request for a release

Nicole Collins
03202006
Request for Athletic Release from Hope International University

Greg Pappas address to the men and women soccer programs on March 20th, 2006:
Chris and Kelly Bergmann have both resigned from their head coaching positions - this is a sad day for everyone. Thanks for their hard work and contributions to both respective soccer programs.

There will be a soccer program next year

Each soccer athletes’ scholarship from this past season will be honored into the next season

I understand your frustrations

We are looking for coach’s who can stick with the program for the long run.

A men’s coach will be hired for both a teaching and a coaching position

We are looking at potential women’s head coaches who are coaching high school and have had collegiate experience.

We have started negotiating practice field times at Valencia High School
½ mile away
Possible 2-year plan where we will fund a field turf surface
(I will not be playing after 2 years)

There is still the option to look into a game field at California State University Fullerton

Tuition goes up next year to 18,400

Athletic Releases will only be granted upon a case-by-case basis. It depends solely upon your situation and whether the administration deems it satisfactory.
NAIA: without a release an athlete must sit out for 16 weeks at their new college/university
GSAC: without a release an athlete automatically sits out for 1 year.
President Derry: “unless you have a hardship*” you will not be released
Assistant Athletic Director: “the school is paying for your education, you are to play for the school”, “have you brought God into the situation, have you prayed about it?”
Athletic Director Pappas: “You will not be considered for release until we have hired a new coach.”

Reasons why I do not want to return to Hope International University (My hardship*):
I understand that many believe athletics are petty in relation to a college education, but I would argue otherwise. My athletic experience has been a huge part of my college education and it is what God has provided for me to use as a tool for evangelism. I believe that we can impact the world for Christ in any facet of our lives, including secular activities and vocations. God works wonders through those who obey and live for Him. If we offer ourselves to His service, we will be used for His glory. This is largely why my reasons for leaving HIU regard soccer.

HOPE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY CANNOT MEET MY NEEDS AS A SOCCER PLAYER

No current game or practice field/facility
If one is arranged it will be off campus which is not time or cost effective (i.e. 30 min to an hour of time it takes to commute to and from practice and game field, gas money). Last year we commuted to Hydraflow for competitions, about 15 minutes away. We were fortunate to practice at CSUF, but we had no priority (we battled with the CSUF track, lacrosse and baseball teams, the Army, and CSUF recreational athletics for field space!). Even if current offers of financial contributions from HIU to local high schools are being made in turn for their athletic fields, the fact that we currently have no field security is disappointing and terrifically detrimental to any progress that this program can make in the future, especially the near future. The “potential field progress” is NOT an argument that can be used by the Athletic Department to defend themselves. This field situation is not a new problem, and it is interesting to me that it takes the resignation of two phenomenal people and incredible coaches, for the Athletic Department to recognize that maybe they should take some responsibility and take action.

No financial support
Post-season play
Is HIU satisfied with mediocrity, and do they not expect us to advance? HIU’s administration told both soccer programs that we would have all expenses paid if we made it to the NCCAA tournament - and what happened when both teams did? I paid $600 to send myself to nationals and helped raise funds for the rest of my teammates who were obligated to do the same in under a two week period. This caused conflict with study, work, and leisure time. Are you sick of hearing this story? Then how about the Athletic Department and HIU’s administration do something about it?
Equipment and Gear
Players are financially responsible. I have paid $800 for equipment and gear over two years.

3 Coaches in 3 years
I have started from scratch both years, adapting to a new coaching philosophy each time, which is incredibly ineffective for establishing a competitive athletic program. I feel that it is unfair for me to be forced to endure this experience for another year. This program is stagnant. Who’s interest is HIU looking out for? It is certainly not their athletes. If retaining me as a student at HIU is more beneficial to them and more important to them than my well-being, well then that doesn’t say much about the athletic program or the administration now does it? Are they truly interested in forcing players to stay by the denial of a release? The denial of a release causes me to rethink whether I want to invest in HIU any longer.
There is no current coach for the program, which provides no security. The Athletic Department can not use this to their defense either: the fact that they cannot keep coach’s for more than a few years at a time is not attractive and does not give testimony to a competent administration.
In the Greg Pappas Address, he told us that he understands that we are frustrated, but does HIU really care that we are?
My well-being
Participating in a program for 2 years that is unable to prepare its athletes for competition due to the lack of financial and emotional support is detrimental to my mental and physical health. I trained 8-10 hours a week only to lose every GSAC game - how do you think this has affected my confidence? Do you think that I am proud when I am in public wearing blue and grey adorned with the title “Hope International University”? Absolutely not! As a Hope athlete I feel weak, I am hopeless.
Lack of support from professors
Some discredit any value of athletics to education and will penalize absences for conflicts due to competitions. This is ignorant and incredibly inappropriate. This does not promote the desire for athletes to excel in the classroom.

I understand that HIU is trying to look out for themselves as well. If they were to release, let’s say, 30 soccer athletes, then the program would slowly begin the process of becoming extinct. Do you think HIU’s attempt to retain their soccer players is just? I would argue that HIU should explore the option of eliminating their soccer program, or at least dropping out of the GSAC. Maybe becoming a club, or a recreational team that still offers scholarships for at least one more year to those students who have had to endure the hardships of being a part of the program. These were ideas that I started processing as a freshman who recognized that she was part of a program that didn’t have the resources to provide for a competitive soccer team. I love it here at Hope International University: the professors, the family, the classes, the campus, the area. I love everything about my experience at HIU, with the exception of my participation in its athletic programs. If the sole reason that HIU is unable to meet my needs as a soccer player who wants to excel in her sport instead of remaining stagnant, and evening the risk of digressing, then I do not see fit any reason for hesitation in granting me a release to go and pursue greater endeavors.

Reasons why I want to attend Trinity International University:
Trinity International University’s coach, Patrick Gilliam, is an amazing person and he has a coaching philosophy and style that I am familiar with. Coach Pat said “I must admit that I am sort of ‘obsessed’ with growth, whether it be in the goal of taking our team back to the NAIA National Tournament, or if it is in the personal academic and spiritual development of my players...I just never want to remain stagnant and 'satisfied' with the status quo! I feel that I OWE IT TO MY PLAYERS to take them to levels that they never could have imagined themselves reaching...whether that be on the playing field, in the classroom, or in their walk with Jesus Christ/relationships with others.” HIU is currently unable to provide a coach/mentor that can support me in a way that Coach Patrick Gilliam can. What HIU can offer me is possibility of a new-hire who is currently a high school coach and has had collegiate experience.
TIU has a soccer program that is thriving and can contribute to my goal for excelling as an athlete in my collegiate career. TIU has practice fields for training and a game field for competitions. Players are not financially responsible to provide themselves with equipment or gear.
The Communication program is more extensive at TIU and nearly all of my credits are transferring. There are more classes that I can apply toward my major and still get a biblical education (something I expressed as being my primary goal in my statement of purpose to HIU in the application process in 2004).
I will be spending my summer in Chicago doing missions work with the Chicago Eagles, a division of Missionary Athletes International. I applied to be part of this program in November, 2004. I will be networking with people from Chicago, student athletes form TIU, and will become familiar with the culture and area.
I have been considering the idea of transferring to Trinity International University for nearly 3 months now. Some of my other teammates have considered transferring to different schools over the last couple months as well. With the recent news of the Bergmann’s resignation, some have assumed that soccer athletes are making rash and emotional decisions over a couple days time to leave Hope International University. This assumption should be recognized as ignorant.
Regardless of a release from the Athletic Department, I am not returning to Hope International University in the Fall. In order to excel as an athlete, the release would be appreciated, but it will not cause me to stay at this University. The fact that I was already denied the consideration of a release and that HIU is attempting to chain me to this soccer program is not an effective way of attracting me to stay. Finishing my biblical education here at HIU was an option I did explore, but it would include that I end my athletic collegiate career. I understand that HIU has invested in me for the past two years, but don’t forget that I have invested myself into HIU for the past two years as well. There is no amount of money HIU could give me, and there is no limit to the education that they could give me (that other colleges are capable of providing me as well) that could persuade me to invest two more years of my life here.
I am thankful for the professors and all of the staff and coaches that have made my past two years here at HIU a memorable one. The lack of progress in my athletic career here at HIU was disappointing, but the spiritual and personal growth that I experienced as a student and as a resident of this campus is immeasurable. God has blessed me with the opportunity to be a part of the HIU family for two years, and I am excited to continue to do God’s work through my athletics and to grow in Him through my education at Trinity International University.