Author: David Haney

David Haney is director of sports information at the University of Mobile and has been with the UM Athletic Department since 2019. He is a 2016 graduate of UM. Prior to his position at UM, David spent three seasons working in professional baseball with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels AA affiliate. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, enjoys the outdoors and watching baseball and football. He also owns a family-run business called H.I.S.S. (Haney's Independent Snake Studies), a no-kill snake relocation and rehabilitation service for wild venomous and non-venomous snakes. He and his wife, UM alumna Haley Ikner Haney, live in Semmes, Alabama, with their three cats: Moe, Mae and Missy.

San Diego Padres Select Mobile’s Tucker Musgrove in 2023 MLB Draft

by David Haney
Tucker

MOBILE, Ala. – With the 221st pick of the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, the San Diego Padres officially selected Tucker Musgrove of the University of Mobile Baseball program as the organization’s fifth overall pick. During the selection, the Padres announced that the two-way player for Mobile will both pitch and hit for the organization.

The junior from Semmes, Alabama, was selected in the seventh round and is the first NAIA player to be drafted in the 2023 MLB draft. Musgrove is the first player from the University of Mobile to be drafted in MLB since Lukas Young was drafted by the Boston Red Sox during the 2017 season. Overall, UM Baseball has seen 19 players drafted since the program began in 1990. 

Musgrove played three collegiate seasons as a Mobile Ram under head coach Jon Seymour, quickly becoming one of the program’s top players in recent history. He joined the roster as a right-handed pitcher and position player, tallying his career stats sheet in both categories. 

In Musgrove’s first season with the Rams, he was selected as the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Freshman of the Year, while earning two SSAC Second-Team All-Conference selections as a designated hitter and pitcher. In the following season, Musgrove slashed .406 at the plate, with an on-base percentage of .557 to eventually earn his first SSAC First-Team All-Conference selection.

Most recently, Musgrove once again produced eye-popping numbers during the 2023 season, recording a .397 hitting line and .485 on-base percentage. The five-tool player led the Rams with 25 steals, while notching eight home runs, five triples, and 32 walks. 

Musgrove started every game at center fielder for Mobile, recording a perfect 1.000% fielding percentage with five outfield assists and eventually claimed an SSAC Gold Glove honor. Additionally, the junior threw 18 innings from the mound, leading Mobile with 10 saves on the season and averaging just under 12 strikeouts per nine innings of work. 

Following the 2023 campaign, Musgrove earned two SSAC First-Team All-Conference selections as a pitcher and outfielder and was named a NAIA Baseball All-America Honorable Mention.

Mobile Head Baseball Coach Jon Seymour said he is “fired up and over the moon for the kid.” 

“I am very excited that Tucker will be getting the opportunity to hit and pitch for an organization that values the skills he possesses,” said Seymour.

The Padres held a pre-draft workout with Musgrove and came away very impressed. San Diego Padres General Manager A.J. Preller was in attendance and took the time to get to know Musgrove, exclaiming the desire to draft the Mobile Ram if given the opportunity. 

“Having an MLB General Manager come away impressed just tells you the talent that Tucker has,” said Seymour. “For us, he has been our MVP over the last two seasons and is just a perfect example of who we want to recruit here at UM. He loves the game, wants to grow in the game, and is a kid that just likes to be coached. He’s relentless and competitive, but doesn’t play with an ego. On top of all that, he is great in the classroom and a strong and devoted Christian. He is a coach’s dream.”

Musgrove and the San Diego Padres will begin contract negotiations in the coming days with the hopes of the seventh-round draft pick beginning his professional career with one of the Padres’ six minor league affiliates later this season.

FOLLOW THE RAMS

For complete coverage of University of Mobile Athletics, follow the Rams on social media at /MobileRams (Facebook), @UMobileRams (Twitter), and @umobilerams (Instagram), or visit the official home of the University of Mobile Athletic Department at https://umobilerams.com/. 
  

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

2021–2022 Year in Review: Athletics

by David Haney

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile Athletic Department saw the 2021-22 season come to a close in early June, marking a year that included championships and individual honors. Looking ahead, UM coaches see a promising future as one of the largest athletic programs in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) grows from 19 to 21 competitive sports with the addition of men’s and women’s bowling.

Men’s Soccer

2021-2022 UM Men's SoccerThe UM Men’s Soccer program finished the 2021 season with an impressive 18-3-1 overall record. The Rams claimed the 2021 SSAC Regular Season Championship with a perfect 7-0 conference record, while earning a host-bid for the NAIA Men’s Soccer Opening Round, where Mobile claimed the opening round championship against three other teams in the Mobile bracket. The opening round victory advanced Mobile to the final site of the 2021 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship played in Decatur, Alabama.

The Rams managed to win their way through the tournament, eventually earning a runner-up finish in the national championship match after falling 2-0 to Keiser University. The runner-up finish is the fourth in program history, with Mobile earning the national title in 2002.

Head coach Daniel Whelan earned his 100th career victory during the 2021 season, while claiming his third SSAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year honor.

Graduating forward Alejo Binaghi was named the NAIA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, becoming the second Ram ever to earn the prestigious honor.

Additionally, Binaghi earned an NAIA First-Team All-America selection, while being named SSAC Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, SSAC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year and SSAC Men’s Soccer Golden Boot winner.

Binaghi was one of eight Rams selected to the SSAC Men’s Soccer First-Team All-Conference Team. Joining Binaghi with NAIA All-America status were Angel Almiron, Antoine Bedos and Rodrigo Parades who were selected to the NAIA Men’s Soccer Third-Team All-America Team. Additionally, Jose Sanabria, Joshua Bynoe, Maxime Benoit and Sebastian Jorgge earned NAIA Men’s Soccer All-America Honorable Mentions honors.

Women’s Soccer

2021-2022 UM Women's SoccerThe UM Women’s Soccer team finished strong, winning three of their last five matches and ending the year with a 4-12-2 overall record.  Following the season, midfielder Anakah Madril was named to the SSAC Women’s Soccer Second-Team All-Conference team while she and 14 teammates earned conference all-academic honors for excelling in the classroom. Nana Bjerre was selected to the SSAC All-Freshman Team following her first season with Mobile.

Cross Country

2021-2022 UM Cross-CountryUM Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams competed in five meets throughout the 2021 season, including the SSAC Championship Meet which saw freshman Jacob Harned earn a top-10 finish and qualify for the 2021 NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championship Meet in Vancouver, Washington, where he placed 259th overall out of 333 competitors. Harned and teammate Preston Webb, were named to the SSAC Men’s Cross Country All-Conference Team following the season.

Indoor Volleyball

2021-2022 UM VolleyballAfter winning the 2020-21 SSAC Volleyball Championship, the UM Indoor Volleyball team looked to defend their title during the 2021 season. The Rams finished 24-6 overall, with a 10-4 conference record, but were upset in the conference championship tournament by the eventual winners of the 2021 SSAC Volleyball Championship, Blue Mountain College.

Senior Melea Meadows took home the SSAC Volleyball Defender of the Year Award, the first in program history, and was joined by Sarah Warren and Rachel Hart as SSAC Volleyball First-Team All-Conference selections.

Men’s Basketball

2021-2022 UM Men's BasketballUM Rams Basketball ended the 2021-22 season 14-17 this year, finishing 8-7 at home in Pharr Gymnasium. Mobile grabbed a couple of massive wins during the season, while being one shot away from upsetting the No. 1 team in the nation and the eventual winner of the 2021-22 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship, Loyola University (La.).

True freshman DaMariee Jones was named SSAC Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Year and was joined by Ezra McKenna and Trent Moye on the SSAC Men’s Basketball All-Freshman Team. Senior Gary Jefferson earned SSAC Men’s Basketball First-Team All-Conference honors.

Women’s Basketball

2021-2022 UM Women's BasketballUM Women’s Basketball finished the 2021-22 season with a winning record at 14-11. Mobile started the season claiming victories in six of their first eight games, but struggled in the second half of the season. The Rams were eliminated from the conference tournament in heartbreaking fashion, which saw their season come to an end. Erica Jones and Sidney Sims both earned SSAC Second-Team All-Conference honors.

Track & Field

2021-2022 UM TrackFollowing a successful indoor track and field season that saw five Rams (Latavia Jack, Anna Cabrera, Fedra Florentin, Donald Evans III and Joseph Moses III) qualify for the 2021-22 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Brookings, South Dakota, the outdoor track and field season for Mobile had even more success. A total of 17 Rams qualifed for NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Nationals in Gulf Shores, Alabama, while the women’s outdoor track and field team won their second-straight SSAC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

Fedra Florentin was named SSAC Freshman of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor season, and head coach Andy Canegitta was awarded his second consecutive SSAC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year honor.

Beach Volleyball

2021-2022 UM Beach VolleyballIn just the second season as a sanctioned sport at the University of Mobile, the UM Beach Volleyball team joined the Sun Conference for the 2021-22 season and finished the year 15-12. Mobile found more success in the first half of the season, beginning the year with an 8-2 mark through their first 10 matches. The Rams finished in the top five of the Sun Conference standings.

Melea Meadows and Veronica Makovey were selected by the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) as top flight of the year. The pair finished with an impressive 14-4 record in their first season as a duo.

Golf

2021-2022 UM GolfThe UM Men’s and Women’s Golf teams competed in 10 tournaments during the 2021-22 season, with the men’s team earning one tournament win on the year. The women’s team recorded a second-place finish during the season, their best tournament finish in over three seasons.

Noah Martino, Cy Smith and Steven Johnson from the men’s team were selected as SSAC Men’s Golf First-Team All-Conference nods, while freshman Grace Bryant was selected to the SSAC Women’s Golf All-Freshman Team.

Competitive Cheer

2021-2022 UM CheerAfter competing in four cheer competitions during the 2022 season and claiming two wins, the UM Competitive Cheer team secured their four-straight appearance in the NAIA Competitive Cheer National Championship in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where the Rams placed 13th out of 15 competing teams.

Tennis

UM Men’s and Women’s Tennis both finished the 2022 season ranked in the NAIA Tennis Top 25 polls and competed in the NAIA Tennis National Championships at the Mobile Tennis Center.

2021-2022 UM TennisOn the men’s side, Joao Okano and Boris Klingebiel were named NAIA Men’s Tennis All-America Honorable Mention as well as being named to the SSAC Men’s Tennis First-Team All-Conference Team, where they were joined by teammate Sergio Ruiz. Additionally, Okano was named the conference’s newcomer of the year following his first season with Mobile.

On the women’s team, Maria Reynaldo Toledo and Sofija Hrovat were named to the SSAC Women’s Tennis First-Team All-Conference Team. Both Toledo and Hrovat, as well as eight teammates, were later named to the SSAC Women’s Tennis All-Academic Team.

Baseball

2021-2022 UM BaseballUM Rams Baseball had a season of ups and downs during the 2022 season, finishing the year with a 25-20 overall record. Mobile finished 19-8 at home at Jacobs Field. Throughout the season, Mobile claimed victory over five opponents who were at once ranked inside the NAIA Baseball Top 25 Coaches’ poll.

Tucker Musgrove and Blake Roberts were selected to the SSAC Baseball First-Team All-Conference Team, with Musgrove finishing in the top three in voting for the SSAC Baseball Player of the Year honor. Three Rams earned conference second-team all-conference honors, while 13 earned all-academic honors.

Softball

In what was one of the most successful seasons in program history, the UM Softball program racked up awards following an outstanding 52-4 2022 season. The Rams finished the season as the runner-up in the NAIA Softball National Championship and broke the program’s consecutive win record with 34-straight wins to start the season. The previous record was 28 consecutive victories set by the 1997 team.

Mobile won the SSAC Softball Championship during the 2022 season and Head Coach AlisonSellers-Cook was named SSAC Softball Coach of the Year. Sellers-Cook recorded her 500th career victory during the season. Seven players were named SSAC Softball First-Team All-Conference selections, with five being named to the SSAC Softball Second-Team All-Conference Team.

After falling in the national championship game to Oklahoma City University, Emily Butts, Brinkley Goff and Jaden Morace were named as NAIA Softball First-Team All-Americans. Morace set the new single-season runs record at Mobile and in the SSAC with 75 runs scored during the year and tied the program record with 84 hits in one season. She was named the SSAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for her success on and off the field of play.

Caitlin McRee joined Morace, Butts and Goff as a NAIA All-American, claiming honorable mention honors.

Additionally, the Mobile coaching staff is up for the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association) Coaching Staff of the Year honor.

University of Mobile Names Bowling Coach Dana Evans

by David Haney

MOBILE, Ala. – One of the largest NAIA athletic programs in the nation is growing as the University of Mobile recently announced the addition of men’s and women’s bowling for fall semester 2022. Additionally, the university has officially named Dana Evans, a University of Mobile alumna and former softball player, as the new head coach for men’s and women’s bowling.

Evans is a Mobile, Alabama, native and graduate of John S. Shaw High School who comes to the university most recently from Mary G. Montgomery High School where she assisted a bowling program that earned an area championship. Prior to her coaching role at MGM, Evans coached basketball at Denton Magnet School and junior varsity volleyball at Satsuma High School. She has 20 years of experience in the Mobile County Public School System.

“I am excited to return to my alma mater and begin my journey as the university’s first bowling coach,” Evans said. “I am looking forward to growing this program and offering opportunities to athletes to continue their education while enjoying a sport they love.”

During her time at UM, Evans played softball under former head coach Mary Ann Jennings where she was named as an NAIA All-Tournament Team selection. “UM played a huge part in making me into the person I am today, and I can’t wait to provide this experience to others,” she said. “I look forward to watching these student-athletes grow on and off the lanes.”

Evans received a Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education & Recreation with a teaching certificate from the University of Mobile. Later, she received a master’s degree in special education from the University of South Alabama. She has coached Special Olympics in the Mobile County Public School System in addition to bowling, basketball and volleyball.

“I look forward to developing a team that exhibits a Christ-centered mentality in all aspects of campus life,” Evans said. “I want to build a team that becomes winners, but most importantly build a team that respects each other, works as one, and is committed to growing in Christ and building this new bowling program at UM.”

Evans has three sons: Dustin, Cody and Joshua; daughter-in-law Anna; and grandchild, Camden. Cody played baseball at the University of Mobile under Head Coach Mike Jacobs. Joshua, plans to attend the University of Mobile as a future bowler.

Evans is already busy setting up schedules, ordering equipment and recruiting UM’s first bowling teams. To be considered for the inaugural men’s or women’s bowling teams, complete the Prospective Athlete Form at umobile.edu/recruitme or contact Associate Athletic Director Sally Shouppe in the UM Athletic Department at 251.442.2278 or sshouppe@umobile.edu.

With the addition of men’s and women’s bowling, the University of Mobile now has 21 sanctioned NAIA sports, including the addition in 2021 of beach volleyball. Athletic Director Mel Sansom said UM plans to continue adding more athletic programs over the next few years to expand opportunities for student-athletes at the Christian university.

“We look forward to the excitement this new sport will bring to our campus and the additional student-athletes that will join us at this special place,” said Sansom, who also serves as vice president for business and financial affairs.

Bowling season in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division occurs during the winter months with the regular season typically beginning in October and ending in February. The NAIA Bowling National Championship tournament is scheduled in March of each year and is currently played in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The University of Mobile’s hosted tournaments during the regular season will be played at a local bowling alley in Mobile, Alabama.

For more information about University of Mobile athletics, visit umobile.edu/athletics. 

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university with a vision of “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose,” founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

University of Mobile Athletic Department Adds Men’s and Women’s Bowling

by David Haney

MOBILE, Ala. – One of the largest NAIA athletic programs in the nation is growing again as the University of Mobile announces the addition of men’s and women’s bowling for fall semester 2022.

The university now has 21 sanctioned NAIA sports, including the addition in 2021 of beach volleyball. Athletic Director Mel Sansom said UM plans to continue adding more athletic programs over the next few years to expand opportunities for student-athletes at the Christian university.

“We look forward to the excitement this new sport will bring to our campus and the additional student-athletes that will join us at this special place,” said Sansom, who also serves as vice president for business and financial affairs.

UM’s first head coach for men’s and women’s bowling is Stephen Fuller. He joins the UM Athletic Department in a part-time capacity while continuing as a teacher at Satsuma High School.

Fuller coached Satsuma High School varsity girls and boys bowling from 2016 to 2022. In 2021, Fuller led Satsuma’s varsity girls bowling team to a state championship victory and was awarded the 2020-21 State Championship Coach Award for 1A-5A Girls Bowling by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. In each season Fuller has coached bowling at Satsuma High School, his teams have reached postseason play while earning several area and regional championships.

Prior to his time at Satsuma High School, Fuller’s experience in coaching began in 1994 when he was named assistant baseball coach at his alma mater, William Carey University. In 1999, Fuller was named head baseball coach at Citronelle High School where he spent five years before transferring to Satsuma High School to coach several sports. Throughout his coaching career, Fuller has coached four total sports: bowling, baseball, football and golf.

“I’m super excited for the opportunity to start a bowling program at the University of Mobile,” Fuller said. “The sport of bowling is growing at the high school level by leaps and bounds, and it is catching on at the collegiate level. It is just going to get bigger and bigger and give more opportunities for student-athletes to further their education.”

Fuller officially starts July 1 but is already busy setting up schedules, ordering equipment and recruiting UM’s first bowling teams. To be considered for the inaugural men’s or women’s bowling teams, complete the Prospective Athlete Form at umobile.edu/recruitme or contact Associate Athletic Director Sally Shouppe in the UM Athletic Department at 251.442.2278 or sshouppe@umobile.edu.

Bowling season in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division occurs during the winter months with the regular season typically beginning in October and ending in February. The NAIA Bowling National Championship tournament is scheduled in March of each year and is currently played in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The University of Mobile’s hosted tournaments during the regular season will be played at a local bowling alley in Mobile, Alabama.

For more information about University of Mobile athletics, visit umobile.edu/athletics. To learn more about academic programs at the University of Mobile, go to umobile.edu/academics. 

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

University of Mobile Fall Sports See National Success

by David Haney

The national spotlight was on the University of Mobile athletic program in the 2021 fall season, with Men’s Soccer and Men’s Cross Country making it to the highest levels in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). When the season ended, the Rams were runner-up in the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship with a talented team that included the NAIA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, and a true freshman qualified for the 2021 NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championship meet.

MXC Nationals

Jacob Harned, a first-year freshman from Springville, Alabama, qualified for the 2021 NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championship in his first year with the Rams, earning an individual bid to the championship meet following his top 10 placement with a time of 26:49.93 in the SSAC Conference Championship 8k.

The national meet was raced in Vancouver, Washington, on Nov. 19 as Harned and Head Coach Andy Canegitta made the long trip across the country. In the race, Harned recorded a time of 28:13.6 in the championship meet, with an average mile time of 5:41 and placing 259th out of 333 runners from over 220 NAIA programs from across the country.

Following his first season with Mobile, Harned was named to the SSAC Men’s Cross Country All-Conference Team and to the SSAC Men’s Cross Country All-Freshman team.

MSOC Nationals
Led by eighth-year Head Coach Daniel Whelan, the University of Mobile Men’s Soccer program advanced to the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship Tournament for the third-straight year during the 2021 season and the 21st time in program history. It’s the fourth time under Whelan’s leadership that the Rams have gone to nationals.

The Rams won the SSAC Regular-Season Championship during the year and earned a host bid for the opening round of the tournament. Mobile defeated the University of Houston-Victoria and the Columbia International University during the opening round to be one of 10 teams to advance to the final site of the championship tournament in Decatur, Alabama.

At the final site in Decatur, the Rams defeated Indiana Tech University and Columbia College to advance to the NAIA National Championship match for the fifth time in program history, the first since 2012. Mobile’s lone national title win came in 2002.

In the championship final against Keiser University, Mobile fell to the Seahawks 2-0 on Monday, Dec. 6. The Rams finished with an impressive 18-3-1 overall record during the season and now have an overall record of 33-20-4 in the national tournament following this year’s runner-up finish.

The awards rolled in. Daniel Whelan earned his third SSAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year award during the 2021 season and is a finalist for the national coach of the year honor. This season, the Rams were led by Alejo Binaghi who became the second Ram in the program’s history to be named the NAIA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year. The Buenos Aires, Argentina native was named SSAC Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, SSAC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year, the SSAC Golden Boot winner for most goals scored during the season, and was one of eight Rams selected to the SSAC First-Team All-Conference team. Binaghi was named a NAIA Men’s Soccer First-Team All-American selection and leads the nation in points recorded during the season (54) and sits second in the nation in goals scored (24). Binaghi led the NAIA in game-winning goals this season with 10.

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