UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Scott Leykam

New Men’s Basketball Coach: Shantay Legans

The University of Portland has hired Shantay Legans as men’s basketball head coach, Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam announced last Monday.

Legans comes to The Bluff after 12 years at Eastern Washington University where he helped lead the Eagles to five of its seven all-time postseason appearances. In his four years as head coach in Cheney, he compiled the best overall (.605) and conference (.726) winning percentages in school history. As head coach, he also guided the Eagles to an NCAA Tournament appearance, Big Sky Coach of the Year honor and two conference championships. Legans was also serves on the NCAA Rules Committee and CollegeInsider.com’s Eracism Committee for promoting equality and inclusion in collegiate athletics.

“It is an honor to welcome Shantay to the University of Portland family,” Leykam said. “In the interview process, we shared the strong belief that the University of Portland very much has the potential to be successful in men’s basketball and we’re excited to realize that potential together. We were especially impressed with his ability to install a strong team culture, emphasize the importance of academic success and develop his student-athletes both on and off the floor. We’re extremely glad he is on board and look forward to working with him to provide the program with the resources needed to take the important next steps.”

“My family and I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity at the University of Portland,” Legans said. “Through the process, I had a chance to get to know Scott, Jason and Father Mark, as well as members of the Board of Regents, and get a feel for their vision for the future of the UP men’s basketball program. Not only did our philosophies and values align, but I could feel the university’s support and commitment to winning in every conversation. That made my family and I feel very comfortable, and it became very clear to us how special a place Portland is, both the university and the community as a whole. This place has massive potential, and I am so incredibly honored and humbled to have been chosen to lead the Pilots into the next chapter. We are going to win here, and I can’t wait to get to Portland and get to work!”

At Eastern Washington, Legans was a very impressive 75-49 (.605) overall and 53-20 in the Big Sky Conference (.726). Legans’ .726 conference winning percentage is the best in the Big Sky in the last 30 years and second best all-time among coaches with at least four years in the league. Including Big Sky Conference Tournament games (7-2), Legans is 60-22 versus Big Sky Conference competition for a .732 winning percentage.

The Eagles won 12 or more conference games and finished in third place or higher in each of his four seasons. His four-year total of 53 wins is the best all-time at EWU in 34 seasons in the league, as Eastern has won at least 10 league games for the eighth-straight season. That only happened six times before in EWU’s first 26 seasons as a member of NCAA Division I.

In his final season at Eastern Washington, Legans piloted the Eagles to their third NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. The Eagles reached the NCAAs after reeling off three convincing victories in the Big Sky Tournament by an average of almost 15 points per game. At the NCAA Tournament, the Eagles led third seeded Kansas by double digits in the second half before falling 93-84. The Eagles, who won 13 of their last 15 games, finished their magical season with a 16-8 record, including a 12-3 mark and second place finish in the Big Sky. Four of the Eagles eight losses came against Power 5 opposition, including one possession defeats at Arizona and Washington State. The Eagles dominated Big Sky postseason honors with Tanner Groves being named Player of the Year, Kim Aiken Jr. Defensive Player of the Year and Tyler Robertson Big Sky Reserve of the Year.

Read more about Legans on the Portland Pilots site.

Fan Attendance Update: Pilots Basketball 2020-2021 Season

The athletics office does not anticipate the ability to have fans at the Chiles Center for the start of the 2020-21 men’s and women’s basketball seasons due to state regulations. For the health and safety of student-athletes, staff and game personnel, only essential workers will be admitted into the facility to start the season.

UP Athletics will continue to monitor health and safety guidelines to determine if limited capacity options become available, and if those guidelines change, priority will be given to family and guests of participating student-athletes.

“I know that our fans are eager and excited to see our teams perform, but the reality is that is not likely in the near future.” said Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam. “We have a plan in place for limited fan attendance that addresses all safety measures if the opportunity arises. At no point will we risk the health and safety of our student-athletes, staff or community if we do not feel the plan can be executed safely. I am very excited that our student-athletes will get a chance to compete. They have been disciplined, patient, and responsible over the last few months in preparing for this opportunity and we are all excited for November 25th.”

The Portland men’s basketball team will open the 2020-21 season by hosting the U.S. Bank Portland Invitational Nov. 25-29 at the Chiles Center. The rest of the men’s basketball non-conference schedule will be announced soon.

The Pilot women’s non-league schedule was announced today and the team’s home-opener will be against the Oregon Ducks on Monday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.

Radio and television coverage for both programs will be announced later this week.

Scott Leykam Named to NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Committee

Scott Leykam, vice president for athletics, has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Committee, and will serve a four-year term beginning on September 1, 2019. The committee is responsible for the organization and implementation of the NCAA Championships tournament, including selection of the participants and creation of the bracket. The committee also establishes playing rules and procedures for competition.

University of Portland soccer is one of the premier collegiate brands having combined to reach ten NCAA College Cup final four appearances between the men’s and women’s programs, with the women claiming national championships in 2002 and 2005. The programs have produced dozens of All-Americans and professional players, while 12 former Pilots have participated in World Cup or Olympic competitions.

Leykam is entering his eighth year at UP and oversees a department of 16 varsity sports and more than 270 student-athletes. He has overseen significant growth and achievements on The Bluff, while serving on several influential committees at the national and conference level. Leykam is currently the Second Vice President for the Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association and previously served a six-year term as Chair of the West Coast Conference Basketball Cabinet and completed a four-year term on the NCAA Championships & Sports Management Cabinet.

He recently led the department to its largest fiscal year fundraising number in history by bringing in $3.25 million dollars and has facilitated a number of capital projects that have been completed, or are currently in-process.

For more information contact athletics at x7117 or athletics@up.edu.

Beauchamp Center Exceeds Expectations: 200,000 visits since September

Beauchamp Center.jpgAs the Beauchamp Center completes its first academic year of operation, the facility has successfully become an essential part of campus life for the student population and the greater UP community, according to Scott Leykam, athletics. The facility has logged 200,000 total visits from over 4,100 unique visitors.

The Beauchamp Center has also exceeded all revenue projections this year as it relates to locker rentals, equipment rentals, and guest usage. Because of this initial financial success, the contemplated revenue model of charging faculty and staff a below market monthly fee will be suspended for a minimum of one year. This decision will be reevaluated in the spring of 2017 based on revenue numbers and operating costs.

All other fee schedules related to locker/towel rental, spouse/registered domestic partner memberships, and equipment rentals will stay in place for the 2016-17 school year. The fee structure for 2016-17 will be the same as 2015-16 and can be found online at http://www.up.edu/recservices/default.aspx?cid=373&pid=77&gd=yes.

For more information contact Brian Dezzani, recreational services, at x7177 or dezzani@up.edu.

New Men’s Basketball Head Coach: Terry Porter

porterPortland basketball icon Terry Porter has been named head men’s basketball coach at the University of Portland, according to Scott Laykam, athletic director. Porter, a 17-year NBA veteran player and former NBA head coach, becomes the 21st basketball head coach in Pilot history. 
The University has planned an introductory press conference for Tuesday at noon at the Chiles Center to officially introduce Porter. The event will be open to the public and season ticket packages will be available for sale.

Porter was a standout for the Portland Trail Blazers and had his jersey retired by the franchise in 2009. During his 17-year NBA career, Porter averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, made two All-Star appearances (1991, 1993), two trips to the NBA Finals (1990, 1992) and scored 15,586 career points. He currently ranks 14th on the NBA’s all-time assist leaderboard (7,160).

Porter brings extensive NBA coaching experience to the Pilots. He was the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons (2003-05), including leading the team to the 2004 NBA Playoffs. He served one season as head coach of the Phoenix Suns (2008-09) and was also an assistant coach at Minnesota, Sacramento and Detroit.

A long-time team ambassador for the Trail Blazers since his retirement, Porter has not only been a fan favorite from his playing days, but also one of the biggest community contributors of any Portland-area sports personality. He is a Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame member and still actively participates in many other community ventures.

For more information contact athletics at 7117 or portlandpilots.com.

Pilot Athletics News

SollarsMark your Calendars for Saturday, March 1 and make plans to join the Pilots and other fans to wish women’s basketball coach Jim Sollars a happy retirement. Sollars has announced that this season, his 28th, will be his final year as the head coach for the Pilots. Let’s give Coach Sollars the send-off he deserves at his final game, Pilots vs. Saint Mary’s, on March 1 at 2 p.m. in the Chiles Center.

The women’s basketball team returns to the Chiles Center this week for two home West Coast Conference Games, hosting San Francisco on Thursday at 7 p.m., and Santa Clara on Saturday at 1 p.m. For more information, please visit Portlandpilots.com. For tickets, visit the Pilots Box Office or call 7525.

Pilots athletic director Scott Leykam announ­ced last Thursday that Brent Crouch has been named as head coach of the University of Portland volleyball program. Crouch has spent the last four seasons at Saint Mary’s College, most recently serving as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for the indoor program and head coach of the sand volleyball program. For more information contact athletics at 7117 or go to www.portlandpilots.com.

New Volleyball Coach Hired

crouch copyBrent Crouch has been named head coach of the University of Portland volleyball program, according to Pilots athletics director Scott Leykam. Crouch spent the last four seasons at Saint Mary’s College, most recently serving as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for the indoor program and head coach of their sand volleyball program. Crouch served as head coach of the men’s volleyball team at San Diego City College from 2006-08, and was also the head coach of the University of Oregon’s club men’s volleyball team, helping the Ducks finish 15th in the nation in Division 1-AA in 2005.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 1998 from Texas A&M and earned his master’s in philosophy from Texas A&M in 2000. Crouch went on to earn his Ph.D. in philosophy from Oregon in 2006 and has held various teaching positions at Oregon, San Diego City College, and Saint Mary’s since 2000. For more information contact athletics at 7117 or go to www.portlandpilots.com.

A FIRST For Engineering

FIRST copyOn Saturday, January 4, the Shiley School of Engineering hosted the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Kickoff regional event in the Chiles Center. More than 800 high school students and teachers from Oregon and Southern Washington came to UP for the nationwide NASA telecast of the kickoff for this year’s competition. Moderators and volunteers for the event came from throughout the local technology industry. Engineering professor Debbie Munro participated in the formal program (as did engineering student Natalie Janson) and described the benefits of a UP engineering education. Students and teachers were also given tours of Shiley Hall.

Engineering dean Sharon Jones extends her thanks to all who made the event a resounding success, including engineering technician supervisor Allen Hansen and his staff, Bill Reed and the events staff, Dan Sandaal with information services, and athletics director Scott Leykam, who coordinated events in such as way as to allow the use of the Chiles Center during basketball season.

For more information on FIRST go to this link. For information on Saturday’s event contact Kim Spir, engineering, at 7314 or spir@up.edu.

$250,000 Renda Gift For RISE

The University of Portland has announced a RISE Campaign gift of $250,000 from Larree M. Renda, an executive with Safeway Inc., based in Pleasanton, Calif., and a member of the University’s board of regents. The gift will help finance improvements of Joe Etzel Field, formerly Pilot Stadium, which was completed prior to the 1988 baseball season. The stadium was renamed in the summer of 2004 in honor of former Pilots athletic director and long-time head baseball coach Joe Etzel.

The first phase of the baseball stadium upgrades include installing artificial turf, in place of the natural grass field, stadium lights and outfield/perimeter fencing, according to athletic director Scott Leykam. Fundraising is continuing with the goal of completing the first phase immediately after the conclusion of the 2014 baseball season. Following the initial renovations, a second phase is being developed which will include new grandstands, improved concession and ticketing facilities and coaches offices.

As executive vice president for Safeway, Renda is responsible for all retail strategies and a broad range of administrative functions for one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America. She began her Safeway career in 1974 at the age of 16. She progressed through Safeway’s retail ranks and earned the distinction of being the youngest store manager, district manager and retail operations manager in Safeway’s 86-year history. She was the first woman and youngest person promoted to senior vice president in 1994, and become Safeway’s first female executive vice president in 1999. Her son, Tommy Renda, graduated from the University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and earned an MBA at UP in 2013.

For more information contact the development office at 7395, or go to the RISE Campaign website at http://rise.up.edu.