Sunday). Charlotte visits Greenville on Wednesday, Oct. 22 for a 6 p.m. match.

Swimming Honors
Congratulations to redshirt senior Frida Zuniga and freshman Romina Hernandez for being named the American Conference Diving Athlete of the Week and Freshman Diving Athlete of the Week respectively.

Zuniga has won conference honors eight times in her career. She won the 1-meter diving competition at Duke and at Liberty and finished first in the 3-meter at Liberty. Hernandez finished second in the 1-meter at Liberty and third in the 3-meter competition at Duke.

Women's Soccer back in action Sunday
The Pirates women's soccer team will host unbeaten and nationally ranked Memphis at Noon on Sunday, October 19 for Senior Day on Bill Clark Homes Field at Johnson Stadium. With only four conference games remaining, the Pirates are battling down the stretch for a spot in the conference tournament. Admission is free for all soccer games.

Junior cross country runner wins Dill Family Foundation Invitational
Abrielle Schweitzer, a junior from Harleyville, Pa., earned her first career individual win last week at the Dill Family Foundation Invitational at Overton's Lake Kristi. The Pirates women finished second in the event while the men claimed fifth.

As always, thank you for your loyal support of ECU Athletics. Our student-athletes, coaches, and staff are proud to represent Pirate Nation.

Go Pirates!

Jon

Players Mentioned

Romina Hernandez

Frida Zuniga

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