Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Shows Dominance in 2011-12 Revenue Sports
4/3/2012 12:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Football, Volleyball, General
2011-12 EMU sports hold best MAC winning percentage since 1976-77
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University fall and winter revenue-generating sports programs have been extremely successful this season, ranking as the third-best combined winning percentage for the football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball programs since joining the Mid-American Conference in the 1976-77 academic year. Eastern has posted a .593 winning percentage during the 2011-12 season between the four revenue-generating sports, while coming out victorious in 62.50 percent of their MAC tilts which ranks first in its history.
The EMU football team recorded its first season with a .500 or better overall record (6-6) since 1995 when the Eagles went 6-5 overall. Not only was it the Green and White's first season boasting a winning percentage of .500 percent or better in more than 16 years, but it was also EMU's first .500 or better season (4-4) in MAC play since 2004 when it went 4-4, matching the 2011 conference record. The 2011 season marked a turning point for Eastern's Head Football Coach Ron English as he had a combined two wins overall during his first two seasons (2009-10).
As for the indoor fall-competing Eagles, the women's volleyball team carried its success from 2010 over to 2011 by notching a 21-11 overall record, while going 9-7 in the MAC. The 21-11 mark ranks as the eighth-best winning percentage since the Green and White joined the league. The .656 winning percentage is the fourth-highest in Head Coach Kim Berrington's tenure at the helm of the EMU volleyball squad, while the .563 percent winning percentage in conference tilts ranks as her seventh-best since taking the reigns.
Also on the hardwood this year was the men's basketball team, which did not achieve a winning record during the 2011-12 season, but made significant strides to improve as it added five more wins to its total from the 2010-11 campaign. The Eagles won their MAC West Division after going 9-7 overall in conference play. In his first season, Head Coach Rob Murphy led the Green and White to its first winning season in Mid-American Conference play since the 1997-98 season, while earning the fifth seed in the men's MAC Tournament. Murphy was also named the MAC Coach of the Year, as well as being named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Co-Coach of the Year for District 14 in Division I. He shared the NABC award with University of Akron Head Coach Keith Dambrot, a former assistant men's basketball coach at EMU from 1986-89.
On the women's side of the court, the Eagles had an extremely successful season as AnnMarie Gilbert's squad posted a 23-9 record overall, good for a .719 winning percentage, while boasting their second-best record in conference history by notching a 13-3 mark in MAC games. The only time EMU posted a better conference record was in 2005-06 when it went 15-1 in conference play on its way to a MAC West Division championship. The 2011-12 season also marked the lowest amount of regular season losses (8) by an EMU team since Gilbert took over as the head coach of the Eagles. Eastern made its second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history after winning the MAC Tournament by defeating Central Michigan University in a 72-71, last-second win.
Individually, Tavelyn James set multiple records for EMU. A native of Detroit, Mich., James led the Eagles in scoring with 23.8 points per game, while also ranking first on the team in field goals made, three-pointers made, free-throws made, steals and minutes played. She ranked third in the nation in scoring average, and also ranks among the top-50 in the country in free throw percentage (19th) and three-point field goals made (42nd). The WBCA Honorable Mention All-American selection finished her career as Eastern Michigan's all-time scoring leader, and ranked second in MAC history with 2,470 career points. She also holds the EMU career records for three-point field goals made (291) and games played (129). James ranks third in conference history in field goals made, three-point field goals made and scoring average.
Best Overall Winning Percentages
1. 1990-91 .660
2. 1987-88 .608
3. 2011-12 .593
4. 2003-04 .573
5. 2005-06 .567
Best MAC Winning Percentages
1. 2011-12 .625
2. 1990-91 .604
3. 2005-06 .603
4. 1987-88 .583
5. 2007-08 .546
The EMU football team recorded its first season with a .500 or better overall record (6-6) since 1995 when the Eagles went 6-5 overall. Not only was it the Green and White's first season boasting a winning percentage of .500 percent or better in more than 16 years, but it was also EMU's first .500 or better season (4-4) in MAC play since 2004 when it went 4-4, matching the 2011 conference record. The 2011 season marked a turning point for Eastern's Head Football Coach Ron English as he had a combined two wins overall during his first two seasons (2009-10).
As for the indoor fall-competing Eagles, the women's volleyball team carried its success from 2010 over to 2011 by notching a 21-11 overall record, while going 9-7 in the MAC. The 21-11 mark ranks as the eighth-best winning percentage since the Green and White joined the league. The .656 winning percentage is the fourth-highest in Head Coach Kim Berrington's tenure at the helm of the EMU volleyball squad, while the .563 percent winning percentage in conference tilts ranks as her seventh-best since taking the reigns.
Also on the hardwood this year was the men's basketball team, which did not achieve a winning record during the 2011-12 season, but made significant strides to improve as it added five more wins to its total from the 2010-11 campaign. The Eagles won their MAC West Division after going 9-7 overall in conference play. In his first season, Head Coach Rob Murphy led the Green and White to its first winning season in Mid-American Conference play since the 1997-98 season, while earning the fifth seed in the men's MAC Tournament. Murphy was also named the MAC Coach of the Year, as well as being named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Co-Coach of the Year for District 14 in Division I. He shared the NABC award with University of Akron Head Coach Keith Dambrot, a former assistant men's basketball coach at EMU from 1986-89.
On the women's side of the court, the Eagles had an extremely successful season as AnnMarie Gilbert's squad posted a 23-9 record overall, good for a .719 winning percentage, while boasting their second-best record in conference history by notching a 13-3 mark in MAC games. The only time EMU posted a better conference record was in 2005-06 when it went 15-1 in conference play on its way to a MAC West Division championship. The 2011-12 season also marked the lowest amount of regular season losses (8) by an EMU team since Gilbert took over as the head coach of the Eagles. Eastern made its second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history after winning the MAC Tournament by defeating Central Michigan University in a 72-71, last-second win.
Individually, Tavelyn James set multiple records for EMU. A native of Detroit, Mich., James led the Eagles in scoring with 23.8 points per game, while also ranking first on the team in field goals made, three-pointers made, free-throws made, steals and minutes played. She ranked third in the nation in scoring average, and also ranks among the top-50 in the country in free throw percentage (19th) and three-point field goals made (42nd). The WBCA Honorable Mention All-American selection finished her career as Eastern Michigan's all-time scoring leader, and ranked second in MAC history with 2,470 career points. She also holds the EMU career records for three-point field goals made (291) and games played (129). James ranks third in conference history in field goals made, three-point field goals made and scoring average.
Best Overall Winning Percentages
1. 1990-91 .660
2. 1987-88 .608
3. 2011-12 .593
4. 2003-04 .573
5. 2005-06 .567
Best MAC Winning Percentages
1. 2011-12 .625
2. 1990-91 .604
3. 2005-06 .603
4. 1987-88 .583
5. 2007-08 .546
Billy Donlon Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, March 26
Bringing the Energy! Thank You to the Crowd vs. No. 21 Miami
Wednesday, February 25
Addison Patterson Dunk vs. Akron
Wednesday, February 04
Cinematic Recap: Jan. 24 Basketball Doubleheader
Saturday, January 24