Four USF Teams Earn NCAA Public Recognition Awards For Academic Performance

Programs rank among top 10 percent nationally in APR score

TAMPA, FLA. – Four USF athletic teams, including the back-to-back conference champion men’s tennis team, have received a Public Recognition Award from the NCAA for earning high scores in the most recent Academic Progress Rate (APR) compilation. The four teams all earned APR scores in the top 10 percent nationally for their respective sport during the 2013-14 academic year.

The four USF squads recognized by the NCAA are: men’s tennis, women’s tennis, women’s golf and softball. USF has now earned 23 NCAA Public Recognition Awards overall, 13 in the last four seasons, garnered by eight different programs. The NCAA program, started in 2004-05, is in its 10 year.

All four programs honored this year have found recent success on the field as well. USF men’s tennis program claimed the American Athletic Conference tournament title the last two seasons and advanced to the 2015 NCAA Championships Sweet 16. Women’s tennis won an American Conference title in 2014 while the women’s golf program won a Big East title in 2012. The softball program has made 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including three of the last four seasons, and earned a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.

The awards are intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.  Specifically, these teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport.

The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship.  The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance.

Coach Matt Hill’s men’s tennis team was honored with an NCAA Public Recognition Award for the third consecutive year. Hill was named the American Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight year and sophomore Roberto Cid earned American Conference Player of the Year honors for the second season as the Bulls repeated as American Conference champions and climbed to the No. 18 ranking in the nation, the highest in program history. The Bulls made their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.

The Bulls women’s tennis team earned its fifth straight NCAA Public Recognition Award. The program has made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Coach Marci Kornegay’s women’s golf team earned their fifth overall Public Recognition Award and third in the last four years. Sophomore Ashley Burke earned American All-Conference honors for the second season and was selected to compete in the NCAA Championship regional in Raleigh, N.C.

Coach Ken Eriksen’s softball program earned a Public Recognition Award for the fourth time overall. The Bulls posted a 36-20 record with Lee Ann Spivey and Kristen Wyckoff picking up all-region honors.

The aggregate 2013-14 Academic Progress Rate data for all NCAA Division I institutions will be announced later this month.

USF had 58 student-athletes earn their degree during spring commencement ceremonies in May.