Athletic Staff

Yellowjacket Athletics is supported by staff and coaches to provide student-athletes with a holistic collegiate experience that fosters personal growth through academics, athletics, community involvement, and leadership development in a competitive environment promoting cultural diversity, genera equity, and inclusivity among student-athletes, coaches, and staff. See a complete staff directory.

About Yellowjacket Athletics 

Mission Statement

The Department of Athletics supports the mission of UW-Superior, providing student-athletes with a holistic collegiate experience that fosters personal growth through academics, athletics, community involvement, and leadership development in a competitive environment inclusive for student athletes, coaches, and staff.

Earn It - Our Purpose

Earn It is our unwavering commitment to develop champions by providing a rewarding student-athlete experience - one that focuses on building relationships and challenges student-athletes to compete at their highest potential athletically, personally and academically.

Philosophy of NCAA DIII Athletics

The purpose of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is to assist its members in developing the basis for consistent, equitable competition while minimizing infringement on the freedom of individual members to determine their own unique objectives and programs. The philosophy statement articulates principles that represent a commitment to Division III membership and shall serve as a guide for the preparation of legislation by the division and for planning in implementation of programs by institutions and conferences.

a. Division III members affirm the purposes and fundamental policy of the NCAA as set forth in Constitution Article I with emphasis on:

1. Division III members shall establish and maintain an environment in which a student athlete's activities are conducted with the appropriate primary emphasis on the student athlete's academic experience
2. Division III intercollegiate athletics shall be conducted in a manner designed to protect, support, and enhance the physical and mental health and safety of student-athletes.
3. Division III members shall be committed to the creation of diverse and inclusive environments with respect for and sensitivity to the dignity of every person.
4. Division III athletics shall be conducted in a manner free of gender bias.

b. NCAA Constitution Article 2 establishes the independent authority of Division III to organize itself and determine its own governing structure and membership:

1. Institutional presidents and chancellors have the ultimate responsibility and final authority for the conduct of Division IIII intercollegiate athletics at the national, conference, and institutional levels.  
2. Institutional and conference members determine policy at the national level through the Division III governance and legislative processes.
3. Key institution and conference constituents who play an integral role in the governance and operation of Division III at the national, conference, and institutional levels include, but are not limited to athletics direct reports, athletics diversity and inclusion designees, athletics health care administrators, coaches, conference commissioners, directors of athletics, faculty athletics representatives, presidents and chancellors, senior compliance administrators, senior women administrators, and student-athletes.

c. Division III members abide by the following principles that help to define and distinguish the division and its policies and legislation.

1. Student-Athlete Collegiate Experience
   1. Primarily focus on intercollegiate athletics as a four-year undergrad experience.
   2. Seek to establish and maintain an environment in which a student-athlete's athletics activities are conducted as an integral part of their educational experience. Page 5 of 29 Student-Athlete Handbook - UW-Superior Intercollegiate Athletics.
   3. Assure that student-athletes are supported in their efforts to meaningfully participate in nonathletic pursuits to enhance their overall educational experience.
2. Student-Athlete Athletics Experience
   1. Support student -athletes in their efforts to reach the highest levels of athletics performance, with a primary emphasis on conference and regional competition, while providing access to national championships.
   2. Prioritize the experience of the participants, and the internal constituency (e.g., students, alumni, institutional personnel) rather than on the entertainment needs of spectators or the general public.
   3. Develop and maintain an environment that promotes sportsmanship and a positive culture for student-athletes, coaches, and administration personnel, recognizing the role intercollegiate athletics can play in human development. Ensure spectators contribute to a positive sporting experience in support of all participants.
3. Member Responsibility and Oversight
   1. Encourage participation and provide equitable opportunities with support for gender and ethnic/racial diversity. Give equal emphasis to men's and women's sports.
   2. The administration of an institution's athletics program (e.g. hiring, compensation, professional development, certification of coaches) should be integrated into the campus culture and educational mission.
   3. Assure all teams are provided with appropriate facilities, competent coaching and competitive opportunities.
   4. Assure student-athletes are treated similarly to the student-body in areas that include, but are not limited to, admissions, enrollment, financial aid, academic and career support, academic performance, and degree completion.
   5. Assure that financial aid is not awarded to any student on the basis of athletics leadership, ability, participation or performance. (Adopted: 1/16/24 effective 8/1/24)

NCAA Division III Philosophy Statement 

Affiliations

UW-Superior competes in NCAA Division III at the national level and is a member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) at the conference level.  For the sport of men's and women's ice hockey and women's lacrosse, UW-Superior competes as an associated member in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).

For UW-Superior's organized club sports, the university has membership in the Midwest Soccer Alliance Conference (MASC), and American Collegiate Hockey Association.

Athletics Eligibility

In accordance with the NCAA Handbook and our governing sport conferences, UW-Superior has implemented additional bylaws and definitions as it relates to the eligibility of student-athletes.

1.1 NCAA Rules.  The University of Wisconsin-Superior will abide by the eligibility rules adopted by the Division III membership of the NCAA with the exception of these institutional rules that are more restrictive as set forth in this document.

1.2  Regular Term.  A "regular term" is considered to be the traditional fall and spring terms as listed in the institution's official catalog, excluding intersessions (e.g., J-Terms, winter sessions).

1.3  Initial Eligibility.  A first-time entering freshman student is eligible to represent the institution in intercollegiate athletics provided the student is admitted to the institution in accordance with the provisions of NCAA Bylaw 14.1.7.

1.3.1 Academic Year of Residence.  To satisfy an academic year of residence, a student-athlete shall:

1. Be enrolled in and complete a minimum full-time program of studies for two (2) full semesters or three (3) full quarters, or
2. Be enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies with two (2) full semesters or three (3) full quarters and pass a number of hours that is at least equal to the sum total of the minimum load of each of the required terms.

1.3.1.1.  Summer Term. A summer term shall not be used to satisfy a term of residence, but hours earned at the institution during the summer may be used to satisfy the requirements of (b) above.

1.3.2 Freshman Credit Rule. A student-athlete must have earned a minimum of nine (9) credit hours with a 1.50 GPA from the start of the first-regular term of attendance to the beginning of the second regular term of attendance to the beginning of the second regular term of attendance to be eligible to compete the second-term of the first year of initial enrollment.

1.4  Academic Eligibility. A student-athlete is eligible to compete provided the student-athlete meets NCAA eligibility requirements as stipulated in NCAA Bylaw 14.  In addition, student-athletes must meet institutional grade point average and credit hour requirements as stipulated within this document.

1.4.1 Grade Point Average Requirement.  A student-athlete must achieve a total cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (based on a maximum 4.0 scale) if any of the following conditions have been met:

1. The student-athlete has been charged with one (1) or more seasons of participation;
2. The student-athlete has earned 24 or more credit hours; or
3. The student-athlete has been charged with two (2) or more full-time terms of attendance.

1.4.1.1 Freshman Grade Point Average Rule. A student-athlete must have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.50 (based on a maximum 4.0 scale) from the start of the first-regular term of attendance to the beginning of the second regular term of attendance to be eligible to compete the second-term of the first year of initial enrollment.

1.4.2 Credit Hour Requirements.  To be eligible to compete the second season and subsequent seasons in any sport, a student-athlete must earn the following credit hours:

1. After the completion of the first season of participation: 24 semester/36 quarter degree credit hours.
2. After the completion of the second season of participation: 48 semester/72 quarter degree credit hours.
3. After the completion of the third season of participation: 72 semester/108 quarter degree credit hours.
4. After the completion of the fourth or fifth season of participation (only available to student athletes who have qualified for a NCAA blanket waiver(s): 96 semester/144quarter degree credit hours.

1.4.3 Regaining Eligibility During a Term. A student-athlete who is not eligible to compete at the beginning of a regular term may not regain his/her eligibility during that term with the exception of incomplete grades (see 1.4.9) and grade changes, provided the incompletes and grade changes are processed in accordance with normal institutional policies and practices.

1.4.4 Eligibility Between Terms. A student-athlete who is regaining eligibility at the conclusion of the regular fall term may begin competing at the time his/her eligibility has been officially certified by the institution, but not sooner than the day after the date of the last scheduled exam listed in the institution's official catalog for the fall term. If a student-athlete becomes ineligible at the conclusion of the regular fall term (e.g., GPA deficiency), the ineligibility shall become effective at the time his/her eligibility has been officially certified by the institution, but not later than the first day of classes of the regular spring term.  [See also 1.4.13.]

1.4.5 Suspension. A student-athlete suspended by the institution for academic or non-academic reasons is to be rendered ineligible immediately. A student-athlete under suspension will not be permitted to compete (but may practice assuming he/she is enrolled full time) during an appeal process.

1.4.6 Transfers. To meet the provisions of 1.4.1, the cumulative minimum grade-point average must be achieved in all grades earned at all collegiate institutions during a transfer's first term of attendance at the certifying institution. In addition, credit hours earned at all collegiate institutions are to be used to meet the credit hour requirements of 1.4.2 during a transfer's first two (2) terms of attendance [provided they are consecutive terms] at the certifying institution. Thereafter, the cumulative grade point average should be determined by whatever method is employed by the institution for students generally and only those credit hours which are accepted toward a degree and appear on the institutional transcript may apply.

1.4.6.1 Transfer Credit Hours. A student-athlete who will compete in a sport sponsored by the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference may have all credit hours earned at all collegiate institution be utilized to meet the credit hour requirements of 1.4.2.

1.4.7 Repeat Courses. Repeated courses may be used to satisfy the minimum full-time enrollment requirement for practice and competition provided such courses are counted toward full-time enrollment for students generally. However, repeated courses (with a previous grade of "D" or better) may be used only once to satisfy the credit hour requirements of 1.4.2.

1.4.8 Remedial, Tutorial, Noncredit or Distance Learning Courses. In accordance with normal institutional policies, remedial, tutorial, noncredit or distance learning courses may be used to satisfy the minimum cumulative grade-point average and credit hour requirements of 1.4.

1.4.9 Incomplete Grades. Incomplete grades may be used to satisfy the requirements of 1.4 provided they are removed in accordance with the institution's regulations applicable to all students.

1.4.10 Academic Forgiveness/Bankruptcy. Student-athletes may avail themselves to academic forgiveness/bankruptcy policies that are applied to students generally. 

1.4.11 Advanced Placement Credit Hours. Advanced placement (AP) credit hours are included in the credit hour and grade point average calculations to satisfy the requirements of 1.4 in accordance with normal institutional policies pertaining to AP credits.

1.4.11.1 Exception for AP Credit Hours. Advancement placement hours are not to be included in the credit hour and grade point average calculations during a student-athlete's first two (2) terms of attendance.

1.4.12 Medical Hardships. Medical hardship waivers may be granted by the student-athletes governing sport conference if the request meets the NCAA requirements for a hardship and is submitted on the prescribed form.

1.4.12.1 Calculating Seasons of Participation. Years for which a student-athlete was granted a medical hardship and/or qualified for an NCAA Blanket Waiver shall be considered as seasons of participation for purposes of determining the grade-point average and credit hour requirements of Bylaw 1.4.

1.4.13 Certification of First-Time, Mid-Year Enrollees for Subsequent Seasons of Competition. It is permissible to certify at mid-year those students-athletes who were first-time, mid-year enrollees (this does not apply to transfers or re-enrollees) for purposes of satisfying the credit hour requirements of Bylaws 1.4.2.

1.4.14 Mid-Term Enrollees. Mid-term enrollees are not eligible for competition until the completion of that term.

1.4.15 Intersessions. Credit hours earned during an intersession (e.g., J-Term) that are used to satisfy the requirements of 1.4 would apply towards whichever semester/quarter the intersession is applied institutionally. If the intersession is considered to be independent, the credits earned can be applied to either the fall or spring semester/quarter.

1.4.15.1 Full-Time Enrollment. Hours enrolled during an intersession (e.g., J-Term) can be counted towards full-time enrollment for whichever semester/quarter the intersession is applied institutionally. If the intersession is considered to be independent term by the institution, those hours cannot be counted toward full-time enrollment for either the fall or spring semester/quarter.

1.5 Waiver of Eligibility Rules. A waiver request may be submitted on behalf of a student-athlete in cases where, because of special circumstances, the application of any rule results in an unintended hardship to a student-athlete. The Director of Athletics, in consultation with the Faculty Athletics Representative(s), Registrar, and Senior Women Administrator, is empowered to grant waivers to the institution's eligibility rules as the facts may warrant in each individual case. A waiver of one rule does not automatically waive any other rule.

1.5.1 Submission of Eligibility Waivers. A waiver request of an institutional eligibility rule may be submitted on behalf of an enrolled, prospective, or transfer student-athlete. Waiver requests of eligibility rules must be submitted in writing by an institution's faculty athletics representative(s) on the prescribed waiver request form. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty athletics representative to determine the facts of the case, and to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the information submitted with the waiver request. Each filed waiver must include all pertinent supporting information or documentation, including academic transcripts of all courses taken at any collegiate institution attended by the student-athlete. In the case of a prospective student-athlete, documentation related to the prospects standardized test score(s), high school GPA, and class rank is required.

1.5.2 Waiver Authority. Copies of a waiver request of an institution eligibility rule (with supporting materials) must be sent to the Director of Athletics, Faculty Athletics Representative(s), and Senior Women Administrator. The Director of Athletics shall determine the means by which the committee will consider any particular waiver request. In cases in which ample precedent has been established or the facts of the case do not raise disputed issues, the Director of Athletics has the authority to grant the waiver absent any review by the entire committee.