Academic Catalog

Yellowjacket Athletics

Athletic Staff

Nick Bursik - Athletic Director
Lynne Deadrick - Assistant Athletic Director, Senior Woman Administrator
Jon Garver - Athletics Communication Director

Sports and Head Coaches

Athletic Trainer - Essentia Health and Sports Medicine
Baseball - T. J. Oakes
Basketball, Men's - Greg Polkowski
Basketball, Women's - Zach Otto-Fisher
Cross Country, Men's - Glen Drexler
Cross Country, Women's - Glen Drexler
Hockey, Men's - Rich McKenna
Hockey, Women's - Dan Laughlin
Golf, Men's - Paul Eberhardt
Golf, Women's - Paul Eberhardt
Soccer, Men's - Joe Mooney
Soccer, Women's - Allison DeGroot
Softball - Melissa Fracker
Tennis, Men's - CeeJay Schaffner
Tennis, Women's - CeeJay Schaffner
Track and Field, Men's - Glen Drexler
Track and Field, Women's - Glen Drexler
Volleyball - Lynne Deadrick

About Yellowjacket Athletics 

The University of Wisconsin-Superior provides a variety of opportunities for men and women to participate in intercollegiate athletics at the NCAA Division III level competing against the finest schools in the nation, thereby enriching the all-around collegiate experience of our student-athletes. Yellowjacket student-athletes are expected to place a priority on academics while participating in an outstanding athletic program, thus striving for excellence as a student and as an athlete.

The athletic programs are not scholarship-based, therefore scholarships received by student-athletes are on the basis of academic performance. UW-Superior intercollegiate athletic programs are intended to enrich both the student-athlete and the university community. Through the athletic programs, the university strives to provide the following:

  1. A healthy, competitive, and professionally supervised athletic experience for student-athletes.
  2. An array of programs that encourage wide involvement of students either as student-athletes or spectators.
  3. A co-curricular laboratory for students interested in related areas such as physical education, coaching, officiating, advertising, sports medicine, broadcasting, and recreation that complements the academic programs of the university.
  4. Equal opportunity for men and women student-athletes to participate in competitive intercollegiate sports in each of the three seasons.

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 ice hockey, UW-Superior competes as an associated member in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).

Facilities

The Marcovich Wellness Center houses the Health and Human Performance Department, athletic programs, and student fitness and recreation facilities. The building includes the Lydia C. Thering Fieldhouse with an indoor track, and Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium (home of the Yellowjacket volleyball and men's and women's basketball teams), Toby and Sharon Marcovich Fitness Center, Minnesota Power Weight Room, exercise and physiology lab, racquetball courts, National Bank of Commerce Climbing Wall, Joan Hedrick Swimming Pool, dance studio, faculty and coaches' offices, and offices for the student recreation and intramural programs.

Other athletic facilities include Siinto S. Wessman Arena, which houses the men's and women's hockey teams; and the Yellowjacket Tennis Complex, home to the men's and women's tennis teams.  NBC Spartan Sports Complex is home to all men's and women's soccer, baseball and softball games. 

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.

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.

1.4.7 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 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), Registrar, 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.