While most DU students are still preparing for fall classes, DU has already taken to the courts and the fields. Continue reading DU Weekend Sports Brief
Category Archives: Women’s Sports
The Next Big Thing Starts Tonight
What is ‘the next big thing’ when it comes to DU sports?
The sport could easily be volleyball. Denver replaced successful head coach Jesse Mahoney, who left DU for the same job with the University of Colorado, with assistant coach Tom Hogan. Expect the defending champs of the Summit League to repeat again this year with a mix of veteran experience and defensive aggression – they were one of the top shot-blocking teams in the country last year. DU is coming off a 27 win-season and is poised to take the ‘next step’. Continue reading The Next Big Thing Starts Tonight
Leftovers & Loose Ends
As we exit the dog days of summer, we have pulled together some miscellaneous stories of general interest. Continue reading Leftovers & Loose Ends
Budget Cuts Roil North Dakota
The University of North Dakota athletics department faces a $1.4 million dollar budget shortfall. The new university president, Mark Kennedy, is looking to make potentially drastic decisions regarding athletics. In an open letter to the UND community, Kennedy states, “(We will) examine UND Athletics to make sure we have an athletics program that best fits the University of North Dakota in terms of a number of factors, including the sports we participate in, conference participation, the number of athletes that we serve, and the cost of the programs.” Continue reading Budget Cuts Roil North Dakota
Flagship Program Aims to Buck Lowered Expectations
Photo: CIBER Field will host Friday night’s Colorado Cup match DU vs. Colorado State
A 4th place predicted finish – in the Summit League?
That was my reaction when I saw Jeff Hooker’s flagship program pre-season 2016-2017 ranking. Heading into last season, USA Today selected DU as on of the top 10 places to play women’s soccer in the entire nation. Not that long ago, the Pioneers were facing CU in a packed CIBER Stadium with a first-round NCAA match on the line. And the Pioneers program had marquee players who were not only well known in the local soccer community but the nation as well – Kristen Hamilton, Taryn Hemmings, and Nicholette DiGiacomo.
Continue reading Flagship Program Aims to Buck Lowered Expectations
‘DU District’ Helps Athletics
Chancellor Rebecca Chopp has endorsed the creation of a ‘DU District.’ Her vision, as outlined in her 2025 strategic plan, is to build a more cohesive, active community in and around DU to include the campus and the surrounding neighborhoods. The idea is to connect the University more closely with the community, create a distinct identity, and take an active role in the rapid growth of residential, commercial, and retail development surrounding University Park. Continue reading ‘DU District’ Helps Athletics
Big 12 Agrees to ‘actively evaluate’ Prospective Members
According to an article in SB Nation, while the board of directors of the Big 12 did not formally announce a decision to expand, they “have given commissioner Bob Bowlsby the green light to ‘actively evaluate’ the interest of those who might want to join the conference.” After months of back and fourth, it looks better than ever that the Big 12 Conference will add either two or four new teams. Continue reading Big 12 Agrees to ‘actively evaluate’ Prospective Members
Three Pioneer Alums Headed to 2016 Rio Olympics
Three DU 2016 Olympians: Left: Jessica Lopez ’09 Gymnastics, Venezuela, Top Right Espen Kofstad ’11 Golf, Norway; Lower Right: Simona Castro ’13 Gymnastics, Chile. Photos Courtesy University of Denver
Three University of Denver athlete graduates will represent their respective countries at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil — one men’s golfer and two women’s gymnasts, representing the countries of Norway, Venezuela, and Chile, respectively. Continue reading Three Pioneer Alums Headed to 2016 Rio Olympics
Congratulations 2016 Pioneers
Congratulations to our newest alums – and especially LetsGoDU’s graduate Nick Tremaroli. And, of course, the graduating athletes who contributed to, perhaps, the greatest four years in DU athletics history.
It has been quite a year for Pioneer sports. Again, thanks to Damien Goddard for handing over the steering wheel so we could continue fan-based reporting and reaction to Pioneer athletics. We will start back up in early September when the 2016-2017 athletic calendar starts anew.
In the interim, we will report any breaking athletics news during the summer months. We will also have a extra-special announcement regarding DU basketball — so stay tuned.
Go Pioneers!
Year of Firsts, Foundation for the Future
After graduating from Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs and entering into my freshman year at the University of Denver I was already used to a school that performed well both athletically and academically. My understanding was that DU would closely follow my expectations. Little did I know my freshman year would be one of the most successful years for DU athletics in the past decade. Continue reading Year of Firsts, Foundation for the Future