When Nick Schmidt took over as athletic director at South Puget Sound Community College this past summer, he immediately spoke about how dedicated the Clippers’ athletic department, along with the school’s executive staff, is to changing the cultural on campus in regards to sports.
The mission was to shift the two-year educational institution into a place where student athletes could excel both in the classroom and on the field. The latter had been lacking for a handful of years as sports became more of an afterthought around campus.
The goal was certainly obtainable.
No one could predict, however, just how quickly the success has come for the Clippers.
We are midway through the regular season and both the men and women’s basketball programs have far exceeded expectations. And neither look to be slowing down any time soon.
The women’s team, in just 16 games, have already surpassed last year’s win total for the season. The men have been even more impressive, posting the best start in program history by winning 12 of their first 15 games, highlighted by a five-game winning streak.
“We’ve talked a lot about breaking down the walls and integrating the campus community,” Schmidt said. “I think our executive team has worked really hard at moving forward as one. One of the things I’ve been preaching to the coaches and the players is we’re a family, not only as a department, but also as leaders on campus. They have worked very hard this year to increase the collegiality among the two athletic programs, but also their involvement across campus.”
Mike Moore is in his second year as head coach of the SPSCC women’s basketball team. Aaron Landon is in his third year as the men’s coach.
“I have been impressed with both programs,” Schmidt said. “Both coaches are excellent fits. They’re showing there is athletics here and they’re good. I think both programs are the heading in a great directions. It’s certainly energized our athletics.”
The women’s basketball team won just 10 games during Moore’s first year with the Clippers. A three-game winning streak to start this year certainly kicked things off on a high note. The team’s 11 victories is the most since the Clippers won 13 games during the 2009-10 season.
Following the 2009-10 season SPSCC tumbled in the standings greatly, failing to win a single game. The program won a combined 25 games over a five-year stretch, but appear on the upswing with Moore at the helm.
One of the reasons for this year’s turnaround was Moore’s ability to draw in local talent.
The Clippers roster features two players from Black Hills High School (Taylor and Sydney Sauls), two from Shelton (Taylor Stroud and Jessica Johnson), two from Rochester (Kessa and Keeli Demers), Tenino graduate Ali-Jo Vens and Savannah McGill, a 6-foot-1 forward from River Ridge.
“My goal is to establish an extended Thurston County all-star team and there’s enough talent to do that,” said Moore, who certainly knows the area as a graduate of Olympia High School. “The main theme is to be consistent in recruiting the Thurston County kids. As we get to be consistent with that, as we make appearances in the NWAC tournaments, we then can branch out and they will start coming to us. We’ve been getting a lot of attention already. People see we are winning now. The program has changed. Things have shifted and people are picking up on that; and it’s really exciting.”
The Clippers are eyeing their first trip to the Northwest Athletic Conference women’s basketball championship tournament since 2009. SPSCC has not placed in the tournament since 2001 when the team finished fifth.
“We’ve worked really hard to change the culture around here and it starts with the girls,” Moore said. “Their approach and their work ethic every day in practice and their willingness to make sacrifices has been tremendous. I know how hard it is to be a student athlete with everything going on just with academics and being first-year college kids, but they have been coming in every day and working hard. Everyone is buying in. It’s showing now.”
With a 14-4 record through the first 18 games of the season, the SPSCC men’s basketball team has already doubled last year’s win total and have posted more wins this season than the three previous years combined.
“Coach Landon brought some players in that really compliment each other – players that have some chemistry together,” Schmidt said. “The basketball season is generating a lot of excitement around here.”
The Clippers, who feature Yelm graduate Topher Burian and Black Hills graduate Dustin Meade on their roster, haven’t made the post-season tournament since 2008, but are currently battling Lower Columbia for the top spot in the West Region standings.
“We’re excited. Both programs are supporting each other,” Moore said. “The boys are out at our games, we’re out at their games and it helps. I think it continues to breed that positive culture, that change. That’s what we are doing.”
Find details about upcoming SPSCC basketball games by visiting the Clipper Athletics website.
