March 25, 2008

Dr. Michael Cusack
Wright State University Director of Athletics 1982-2008
Points of Pride


*April 1, 1982: Cusack takes the helm as Wright State University second Director of Athletics.

*March, 1983: The men's basketball team is crowned NCAA Division II National Champions in just its 13th season of competition.

*1985: Cusack establishes the Wright State University Athletic Hall of Fame and inducts former Director of Athletics Don Mohr as its first member.

*May, 1987: The WSU baseball team places second in NCAA Division II Tournament.

*Fall, 1987: The Raider athletics program is transformed as it moves from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I.

*December 1, 1990: The Raiders defeat Tennessee State in the first game at the 10,000-seat Ervin J. Nutter Center.

*Fall, 1990: Cusack guides women's sports to the school's first conference affiliation as they join North Star Conference.

*Fall, 1991: Cusack negotiates to move all sports programs to Mid-Continent Conference.

*March, 1993: The WSU men's basketball team advances to the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time.

*Spring, 1993: Fundraising results in WSU opening a new baseball field--now named Nischwitz Stadium.

*1993 and 1994: Cusack realizes a goal as the department wins Mid-Continent Men's All-Sports Award.

*May, 1994: Raider baseball fulfills a goal by advancing to NCAA, Division I Tournament.

*Spring, 1994: Cusack continues opening new facilities near the Nutter Center as WSU opens new tennis courts.

*Fall, 1994: A major goal is realized when Cusack helps form the new Midwestern Collegiate Conference (Now Horizon League) with existing schools and schools from the Mid-Continent Conference.

*Spring, 1995: As part of a major facility update, WSU opens new softball field near Nischwitz Stadium.

*Fall, 1999: Another major facility is complete under Cusack's direction as WSU dedicates the Alumni Soccer Field.

*1998, 1999, 2000: The women's soccer program advances to three straight NCAA Tournaments as champions of the MCC.

*2000: The Wright State University Athletics Department wins the MCC Women's All-Sports Award as a sign of overall success within the department.

*2005: After vigorous fundraising Cusack dedicates the Setzer Pavilion/Mills-Morgan Center as a sign of increased commitment for all sports.

*2006: The baseball team returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994.

*2007: The men's basketball team wins the Horizon League and advances to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993.

*2008: The swimming and diving teams collect their 18th overall conference title as the men's squad wins the Horizon League.