TopFrog
Lifelong Frog
GoFrogs: From The Desk of #ADJD
Dear Horned Frogs:
It has been great to have our Board of Trustees on campus this week. With the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, we enjoyed a very productive meeting and healthy discussion on a myriad of topics that included how athletics fits into TCU's new strategic plan.
It was definitely special to see Monday afternoon's viewing of the total solar eclipse, especially at Amon G. Carter Stadium which became a popular gathering place. One of the more fun aspects of the moment was the excited reactions of our student-athletes as they gathered with their glasses outside our various facilities to view the historic occasion.
EXTENSION NEWS
On the heels of history being made by our men's basketball and volleyball programs, we are very proud to announce contract extensions for head coaches Jamie Dixon and Jason Williams.
For the first time, TCU played in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in three consecutive seasons. We also have four trips in the last six NCAA tourneys after making just one appearance in the previous 30 years. TCU entered March Madness as one of just 12 programs nationally to be in this year's field with a win in each of the two previous NCAA Tournaments. Jamie has done a phenomenal job in changing the fortunes of our men's basketball program and making us a postseason fixture.
In just two seasons, Jason has been terrific in building TCU into a brand name in collegiate volleyball. For the first time in our history, we won a game in the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons. Thanks to Jason's leadership, we have tremendous momentum in our volleyball program and are primed for a great future.
SPORTS REPORT
As you know, we captured our fourth NCAA Championship in rifle last month. Each title is under Head Coach Karen Monez. The Horned Frogs have an opportunity for another trophy next week when equestrian heads to Ocala, Florida, for its national championship. We have been ranked No. 1 in the country for most of the season. Congratulations to Director of Equestrian Haley Schoolfield on being named Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight season and third time overall. We also Swept Big 12 Rider of the Year honors with Ashleigh Scully (Fences), Lilly Goldstein (Flat), Mattie Dukes (Horsemanship) and Shea Graham (Reining).
Men's tennis is ranked second nationally and will host UCF on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. for its Senior Day. Women's tennis has tied a program record with seven Big 12 victories, including five by shutout, and will host Texas on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and Oklahoma on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in its final two home matches of the regular season.
Beach volleyball has a No. 5 national ranking with its 23-5 record. With our victories last Saturday over No. 11 Hawaii and Texas, we have won 53 consecutive home matches dating back to the 2020 season and are 39-0 all-time against in-state opponents. We hope to see you at Lupton Stadium this weekend as baseball hosts Texas Tech in a three-game series. Payton Tolle was the unanimous National Pitcher of the Week when he tossed a complete game 5-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts in a 1-0 win at Oklahoma State.
Women's track and field is currently No. 13 nationally after reaching as high as No. 3 for its best ranking in program history. Our men's team also recently cracked the top 25 at No. 23.
Women's golf had a strong showing this week in tying for seventh in a great field at its tournament in Napa, California. Men's golf has been led by Gustav Frimodt, who is 29th in the World Amateur Rankings and has been our top finisher in all seven tournaments he's played.
Congratulations to rifle student-athlete Katie Zaun on being selected as an alternate for the United States at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris.
A sophomore from Buffalo, North Dakota, Katie was the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association Athlete of the Year and a unanimous First-Team All-American in helping lead us to an NCAA Championship.
In addition to Katie, we also have possible representation coming from our beach volleyball and track and field programs.
PILLAR OF PURPLE AWARD
Presented annually by TCU's Intercollegiate Athletics Committee comprised of faculty, staff and students, the Pillar of Purple Award recognizes student-athletes who best represent some of TCU's core values of strong academics, community service, campus involvement and athletics achievement.
This year's male recipients are Bryce Flynn and Landon McMonagle from our swimming and diving program, while soccer's Summer Holt and track and field's Jasmin Muhammad-Graham are the female honorees.
Congratulations to this outstanding quartet of Horned Frogs who represent everything that is right about intercollegiate athletics!
BASEBALL PROMOTIONS
Make sure to arrive early on Saturday for our 3:00 p.m. game against Texas Tech as the United States Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team will jump into Lupton Stadium prior to the national anthem.
Please also mark your calendar for April 23, when we host Dallas Baptist at 6:00 p.m. It will be International Student-Athlete Night as we honor our 82 international student-athletes who represent 35 countries.
I am glad so many of you enjoyed our long awaited and inaugural Bark in the Park game last month. The official tally was 114 dogs in attendance for our 7-3 win over UTA.
PARDON OUR PROGRESS
In addition to our Human Performance Center Renovation and Expansion projects, scheduled for completion in July 2025, other current updates to our athletics facilities include new lockers for equestrian, technology upgrades in the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility to power fitness tracking devices, resurfacing of the courts at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center and the track at the Lowdon Track and Field Complex, tennis pro shop graphics, backstop netting at Lupton Stadium, a football office lobby graphics refresh, new televisions in the Champions Club and electrical power and equipment enhancements in the Performance Athletics Dining kitchen that serves our 500-plus student-athletes.
TICKET OFFICE REMINDERS
Football season ticket holders who requested ticket and/or parking upgrades will receive an email next Friday, April 19, with their selection date and time based on priority rank. The process will begin on Monday, April 22, at 9:00 a.m. with the last day for upgrades being Wednesday, May 1.
For those inquiring about tickets to road games, and we open the season on Friday, August 30, at Stanford, please click HERE to submit your request by May 24. We are still waiting on confirmed prices from our opponents. The ticket office will charge your card on file when the cost is received.
The TCU Alumni office is planning a pregame tailgate for Stanford and a full trip to Salt Lake City for our October 19 game at Utah. More information will be available this summer. If interested, please complete this inquiry form.
FROGAPALOOZA IS HERE
Frogapalooza will take place on Saturday, April 27, at 2:00 p.m. in Amon G. Carter Stadium when our football program closes spring practice with a free scrimmage for fans. Gate 1 on the west side and 6, 8 and 10 on the east side will open at 1:00 p.m. with seating in the lower bowl only.
Arrive early as prior to the scrimmage will be live music from The Texases, a classic country cover band. Concessions will feature $3 food and drink items that include hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, 44-ounce sodas and 16-ounce beers.
There will be plenty of family fun on the concourses with face painting, balloon artists, wax hand making, air brush tattoos, air brush hats and a caricature artist. We will also have a variety of carnival games and a photo booth. A "Markdown Madness" sidewalk sale will take place at our team store on the east concourse.
For TCU students, we will have complimentary tank tops, free Kona Ice and various food station giveaways.
Following the scrimmage, make sure to head to Lupton Stadium for the second half of our TCU doubleheader as baseball will host Kansas State at 4:00 p.m.
FLYING T CLUB
Beginning at noon in Lot 2, the Flying T Club will host a tailgate at our Frogapalooza Spring Scrimmage. Stop by to enjoy food and drink while learning more about how our NIL collective supports TCU student-athletes.
We appreciate all the businesses who have become corporate partners of the Flying T Club, and the list keeps growing with the recent additions of Higginbotham Insurance, Poop Deck Bar and Grill, and Circle Cleaners on Bluebonnet Circle. Corporate partners have access to unmatched activation opportunities, including student-athlete appearances, social media promotion and much more.
DID YOU KNOW?
TCU received a great honor recently when the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce recognized us with the prestigious Spirit of Enterprise Award at its 2024 annual meeting at Cowtown Coliseum. President Daniel Pullin was on hand to accept the award on behalf of TCU.
In conjunction with celebrating its 150th anniversary, TCU was recognized for its contributions to the development of the Fort Worth community and prosperity of the city, as well as its commitment to the preservation of the American enterprise system. TCU was also the recipient in 2005, marking the first time a local entity has been a two-time winner.
Go Frogs!
Jeremiah Donati, J.D.
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
