For the first time since 2011, the No. 17 EOU men’s basketball team earned a win in the NAIA Division II National Championship. The Mountaineers finished 24-9 and 15-5 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) for a second place finish in the regular season.

It was only one year ago when EOU finished a combined 15-16 while earning sixth place in the CCC. Looking for a change, the Blue and Gold brought in former men’s basketball coach Isaac Williams, who led the program to a No. 1 ranking in 2013 the last time EOU made the tournament. Despite his success this season and in the past, Williams believes it’s his student-athletes that are key.

“I truly believe that you win with good people,” Williams said. “If I have done anything right, I have always tried to fill our roster with kids that would put the team before themselves. Whatever success our team had this season can be directly attributed to the efforts and abilities of the student-athletes. One of our mottos is that this is a ‘Player’s Program,’ and I am proud and humbled to have been a part of what they accomplished.”

Aside from going 24-9 and 15-5, the Mountaineers won 14-straight home games, going 14-2, 6-6 on the road, and 4-1 on neural court games. The players faced teams from seven different states and Canada.
“Over the years we have had amazing support from our community, and while it took our fans a little time to fall in love with this year’s team, by the end of the year Quinn Coliseum was one of the best atmospheres in the CCC.”

Between November 25 and January 8, EOU won 10 games in a row, including double-digit wins over Corban, No. 14 College of Idaho, and No. 9 Northwest Christian, all NAIA tournament teams. Over the 10-game span, EOU won by an average of 13 points.

The team posted two CCC All-Conference players in senior guard Bryan McGriff and senior guard Kentrell Washington. The dynamic pair combined for nearly 40 percent of EOU’s offense and over 40 percent of the squad’s total rebounds.

By the end of the season, EOU finished third in the NAIA with total three-pointers made (367), fourth in three’s made per game (11.12), and eighth in points per game (90.2).

“I have always tried to utilize the three-point shot and figured that we could generate open looks if the guys bought into playing unselfishly,” Williams said. “To the credit of the players, they were completely unselfish and guys stepped up and made shots.”

EOU earned the second seed in the 2016-17 CCC Tournament presented by U.S. Bank, taking down seventh-seeded Warner Pacific (84-58) before falling to No. 8 Corban (100-90).

The Blue and Gold earned an at-large bid in the NAIA National Championship and drew fifth-seeded and then-ranked No. 17 IU Southeast, the River States Conference regular-season champion. Despite being down 19 points in the first half, EOU found a way to persevere, winning the thrilling contest 92-90 with a last second shot from Washington. Against the Grenadiers, McGriff recorded 33 points, Washington bagged 20 points and McCullough netted 12.

After moving on to the round of 16, EOU once again played a team from the state of Indiana, this time first-seeded and then-ranked No. 3 Bethel. The Pilots took off from almost the start of the contest, shooting a combined 56.3 percent en route to a 104-71 victory over EOU.

At the end of the 2016-17 season, both McGriff and Washington garnered All-American status. McGriff earned a second-team placing, while Washington carded honorable mention. In their respective careers, the pair racked up over 1,000 career points apiece (McGriff with 1,377 and Washington with 1,091). McGriff and Washington also dominated on the boards, scooping up a combined 1,233 total rebounds.

During his tenure at EOU, Williams has now coached five NAIA All-Americans.

“There is no higher individual award than being referred to as an All-American,” he said. “It’s something they can hold onto for the rest of their lives, and I’m just humbled to have been a part of it.”

For the third time in three seasons, Michael Hillman earned the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors, which is awarded to student-athletes with at least a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and of junior academic standing.

“Michael Hillman’s story is one of my favorites during my coaching career,” Williams said. “He’s obviously an excellent student with an incredible work ethic. However, he is so much more than that. He is an extraordinary person who has always, and will no doubt continue to, get the most out of life.”

The Mountaineers graduated four seniors in McGriff, Washington, Hillman and Meeker. In two seasons for the Blue and Gold, Meeker played in 48 games and etched 389 points, shooting 45.3 percent, with 152 rebounds and 115 assists. Despite only being a freshman, McCullough was a major weapon for the EOU offense, recording 409 points and a 44.8 three-point field goal percentage.
On the coaches’ side of things, Williams said the staff is looking toward next season.

“We have been busy recruiting for the class of 2017, so we are focused on finishing recruiting and making sure our current players finish strong in the classroom.”

Jacob Plocher became EOU’s head women’s soccer coach in March 2017.

“Jacob has the drive to be successful that we look for in coaches,” Athletic Director Anji Weissenfluh said. “He will provide some needed stability to our women’s soccer program, and there is no doubt he will embrace the campus and community of La Grande.”

Plocher comes to EOU with nearly eight years of coaching experience at the collegiate level and is the seventh women’s soccer coach in program history.
During his four years at Presentation College, an NAIA institution in South Dakota, Plocher compiled 27 wins. During the 2016 campaign, he guided the Saints to an 11-6-2 record, the best in program history, and broke a handful of school records.

“I am extremely excited to become a Mountaineer and to get to know our current players, along with adding student-athletes who are going to represent EOU in the classroom, on the field, and throughout the community,” Plocher said.

He served as an assistant coach to the men’s and women’s soccer programs at Kansas Wesleyan, where he assisted with recruitment, organized training sessions, and coached the Coyotes’ junior varsity squad.

Plocher was a team captain at William Penn, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He also served as a graduate assistant for the men’s soccer team there.

“I’m thrilled that EOU was able to hire a coach of Plocher’s caliber to lead our women’s soccer program,” Faculty Athletic Representative Ryan Dearinger said. “He brings a wealth of experience and has the passion, gumption, and leadership qualities necessary to enhance our program in every measurable way. Coach Plocher understands the high expectations we place on our student-athletes in the classroom, on the field, and in the community, and I look forward to watching him exceed those expectations for years to come.”

EOU went 9-6-3 in 2016, including a 6-3-2 mark in conference play. The Mountaineers reached the quarterfinals of the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Tournament before losing to Northwest.

Carlito Labarda Jr., became the 16th men’s basketball head coach in program history this June.

“Carlito comes to us after a long and successful stint as an assistant coach under Dr. Carson Cunningham at Carroll College,” Athletic Director Anji Weissenfluh said. “Carlito has helped established a tradition of excellence at Carroll and shares the core values of our department. He brings an ability to recruit quality student-athletes that are able to excel both in the classroom and on the court.”
A native of San Pedro, Calif., Labarda spent the four previous seasons as an assistant coach at Carroll College. The Saints posted a 79-45 record during Labarda’s four-year career there, and are coming off consecutive NAIA Division I quarterfinal appearances.

“I am very excited to join a special group of coaches at ��ݮ��Ƶ, my visit to La Grande was an awesome experience,” Labarda said. “From interacting with the community, to the student-athletes on campus, it’s a place where I want to be and can’t wait to get started! The amazing family culture established in the athletic department will make it a smooth transition for me as a coach, which I don’t take for granted. I’m truly blessed to be a Mountaineer.”

Labarda began his coaching journey at Purdue University, where he was the team’s manager and student assistant coach from 1994 to 1999. Labarda graduated from Purdue with a history degree and became good friends with Cunningham, who was a standout player and starter, after transferring from Oregon State.

“Carlito is a lifelong friend, tireless worker, and passionate basketball coach,” Cunningham said. “It’s a little bittersweet since Coach Labarda won’t be with us at Carroll next year. But mainly it’s just sweet to know that after all his hard work and years of dedication to the game, Coach Labarda is getting a chance to become a head college basketball coach.”

The EOU Mountaineers capped the season with a record of 24-9 and made it to the second round of the NAIA Division II Tournament.

Former assistant head coach at Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) Ken Huber became the EOU men’s soccer head coach in May 2017.

“Ken comes from a highly successful NAIA program,” Athletic Director Anji Weissenfluh said. “He has strong character, is passionate about the sport, and carries a deep knowledge of the game. He is committed to providing a quality student-athlete experience and I know the Mountie family will welcome him with open arms.”

The ONU Tigers earned four conference titles in five years and made four NAIA National Tournament appearances during Huber’s time as a coach there. Meanwhile, Huber coached goalkeepers for Lansing United of the National Premier Soccer League of the Midwest Region during the last year.

“I knew once I was on campus that the university was exactly what my wife and I had been waiting for,” Huber said. “I immediately saw so much potential with the men’s soccer program at EOU, from the culture, to the staff and players — I couldn’t have asked to be put in a better situation.”

A 2010 Olivet alumnus in sports management, Huber returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant after a two-year stint as goalkeeper coach for the Flint Arrows Soccer Club. Huber was an all-conference keeper for Northwood University (Mich.), then transferred to Olivet in 2008. He helped ONU to its first-ever NAIA Tournament appearance and conference championship. The post at EOU will be Huber’s first head coaching experience, and he credits current ONU head coach David Blahnik for his preparation.

“Being Dave’s assistant these past few years has helped me to not only grow in the game of soccer, but to lead a group of young men successfully on and off the soccer field,” Huber said. “A successful college soccer coach is not only striving to recruit and develop his student-athletes, but also helps grow young men into mature responsible adults.”

The EOU men’s soccer team capped the season 11-6-1, 6-6-1 in conference play and missed the playoffs via a tiebreaker on the last day of the season.

As we set out on another academic year at ��ݮ��Ƶ, I am incredibly proud to welcome new students, faculty and staff to the Mountaineer family. We are moving with purpose toward EOU’s centennial anniversary in 2029.

We’ve identified an ambitious set of goals focused on student success, financial sustainability, and engagement with rural communities throughout Oregon. “The Ascent 2029,” a comprehensive strategic plan adopted by the Board of Trustees this spring, incorporates all areas of the university and serves as a practical document, providing benchmarks and objectives against which we can measure our progress.

Our strategic aims include:
(1) propelling students toward graduation and successful careers,
(2) enriching the academic experience through real-world learning experiences,
(3) reaching a growing number of individuals,
(4) developing our thriving university community,
(5) building meaningful relationships with organizations and leaders across the state, and
(6) securing the university’s future financially.

Running parallel to these goals are EOU’s new Values and Principles. A collaborative group of faculty, students and staff outlined and presented six key institutional values that have been adopted by the university community. They are: altruism, civility, discovery, integrity, interdependence, and quality.

To help drive our plans and programs, I am thrilled to share that our leadership is team fully in place for fall term. Please join me in welcoming Vice President for Student Affairs Lacy Karpilo; Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Nate Lowe; Dean of Science, Technology, Math and Health Sciences Peter Geissinger; and Executive Director of Regional Outreach and Innovation David Vande Pol. Their commitment to this institution and its vision is remarkable and will help us achieve new heights.

Guided by our collective goals and values, powered by the contributions of passionate alumni and friends, and equipped with an energized academic leadership team — I am confident EOU has the tools to become a leading regional university (or Oregon’s Rural University).

We have set the bar high, and as we embark on this journey toward our 100th anniversary, I look forward to the support and engagement of our alumni and friends and continue to be certain that “together, it’s possible.”

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Insko, ’94

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NOTES:

STRATEGIC PLAN FRAMEWORK
Goal 1: Student Success – Graduate students with the competence and confidence to succeed
Goal 2: Transformational Education – Enrich academic quality and enhance intellectual vitality
Goal 3: Grow the Number of Lives Impacted – Expand student access, opportunity, and completion
Goal 4: Thriving University Community – A Great Place to Work and Learn
Goal 5: Relevance and Interconnection – Serve as the educational, economic, and cultural engine for rural places
Goal 6: Financial Sustainability – Stewardship in financial sustainability and in growing EOU’s financial and capital resources

VALUES:
Altruism, Civility, Discovery, Integrity, Interdependence, and Quality

CORE THEMES:
Access for all, high-quality programs, live-learn-succeed