Dear Bear Fans:
 
The summer is flying by, and I hope you have had a chance to enjoy the great outdoors, family or whatever leisure activity you enjoy. Here at Missouri State, we have been busy with camps, recruiting, summer school, and getting out to various events with our coaches and staff.
 
We were extremely excited to win the 2017-18 MVC All Sports trophy for just the fifth time since joining the Missouri Valley Conference in 1990. We won 10 regular season and tournament championships last year. In addition, we had six Elite 17 winners which was a conference record. The Elite 17 represents the best student-athlete GPA of the championship game – a great accomplishment. All the credit goes to our coaching staff and our academic staff with our student-athletes doing the heavy lifting on a successful campaign. We are excited to defend our title and retain the trophy this year.  We're #InIt2WinIt.
 
Congratulations to our student-athletes who are continuing their athletic careers in the professional ranks. Alize Johnson recently signed with the Indiana Pacers after being selected in the 2018 NBA Draft. Jeremy Eierman, Dylan Coleman and Hunter Steinmetz all signed professionally to play baseball. 
 
Our annual athletics auction – now called the "Sneaker Soiree" -- is fast approaching on August 3.  This fun event kicks off our new year and allows our coaches, staff and student-athletes a chance to interact with our fans. This year's auction moves to Hammons Student Center and features a special recognition for coach Steve Alford and members of the 1999 Sweet Sixteen men's basketball team. For more information about the auction please contact the Bears Fund at (417) 836-4817.
 
If you haven't already, I encourage you to renew your BearsFund membership. Please consider buying season tickets for volleyball, football, baseball or basketball.  Your support greatly helps our department function in the first class manner we all expect.
 
The football home opener is rapidly approaching. After opening the season at Oklahoma State on August 30, the Bears return to Springfield to open up a six-game home schedule against Lincoln University on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. Get your single-game and season tickets by calling (417) 836-7678.
 
Please consider following our men's basketball team to Kansas City in November for the CBE Hall of Fame Classic, Nov. 19-20. The highly-competitive field features Missouri State, Texas Tech, Nebraska and USC. Let's come in full force and turn the Sprint Center maroon!!
 
One of our main focuses this year will be improving career placement and the opportunity of our student-athletes to join the workforce after graduation. I'm happy to announce we have hired A'dja Jones to oversee this new initiative. This area will focus on community engagement, student-athlete success and even allow us to track our alumni after graduation.
 
I also wanted to bring you up to speed on some areas we have begun fundraising for. If you are interested in supporting any of these projects, or know someone who can help support these initiatives, please work through Kerry Dickerson – (417) 836-4523 – in the BearsFund office.  We must continue to move forward and improve services, facilities and opportunities for our student-athletes if we are going to compete for conference championships and compete on the national level.  Here is a list of the current projects:

• Indoor Football Facility
• Swimming Team Room
• Women's Soccer locker room renovation
• Hammons Student Center Atrium
• Volleyball Team Room
• Hammons Student Center Training Room
• Softball Scoreboard

I look forward to seeing you at the Sneaker Soiree on August 3 at Hammons Student Center in addition to the many events we have scheduled on campus during the fall.
 
Go Bears!!
 
Kyle Moats
Director of Athletics