McKay raises bar for "Meet the Coaches" night at UMO

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 24, 2014 1:46 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Sponsors, alumni and faculty offered nothing positive praise to Dwayne McKay during the third installment of the award-winning "Meet the Coaches" night at University of Mount Olive last season.

McKay was already thinking about 2014.

"How do I take it to the next level?" McKay asked himself.

There's the normal social and dinner with the coaches, followed by the annual Green-White exhibition basketball games. But McKay challenged himself to get more people outside the Mount Olive community to attend the event and also find a way to get more students involved.

So, here's his plan.

Before the exhibition games, a selected group of women's and men's basketball players will participate in a 3-point shooting contest. That will be followed by a dunk contest that might have some highlights appear on YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social media.

"We decided to go with an NBA-type thing," said McKay, director of external affairs for athletics at UMO.

"We wanted to step it up a notch ... make it an exciting night and try to get the students more involved. We would really like to see the stands packed with students and fans so they can see this little bit of competition that we're planning to do."

A year wiser, McKay needed to find a way to top last year's event.

He moved the social and dinner inside to avoid any weather-related issues. The university also unveiled their new hospitality room located on the top concourse inside the arena. Guests dined on desserts and leaned against the railings as the exhibition games took place.

McKay's efforts received raved reviews.

"Last year was a step up from what we've done in the past," McKay said. "It's an opportunity for people outside the Mount Olive community to come in, sit around with the coaches and discuss whatever they'd like to find out about the teams.

"The main thing is just taking this opportunity to thank our Trojan Club donors for their continuous support."

And reveal, to some, a few unknown facts about what some people consider the "best kept secret in eastern North Carolina."

Since 2000, the University of Mount Olive has produced eight academic All-Americans and 18 All-Americans overall, three national players-of-the-year and 36 Conference Carolinas players-of-the-year. The Trojans are the two-time defending Joby Hawn Cup champions -- an award that recognizes the highest-achieving athletic program in Conference Carolinas.

The softball team has appeared in the last two NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals. Overall, the Trojans have participated in 42 NCAA tournaments in numerous sports -- not to mention bringing home the 2008 College World Series baseball title.

"It's all about getting some new faces involved, cultivate relationships," McKay said.

Southern Bank is the main sponsor for the yearly event, which was recognized as a top-20 community event by the NCAA in 2011. The social won the 2011-12 NCAA Division II Community Engagement of Excellence among Conference Carolinas schools.

Admission is free for Trojan Club members and $10 for non-club members.