Akron Zips | |
---|---|
2024 Akron Zips baseball team | |
Founded | 1873 |
University | University of Akron |
Head coach | Bryan Faulds (1st season) |
Conference | Mid-American Conference |
Location | Akron, Ohio |
Home stadium | Skeeles Field (Capacity: 1,500) |
Nickname | Zips |
Colors | Blue and gold [1] |
NCAA Tournament appearances | |
1996 | |
Conference tournament champions | |
1991 (MCC), 1996 (MAC) | |
Regular season conference champions | |
1954 (OAC) |
The Akron Zips baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate athletic team representing the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, United States. The team plays in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The program plays at Skeeles Field, which had been the Zips' home from 1967 to 2015.
The program was established in early 1873 during the school's first academic year and played in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) from 1954 to 1966, the Ohio Valley Conference from 1981 through 1987, and the Mid-Continent Conference for the 1990, 1991, and 1992 seasons. The Zips began competition in the MAC in 1993 and were placed in the East Division when it was created in 2000. The team had one appearance in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which came in 1996 following their only MAC Tournament championship. Additionally, the Zips won the 1954 OAC championship and the 1991 Mid-Continent Conference title. [2]
On July 10, 2015, Akron announced the baseball program would be eliminated, effective immediately, after having fielded the sport since 1873 and uninterrupted since 1947. The university cited budget problems as the main reason for ending the program. A group of baseball alumni formed in an effort to try to save the program. [3] Players were permitted to remain on scholarship to finish their degree, though most transferred to other schools to continue their playing careers. [4] [5]
On September 19, 2017, the university announced baseball would return for the 2019–20 academic year. [6]
It was announced in Fall of 2018 that the baseball team, resuming play in 2020, would be led by Head coach Chris Sabo, former Major League All-Star and Rookie of the year. His assistants would be Associate head coach Jordon Banfield and Pitching Coach Dan McKinney. [7]
As of 2021 [update] , Akron and Northern Illinois are the only current or former MAC schools not to have a player named the MAC Baseball Player of the Year or MAC Baseball Pitcher of the Year since those awards were first given in 1986 and 1988 respectively.
Year | Record | Pct | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | 0–2 | .000 | Central II Regional |
TOTALS | 0–2 | .000 |
Akron has had 22 Major League Baseball Draft selections since the draft began in 1965. [8]
Zips in the Major League Baseball Draft | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Round | Team |
1965 | Ray Glinsky | 47 | Cardinals |
1966 | Ray Glinsky | 2 | Tigers |
1966 | James Barton | 2 | White Sox |
1971 | Randy Richards | 2 | Pirates |
1981 | Randy Budd | 22 | Expos |
1982 | Mike Birkbeck | 11 | Cubs |
1983 | Mike Birkbeck | 4 | Brewers |
1985 | Pat Gliha | 22 | Braves |
1987 | John Massarelli | 8 | Astros |
1995 | Jim Putko | 23 | Cubs |
2000 | Mark Malaska | 8 | Devil Rays |
2003 | Aaron Gangi | 14 | Devil Rays |
2006 | Ross Liersemann | 18 | Marlins |
2007 | Tom Farmer | 20 | Twins |
2008 | Doug McNulty | 49 | Mets |
2008 | Tom Farmer | 47 | Twins |
2011 | Drew Turocy | 24 | Red Sox |
2011 | Chris Bassitt | 16 | White Sox |
2012 | Andrew Brown | 23 | Rockies |
2014 | Devan Ahart | 16 | Dodgers |
2015 | Joey Havrilak | 18 | Tigers |
2015 | J. T. Brubaker | 6 | Pirates |
Keith Brett Dambrot is an American former college basketball coach who was most recently the men's basketball head coach of Duquesne University. In his final year, he led them to their first tournament appearance since 1977, and first tournament win since 1969.
The Blue and Gold Wagon Wheel, now known simply as the Wagon Wheel, is awarded to the winner of the annual college football game between the Zips of the University of Akron and the Golden Flashes of Kent State University. The trophy is, as the name implies, the wheel from a horse-drawn wagon that is painted blue and gold, the school colors for both universities. It was first contested in 1946 when the rivalry resumed after World War II.
The Akron Zips football team is a college football program representing the University of Akron in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Akron plays its home games on InfoCision Stadium on the campus of the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The Zips compete in the Mid-American Conference as a member of the East Division.
The Kent State Golden Flashes are the athletic teams that represent Kent State University. The university fields 19 varsity athletic teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level with football competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Kent State is a full member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and has been part of the MAC East division since it was created in 1998. Official school colors are Kent State Blue and Kent State Gold.
The Akron Zips are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, United States. The Zips compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East division. Akron sponsors 17 varsity teams across six men's, 10 women's, and one coed NCAA sanctioned sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level of competition for college football.
The Akron Zips men's basketball team represents the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference East division. The Zips are currently coached by John Groce. Prior to becoming members of the MAC in 1992, the Zips were members of the Ohio Valley Conference and the Mid-Continent Conference. They had played in NCAA Division II into the mid 1970s, where they reached the National Championship Game twice, both of which they lost.
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The Akron Zips men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of the University of Akron. As of the 2023 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, the Zips play in the Big East Conference. This move followed Akron's full-time home of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) shutting down its men's soccer league after the 2022 season. Akron is regularly ranked in the Top 10 NSCAA collegiate men's soccer poll. They have been ranked No. 1 previously in 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2016. The Zips have played their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field, formerly named Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field and Cub Cadet Field, since 1966. They won their first national championship in 2010.
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The Kent State Golden Flashes men's golf team is an intercollegiate sport at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, United States. The program was established in 1934 and competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference. Through the 2021–22 season, the Flashes have won 30 conference titles, which includes two championships won as a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference prior to 1951. The 28 MAC titles are the most men's golf titles in conference history and the most conference titles among any sport at Kent State. In addition to their conference titles, Kent State has made 37 appearances in the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, winning three regional championships and advancing to the championship rounds 24 times. The program's highest national finishes are a tie for 5th in 2012, 6th in 2008, and 9th in 2000. Through 2022, Kent State has produced 27 MAC medalists.
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