Purdue Sports Update July 10
MEN’S BASKETBALL’S GILLIS, VOLLEYBALL’S SCHERMERHORN EARN BIG TEN MEDAL OF HONOR
Seniors Maddie Schermerhorn and Mason Gillis of the volleyball and men’s basketball programs were named recipients of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, recognizing their prolific achievements in the classroom and in competition.
Schermerhorn and Gillis join the 110th class of the conference’s most prestigious award after extensive and excellent athletic careers for the Boilermakers. Established in 1915, the Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each member institution who have excelled on and off the field throughout their college career. It was the first award in intercollegiate athletics to demonstrate support for the educational emphasis placed on athletics.
Schermerhorn is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and has been just as successful on the court as she was in the classroom. She was the conference leader with 4.54 digs per set in 2023 and was selected Second Team All-Big Ten. The Boilermaker from Ligonier posted 13 matches with 20-plus digs throughout the season and finished her collegiate career as one the best defensive specialists in program history. Schermerhorn ranked fifth in Purdue history in career digs (1,461) and third most digs in a single season (570).
Gillis was named the 2024 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year after another stellar season with the men’s basketball team, playing a key role in Purdue’s run to the national championship game. Also a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, he made 46.8 percent from long range (58-of-124), ranking sixth nationally in 3-point percentage among players that made at least 50, 3-pointers. The New Castle native played four years for the Boilermakers after redshirting the 2019-20 season.
Gillis earned his undergraduate degree from Purdue in three-and-a-half years before receiving his MBA in management from the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business. Schermerhorn earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology before going on to finish with her master’s in communication and leadership from the Brian Lamb School of Communication.
Schermerhorn is the 10th volleyball student-athlete in school history to receive the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor. Gillis became the 32nd player from the men’s basketball program to win the award and the first since Purdue Athletics Hall of Famer Robbie Hummel in 2012.
EDEY SELECTED NO. 9 BY MEMPHIS IN NBA DRAFT
The storybook career of Zach Edey has taken its next step when the two-time National Player of the Year was selected No. 9 by Memphis during Wednesday’s first night of the NBA Draft.
One of the most-dominant players in college basketball history, Edey heard his name called in the first round, becoming Purdue’s 10th first-round NBA Draft selection in school history and the Boilermakers’ second first-round pick in the last three years.
Kentucky (4), Purdue (2) and Connecticut (2) are the only schools with multiple top-10 picks in the last three NBA Drafts.
Purdue also becomes just the third Big Ten school in NBA Draft history to have two top-10 picks in the same freshman class (Michigan, 1992 – Chris Webber, Juwan Howard; Ohio State, 2007 – Greg Oden, Mike Conley; Purdue, 2021 – Jaden Ivey, Zach Edey).
Edey became the second-highest pick for a Boilermaker in the last 30 years since Glenn Robinson was taken No. 1 in 1994, surpassed only by Jaden Ivey’s selection as the fifth pick overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2022 Draft.
Purdue went almost 30 years between NBA Draft Lottery picks. Now, it has two in the last three years.
“Obviously, we are thrilled for Zach to be selected by the Grizzlies in the first round of tonight’s NBA Draft,” head coach Matt Painter said. “Zach has been one of the hardest workers we have ever had in our program and he gave himself the opportunity to be in this position tonight. Memphis will be a great fit for him and are excited to watch his NBA journey unfold.”
“This is a dream come true,” Edey said. “Memphis has such a great core and I am really excited to get down there and work. I want to thank the Grizzlies organization for the opportunity and am ready to take the next step in my journey. Go Grizz!”
Edey is the 10th draft pick under Painter and since the 2016 NBA Draft, the sixth Boilermaker taken. Other draft picks include Carl Landry (2007), Johnson and E’Twaun Moore (2011), Robbie Hummel (2012), A.J. Hammons (2016), Swanigan (2017), Vince Edwards (2018), Carsen Edwards (2019) and Jaden Ivey (2022). Six of the picks have come in the last nine drafts.
Edey’s ascent into college basketball’s hierarchy has been well-documented. Having just completed his seventh season of competitive basketball, Edey was a standout baseball and hockey prospect growing up in Toronto, before turning to basketball prior to his sophomore campaign. He transferred to IMG Academy (Fla.) where he was ranked as the No. 436 prospect in the Class of 2020. He committed to Purdue in October 2019 and became one of the top college players in NCAA history.
He won all six National Player of the Year Awards in both 2023 and 2024, becoming the first player since the late Bill Walton in 1972 and 1973 to sweep all National Player of the Year awards in back-to-back seasons. He technically became the sixth two-time National Player of the Year, joining Ralph Sampson (1981, 1982, 1983), Bill Walton (1971, 1972, 1973), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1967, 1969), Jerry Lucas (1961, 1962) and Oscar Robertson (1958, 1959, 1960) as multiple NPOY recipients.
Simply put, Edey had a season and career for the ages and will go down as one of the greatest college basketball players in NCAA history. As a senior, he led Purdue to a 34-5 record and a spot in the National Championship game for the first time in 55 years. He averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 62.3 percent from the field and 71.1 percent from the free throw line.
In the NCAA Tournament, he was even better, averaging 29.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.8 assists while shooting 64.1 percent from the field. He finished the tournament with 177 points, the third most in NCAA Tournament history, while playing all but four minutes in the last four games of the tournament. In fact, only three players in NCAA Tournament history have scored 150 points with 60 rebounds in the same tournament (Edey, Elvin Hayes, Jerry West) and Edey had 177 points and 87 rebounds.
His 37 points in the National Championship game were tied for the third most in a title game in NCAA history.
The performance capped off one of the most-dominant seasons in history. He scored 983 points with 474 rebounds, joining Houston’s Elvin Hayes (1968) as the only players in NCAA history to reach those marks in a season in NCAA history. He finished the year by scoring at least 20 points with 10 rebounds in nine straight games, while posting 16 straight games of 20 or more points to end his career. He finished the season with ten 30-10 games, the most for a player since Kansas State’s Michael Beasley in 2007-08 (13).
His 983 points and 474 rebounds in a season are both second in Big Ten history in both categories.
Edey’s senior season was the icing on the cake of a career that will be considered one of the best in college basketball history. He finished his career with 2,516 points and 1,321 rebounds – one of six players in history to reach those marks and the first since 1990 (Lionel Simmons, 1987-90; Michael Brooks, Elvin Hayes, Oscar Robertson, Dickie Hemric).
He finished his career third in Big Ten history in scoring and second in rebounding.
EDEY REPEATS AS BIG TEN JESSE OWENS MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Zach Edey continued to add to his already-overflowing trophy case, being named the Big Ten’s Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year for the second straight season, the league office announced Thursday morning.
Edey was joined by Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark as recipients of the award. The duo swept the awards for the second straight year.
Edey becomes just the second repeat winner on the men’s side, joining Ohio State wrestler Kyle Snyder (2017, 2018) as the only repeat winners in the 43-year history of the award. Edey’s honor is the fourth won by a Boilermaker (Edey – 2023; David Boudia – 2011; Glenn Robinson – 1994).
Purdue and Michigan State are the only teams to have at least two men’s basketball student-athletes earn the honor. Purdue’s three men’s basketball honors are the most in the league.
Last night, Edey became Purdue’s second NBA Draft lottery pick in the last three years when he was selected ninth by the Memphis Grizzlies. He was the first Big Ten player selected in last night’s Draft.
Edey’s ascent into college basketball’s hierarchy has been well-documented. Having just completed his seventh season of competitive basketball, Edey was a standout baseball and hockey prospect growing up in Toronto, before turning to basketball prior to his sophomore campaign. He transferred to IMG Academy (Fla.) where he was ranked as the No. 436 prospect in the Class of 2020. He committed to Purdue in October 2019 and became one of the top college players in NCAA history.
He won all six National Player of the Year Awards in both 2023 and 2024, becoming the first player since the late Bill Walton in 1972 and 1973 to sweep all National Player of the Year awards in back-to-back seasons. He technically became the sixth two-time National Player of the Year, joining Ralph Sampson (1981, 1982, 1983), Bill Walton (1971, 1972, 1973), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1967, 1969), Jerry Lucas (1961, 1962) and Oscar Robertson (1958, 1959, 1960) as multiple NPOY recipients.
Simply put, Edey had a season and career for the ages and will go down as one of the greatest college basketball players in NCAA history. As a senior, he led Purdue to a 34-5 record and a spot in the National Championship game for the first time in 55 years. He averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 62.3 percent from the field and 71.1 percent from the free throw line.
In the NCAA Tournament, he was even better, averaging 29.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.8 assists while shooting 64.1 percent from the field. He finished the tournament with 177 points, the third most in NCAA Tournament history, while playing all but four minutes in the last four games of the tournament. In fact, only three players in NCAA Tournament history have scored 150 points with 60 rebounds in the same tournament (Edey, Elvin Hayes, Jerry West) and Edey had 177 points and 87 rebounds.
His 37 points in the National Championship game were tied for the third most in a title game in NCAA history.
The performance capped off one of the most-dominant seasons in history. He scored 983 points with 474 rebounds, joining Houston’s Elvin Hayes (1968) as the only players in NCAA history to reach those marks in a season in NCAA history. He finished the year by scoring at least 20 points with 10 rebounds in nine straight games, while posting 16 straight games of 20 or more points to end his career. He finished the season with ten 30-10 games, the most for a player since Kansas State’s Michael Beasley in 2007-08 (13).
His 983 points and 474 rebounds in a season are both second in Big Ten history in both categories.
Edey’s senior season was the icing on the cake of a career that will be considered one of the best in college basketball history. He finished his career with 2,516 points and 1,321 rebounds – one of six players in history to reach those marks and the first since 1990 (Lionel Simmons, 1987-90; Michael Brooks, Elvin Hayes, Oscar Robertson, Dickie Hemric).
He finished his career third in Big Ten history in scoring and second in rebounding.
60 BOILERMAKERS HONORED AS BIG TEN DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS
For the fifth consecutive year, 60 Boilermakers earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recognition for their academic excellence during the school year that wrapped up in May.
Student-athletes across the conference were recognized as Big Ten Distinguished Scholars for achieving grade-point averages of 3.70 and better during the 2023-24 academic year. Eight of the Boilermakers’ 60 honorees (13%) compiled flawless 4.0 GPAs during the 2023-24 school year. Six of Purdue’s teams had at least one student-athlete with a 4.0.
Twenty-one of the Boilermakers’ Big Ten Distinguished Scholars were also 2024 spring graduates.
Purdue Swimming & Diving accounted for 19 of the department’s 60 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars, including all six that were recognized for at least the third time – a group headlined by four-time honoree Maycey Vieta. The Big Ten champion has already qualified for the Olympic Games in 10-meter diving for Puerto Rico and earned two degrees in her five years at Purdue. Other three-time honorees included 2024 Purdue graduates Kendra Bowen, Jenna Sonnenberg, Aaron Frollo, Ethan Shaw and Andrew Witty.
Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Distinguished Scholar recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades. The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for a student’s academic career.
Purdue also had 228 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors during the 2023-24 school year – 73 in the fall, 70 in the winter and 85 in the spring.
TRACK & FIELD HEAD COACH NORBERT ELLIOTT TO RETIRE
After a decorated 35-year coaching career, Purdue track & field and cross country head coach Norbert Elliott has announced his retirement.
Elliott’s coaching career began at his alma mater, UTEP, in 1989, and continued with stops at Georgia, Murray State, Tennessee and Campbell. He spent the last 12 years at Purdue and served as the program’s head coach since 2018. His Boilermaker tenure includes a Big Ten team title in 2017, the best NCAA cross country team finish in nearly 70 years in 2019 and numerous school records, All-America accolades and top-10 individual finishes nationally.
“First, I want to thank Mike Bobinski for giving me this opportunity,” Elliott said. “Thank you to our sport administrator, Calvin Williams, for his wisdom and guidance, and thank you to the numerous members of our support staff that have been so instrumental in helping our program.
“Of course, I want to thank and recognize the numerous student-athletes that I’ve had an impact in coaching and guiding. I’ve enjoyed my time working with them, and I want to wish them all good luck in their future endeavors. It has been a privilege and honor to be a part of the Purdue track & field and cross country program. I know a bright future is ahead, and I’ll certainly be a Boilermaker for life.”
A two-time Olympian himself, in 1988 and 1992, Elliott coached 12 Olympians throughout his career, including Boilermaker greats Devynne Charlton, Samson Colebrooke and Carmiesha Cox. Elliott has guided eight athletes to individual NCAA titles, and he has an extended list of First Team All-Americans and individual conference champions under his tutelage.
“Norbert Elliott has been a great colleague and positively impacted so many student-athletes during his years as both an assistant and head coach here at Purdue,” said Mike Bobinski, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “The Purdue Athletics family would like to thank Norbert for his unwavering commitment to integrity, student-athlete success, and for the leadership he provided to our track & field and cross country programs over his tenure as a Boilermaker. We all wish him the very best in this next chapter.”
Elliott’s influence also includes a number of his athletes that went on to become coaches. Among them are a pair of Olympic champions, 19-time All-American Debbie Ferguson McKenzie, an assistant at Kentucky, and 110-meter hurdle world record-holder Aries Merritt, an assistant at Brown.
Elliott arrived at Purdue in 2012 as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in 2015. Prior to being named head coach in 2018, Elliott primarily worked with the Boilermakers’ sprinters, hurdlers, horizontal jumpers and relay teams.
In Elliott’s 12 seasons, the Boilermaker women won a Big Ten title outdoors in 2017, just the third in program history. Since 2012-13, Elliott helped the men’s and women’s track & field teams to 11 top-four finishes indoors and outdoors and 19 top-six finishes. The men’s cross country team added five top-five finishes in six seasons with Elliott as head coach.
On the national stage, top team finishes were highlighted by an eighth-place finish outdoors by the women in 2018, the best in team history. The women also placed in the top-25 indoors in 2014 (T-19th), 2017 (T-14th) and 2018 (T-14th) and outdoors in 2015 (T-20th) and 2017 (T-21st). In 2016, the men were 13th and 15th indoors and outdoors, respectively, along with two more top-25 showings (T-15th, 2016 outdoors and T-18th, 2013 indoors).
Elliott helped guide the men’s cross country team to an 11th-place finish nationally in 2019, its best finish since 1950. The Boilermakers won their first NCAA Regional title as Elliott was named the Great Lakes Region Men’s Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA, the first Purdue coach to earn the accolade since at least 1998. A third consecutive NCAA berth for the cross country men followed in the 2020-21 season, a feat not achieved by Purdue since 1946-50.
Big Ten Athletes of the Year under Elliott’s coaching include Jaret Carpenter, Devynne Charlton and Raheem Mostert. Charlton, an eight-time All-American and now a world record-holder in the 60-meter hurdles, was named the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year three times (indoors in 2017, outdoors in 2017 and 2018) and the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Championships four times (indoors in 2016 and 2017, outdoors in 2017 and 2018). Mostert, a four-time Big Ten champion in 2014, was the Big Ten Athlete of the Championship both indoors and outdoors in 2014.
Carpenter was named the 2019 Cross Country Athlete of the Year after he placed 10th overall at the national meet, Purdue’s top individual finish since 1949.
In the Purdue record books, Elliott directly led athletes to as many as 40 school records in his time as an assistant and head coach. Several marks broke records that had stood for decades. Countless more top-10 marks in school history were achieved in Elliott’s tenure leading the Old Gold and Black.
Prior to Purdue, Elliott was the head track & field and cross country coach at Campbell in 2011-12, and he was an assistant coach at Tennessee for seven years before that and the head coach at Murray State for two years. His coaching career began in 1989 at UTEP, and after three years Elliott went to Georgia, where he was an assistant for nine seasons before taking over at Murray State.
Elliott won conference titles at Purdue, Georgia and Tennessee. He was named the 2007 Mideast Assistant Sprints Coach of the Year.
In 2001, Elliott was selected as the head men’s team coach of the Bahamas at the World Championships in Canada. His athletes won world championships in the men’s 400m and women’s 200m, silver in the men’s 4×400 and bronze in the women’s 200m.
SAPP ELEVATED TO HEAD COACH OF THE PURDUE MEN’S GOLF PROGRAM
The Purdue University athletics department has announced that Andrew Sapp has been hired as the head coach of the Purdue men’s golf program.
Sapp has served as the assistant coach for the last two seasons and takes over for Rob Bradley, who left Purdue earlier this week for the head coaching position at South Carolina.
Purdue is coming off two of its best seasons in school history, reaching the National Championships in 2024 and a spot in top 40 in the final regular-season rankings and a Regionals appearance in 2023.
“I am thrilled to become the Men’s Golf head coach at Purdue. Having coached at Purdue with the previous two head coaches in Coach Brouse and Coach Bradley, I know what it takes to continue the tradition of Purdue Golf and keep it moving forward,” Sapp said. “I am extremely thankful to Mike Bobinski and Tim House for putting their trust in me. The backing that Purdue has for its golf program is tremendous and the support from the Kampen family, the Cosler family, the Ackerman family, the Allen family and the Spurgeon family has given us the best collegiate golf facilities in America. I love Purdue and I love the players we have assembled on this team and I look forward to continuing to work with them to help them grow and improve as they represent this great university.”
“Andrew’s resume in college golf speaks for itself. He is in an elite class of Big Ten head coaches who have taken a team to match play at the NCAA Championships,” said Tim House, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director and Associate Vice President for Development. “More important to Mike Bobinski and me though, is the elite character we have seen him display with our young people. We are excited to support Coach Sapp as he continues the tradition of excellence for the Purdue men’s golf program.”
With Sapp’s help during the 2023-24 season, the Boilermakers reached the National Championships for the first time since 2017, while winning a pair of events in the fall season. Purdue’s two victories equaled its most since the 2015-16 campaign (three wins). Two players (Herman Sekne and Nels Surtani) were named All-Big Ten and PING All-Midwest Region with Sekne winning Purdue’s first Big Ten Golfer of the Year honor since 2002 (Lee Williamson).
This past season, the Boilermakers posted the second-best stroke average in school history (287.57), while the 2022-23 season produced the third-best stroke average to date (287.77). The Boilermakers set a 54-hole scoring record (814) while winning the Windon Memorial Classic last fall and owned three, 54-hole scores of 842 or better, the most in school history.
His tutelage was instrumental in the development of returnees Kent Hsiao, Nels Surtani and Sam Easterbrook. Hsiao was playing his best golf late in the season, leading after 36 holes at NCAA Regionals and then posting Purdue’s highest finish at the National Championships since 2004 with a 34th-place finish. Surtani earned All-Big Ten and All-Midwest Region accolades after winning the elite Puerto Rico Classic and placing 10th at NCAA Regionals. Lastly, Easterbrook posted back-to-back top-five finishes late in the spring at Calusa Pines and Ohio State and finished his season with the fourth-best freshman stroke average in school history.
Sapp brought a wealth of coaching experience to Purdue after having head coaching stints at East Carolina (2017-21), his alma mater North Carolina (2012-17) and the University of Michigan (2002-11). He was a part of the Purdue coaching staff from 1998 to 2002. Sapp also served as the President of the Golf Coaches Association of America from 2016-18.
Sapp began his coaching career at North Carolina in 1993, helping the Tar Heels to five straight NCAA Championship appearances and a 10th-place finish in 1997. Following that year, he came to Purdue, then helping the Boilermakers to a seventh-place finish in the NCAA Championships, while assisting with Purdue’s last All-American before Sekne (Lee Williamson). Purdue also won Regional titles in 2001 and 2002, and helped guide the women’s team to a ninth-place showing at the 2000 NCAA Championships.
In 2002, he was named Michigan’s head men’s golf coach, leading the Wolverines to a pair of top-10 national championship finishes in 2011 (10th) and 2009 (3rd). His 2011 squad won the 2011 NCAA Central Regional championship and he recruited and signed the nation’s No. 7-ranked golfer in high school. Almost 20 years later, Sapp still remains just one of three coaches to lead a team to the match play portion at the NCAA Championships.
In addition, he created the vision, assisted in the design and helped raise funds for a $2.5 million indoor practice facility at Michigan.
Sapp was named North Carolina’s head coach in 2011, improving the program’s ranking from 73rd in 2011 to 26th in 2017. The Tar Heels reached the 2017 NCAA Championships placing 18th and recruited and signed four of the top-10 nationally-ranked high school junior golfers.
In 2017, Sapp was hired at East Carolina, leading the Pirates to two team titles and signing two nationally-ranked top-100 players. While at East Carolina, he coached three players into the top five of the program’s all-time career stroke average list.
Sapp earned a pair of degrees from UNC, a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1993 and a master’s in sports administration in 1996.
An avid golfer still, Sapp competed in the 2022 U.S. Senior Open and narrowly missed qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Senior Open.
He and his wife Laura have one son, Connor.
BYRD SIGNS EXTENSION, ELEVATED TO DIRECTOR OF GOLF
After leading Purdue Women’s Golf to numerous school records and tournament titles in his first two seasons as head coach, Zack Byrd signed an extension and was elevated to Purdue Director of Golf. Along with entering his third year as head coach of the women’s team, Byrd now has oversight of both Purdue golf programs and will provide leadership support to the new men’s golf coach.
“My first two years as a Boilermaker have proven one of the main reasons why I took the head coaching job here at Purdue – that we can win tournaments and compete for national championships,” said Byrd. It is an honor to be named Director of Golf at a place that cares about our sport. I’d like to thank Mike Bobinski and Tim House for their unwavering support of Purdue Golf. Another big thanks goes to my assistant coach Lauren Guiao and our director of administration and performance Alex Merrill. Their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, as they have been invaluable in establishing our foundation of success. We have incredible facilities and a rich history, and I am proud that we have continued the winning tradition thus far. It is an exciting time to be a Boilermaker golfer, and we are just getting started.”
Byrd was named head coach of Purdue Women’s Golf in June 2022 following the retirement of 25-year head coach Devon Brouse. In two seasons under Byrd’s guidance, Purdue has collected three tournament titles. The Boilermakers won three tournaments over the previous six seasons before Byrd’s arrival. Seventeen of the 50 lowest team rounds in program history have occurred under Byrd, including the school record 270 (-18) at the 2023 Boilermaker Classic as well as the second-best round, a 274 at the 2023 Schooner Fall Classic.
“When we hired Zack, we thought we were giving a rising star his first head coaching job,” said Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Associate Vice President for Development Tim House, the sport administrator for both golf programs. “In two years, he has completely validated that thought. This promotion, as well as this extension, is a statement that we want to support Coach Byrd and Purdue Golf in winning championships for years to come.”
The Boilermakers had one of most successful seasons in recent memory during the 2023-24 campaign, producing two wins and four Top 3 finishes before ending the year with their best national ranking since 2019 (33rd). Winning the Boilermaker Classic and the Mary Fossum Invitational to start the season, Purdue won back-to-back tournaments for the first time since the 2012-13 season. Prior to the fall of 2023, the last time Purdue won its first two tournaments of the season was the start of the 2005-06 campaign. Purdue placed fourth at the Big Ten Championships with an even-par 864, the Boilermakers’ best score in the league tournament since 2016, before competing in an NCAA Regional for the ninth straight season.
Purdue secured a berth to the NCAA Championships for the 19th time in program history, placing runner-up at the NCAA Las Vegas Regional for their best regional performance since 2013. The Boilermakers fired an 8-under 280 during the second round, setting a new program best for the lowest round in an NCAA Regional and matching the 2010 Boilermakers at the NCAA Championships for Purdue’s best round in any NCAA tournament.
Byrd’s second season also featured some additions to the Purdue record book. The Boilermakers produced two of the lowest five team totals (54 holes) in school history, a program-best 837 at the Schooner Fall Classic and an 852 (fifth) at the season-opening Boilermaker Classic. In the Boilermaker Classic, the team fired a 270 (-18) to set a new best for lowest team round. Individually, Ashley Kozlowski and Momo Sugiyama earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Kozlowski tied a school record with six rounds in the 60s throughout the season, while Sugiyama posted the third-lowest stroke average in program history (72.45).
In his first season in West Lafayette, the Boilermakers earned their eighth straight NCAA Regional berth and produced four Top 5 finishes throughout the 2022-23 campaign. Byrd’s first spring in charge was highlighted by leading Purdue to the team title at the Tulane Classic, the first tournament victory since 2018.
Byrd also showcased his strength in recruiting. Sugiyama was the first commitment of the Byrd era, providing an immediate impact as Purdue’s best golfer throughout the 2022-23 campaign. The Hawaii transfer recorded six rounds in the 60s to tie a single-season school record, while earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors at the end of the season.
Before arriving at Purdue, Byrd spent four seasons at Ole Miss, serving as assistant coach before being elevated to associate head coach following the team’s 2021 national title. The Rebels captured the 2021 NCAA National Championship, the first ever by a women’s team in school history. Before transitioning to coaching, Byrd spent 10 years as a professional golfer.
Following the resignation of former director of golf and men’s head coach Rob Bradley, the men’s team is expected to name a new head coach in the coming days.
2024 SOCCER SCHEDULE UNVEILED
As a new era begins for the Purdue soccer program, the schedule for the upcoming 2024 season has been announced.
Ten home games at Folk Field highlight the regular-season schedule. Seven non-conference matches, five at home, are followed by an 11-game Big Ten Conference slate, with five in West Lafayette. Two preseason exhibitions, one at Folk Field, precede the inaugural season for first-year head coach Richard Moodie.
“We are thrilled about our 2024 schedule,” Moodie said. We’re excited to play a competitive non-conference slate and to welcome the new teams to the Big Ten. I can’t wait to see everyone at Folk Field this fall!”
Eight opponents are coming off NCAA Tournament appearances a season ago, and five of them will visit Folk Field in 2024. Seven of Purdue’s 11 Big Ten games are against 2023 postseason teams.
Notable events that highlight the upcoming schedule start with the Boiler Gold Rush season-opening contest against Washington State on August 15. Senior Day and the annual Alumnae Reunion Weekend are both set for a September 1 matchup vs. Dayton. Additionally, the team’s Hammer Down Cancer game is on October 17 vs. Rutgers.
In Big Ten action, the Boilermakers will play all four conference newcomers, as they host USC and UCLA and travel to Washington and Oregon. Purdue will play at in-state rival Indiana, and the conference slate also includes the Old Gold and Black’s other two closest foes, with a home game against Illinois and a trip to Northwestern.
Moodie’s first year will mark the 27th season of Purdue Soccer. It’s the team’s 26th in the Big Ten after they played a non-conference-only slate in 1998.
Once again in 2024, admission will be free for all fans to every regular-season home game at Folk Field, along with the preseason exhibition contest.
A pair of exhibition games will get 2024 started, against UT Martin at Folk Field on August 6 and at Bowling Green on August 10.
The fourth annual Boiler Gold Rush season kickoff game will officially begin the 2024-25 Purdue Athletics year, as the Boilermakers host Washington State on August 15 at 7 p.m. ET. The program attendance record has been broken in each of the first three BGR games, as the latest edition saw 4,096 fans encircle Folk Field to begin the 2023 season. The record-setting trend started when 2,125 fans cheered on the Boilermakers in 2021 and 3,296 came out to Folk Field in 2022 before a new mark was set last season.
The opening weekend of the 2024 campaign concludes at in-state foe Butler on August 18. Two Chicago opponents come to West Lafayette the following weekend, as Purdue plays Loyola Chicago on August 22 and UIC on August 25.
A trip to the Windy City begins the third weekend of play, at DePaul on August 29, before the Old Gold and Black are back at Folk Field for two games to conclude the non-conference schedule.
September 1 is both Senior Day and the Alumnae Reunion Weekend against Dayton. Reunion Weekend festivities will include the football team’s season-opener against Indiana State on August 31, and information about how alumnae can register and a full list of events will be announced later this summer on PurdueSports.com/Soccer.
Nonconference action concludes against Alabama on September 5 under the Folk Field lights. The Crimson Tide are coming off an NCAA Second Round appearance in 2023.
One week later, a visit to Northwestern will commence Big Ten action on September 12. Another weekend off follows before two of the newest conference teams travel to West Lafayette, both coming off 2023 NCAA Tournament berths. The Boilermakers host USC on September 19 and UCLA on September 22.
Up next is a weekend in the Pacific Northwest to face the league’s other two newcomers, at Washington on September 26 and at Oregon on September 29.
Illinois comes to Folk Field a week later, on October 6. Then, on October 10, the Boilermakers head south to face rival Indiana in a prime time matchup in Bloomington.
Ohio State, on October 13, and Rutgers, on October 17, wrap up the Folk Field portion of the season. Back-to-back Sunday matinees in Michigan will conclude the regular season, at Michigan on October 20 and at Michigan State on October 27.
Beginning with IU, the last five opponents on Purdue’s schedule all made the NCAA Tournament a year ago, with Michigan State advancing to the third round.
INCOMING GRAD TRANSFER MATEOS TO SWIM FOR PARAGUAY IN 200 IM AT OLYMPICS
Matheo Mateos is an incoming graduate transfer for Purdue men’s swimming & diving, but before he races for the Boilermakers he’s set to compete in the 200-meter individual medley for Paraguay at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Mateos is joining Purdue after winning Summit League and Great Lakes Valley Conference titles at Lindenwood University in St. Louis. For Paraguay, he has also competed at multiple World Aquatics Championships and Pan American Games. He won his conference titles in the IM events and also has international experience in the mid-distance freestyle.
A native of Asuncion, Paraguay, Mateos earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lindenwood and will be pursing an MBA at Purdue.
Mateos’ lifetime best in the 200m IM is 2:03.31, originally set at a TYR Pro Swim Series meet in San Antonio in the spring of 2022 and a time he matched at the Brazilian Nationals in Rio de Janeiro in May. He also posted a mark of 2:03.34 at the South American Games in Paraguay in the fall of 2022, winning bronze in the 400m IM at the same meet.
Lindenwood transitioned from Division II to Division I status midway through his college career. He swept the IM events at the 2024 Summit League Championships held at the University of Minnesota’s Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, setting a conference record (1:45.58) in the 200-yard IM. He also won bronze in the 200 back.
Mateos was a two-time GLVC champion in the 200 IM as an underclassman at Lindenwood, earning DII All-America honors at the NCAA Championships. He won bronze at NCAAs in the 200 IM in 2021 and placed fourth the following year. He was also a CSCAA Scholastic All-American.
Jinq En Phee (breaststroke for Malaysia in 2016) was the last incoming Purdue swimmer to compete at the Olympic games before enrolling in West Lafayette. Gerald Koh (backstroke for Singapore in 1996) was the last men’s swimmer to do it.
Mateos’ lifetime bests in the 200- and 400-yard IM (1:45.58, 3:48.84) would both rank among Purdue’s all-time top 10 in the events.
WRIGHT, PATRICK OFFICIALLY QUALIFY FOR OLYMPICS IN 10-METER DIVING
Purdue’s Daryn Wright and Jaye Patrick have learned they’re going to Paris this summer, receiving notice from World Aquatics they have officially qualified for the Olympic Games in 10-meter diving.
Wright will compete for the United States and Patrick for Latvia, giving the Purdue Divers four Olympic qualifiers this year. Maycey Vieta (10-meter for Puerto Rico) and Greg Duncan (3-meter synchro for USA) have also qualified.
An official ruling on the qualification status of alumnus Brandon Loschiavo is still pending and may not be resolved until Monday. Like Wright, Loschiavo was the runner-up on 10-meter at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials last week in Knoxville. Loschiavo previously represented Team USA in the event at the Tokyo Olympics and earned the U.S. its Olympic quota spot in the event as a finalist on the tower at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in February. However, USA Diving did not earn a second quota bid in the event this year and Carson Tyler earned the men’s lone automatic bid with his victory on 10-meter at the Olympic Trials.
“It has been a long four days, but thankfully it came out on top with the good news. I’m pretty much just shocked right now to say the least. I’m very, very excited and emotional, but very shocked,” Wright said.
“It was hard because I didn’t necessarily know the odds, if they were good or not, just because it had taken so long to see if we had the second spot. My mind was racing in probably every possible direction, but I’m glad today was good.”
Wright was surprised by teammates, friends and family at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic on Thursday morning. Patrick is currently traveling in Europe.
“It was very special. Obviously, it’s not the same experience as everyone else (at trials), but them showing up and being there for me was everything,” Wright said.
Patrick was 21st and Wright 24th on 10-meter at the World Championships earlier this year. Since then, they were finalists in platform diving at the Big Ten Championships (with Wright winning bronze) and NCAA Championships qualifiers. Wright joined Maycey Vieta and Sophie McAfee in the platform championship final at NCAAs, all three earning All-America accolades.
Purdue Diving has been represented at the Olympic Games every quadrennium dating back to 2008. With at least four representatives this year, it will mark a program high for the Boilermakers. Purdue’s qualifiers will also be competing for three different nations.
Wright joins Steele Johnson (2016) as Boilermakers to become Olympians while they were active student-athletes for Purdue Diving. Duncan, Patrick and Vieta are all alumni – Duncan wrapping up his collegiate career in the spring of 2022 and Patrick and Vieta closing out their NCAA eligibility as fifth-year student-athletes this spring.
The women’s 10-meter event this year in Paris will join the men’s 10-meter event in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro as individual competitions at the Olympics to feature multiple Boilermakers. David Boudia and Johnson both competed individually on the tower in Rio after winning silver together in 10-meter synchro.
CHARLTON EARNS PARIS OLYMPICS BERTH
Purdue track & field alumna Devynne Charlton qualified for her second Olympic Games in the 100-meter hurdles on Thursday evening.
Charlton officially earned her place at the 2024 Paris Games when she won the Bahamas National Championships on June 27 in Nassau, Bahamas. Charlton also ran in the 100m hurdles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Two Boilermaker track & field alums have now punched their ticket to Paris, as Charlton joins Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, who qualified in the shot put for Nigeria on June 17.
Charlton won the Bahamas national title with a finals time of 12.62 seconds on Thursday evening. She was victorious by 0.32 seconds. Several hours earlier, Charlton was first in the prelims in 12.73.
Ranked No. 3 in the world in the event, Charlton has a season-best time of 12.49, achieved on April 20 in Xiamen, China. Earlier in 2024 indoors, the Nassau native broke the world record in the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.65 to win the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
A Boilermaker from 2014-18, Charlton was seventh in the 100m hurdles at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and sixth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The school record-holder in the 100m hurdles and 100m, she is a nine-time All-American and an 11-time Big Ten Champion. Charlton was named the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year three times.
HUDSON EARNS SILVER AT NORCECA PAN AM CUP FINAL 6
Eva Hudson and the U.S. Women’s National Team competing at the 2024 NORCECA Pan American Cup Final Six earned silver in the medal match Sunday night after finishing the tournament with a 3-1 record.
The U.S. team, comprised of current collegiate players while the Olympic national team prepares for Paris, went toe-to-toe in the medal match against the Olympic-qualified Dominican Republic team, falling in five sets (25-15, 17-25, 23-25, 25-16, 15-11).
Hudson played in three of the four matches, registering 24 kills on 26 points over the competition, including 11 points, nine kills and two aces in the first-round sweep versus Mexico.
In the medal match, Hudson led the U.S. with 16 digs versus the Dominican Republic, a team comprised of its Olympic qualifiers.
A catalyst for the U.S. to advance to the gold medal match, Hudson came off the bench versus Puerto Rico to score a key nine points on nine kills. The U.S. head coach Brad Rostratter commented on Hudson’s impact after the match: “Tonight was a good match for us to get tested and face some adversity. The changes we made in terms of getting Eva Hudson and Merritt Beason on the court really impacted the match.” The U.S. defeated Puerto Rico 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-23, 25-16).
