Dear Friends of Tribe Athletics,

We are closing in on the end of the first month of the new year and our positive news keeps coming! Plus, spring semester classes started yesterday and I can't tell you how good it feels to see our 500 amazing student-athletes back on campus.
 
Let's start with a few shout-outs for impressive performances:
 
• We just learned that our student-athletes ended the Fall term with a 3.3 GPA, bringing their 2022 cumulative GPA to 3.35. And by the way, 30 of them earned a perfect 4.0!  
 
• Senior multi-eventer Daniel Layton continues the stellar start to this indoor season by breaking his fourth school record at the Brant Tolsma Invitational this past weekend.  Layton set the Tribe's standard in the heptathlon by scoring 4,967 points. His performance was highlighted by an 8.42 finish in the 60m hurdles, breaking his own school record in the discipline.  

• Rising junior linebacker John Pius and offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal, a senior, earned their seventh All-America honors when they were named to the First-Team Walter Camp FCS All-America squad. 
 
Volleyball got excellent news with the selection of Ryan Adams as our new head coach. While we reviewed many quality applicants, Ryan quickly rose to the top of our list. His coaching philosophy, experience as a DI coach and student-athlete, plus his ability to inspire his players to a higher level, were all factors in our decision. In his third year at Lafayette, he was the Patriot League's Coach of the Year. Plus, Ryan knows us. He was an assistant coach at W&M in 2016, and we couldn't be happier that he loved it here so much that he's coming back.

Tribe Athletics is pleased to announce that we've developed a comprehensive Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) program.  Beginning this month, the Green & Gold Exchange is connecting student-athletes to business opportunities. We encourage those businesses or individuals that are interested in partnering with our student-athletes to request access to the Exchange. Our colleagues at the Mason School of Business and the William & Mary Law School have designed a number of programs to help our young men and women with personal branding, financial literacy and digital engagement. They will begin delivering these sessions in February. 
 
I've promised to keep you up to date with the Tribe's financial progress. We've just finished tabulating our end-of-year results and to date and we've raised $37.5 million of our $55 million All In goal. This support goes directly toward our student-athletes and is a critical component of our funding model. I encourage you to check the status of your favorite team's fundraising in the graphic below. Please make your gift to ensure we are able to build on the terrific momentum we generated this fall. While we have a ways to go in meeting our goals, I know we can make it happen if we continue to work together. I speak for our entire department when I say that there is a sincere appreciation for all the generosity and support we receive!

• W&M's annual Charter Day ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. in Kaplan Arena.  Barbara "Bobbie" Berkeley Ukrop '61, a great friend of Tribe Athletics, will receive an honorary degree at the event. Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield is the speaker and will also receive an honorary degree.

• A pair of former student-athletes in Tom Watkins III '74, P '05, P '11 (football) and  swimming and diving alumnus Stewart "Stew" Sell '56, P'83, P'87, P'91 will be recognized with the Alumni Medallion Award. Additionally, long-time Tribe supporter, and current Lord Botetourt committee member, Barbara "Barb" L. Ramsey '75 will join the pair in earning the honor.  The Alumni Medallion is the highest award granted by the Alumni Association and the official induction ceremony is at 10 a.m. Feb. 11  in the Commonwealth Auditorium in the Sadler Center.

• Baseball season starts Feb. 17 and our First Pitch Dinner is scheduled for 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb.  4. You'll have a chance to meet Tribe coaches and players, plus guest speaker Will Rhymes, former Tribe standout and currently director of Player Development for the LA Dodgers. Tickets are on sale now for what promises to be an exciting season of action for the Tribe out at Plumeri.
 

• The Lord Botetourt Affair, An Auction for a Noble Cause is scheduled for Feb. 25 and we have some standout items.  How does a villa in Tuscany sound?  We expect a quick sellout so make sure you are ready when registration opens on Monday, Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. (Look for a registration link via email from the William & Mary Athletic Foundation!)

While I was finishing today's Mannuscript, my son Russell was getting in his morning workout at Williamsburg Gymnastics, which also happens to be the home of our men's and women's programs.  To me, he looks like a natural!

Go Tribe!

Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics