Athletics News
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Softball State Championship Tournament
By Staff | Thursday, June 04, 2009 7:25 PM
After scoring in the seventh inning to win the game 1-0, the Brock varsity softball team celebrates the victory over Elysian Fields. The girls came into the State Tournament with a 29-8 record. Brock beat Hallettsville 3-0 in the 2A championship game on Saturday, June 6.
Photo by Mary Mendez
Photos from Softball State Championship Tournament
Softball State Championship Tournament
By Staff | Thursday, June 04, 2009 12:38 PM
During the bottom of the ninth inning of the 4A semifinal game, an Angleton player attempts to score on a squeeze play against Azle High School.
Photo by Mary Mendez
Photos from Softball State Championship Tournament
Start of New Job Marked With Unprecedented Changes, Gratifying Experiences
By Traci Neely | Friday, May 22, 2009 12:53 PM
Little did I know that the first two months working in the UIL office would be packed full of unprecedented events. I started work in late February, just in time to work the state championships for swimming and diving and the girls’ and boys’ basketball tournaments. Shortly thereafter, it seemed to calm down, and I was able to get a grasp on my new environment.
Then came the swine flu.
The end of April would bring a dilemma to the UIL that created historic consequences involving a very large number of spring sport athletes across the state.
The decision to cancel regional track meets brought on a deluge of public communication to the UIL office. The softball and baseball postponements created even more phone calls and frustrated athletes, coaches, school personnel and parents.
Finally, when all the events were rescheduled, some relief came but also so did some additional frustration. We knew that rescheduling events was the right thing to do, however it created more havoc on the previously adjusted details for softball, the late state track meet and other end of the year events such as high school graduations and senior prom.
Spring Changes in the Athletic Department
By Cliff Odenwald | Friday, May 15, 2009 12:58 PM
The first three months as Director of Athletics of the UIL have gone by quickly. The pace has been incredible. It seems just like yesterday that I was changing offices and preparing for the challenges that lay ahead.
With the promotion of Dr. Mark Cousins to Director of Policy and Rachel Seewald moving to Indianapolis, Indiana, the first priority was to hire two assistant athletic directors.
I knew it was going to be hard to replace the knowledge and experience of Rachel and Mark. Both of them were great leaders in the athletic department and were respected by all of the superintendents, principals and coaches in the state.
After going through a strong pool of applicants and an extensive interview process, Sheila Henderson and Traci Neely were named the new UIL assistant athletic directors.
Henderson Joins Athletic Staff
By Stephanie Ramirez | Wednesday, April 15, 2009 1:13 PM
The University Interscholastic League’s ebsite says that its purpose “aims to provide healthy, character building, educational activities carried out under rules providing for good sportsmanship and fair play for all participants.”
Sheila Henderson, the newest assistant athletic director for the UIL, says her philosophy for her work goes hand in hand with this goal.
A native Texan, Henderson received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Texas at Austin, which she has used throughout her career in the Austin area. After a year of working for Taylor ISD, Henderson moved to Austin’s Bowie High School in 1988 where she remained until 2002 when she became the assistant athletic director for Austin ISD.
In February 2009, Henderson made another career change and joined the UIL staff where she is now in charge of girls’ basketball, softball, and co-coordinating track and field with Traci Neeley, a former Round Rock ISD assistant athletic director and now fellow assistant athletic director for the League.
Neely Leaves Round Rock ISD for UIL
By Stephanie Ramirez | Wednesday, April 15, 2009 1:12 PM
Whether it was the cold in Kansas or the appeal she saw in Texas the first time she was here for undergraduate studies that would later bring her back to Austin in 1996, the University Interscholastic League benefited either way as Traci Neely was named one of the new assistant athletic directors.
After graduating from Abilene Christian University, Neely went to work at Arlington Martin High School where she coached and taught from 1987 to 1994. When she decided to return to her home state and attend the University of Kansas for her Master’s in Sports Administration, it did not take her long to realize she wanted to return to Texas.
“I got back as fast I possibly could,” Neely said.
After her return to Texas, Neely took a job with Round Rock McNeil High School as the assistant campus coordinator and the girls’ cross country head coach and the track and field head coach. In 2004 she became the Assistant Athletic Director for Round Rock ISD where she worked for almost five years.
Odenwald Named Athletic Director
By Jeanne Acton | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:58 AM
While Cliff Odenwald is a relative newcomer to the UIL staff, the newly appointed athletic director certainly is not a newcomer to athletic administration and working with the UIL. For more than 14 years, Odenwald served as an athletic director and coordinator for some of the largest athletic programs in the state.
From 2003-2007, Odenwald was the director of athletics for Plano Independent School District where he was responsible for scheduling and overseeing 460 athletic teams and supervising 250 teachers, coaches and trainers. Prior to that, Odenwald was the assistant athletic director for Garland ISD for 10 years. He also coached high school and college athletics for more than 15 years.
Odenwald joined the League in 2007 as the associate athletic director in charge of the mandated steroid testing program.
Seewald Resigns as Athletic Coordinator
By Chris Schmidt | Thursday, February 05, 2009 11:04 AM
Rachel Seewald, athletic coordinator of the University Interscholastic League, resigned Jan. 30 after more than 16 years of service with the organization.
Seewald began working at the UIL as an office assistant only four months after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She was promoted to director of public information one year later.
“As a young college graduate they trusted me and weren’t afraid to challenge me with added responsibilities,” Seewald said. “They never wavered in their faith of my abilities.”
In 1997, Seewald earned her master’s degree in education from UT, and two years later she became the athletic coordinator for volleyball, girl’s basketball and track and field.
During her tenure, volleyball went through possibly the most significant changes of any other sport with the switch to rally scoring and the change of venue for the state tournament, moving from Austin to San Marcos. She believes these changes to be her greatest accomplishments while at the UIL, and those who worked with her give her great credit for making these transitions as smooth as possible.
“Rachel will be greatly missed by all of us,” Dr. Charles Breithaupt, UIL executive director, said. “She is well respected across the state by coaches and officials and will be very difficult to replace.”
Coaches and Others Must Complete Safety Training Program
By Cliff Odenwald | Wednesday, January 21, 2009 11:17 AM
In the November edition of the UIL Leaguer, Dr. Mark Cousins submitted a list of “things to do.” One of the items on his list was a reminder to complete the safety training required by Senate Bill 82.
The Senate enacted this bill to ensure that coaches, trainers, sponsors, band directors and students were prepared to recognize and handle emergency situations. It requires that students be taught to recognize the symptoms of catastrophic injuries. Another requirement of the bill is that students are educated about the risks of using certain dietary supplements designed to enhance athletic performance. This is not a complete list of the mandates. Please refer to the complete list described under “Safety Training Program” on the UIL Web site’s home page.
Time to Review Your List of ‘Things to Do’
By Mark Cousins | Friday, November 07, 2008 10:08 AM
It is hard to believe that November is already here and our first state champions for the 2008-2009 will be crowned this month.
As we edge closer to the end of 2008 and look forward to 2009, it is a good time to check and make sure you have done the things you need to do and get ready for things to come.
COPE (Coaches and Officials Positive Expectations)
The UIL Legislative Council requires all coaches to annually complete the COPE program. As of May 2008, the COPE program is available only via the UIL Web site. If you have not completed your COPE registration for this year, you need to take care of it as soon as possible.
So far, more than 30,000 coaches and officials in grades 7-12 have completed COPE registration for this year. But we know many more have not taken the time to be in compliance with UIL rules as of yet. Should a coach be ejected from a contest and be found not current in their COPE registration, the coach will receive a minimum one game suspension on top of the automatic penalty of reprimand and probation.