Welcome to our Foundation Newsletter. In this issue we want to introduce you to our student athletes and our Greyhound Family. We have a young basketball program, but we have seen it grow since 2010. You will also find highlights of the plans we unveiled on October 23rd to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of your community’s college. We are excited about celebrating the year with you.
But the majority of this issue will focus on our athletes and our teams. It is my privilege to introduce you to our phenomenal Greyhound men’s and women’s basketball teams and tell you about the meaningful ways our athletic program positively impacts students and our College.
The Greyhound Athletic Program has been around since 2010, when Arkansas Razorback basketball coaching legend Andy Stoglin suggested to then-President Dr. Glen Fenter that such a program would make Mid-South feel more collegiate, while providing life-changing opportunities for student athletes and giving students and sports fans in this region something to rally around. Now in our 8th season, there are plenty of reasons to cheer the Greyhounds of ASU Mid-South, including four NJCAA Region 2 titles (two each for both men’s and women’s teams) and being consistently ranked by the NJCAA as among the top ten in the country for attendance at games in our beautiful home gym, the “Dog House.”
Coach Stoglin was on point when he noted that having a basketball program could help change lives. Despite the demands on their time, balancing class, study time, and practice, most of our student athletes graduate in two years and successfully transfer to senior institutions. In fact, several have gone on to play Division I basketball at colleges both in and out of state. In addition to being successful in the classroom, our student athletes give back to our local community by engaging in service projects, including serving meals to families at the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis, reading to kids at local elementary schools, visiting area Boys and Girls Clubs, and even hosting a local Cub Scout troop in a “Greyhound for a Day” practice and game.
I often say that if you’ve not been to a game at the Dog House, you don’t know what you are missing. The talent and teamwork on display are remarkable to watch. Our teams are well-coached and fiercely competitive, and our fans respond with an equally high level of excitement and enthusiasm. Being at the Dog House on game night is a great experience for fans of all ages, so I encourage you to come out, bring your family, join our faculty, staff, and students, and be a part of that winning atmosphere.
As you can probably tell, I am tremendously proud of our Athletics Program, our student-athletes, our coaches, and our fans. ASU Mid-South is YOUR community’s college and the Greyhounds are YOUR community college’s team. Help support them by coming to a game or by joining our great booster club, the Dog Pack. Your support will help us continue to instill the importance of academics, teamwork, and performance – all important virtues that help build character in the students we serve.
Go Greyhounds!
