Our Toreros baseball team has become a true College World Series contender… and WCC Champs!

We are thrilled to share with you the incredible success of our USD Baseball team! The Toreros have had an outstanding season, culminating in winning the West Coast Conference (WCC) Championship.

This marks the seventh WCC Regular-Season Championship in our program's history, and we couldn't be more proud of our student-athletes and coaching staff.

After sweeping through the 2024 WCC Tournament at Las Vegas Ballpark last week, the Toreros secured the league's tournament title and a spot in the NCAA postseason for the third time ever.

The team's impressive performance throughout the tournament included victories over Gonzaga and Portland.

Now, the Toreros are heading to the NCAA Santa Barbara Regional, where they will face the University of Oregon on Friday, May 31, at 12:00 p.m. PT. This matchup will be televised live on ESPNU, and we encourage you to attend or tune in and support our team as they continue their postseason journey.

The Toreros' success this season has been remarkable, with several players receiving individual accolades.

Head Coach Brock Ungricht was named the WCC Coach of the Year, while Jakob Christian, Logan Reddemann, and Ariel Armas were recognized as the WCC Player of the Year, WCC Freshman of the Year, and WCC Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.

Additionally, numerous players were selected to the All-WCC First Team, Second Team, Honorable Mentions, and Freshman Team.

As the Toreros head into the NCAA Regionals, we firmly believe that they are true contenders for the College World Series. Their talent, hard work, and dedication have positioned them for success on the national stage, and we are excited to see how far they can go.

We want to take this opportunity to thank you, our valued donors and alumni, for your unwavering support of USD Athletics.

Your contributions and enthusiasm have played a significant role in the success of our baseball program and have helped create opportunities for our student-athletes to excel both on and off the field.

To support Coach Ungricht and the rest of our baseball team, you can contribute today using the link below!

WHERE TOREROS OWN THEIR FUTURE…

After seven successful years at the helm of USD's men's golf program, head coach Chris Riley has announced his decision to pursue other professional endeavors.

During his tenure, Coach Riley has built a program that has become a regular participant in the NCAA Regionals, securing four consecutive postseason berths and making a notable appearance in the 2020-2021 NCAA Championship.

Under Coach Riley's leadership, the Toreros have achieved significant milestones, including:

• Winning the 2024 WCC Championship, the program's first since 2008

• Securing victories at the Lamkin Invitational and runner-up finishes at the Pauma Valley Invitational and El Macero Classic in the 2023-2024 season

• Earning a spot in the NCAA Rancho Santa Fe Regional, hosted by USD at The Farms Golf Club

Coach Riley's contributions to the program have been recognized with the 2023-24 WCC Men's Golf Coach of the Year award, and his players, Craig Ronne and Andi Xu, have been named to the All-WCC First Team.

Our Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey expressed gratitude for Coach Riley's dedication and pursuit of excellence, stating, "Under Chris, our team has reached a standard of being a regular NCAA Regional participant under his leadership, and we can't thank him enough for his time, dedication, and pursuit of excellence in all aspects for our young men who have been a part of this program."

Coach Riley's impact on the program and the relationships he has built within the USD community will not be forgotten. "The relationships I have made at USD will last a lifetime," Riley said. "And I will always be a Torero."

As we bid farewell to Coach Riley and wish him the best in his future endeavors, USD has initiated a national search for the next head coach to lead our men's golf program.

While navigating this transition, Olé Foundation wants to express appreciation for our alumni community’s support of USD Athletics and the men's golf program.

Your contributions have been instrumental in providing our student-athletes with the resources and opportunities to excel both on and off the course.

WHERE TOREROS CELEBRATE

EVERY VICTORY…

In light of the recently announced House v. NCAA settlement, the beginning of the revenue sharing stages for college student-athletes has been outlined, but there is still much to be determined.

In the same way that the NIL era was introduced haphazardly, and mostly absent of a supporting framework, the prospect of revenue sharing for student-athletes has not been thoroughly outlined.

What does that mean?

It means there are varying restrictions and limits to the maximum earning ability for athletes to be able to receive from their respective schools.

For example, a maximum earning cap being placed on student-athlete revenue sharing could mean two major things:

1. All athletes might not agree to it or…

2. There could be additional anti-trust litigation due to the earning cap between student-athletes and the NCAA + member institutions not actually being negotiated by all parties.

Given that we are still less than three full years into the NIL era, there are still many unpredictable facets and nuances to be worked through.

So for those elements like collectives, negotiated marketing deals, and athlete philanthropy that have seen mainstream adoption and success, there will be continued refining.

However, for newly introduced platforms, terms, and conditions, there will be a continued delay to determine the greatest application and implementation of the unfamiliar.

And while the uncertain future of student-athlete compensation unfolds, there is still an ongoing need for collectives to advocate for student-athlete earning opportunities. Olé Foundation will continue to advocate for the best interests of Torero student-athletes while helping to define the future of the NIL landscape as the prospective and possible options are worked through and re-defined.

J.T. Rogan

Olé Foundation Executive Director

For our first inaugural alumni spotlight, we caught up with USD Men’s Basketball Alum, and Ole Foundation Board member, Mauricio Perez-Vazquez (‘00)!

Here’s a breakdown of our conversation:

What is your favorite memory as a Torero athlete? 

One of my favorite memories is from the off-season summer pick-up games we used to have, having the guys take an interest in me and my game when they saw I could hang with them. I was fortunate to be part of a walk-on class that included Sam Scholl, who later became the Head Coach at USD, and James Borrego, now an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans. Reflecting on those times, I sometimes wonder if I missed my calling to become a coach!

What piece of coaching or lesson taught through basketball sticks with you most to this day? 

A key lesson I learned from playing basketball under the guidance of outstanding coaches is the balance between pushing people beyond what they believe they can achieve and genuinely caring for their well-being. In hindsight, what seemed like unrealistic expectations or overly tough treatment from my mentors actually instilled a strong work ethic in me. These experiences taught me that real growth and breakthroughs happen when we stretch beyond our perceived limits.

What spots did you frequent most on campus as a student? 

I lived in the Vistas and was focused on making the basketball team as a walk-on, so the gym and the weight room became my second home. Having attended high school across the street at USDHS, I was already a frequent visitor to Copley Library. The library had a familiar feel that made me very comfortable, and even after graduation, I would go there to study for my Real Estate Broker exam.

Who are some of the teammates you remain closest to from your time at USD?

Every July, during the NBA summer league in Las Vegas, a large group of us gathers. Many Toreros are involved with the NBA in various capacities, including head coaches, assistant coaches, player development specialists, front office management, and even alumni with ownership stakes in teams. This group spans multiple generations, making it one of my favorite events of the year. We come together to share updates on our current endeavors and reminisce about our memorable adventures at USD.

What advice would you have given yourself upon graduating from USD? 

If I could give advice to my younger self, it would be to stay connected and engaged with the school and my peers. After graduation, I didn’t stay involved with school activities or alumni events. It took me about 10 years to start attending alumni events and reconnecting with the school and fellow alumni. Looking back, I realize the value of those connections and the sense of community they bring. If I could do it over, I would remain active in the university community from the start, cherishing and nurturing those relationships much earlier.

What USD sport other than basketball did you most enjoy watching or attending?

I had the privilege of rooming with the top-ranked tennis player at the time. His girlfriend was also the #1 tennis player, and I made it a point to attend their matches whenever possible.

What do you do now professionally?

Since graduating from USD in 2000, I’ve been a Real Estate Broker in San Diego. My business partners and I manage an Escrow company, a Real Estate Team, and a Mortgage Team, each comprising 100 salespersons and loan originators. I was honored by 2 of the 3 local Realtor Associations with the prestigious Broker of the Year Award in 2021. Additionally, I serve on the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals National Board, as well as the USD Alumni Board of Directors and on the Advisory Committee for the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate and the Olé Foundation.

I’m married with 2 kids and live in Chula Vista, CA.

We thank Mo for his time and all he’s done to support USD!

That’s All For Now!

We hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter! You can follow us @olefoundation on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. Please help us in continuing to spread the word, and thank you for supporting the Olé Foundation!