Athletics Archives

Transylvania University athletics director, Jack Ebel, steps down

Posted on April 3, 2013July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Barbara LoMonaco announced today that Jack Ebel, director of athletics, will become the associate athletics director for outdoor facilities at Transylvania, effective July 1, 2013. “Jack’s many years of experience and vast knowledge of athletics at Transylvania will be a tremendous asset to us as we expand our sports facilities and programs,” LoMonaco said. “It has been my pleasure to serve as director of athletics for the last seven years.” Ebel said. “During this time, the athletics program has made great strides in hiring more women coaches and increasing the competiveness of our women’s sports program.” Under Ebel’s tenure, the number of athletes increased from 270 to almost 400; numerous teams qualified for NCAA post season play; men’s and women’s track, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and equestrian programs were added and the cheer and dance program was upgraded to competitive status. In addition, the women’s program won two HCAC All Sports awards and is currently in the lead for this year. The men’s and women’s program combined, won the last two HCAC Commissioner Cup trophies. “It is only through the hard work and relentless efforts of our coaches and staff that these remarkable achievements have been attained,” Ebel said. “I am proud to have played a role in these successes.” In his new position, Ebel will oversee and coordinate the use of the university’s new Fourth Street athletics facilities, including

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Transylvania breaks ground for state-of-the-art athletics complex

Posted on March 2, 2013July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

Junior Abby Felthaus was one of several to participate in the groundbreaking. LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University broke ground today for a new athletics complex at 555 West Fourth Street that will become home to women’s and men’s soccer, lacrosse, and track and field teams as well as the field hockey team. The facility is expected to be ready for use in early fall of the 2013-14 academic year. Centerpiece of the complex will be a state-of-the-art lighted turf field for soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey, surrounded by an NCAA-regulation eight-lane track with an all-weather surface. Space for field events will be adjacent. An 800-seat grandstand, press box, and concession area will complete the playing facilities. A new office and locker room building will house coaches’ offices and a training room, and on-site parking will be available. “This project represents a bold approach to Transylvania’s future,” said Board of Trustees member Brian Wood, a 1994 graduate of the university. “By expanding beyond our traditional campus boundaries and integrating the Transylvania culture into a new neighborhood, we are setting a course that says we are a dynamic and innovative college.” Colmon Elridge, executive assistant to Governor Steve Beshear and a 2003 graduate of Transylvania, spoke on behalf of the governor’s office. “Transylvania University is enshrined in the fabric of who we are as Kentuckians,” he said. “And, this historic university is not resting on its laurels. Transylvania University is on the move.” President

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A.B. “Happy” Chandler tops list of Pioneer Hall of Fame inductees

Posted on April 30, 2012July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

A.B. “Happy” Chandler, Class of 1921 LEXINGTON, Ky.—Former Kentucky governor and baseball commissioner A B. “Happy” Chandler and basketball star Orbrey Gritton top a list of seven new inductees into Transylvania University’s Pioneer Hall of Fame. The 2012 class was inducted on April 27, following a reception and dinner. The latest additions bring the total number of Pioneer Hall of Fame members to 102, plus one team, since inductions began in 1992. The newest members include Chandler, a 1921 graduate who played baseball, football, and basketball at Transylvania prior to a long career in politics; Gritton, a 1989 graduate who ranks 13th on the all-time men’s basketball scoring list and was district player of the year and an NAIA All-American as a senior; and Mark Turner, a 1977 graduate who retired as the winningest coach in the history of the women’s basketball program. Also entering the Hall of Fame this year are swimming All-American Jay Ecleberry, a member of the Class of 1992 who still holds two school records; tennis standouts Elizabeth Boyd Fryar ’81 and Andrea Barton Lane ’90, both of whom starred on regional championship teams; and Emily Veeneman ’96, a field hockey and softball player who holds the field hockey records for most goals in a game, in a season and for a career. The Pioneer Hall of Fame was founded by the school’s alumni office and the athletics and physical education department to recognize former athletes,

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Verax named top player, Lane best coach in HCAC

Posted on March 4, 2009July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

Joey Verax LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania’s Joey Verax has been named 2008-09 Player of the Year and Brian Lane Coach of the Year by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Verax, a senior forward from Falmouth, Ky., was the leading scorer on a 21-5 Transy team that won the HCAC co-championship, then captured the league tournament and the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. Lane was named Coach of the Year for the third time after leading the Pioneers to their third regular season conference title and third NCAA berth in four years. He was also honored after the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Transy won 20 or more games for the third time in his eight years as the Pioneers’ head coach. His career record is 136-77. Verax was joined on the All-HCAC first team by senior guard Aaron Cash, a Rockcastle County product. Senior forward Brock Jones (Madisonville, Ky.) and junior Tim Tierney (Ft. Wright, Ky.) were honorable mention picks. Verax, who made the All-HCAC first team for the third straight year, led Transy in scoring with 16.2 points a game. He is also the team’s top rebounder at 5.8 a contest. Earlier this season, he became the 41st Pioneer to surpass 1,000 points for his career. Brian Lane His current total of 1,275 is 25th all-time. Cash was an honorable mention selection as a sophomore while Tierney was a first-team pick last year. Jones is on the squad for

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Transylvania men’s and women’s basketball teams win Heartland Conference tournaments, move on to NCAA Division III Championships

Posted on March 2, 2009July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania’s men’s basketball team spotted Franklin a 14-point lead Saturday, then roared back for a 76-72 win in the men’s Heartland Conference basketball tournament final at the Beck Center, grabbing the HCAC’s automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championships. Transylvania’s women’s team outscored Hanover by 16 points in the second half Saturday and went on to claim the Heartland Conference’s automatic bid to the women’s NCAA Division III Championship with a 79-69 victory in the HCAC Championship game, also at the Beck Center. The men’s basketball team will travel to Centre for first-round NCAA Division III Championship action this weekend while the women’s squad will head to Washington University in St. Louis. The NCAA Division III Championship pairings for the men’s and women’s tournaments were announced Monday. Coach Brian Lane’s Pioneers (21-5), HCAC regular-season co-champions, will play Guilford (21-5) Friday in Danville. Coach Greg Todd’s HCAC regular season champion Pioneers (22-5) drew last year’s title-winners, Howard Payne (23-5) on Friday. On the women’s side, Washington University (21-4) is ranked second in the country and will face Capital (22-5). The winners will play Saturday. Centre’s men, who lost to Transy in this season’s first game, will meet Averett (20-8). Centre brings a 23-4 mark into tourney play. More details to follow when they become available. For more information, contact Glenn Osborne, sports information director, at (859) 233-8284 or gosborne@transy.edu.