When the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics gathers Thursday evening for its “Night of Champions” spring awards banquet, the program’s coaches, student-athletes and administration will be celebrating one of the most successful seasons in Buccaneer history.
With the men’s tennis squad’s victory in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships last weekend, ETSU teams have won a total of seven championships during the 2006-07 season.
Those seven titles, which include regular season championships in volleyball, men’s basketball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis, as well as postseason championships in men’s indoor track, men’s golf and men’s tennis, equal the previous record of seven team championships set during the 1991-92 season.
With four spring sports still competing for conference titles, the 2006-07 may still go down as the most successful campaign in the history of ETSU athletics.
ETSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dave Mullins said the success of the program is an indication of the overall program’s dedication to “winning the right way.”
“I am very proud of the success of our teams and coaches for their accomplishments this year,” Mullins said. “They have committed themselves to doing all the extra little things that are necessary to win championships.
Mullins also credits the little things done by the coaching staffs.
“Our coaches have recruited outstanding young people and mentored as well as coached them,” Mullins said. “The results are evidence of their hard work and of the many positive improvements we have made, and continue to make, throughout our department.”
Along with ETSU’s team success, individual Buccaneer athletes have also set a new standard during the 2007-08 season, with several players earning special recognition during the year.
In all, 77 student-athletes have earned conference or NCAA recognition so far this year, with six teams still to be recognized at season’s end.
“As a former coach, I know the importance of teamwork to team unity in success,” Mullins said. “I also know that you always have individuals who perform at a level deserving of personal recognition for their outstanding accomplishments. Many of our Bucs have earned these special awards. We are extremely proud of them.”
Media members wishing to attend Thursday night’s event are asked to call John Roberts at 439-5263 to make arrangements. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday evening inside the D.P. Culp Ballroom.

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