SU baseball and football programs receive Award of Merit, athletics department also honored
SALISBURY, Md. - Recently the Salisbury University baseball and football teams were honored for their role in the community by the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators. The two programs received the Award of Merit distinction for their community service projects over the last year.
The baseball team is coached by head coach Doug Fleetwood and associate head coach Ron Siers, who spearheaded the Sea Gulls' Badges for Baseball program in conjunction with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. Badges for Baseball is a multi-faceted mentoring program in which student-athletes work with youth in areas of the "Ripken Way" including Healthy Choices, Healthy Children, and baseball/softball themed activities. The SU baseball program received the award in the "One-Time Project/Activity" category through the NADIIIAA annual community awards program.
The football team, coached by Sherman Wood, had members of the football team visit several local elementary and middle schools each week. The players were involved in reading incentive programs, TV Turnoff Week, family nights with the parents and pep rallies to increase school spirit. The SU football program received the award in the "On-Going Project/Activity" category through the NADIIIAA annual community awards program.
The SU athletics program as a whole as received an honorable mention accolade for the work it has done in the local community. The athletics department participates in events such as Coaches vs. Cancer, Dig Pink Night and Salisbury University's Relay for Life, which all raise money for cancer research at the local and national level. In addition, athletic teams coach clinics with local youth teams, volunteer at Sea Gull Century and collect gifts for needy families around the holidays.
The baseball program, football program and SU athletics department will be recognized this month by the NADIIIAA at the NCAA Convention in Atlanta, Ga. along with the other award winners.
The NADIIIAA is an association comprised of athletics administrators from the nearly 450 institutions and 40 conferences competing at the NCAA Division III level. A primary purpose of the NADIIIAA is to encourage the continued development of athletics programs focused on the student-athlete and based on sound educational philosophy.
