Texas Border Business
The Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas RGV Chapter is committed to celebrate the positive image and values of its Hispanic Heritage thru education, and life changing programs. The HWNT’s purpose is to advance the educational, cultural, social, legal and economic wellbeing of all Hispanic Women thru a broader awareness of our role in society, business and family. The organization accepts all women and men who desire to advance in education and professional development. The August monthly board meeting will be on Tuesday, August 18th at Russo’s New York Pizzeria, 7017 N. 10th in McAllen. The Luncheon meeting costs $18. “We invite all women and men to join our organization and be involved with a group of powerful and industrious women who look to improve themselves and become a pillar in the community” states Cynthia M. Sakulenzki, Chapter President.
This month’s keynote speaker will be Mr. Chris King, UT-RGV Director of Athletics, a position that he’s had since October 1, 2009. Come and hear what some of the changes have been since the creation of UT-RGV in the Athletic Dept. and what is predicted for this coming season. As the leader of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, King’s proactive style and leadership has helped the department reach new heights and lay a solid foundation for future growth. The 2014-15 academic year saw considerable success in facilities, academics, community service and competition. The year started with the opening of a brand new soccer and track & field complex. The new women’s soccer program was able to play four matches in this facility, while men’s soccer will call it home after returning from a 17-year hiatus in 2015. The facility is also home to the track & field teams. For 2015-16, UTRGV Athletics added lights to allow for night events, and an additional 750 seats to help meet ticket demands.
In October 2014, King, in coordination with university business affairs division and office of general counsel, completed negotiations to arrange the donation of the $6.5 million Edinburg Baseball Stadium from the City of Edinburg to the University. After taking over the facility, King spearheaded numerous upgrades, including a new irrigation system, new dugout fencing, new outfield walls, and new padding behind home plate. King recently secured six-figure gifts from Coca-Cola Refreshments and the UTPA Foundation for the installation of a new scoreboard. King also announced a capital campaign to build a new entrance to the stadium, the Al and Joann Ogletree Plaza, named after legendary head coach emeritus and Hall of Famer Al Ogletree and his late wife, Joann.
Toward the end of the year, King completed a capital project for the new strength and conditioning facility, which the department moved into in 2013-14, to acquire new speed and strength equipment, free weight and aerobic/cardio equipment, and new power racks, platforms, benches and dumbbells.
In the classroom, the department pushed its cumulative grade point average (GPA) to 3.07 with a record 125 student-athletes earning Fall AD Honor Roll honors and another 109 student-athletes earning the honor in the spring for boasting a GPA of at least 3.0. Student-athletes continue to maintain higher GPAs and graduation rates than their peers in the general student body. The student-athlete graduation rate has jumped from 54 to 75 percent over the last five years. The student-athletes achieved excellence in the classroom while completing 255 hours of community service in 2014-15. UTRGV student-athletes will be given every opportunity to not only continue, but improve upon their academic success, as the department moved into a new 2,500 square-foot academic center for 2015-16. The new center includes an increased number of computers over the former facility, as well as additional overall work space and offices for the student-athlete advisors.
Several programs led by head coaches King hired experienced their most successful seasons in recent memory, or in one case, program history, in 2014-15. The women’s basketball team, led by second-year head coach Larry Tidwell, broke 40 different program records and tied 19 more en route to its first postseason appearance, reaching the Women’s Basketball Invitational, to cap off its first winning season at the NCAA Division I level and first in 32 years. The women’s basketball team reached the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship game, making it one of three teams to do so, as both tennis teams, led by fourth-year women’s head coach Stephanie Vallejos and second-year men’s head coach Brandon Stokes, also came within one win of an NCAA Tournament appearance. Two student-athletes competed in NCAA Championship-level events, as men’s golfer Nicolas Platret, coached by first-year head coach Armen Kirakossian and recruited by former head coach Josh Fosdick, also a King hire, and women’s hurdler Deandra Barroso, coached by fourth-year head coach Xavier Richardson, both won WAC Championships before competing in their sports’ NCAA Regionals.
King completed the Title IX/Gender Equity Plan, which included the start of women’s soccer, the addition of 1.8 scholarships to fully fund baseball, 7.0 scholarships to fully fund men’s track & field, 1.5 scholarships to fully fund men’s golf, and 1.5 scholarships to fully fund men’s tennis. Another part of the plan included the creation of two new head coaching positions, as the university went from having one coach for both tennis teams and one for both golf teams to having separate coaches for each team. King also set up the track & field and volleyball teams to add an assistant coach.
King will roll out a new business plan for UTRGV during the fall of 2015, continuing the traditions of UTPA Athletics in the new university. Prior to UTRGV, King spent seven years (2002-09) at the University of Alabama. King lead the compliance department as Associate Athletic Director for Compliance for his first five years before being promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Administration in 2007. King’s athletic career began in 1995 at Campbell University as a compliance assistant. He then moved to Liberty University, where he was the Director of Compliance and Special Events. He later moved on to the University of Central Florida, where he served as Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Internal Operations.
King is married to the former Alicia Flowers, who is a major gifts officer at UTRGV. They reside in McAllen with their two daughters, five-year old Kylie Marie, and, their two-year old, McKenzie Elizabeth.
For information on the HWNT – RGV Chapter or to make a reservation to the August meeting call Chapter President Cynthia M. Sakulenzki at 212-7515.
