Minium: ODU Student-Athletes Had Record Academic Performance

By Harry Minium

NORFOLK, Va. – A decade ago, Old Dominion coaches sometimes worried if their student-athletes would be academically eligible.

Now, the main question is how many will make the Dean’s list.

“We’ve made so much progress academically,” said Dr. Ron Moses, ODU’s Deputy Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Advancement, Revenue Growth and Competitive Strategy.

That was evident Saturday night as 130 student-athletes who made the Dean's List this past fall were introduced at halftime of ODU’s men’s basketball game against Ohio, won by the Monarchs, 78-72.

Of 435 student-athletes enrolled at ODU in the fall, 243 had a 3.4 grade-point-average or higher, the minimum needed to be on the much-coveted Dean’s List.

After being announced, they drew a prolonged ovation from the crowd of 6,632.  

The lacrosse and women’s basketball teams were on the road and the baseball team at a previously scheduled dinner with parents. ODU’s remaining student-athletes beamed as they were introduced, sport by sport.

They were greeted by Dr. Wood Selig, ODU's Director of Athletics, and Amy Lynch, who helps lead ODU's academic advising. 

Women’s tennis had the highest GPA at 3.72 while the men’s swimming team led the men at 3.52. It was the highest GPA ever for the men’s swimming team.

In all, 56 percent of ODU athletes made the Dean’s list.

Seventy six percent had a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

And although the change was incremental over last fall, Monarch student-athletes set a school record this fall with a 3.35 GPA. Last fall they combined for a 3.35 GPA.

"Our average GPA was just shy of Dean's List," Dr. Selig said. "And we had 50 ODU student athletes who earned a perfect 4.0 in the fall. That's one out of nine. It was an incredible performance by our student-athletes."

None of this happened in a vacuum. Nearly a decade ago, Dr.Selig began pouring more resources into student-athlete welfare and academic success.

Student-athletes face challenges not faced by the general student body, including practices, workouts, travel and games. And there isn’t much of an offseason these days, as athletes train and practice just about year-round.

The time and physical demands can be grueling. 

Dr. Selig sought to level the playing field a bit by giving athletes extra academic guidance.

ODU now has 15 people in all employed to help with student-athlete welfare, including mental health counseling, and they do admirable work. The average GPA of an ODU student-athlete has risen from 2.9 nine years ago to the current 3.35.

It is remarkable record in this the age of NIL and transfer portal.

Lynch is Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services and Student Success and reports to Danielle Cohea, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, Conduct and Regulatory Affairs.

Cohea reports directly to Dr Moses.

Lynch said as the staff grew, ODU's academic performance improved.

She also credits ODU coaches for recruiting not only athletes with athletic talent, but who also work hard academically. 

ODU tests every new athlete, be it a freshman or transfer, to see if there are any academic deficiencies.

“We have good continuity on our staff with people who have been here a while,” Lynch said. “And we have good early intervention."

Academic advisors have weekly meetings with all “high-risk” student-athletes, she said, and student-athletes turn in “objective sheets” each week which show their grades for the week and what they have due the following week.

Some coaches have mandatory study halls for everyone, while others have them only for athletes they feel need that kind of structure.

“If something is due on Thursday or Friday and they’re traveling, we make sure they get the work done before they leave,” she said.

All 16 athletic teams had a composite 3.0 GPA or higher. And for ODU football, it was the ninth semester of the last 10 that the Monarchs had a 3.0 or better.

ODU's spirit squad, which also receives academic advising from athletics, was also over over the 3.0 mark.

Having a 3.0 is a rare thing in college football, and Lynch said part of the reason for ODU’s success is that Head Coach Ricky Rahne has made academics a priority.

But she said Sarah Walker and Kaitlyn Gadsby, who handle academics for the football team, are two more reasons.

“Sarah has been here eight years and Kaitlyn was here before that, as a student intern,” Lynch said. “She went on to get her Master’s degree and then came back. Sarah and Kaitlyn do a great job, as do all of our advisors.”

Minium is ODU's Senior Executive Writer for Athletics. Contact him at hminium@odu.edu or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram

To see past stories from Minium, CLICK HERE