Community Letter from AD Alan Haller
12/20/2023
With the fall semester wrapped up, the calendar year nearly complete, and a new year on the horizon, this is a time for reflection and perspective. As I look back on the past year, one thing becomes increasingly evident – I am incredibly appreciative of you, our Spartan Community.
A little over two years ago, I was blessed to be named Athletic Director at Michigan State, my alma mater. Throughout my tenure, my focus has remained on ensuring that we are doing all we can to support the holistic development of our student-athletes, on and off the field. What’s shifted - or, perhaps more accurately, grown - is the “why” behind our focus.
From day one, I wanted our student-athletes to enjoy the same transformative experience that I did as a Spartan. An environment that prepares you for life beyond sports. That’s still true today, but just as important is our responsibility to be a pillar of pride and serve as a unifier within our Spartan community, bringing everyone together despite our differences, showcasing what being a Spartan is about. That’s the power of sport and it’s the reason we exist.
Throughout this fall, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many of you, sometimes in a large, organized setting, sometimes in a random, private conversation. A common thread has been your kindness. On more than one occasion, you’ve expressed your gratitude towards me and our department. While I’m humbled by your generosity and graciously receive those comments on behalf of our staff, it’s really me who should be thanking you – each and every one of you. Without you, your loyalty, and your passion, Spartan Athletics just isn’t the same.
The support Spartan Athletics receives on a daily basis is noticed on a national level. It was validated during our recent football coaching search. On more than one occasion, candidates referenced our crowds as you continued to support our student-athletes each and every week. You empowered us to have a successful national search – and for that I offer my heartfelt gratitude. With your trust and enthusiasm, we were able to introduce Head Coach Jonathan Smith in front of hundreds of supporters in a sun-drenched Tom Izzo Hall of History. I couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead.
Throughout the coaching search I kept coming back to two priorities: 1) someone who would develop our student athletes on and off the field 2) someone who would build a program you could be proud of. Spartan Athletics is more than just a game – it’s part of our livelihoods. You spend your money and your time to come to our events. I see the joy on your faces when we win, and the pain when we don’t. As an athletic department, we embrace that responsibility and will continue to do all that we can to make you proud and bring our communities together.
To that end, I want to recognize some of our successes from the fall semester, all of which you can take great joy in.
Women’s cross country and women’s soccer each captured a second straight Big Ten Championship. For women’s cross country, it marked the fourth championship in the last five seasons, as the team earned a trip to the NCAA Championships for the 23rd straight year, placing 16th in the nation. For women’s soccer, the last two seasons mark the first two official championships in program history. This year, the Spartans advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.
Beyond championships, other fall programs experienced athletic success. Men’s cross country was also represented at the NCAA Championships, while the duo of Ozan Baris and Max Sheldon teamed up to win the ITA Fall National Championships doubles title. Volleyball posted its best showing in the Big Ten since 2017, demonstrating in yet another way, the importance your support plays. The Spartans set a program record for average attendance, highlighted by a single-game record crowd of 8,789 against Nebraska, establishing a single-game mark for volleyball attendance in the state of Michigan. It’s not a coincidence that the team continues to grow as you provide record-breaking support. The way you show up, across all our venues, cheering loud and energetically, is incredibly impactful and appreciated.
I’m excited to watch our winter and spring teams continue the positive momentum created by our fall sport programs.
The excellence of our student-athletes includes achievement in the classroom. This fall, 150 Spartans earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, including a Big Ten Conference-best 19 student-athletes with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Individually, field hockey senior Ashley Harlock is one of six MSU students, along with two Spartan alums, who were nominated for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
Excellence in the classroom translates into graduation success. Earlier this month, the NCAA announced that student-athletes posted an all-time high Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) of 81%. In fact, of all the public institutions in the Power 5 with an all-student FGR of 80% or better, Michigan State is the only University whose student-athletes matched the rate of the general student body.
Alongside their success in the classroom and in competition, I’m incredibly proud of the way our student-athletes give of their time and resources to make the world around them a better place. They truly have a heart to make someone else’s day better. They don’t seek attention for their efforts, and many go unnoticed by the general public. Still, I’d like to highlight a pair of efforts. In November, the Student-Athlete Food Drive collected a record haul of 10,877 pounds of food. The photo of the food filling the lobby of the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center was truly inspiring. It’s hard to believe what the food drive has become today, considering that 13 years ago 870 pounds of food was collected in year one. It truly is a tribute to our student-athletes, and all of you who supported their efforts.
Individually, I hope you’ve had the chance to read the story of men’s basketball student-athlete Mady Sissoko, who used his NIL to build the Mady Sissoko Foundation School in his home country of Mali. His story is just one of many student-athletes who have conducted toy drives, hometown clinics, hospital and school visits, all in the name of giving back.
The future is bright for Spartan Athletics. As you’ve just read, our department is full of success stories. We’ve created a lot of really special moments together on our pathway forward. And yet, our expectations remain high and we will continue to strive to accomplish more, never ceasing in our efforts to make you proud.
On behalf of Spartan Athletics, we wish you season’s greetings and a Happy New Year.
Go Green!
