Friday, November 19, 2010

MACON, Ga. - The National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced the academic awards for the 2009-10 academic year and 13 Atlantic Sun Conference programs earned recognition on the list for having a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. Nine of the 11 women’s soccer programs appeared on the list making the A-Sun the top academic women's soccer conference in the nation with 82 percent of the teams earning the national honor.

ETSU lead the way with on the women's side with a 3.58 team GPA, which ranked ninth nationally. FGCU, Mercer, Stetson and USC Upstate placed both their men's and women's team on the national academic list, which ranked the Atlantic Sun only behind the Ivy League's five programs and the Big East Conference's six institutions.

Four institutions from the A-Sun had both their men’s and women’s programs recognized on the list which includes FGCU, Mercer, Stetson and USC Upstate. The Hatters men’s team, who finished as the runner-up at the A-Sun Championship, ranked 18th nationally for their 3.24 GPA to lead the men’s side for the A-Sun.

2009-10 NSCAA Women's Team Academic Award (School, Coach, GPA):
Belmont University, Lisa Howe, 3.29
Campbell University, Todd Clark, 3.18
East Tennessee State University, Heather Henson, 3.58
Florida Gulf Coast University, Jim Blankenship, 3.31
Jacksonville University, Brian Copham, 3.37
Mercer University, Grant Serafy, 3.23
North Florida, University of, Linda Hamilton, 3.38
South Carolina Upstate, University of, Renee Lopez, 3.15
Stetson University, Julie Orlowski, 3.35

2009-10 NSCAA Men's Team Academic Award (School, Coach, GPA):
Florida Gulf Coast University, Bob Butehorn, 3.04
Mercer University, Brad Ruzzo, 3.12
South Carolina Upstate, University of, Greg Hooks, 3.01
Stetson University, T. Logan Fleck, 3.24

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts five of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.