LSUS Lady Pilots Earn RRAC Conference Honors

The Red River Athletic Conference awarded LSUS Lady Pilots Basketball Coach Ronnie Howell as well as senior forward Jenna Diakos with two of the league's highest honors.

LSU-Shreveport Director of Sports Information, Mark Cantrell, released the following report.

COACH HOWELL NAMED RRAC COACH OF CHARACTER AWARD

WACO, Tex. – The Red River Athletic Conference has announced that LSU Shreveport Lady Pilots Head Coach Ronnie Howell has been named therecipient of the RRAC Coach of Character Award for the 2013-14 academic year as the coach who best exemplified the five core values: respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, servant leadership, and integrity. Representing the RRAC, Coach Howell is a nominee for the National Coach of Character Award that will be determined by a selection committee with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) later this summer.

“It’s great to be recognized for this award. This is a reflection of how our teams have represented LSU Shreveport and the community, not only this year but in the years past,” said Coach Howell. “We strive to talk, play the game, and be examples of the five core values of Champions of Character every day and hopefully you can tell it by the way we conduct ourselves daily.”

Athletic Director Chad McDowell, who was selected for this prestigious award during the 2010-11 season, had this to say about Coach Howell receiving the award:  "Ronnie has experienced a great deal of success in the win-loss column at LSUS but is not merely defined by two numbers on either side of a dash.  He attempts to live and promote the five core values on a daily basis. We are pleased he is being recognized for him and his team's efforts through the years."

Outgoing senior forward Jenna Diakos,who was a key ingredient in the success of that the Lady Pilots, points to Coach Howell for the success. “I am proud that I can call him Coach. He is the coach that demonstrates the type of character we should have on and off the court. He encourages us to participate in community service events and demands us to have good character and respect on the court. He is a great coach and person and I am happy he is getting the recognition he deserves,” Diakos stated.

Every coach is different and there are many different ways that coaches around the country exemplify the five core values to their teams but Coach Howell has a unique approach for each of the values of the Champions of Character program. “It can be as simple as posting reminders on the white board in the locker room,” said Coach Howell who has consistently posted these reminders throughout the years.

One reminder that Coach Howell likes to put on the white board in the locker room on occasion is RESPONSIBILITY.  “They need to be reminded that they are responsible for what they do. They are here to get their degree first and foremost and they need to make sure that they get all of the work done both on the court and in the classroom. They have to learn how to balance the demands of being a student-athlete and make sure that they get everything done because it affects everybody if they don’t.”

Coach Howell has been the Head Coach for the Lady Pilots since 2003, the year the program was resurrected.  During his 11 years, Howell has accumulated a 194 – 137 overall record and has qualified for the NAIA National Tournament four times.  “Ronnie is a tremendous asset to LSUS and has been working for years promoting the Champions of Character program. It is wonderful that he has received this distinguished award from the Red River Athletic Conference,” added Coach McDowell.

DIAKOS NAMED RRAC CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER AWARD WINNER

WACO, Tex. – Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, Servant Leadership, and Integrity are the five core values of the Champions of Character of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).  Those same characteristics define Jenna Diakos, an outgoing senior forward for the LSU Shreveport Lady Pilots. Diakos was chosen to represent the Red River Athletic Conference at the national level when she was selected as the conference’s Dr. Leroy Walker Champions of Character award winner. This award is given annually to the student/athlete who best exemplifies the five core values. A national committee will determine the award winner for the NAIA later this summer.

“This definitely means a lot and I am extremely blessed. I definitely wouldn’t be who I am without Jesus Christ,” said Diakos who graduated with a 4.00 grade point average and still found time to participate in countless community service projects.

“Jenna is a great example of what a true champion of character student-athlete is,” said LSU Shreveport Lady Pilots head Coach Ronnie Howell. “I am extremely proud of her.  She is very deserving of this award.”

Some players will do whatever it takes to win on the court but Diakos makes sure that she is a winner off the court as well and that has led her to be one of the greatest Lady Pilots to ever put on the uniform. While she will always be remembered as a true model of a Champion of Character, her name is also etched in the Lady Pilots’ record book.  The NAIA All-American is LSUS’ career leader in scoring (1,531) and rebounding (845).  Diakos is also listed fifth in career scoring average (13.3) and sixth in career steals (90).

"Jenna epitomizes the five core values of NAIA's Champions of Character Program - respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, servant-leadership, and integrity - on and off the floor. In the past 11 years, I believe Jenna has been one of the best, if not the best, example of a Champion of Character," said LSUS Athletic Director, Coach Chad McDowell.

Coach McDowell continued by pointing out a small part of why Diakos is deserving of this award. "After home basketball games, Jenna would not leave the gym immediately like everyone else. Instead, she would continue to give back by helping the housekeeping staff pick up trash in the gym. That is correct! The three-time all-conference performer and all-time leading scorer and rebounder would be the one who stays back and helps clean the gym. She displayed tremendous amounts of servant-leadership all throughout her career."