Whistling in the new age

A whistle gathered the athletics department staff for the announcement years in the making – that of the notification from NCAA officials informing UVU Director of Athletics Mike Jacobsen of the unanimous approval to lift UVU from provisional status to full-fledged membership.

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All sports teams are now eligible for NCAA postseason awards and events. The nine-year process refined the sports programs, and UVU’s dedicated coaching staffs and athletes only made the transition easier with the success on the courts, fields and mats.
There were huge victories – wins on a national level – and athletes that moved on to professional venues ranging from the NBA to the Olympics.

Speaking of former athletes, wrestler Ben Kjar said, “They are the Johnny Appleseeds of UVU putting seeds down for this – knowing that it wouldn’t grow in their time. Now we get to see the fruit from that tree.”
The move completes the University’s unprecedented move straight from NJCAA to NCAA athletics.

“I could not be happier for our coaches and student-athletes. They have been the heroes throughout this provisional period. We look forward to what the future will bring,” said Jacobsen.