VIRGINIA TECH Golf Guide | 2018 Edition

6 Finding a balance between academic accomplishments and athletic success is the focus for Coach Jay Hardwick’s golf program at Virginia Tech, and Student Athlete Academic Support Services (SAASS) takes a very personal role in the supervision and support of all student-athletes. The advising office continuously engages with other campus agencies to help student-athletes in their continuing pursuit of academic achievement. SAASS provides programming for student-athletes from their freshman year through graduation. This includes a comprehensive orientation to Tech, study hall, mentoring, tutoring, academic monitoring, academic recognition and eligibility education. Virginia Tech’s graduation success rate for student-athletes has remained quite high in recent years and was 90 percent in 2017. Additionally, men’s golf is one of six Tech programs with a four-year weighted average of 100 percent graduation. In addition to posting impressive graduation figures, Virginia Tech’s student- athletes continue to excel in the classroom. For the 2017 calendar year, they earned a combined 641 3.0 GPA’s, with 366 of those being named to the Dean’s list for a GPA over 3.4. These student-athletes and students from support areas were recognized at the Athletic Director’s Honors Breakfast last spring. The SAASS office has been especially beneficial to the golf team, which consistently posts grade point averages among the best of any athletic team at Tech. The past six seasons the team has been recognized by the NCAA for a perfect Academic Progress Rate, and has been named an All-Academic Team by Farmer’s Insurance and the GCAA. During Hardwick’s years, the graduation rate for golfers who have completed their eligibility at Tech is 99 percent. The golf team has received many accolades for its work in the classroom in recent years. In 2009, Drew Weaver was selected as the Outstanding Male Student-Athlete at Virginia Tech by the ACC, the second consecutive year this honor went to a member of the golf team, following Jurrian van der Vaart’s recognition in 2008. In 2013, Bryce Chalkley was named an All-American Scholar by the GCAA, and received this honor again in 2014. Maclain Huge earned this distinction in 2015 and 2016, becoming only the fourth Hokies player to receive this award twice. Drew Johnson, Joey Lane and Ryan Mondy were also named All-American Scholars in 2016, and Lane was a member of the 2016 All-ACC Academic Men’s Golf Team as well. Following the 2016-17 season, Johnson and Lane became two-time All-American Scholars and were joined by Ian Hildebrand and Dan Woodbury in being named to the 2017 ACC Academic Honor Roll. SAASS offices are located in the West Side of Lane Stadium where student- athletes have access to state-of-the-art technology, quiet study facilities, individualized tutorial rooms, and direct access to the SAASS staff. The 18,000-square-foot facility provides the student-athlete with a variety of study environments conducive to their success. Athletes can use these facilities between classes, after practice or in the evenings, with flexible hours tailored to make the most of a student athlete’s limited time. The SAASS office is comprised of a team of ten professionals directed by Matt Mayotte. Mayotte is in his fourth year at Virginia Tech, having previously served as director of Student-Athlete Services at Troy University in Alabama for more than nine years. Mayotte works directly with the golf team. The golf team is leading the way with excellence. With the guidance and support of the SAASS, it is not difficult to see why. ACADEMIC SUPPORT Drew Johnson and Joey Lane were both two-time All-American Scholars.