The Ohio State University Mansfield and North Central State College Athletic Director Mike LaCroix calls his athletic program a “hidden gem” that provides student athletes the opportunity to continue their playing careers.
On Thursday, Aug. 29, the Mansfield Mavericks held their first annual press conference to introduce their coaches and provide expectations on the upcoming seasons. LaCroix also wished to educate those in attendance about the Mansfield Mavericks.
The Mavericks were founded in the 2005-2006 school year. The Mavericks field teams in soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, cheerleading, and baseball. Each team sport is open to any and all Ohio State Mansfield and North Central State College (NCSC) students who meet the academic requirements.
The Mansfield Mavericks compete in the 11-team Ohio Regional Campus Conference. The Mavericks have two ORCC State Runner-Up banners in men’s basketball and one in womens volleyball since their inaugural season in 2005.
Along with the three returning coaches to the Mavericks staff, three more were introduced at Thursday’s press conference. Connie Surowicz will be leading the volleyball team this fall, Phil Schmook will lead the men’s basketball team this winter, and LaCriox will take over as head women’s basketball coach along with his Athletic Director duties. Along with Schmook and Surowicz, the Mavericks introduced Head Soccer Coach Earick Earheart, Head Cheerleading Coach Amanda Bryant, and Head Baseball Coach Brad Hamilton.
Surowicz has spent 20 years coaching Volleyball at multiple levels, but the last 13 have been at the collegiate level most recently with Ashland University.
“It is an adjustment going from being able to give out full ride scholarships to not being able to give out any, but the greatest thing is I will be coaching ladies who are playing for the love of the game,” Surowicz said.
“I’m ready to bring in the idea and culture that this is a varsity level sport and these young ladies need to be committed. I cannot change the way I coach. I am ready to bring a championship banner instead of these runner ups.”
Schmook has been spending the past 29 years in the High School Basketball level in the Cleveland area. He brings with a number of connections and relationships he has built with other coaches to help with the recruiting at the next level. That process also reflect a shift in the composition of the campus.
“We have had this reputation of a commuter school, and that has changed. We have added 225 new beds and in the next few years that number will be up above 500. By then close to 50 percent of the students will be resident students. With that percentage, we need athletics,” Ohio State Mansfield Dean and Director Dr. Steven Gavazzi said.
“It is going to be nice to call up a coach and see if they have the type of player that we need in order to be successful,” Schmook added. “We need the kinds of players who are committed and will take the responsibility that comes with playing at the college level. I want players who I can hold accountable.”
“Our main objective is to promote academics,” Head Cheerleading Coach Amanda Bryant said. “Education will always be number one, number two is promoting school spirit. The best way to get kids to keep coming back is to make this a fun place.”
In LaCroix, the department has an athletic director that is very familiar with the program.
“I was a Mansfield Maverick and they are some of the happiest memories I have from my college career,” LaCroix added. “Now it is my job to make sure everyone else knows what the Mavericks are all about.”
The Mavericks Soccer team schedules can be found here.
Admission to home games is free for all NCSC and Ohio State Mansfield students and $6 for community members.
For more up-to-date news on the Mansfield Mavericks you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter @MansfieldMavs.
