High Point Panthers
Encyclopedia
The High Point Panthers are the 16 varsity athletic teams that represent High Point University
. All of HPU's varsity teams compete at the NCAA Division I level, with all but men's and women's lacrosse competing in the Big South Conference
. The women's lacrosse team competes in the National Lacrosse Conference and will join the Big South when the conference begins sponsoring lacrosse in 2013. HPU announced the addition of varsity men's lacrosse in 2010 and will begin play in 2013.
The Panthers joined Division I in 1999, after previously having been Division II
and being members of the NAIA prior to 1992. HPU was a founding member of the North State Conference, which is now the Division II
Conference Carolinas.
Craig Keilitz became High Point's Athletic Director in January 2008 after serving as Associate AD at Wake Forest. He replaced Woody Gibson, who had been AD since 1999. HPU's other previous Athletic Directors include Jerry Steele
, who was also basketball coach from 1972–2003, and Virgil Yow, who was also a coach. HPU's men's basketball coach is Scott Cherry
, who was a member of North Carolina's 1993 NCAA Championship team.
HPU's main athletic facilities are the Millis Center (basketball and volleyball), Vert Stadium (track, soccer and lacrosse) and Williard Stadium (baseball). In September 2010, President Nido Qubein announced plans to build a 5,000-seat basketball arena in the future.
in Winston-Salem, N.C., for 19 years and has been High Point's head coach since 2005. HPU's longest-tenured coach was Bob Davidson, who led HPU for 39 seasons into the early 2000s. The Panthers' strongest events are cross country and long distance events in track & field. HPU's men's cross country team won three-straight Big South Championships from 2002–04 and has been runner-up at the Big South Championship from 2007-10. The Panthers have had one NCAA Div. I All-American in track & field, Jemissa Hess in the indoor mile in 2005. Notable alumni include Canadian Olympian Taylor Milne, former Tennessee head coach Bill Webb, current ZAP Fitness runners Jesse Cherry and Cole Atkins. HPU's Vert Stadium is named in honor of Dick Vert, an HPU trustee who was a cross country and middle distance runner and graduated from HPU in 1960.
women's golf team to seven-straight NCAA Div. III championships.
High Point University
High Point University is a private liberal arts university in High Point, North Carolina, USA, affiliated with the United Methodist Church.- Beginnings :...
. All of HPU's varsity teams compete at the NCAA Division I level, with all but men's and women's lacrosse competing in the Big South Conference
Big South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
. The women's lacrosse team competes in the National Lacrosse Conference and will join the Big South when the conference begins sponsoring lacrosse in 2013. HPU announced the addition of varsity men's lacrosse in 2010 and will begin play in 2013.
The Panthers joined Division I in 1999, after previously having been Division II
Division II
Division II is an intermediate-level division of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It offers an alternative to both the highly competitive level of intercollegiate sports offered in NCAA Division I and to the non-scholarship level offered in Division III...
and being members of the NAIA prior to 1992. HPU was a founding member of the North State Conference, which is now the Division II
Division II
Division II is an intermediate-level division of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It offers an alternative to both the highly competitive level of intercollegiate sports offered in NCAA Division I and to the non-scholarship level offered in Division III...
Conference Carolinas.
Craig Keilitz became High Point's Athletic Director in January 2008 after serving as Associate AD at Wake Forest. He replaced Woody Gibson, who had been AD since 1999. HPU's other previous Athletic Directors include Jerry Steele
Jerry Steele
Jerry Steele was an American basketball player and coach.Steele was a native of Elkin, North Carolina. He played basketball at Wake Forest University from 1958 to 1961 and in two of those years he was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference All Academic team.Steele was the basketball coach at...
, who was also basketball coach from 1972–2003, and Virgil Yow, who was also a coach. HPU's men's basketball coach is Scott Cherry
Scott Cherry
Scott Cherry is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at High Point University. He replaced Bart Lundy.-High School Career:...
, who was a member of North Carolina's 1993 NCAA Championship team.
HPU's main athletic facilities are the Millis Center (basketball and volleyball), Vert Stadium (track, soccer and lacrosse) and Williard Stadium (baseball). In September 2010, President Nido Qubein announced plans to build a 5,000-seat basketball arena in the future.
Cross Country/Track & Field
Head coach Mike Esposito leads HPU's men's and women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field teams. Esposito was coach at Mount Tabor High SchoolMount Tabor High School
Mount Tabor High School is a high school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is part of the WS/FCS School System. As of 2010, Mount Tabor has a student population of over 1,600 9th through 12th grade students and is a North Carolina 4A school. Mount Tabor was previously part of the Metro...
in Winston-Salem, N.C., for 19 years and has been High Point's head coach since 2005. HPU's longest-tenured coach was Bob Davidson, who led HPU for 39 seasons into the early 2000s. The Panthers' strongest events are cross country and long distance events in track & field. HPU's men's cross country team won three-straight Big South Championships from 2002–04 and has been runner-up at the Big South Championship from 2007-10. The Panthers have had one NCAA Div. I All-American in track & field, Jemissa Hess in the indoor mile in 2005. Notable alumni include Canadian Olympian Taylor Milne, former Tennessee head coach Bill Webb, current ZAP Fitness runners Jesse Cherry and Cole Atkins. HPU's Vert Stadium is named in honor of Dick Vert, an HPU trustee who was a cross country and middle distance runner and graduated from HPU in 1960.
Women's Golf
High Point University started women's golf in 2003-04 and the team achieved its highest Big South Championship finish - third - in 2005. HPU has had one individual Big South women's golf champion, Ann Marie Dalton in 2008. Vici Pate Flesher was named head coach in 2010 and led HPU to a fourth-place finish in the 2011 Big South Championship, up from eighth the year before. Pate Flesher previously led the Methodist CollegeMethodist College
Methodist College may refer to:*Methodist University in North Carolina *Methodist College in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong*Sha Tin Methodist College in Sha Tin, Hong Kong*Methodist College Belfast*Southern Methodist University...
women's golf team to seven-straight NCAA Div. III championships.