For the first time, Lipscomb University proudly received the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic Trophy in 2010 with 185 of the 258 Bison student-athletes achieving All-Academic honors.
Frank Bennett, now entering his thirty-first season as head coach of the Lady Bisons Basketball team, likes to believe that his players define the term student-athlete.
Tyler Burkhardt goes up for a header in a game against Alabama A&M. Photos credit: Anthony Estes/Lipscomb Athletics
“Some people think it’s one or the other—academics or athletics—but I believe they go hand in hand,” Bennett said.
The Lady Bisons are an example of the success that Lipscomb sports teams are having on an individual and team level, competing in the classroom as well as on the court. This past season, the Lady Bisons ranked ninth in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 Team Honor Roll with a 3.452 average GPA.
The retention rate is also impressive. Every student-athlete who completes their fourth year of eligibility graduates.
It’s important to realize that academic success has not been limited to the basketball court. Lipscomb proudly had seven spring teams with at least 70 percent of the student-athletes achieving a 3.0 grade-point average or higher , earning the All-Academic trophy.
To what does Lipscomb owe the successes of its sports teams?
“It begins with recruiting good students,” Bennett said. “And we try to emphasize an attitude of excellence.”
Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson likes to refer to the athletic department as the “front porch” of the University.
“There are many people on campus excelling as students and achieving great things without any public recognition,” Hutcheson said. “Whether right or wrong, athletes are the ones receiving public attention.”
Hutcheson went on to talk not only about academics, but also service.
“So when athletes do perform well academically or do good things in the community, that reflects well on the University.”
Lipscomb student-athletes aim to improve daily in four specified areas: in the classroom, in competition, in the community and in their Christian walk.
Coach Bennett summarizes these goals under one motto: “Wholeheartedly seeking to be all the Lord uniquely created me to be to His glory.”
In the ongoing and upcoming seasons, Lipscomb anticipates many more academic-athletic achievements from its talented and hard-working student-athletes.
To view the full APR results, visit the official NCAA D-I Head Coach APR site.