Athletics posts record overall department GPA of 3.41 for spring term;
13 programs post a record spring term GPA;
All 17 programs earn term GPA over 3.0, 15 post cumulative over 3.0;
Record 285 student-athletes earn Honor Roll recognition;
11 straight semesters and five academic years over a 3.0 for Athletics
TAMPA, JUNE 3, 2020 – Unable to compete or practice for much of the spring due to the national coronavirus crisis, University of South Florida student-athletes responded by utilizing the unique circumstances to post record performances in the classroom.
Following the compilation of spring grades, USF saw 13 programs earn a record team grade-point average in the spring term and all 17 programs log better than a 3.0 GPA for the first time as the department set an overall GPA record of 3.41 following the spring term.
“I am so proud of how our student-athletes responded to the crisis, upheaval and changes we have all been working through and maintained their focus on achieving in the classroom,” Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly said. “It’s not only a testament to their dedication, but to our coaches and particularly our academics staff and university, both of which did an unbelievable job of shifting very quickly and effectively to distance education and providing academic support services and guidance virtually, and did so at a nation-leading level.”
The department’s overall spring term GPA of 3.41 shattered the previous record of 3.13 set the previous semester (Fall, 2019) and continued a department record string of 11 straight semesters of a 3.0 GPA or higher. The Bulls also posted an annual GPA of 3.28 for the 2019-20 academic year, marking the fifth straight year posting above a 3.0.
“We are extremely proud of our student-athletes, academic staff and university, and how they were able to respond very effectively and quickly to the incredible challenges and changes that occurred due to the coronavirus,” Associate Director of Athletics for Academics Tim Anderson said. “It was obviously a very unique semester in many regards and there were some factors that contributed to a significant increase in GPAs across the board, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that our student-athletes put in the time, dedication and focus to make the most of the circumstances and win in a big way in the classroom.”
The Bulls also had a record 285 student-athletes named to the Athletics Honor Roll after the spring term. Athletics saw 308 student-athletes (79.58%) post a 3.0 or better GPA in the spring term and 63 log a 4.0. That helped push the cumulative GPA of 260 student-athletes (67.18%) above a 3.0, with 10 maintaining a perfect 4.0.
Among the programs logging record term GPAs was men’s cross country, which led all programs with a 3.81 team GPA. Other men’s programs posting term records included football (3.05), baseball (3.26), basketball (3.45), soccer (3.50) and golf (3.54). Meanwhile, track and field (3.17) and tennis (3.45) both also eclipsed a 3.1 GPA.
Seven women’s programs posted record term GPAs, including volleyball (3.51), basketball (3.60), track and field (3.60), soccer (3.61), sailing (3.66), tennis (3.67) and cross country (3.80). Golf (3.55) and softball (3.59) did not set records but also eclipsed a 3.5 GPA.
The department also set a record cumulative GPA following the spring, posting a 3.22 overall for all student-athletes. Nine programs also registered record cumulative GPAs and 15 exceeded a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
The spring grades success comes on the heels of a record 13 programs logging perfect single-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores and the department posting an overall record 995 single-year score when the NCAA released its most recent data last month.
Among the 13 programs that posted perfect single-year APR scores for 2018-19 was men’s basketball, which continues to see its academic success accelerate under head coach Brian Gregory, who completed his third season in 2019-20. Also earning perfect single-year scores were baseball, men’s cross country, men’s golf, men’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s cross country, women’s golf, softball, women’s soccer, women’s tennis, women’s track and field and volleyball.
Both the football program (979) and women’s soccer program (997) posted record multi-year scores. The women’s golf program posted a perfect multi-year score of 1,000 for the seventh straight report and the men’s golf program posted a perfect score as well for the first time since 2006. Both were honored by the NCAA with a Public Recognition Award. USF teams have received a total to 32 such honors.
About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men’s and women’s teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls’ athletic program began in 1965 and is in its 54th season in 2019-20. Nearly 450 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 19 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, and own 120 conference titles overall. Eleven USF programs reached national postseason competition in the 2018-19 season and six were ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the fourth straight year in 2018-19 and have posted a program record 10 straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has had nearly 350 student-athletes earn their degree since 2016-17.
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– #GoBulls –
