Academics - Volleyball
8/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
ACADEMICS
Academic Success is an integral part of head coach Judy Green’s volleyball program. Since Green inherited the program in 1996, the team’s success has soared to new heights. During her era, Green’s players have obtained success on the court as well as in the classroom.
In 2000-01, the Crimson Tide was awarded the AVCA/Molten Team Academic Award and combined for the highest grade point average among NCAA Division I institutions. Requirements for the award include a cumulative 3.30 GPA throughout the entire year along with the coach’s philosophy on academics. The Tide was one of 130 college and high school teams to meet the requirements and one of only 25 NCAA Division I teams to make the grade. Alabama posted a 3.61 average GPA for the 2000-01 academic year, beating the competition by seven thousandths of a point.
In 2001-02, the Tide received its second consecutive AVCA/Molten Team Academic Award, this time taking home the third place award. Alabama combined for an average GPA of 3.58 for that year.
To add to its list of academic accomplishments, the Crimson Tide also won the highest team GPA for female athletics at the University of Alabama Academic/Athletic Award Banquet in 2001. In some ways, winning the team GPA award is more prestigious than winning a National Championship. The competition on the women’s side of athletics is so fierce that, in most cases, the award is not won until final exams are completed.
In order to maintain the high level of academic achievement, Coach Green, along with her staff, requires each of her incoming players to complete eight hours of study hall per week in their first year. Once the athlete has reached a certain level of academic standing, the athlete’s hours are reduced or eliminated based on their GPA.
“My goal is to make sure every volleyball player leaves here with a degree and leaves Alabama a better-rounded person than when they got here,” said Alabama head volleyball coach Judy Green.
Academic progress is another important part of Alabama volleyball and Coach Green has made sure her athletes are on track to graduate. The Tide has had a perfect academic progress rate (APR) over the last two years, meaning Coach Green’s athletes have taken the necessary steps to complete the required amount of course hours each semester. Last year, Alabama was one of only two SEC schools to register a perfect APR.
“We want our athletes to take ownership of their own academic success and to utilize the support and facilities provided through the academic center,” said Green.
Academics is a crucial part of every student-athlete’s career at the University of Alabama and the athletics department provides aid to each student-athlete through the Center of Athletic Student Services (CASS). The CASS recently moved into its new multi-million dollar facility adjacent to Bryant Hall. The stare of the art facility is equipped with study and lecture areas and computer labs to be used by the athletes. The CASS center also has laptop computers available to be checked out upon request.
Assistant Athletic Director for Student Services Jon Dever is responsible for the academic progress of every student-athlete on the UA campus. In order to tackle such a feat, Dever has a staff of eight academic advisors, two part-time advisors, seven graduate assistants and 55 part-time tutors. Fern Hampton, a part-time advisor for the department, works directly with the volleyball team.
Volleyball Academic Accomplishments In the Green Era
- 74 SEC All-Academic honors
- Five Top Six UA Scholar Athletes
- Seven Paul W. Bryant Award finalists
- One Paul W. Bryant Award winner
- Two Woodrow Alvin Davis Family Student-Athlete Award winners
- One recipient of the James Robertson Distinguished Undergraduate Award for Highest Academic Performance
- One Top Six UA Community Service award recipient
- One Black Scholar Award winner
