91ֿ

Department of Intercollegiate Athletics

Photo of Giovanni Santiago and Danny Pippen during 2020 autism awareness game

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many disruptions and changes to people’s lives. The 91ֿ men’s basketball team has been affected, too, with schedule changes, games played in nearly empty arenas and extra safety protocols in place. However, one of the things that has not changed is the team’s steadfast commitment to autism awareness.

Members of the 91ֿ women's basketball team celebrate clinching a share of the 2020 Mid-American Conference East Division championship with head coach Todd Starkey.

91ֿ today is launching a national search for the university’s next leader of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. A 12-member search committee led by Lamar R. Hylton, Ph.D., vice president for student affairs, has been appointed to recruit and screen highly qualified candidates for the director of athletics position.

After more than a decade of service, Joel Nielsen, 91ֿ’s director of athletics, plans to seek new challenges when his contract with the university ends later this year.
 

Photo collage of 91ֿ women's teams

91ֿ has won the Mid-American Conference’s Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for women’s sports award for the first time in school history.

91ֿ women’s basketball players and graduating seniors Ali Poole, Sydney Brinlee and Megan Carter smile with their caps and gowns. (Photo credit: Scott Galvin)

91ֿ student-athletes conquered the unprecedented challenge of completing the final months of the spring term via remote classes by posting the highest term grade point average (3.563) in athletics department history. All 17 programs posted a term GPA of 3.1 or better with 14 setting a new term record.

91ֿ field hockey coach Kyle DeSandes-Moyer (wearing hat) stands with her players and assistant coaches.

91ֿ field hockey coach Kyle DeSandes-Moyer has one mantra that not only fueled, but bonded, both her first successful season guiding the Golden Flashes and the team she inherited. “We have to honor the women who came before us,” she said.

Senior guard CJ Williamson of the 91ֿ men’s basketball team drives to the basket past a University of Akron player.

Fans of the 91ֿ Golden Flashes looking to follow their favorite players on the court will have to look for their jersey numbers and not their names at a special men’s basketball game later this week. Players will be wearing student-designed uniforms with the space on the back that is usually designated for their names instead displaying the phrase “1 in 59” to promote autism awareness and education.

Senior guard CJ Williamson of the 91ֿ men’s basketball team drives to the basket past a University of Akron player.

Fans of the 91ֿ Golden Flashes looking to follow their favorite players on the court will have to look for their jersey numbers and not their names at a special men’s basketball game later this week. Players will be wearing student-designed uniforms with the space on the back that is usually designated for their names instead displaying the phrase “1 in 59” to promote autism awareness and education.

91ֿ completed its first ever bowl win with a victory of Utah State

91ֿ made history in Texas with a 51-41 win over Utah State in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl.

91ֿ men's basketball guard Troy Simons goes up for a layup.

91ֿ is working with area autism-focused organizations as well as KultureCity®, a nonprofit dedicated to providing accessibility and inclusion for those with special needs, to create a sensory-friendly gameday experience that can be enjoyed by all. Fans attending 91ֿ’s Dec. 21 mens basketball game versus Hampton University will feel an expression of the university’s ongoing commitment to its core values of kindness, mutual respect and inclusion.