UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – SVSU Director of Athletics Mike Watson announced Thursday that Randy Baruth will be the eighth head coach in the 42-year history of the SVSU men’s basketball program. The South Dakota native spent the past season as the Director of Player Development at the University of Utah.

“Randy is an exceptional coach that will help elevate our Men’s Basketball program to new heights,” Mr. Watson said in a news release, “Randy has been successful at every institution and has helped build numerous teams that compete for championships. He is a dedicated recruiter who will accomplish great things at Saginaw Valley. We are extremely happy that Randy and his family chose to join Saginaw Valley State University athletics.”

“I can’t tell you how excited and humbled I am to be the next men’s basketball coach at SVSU,” said Mr. Baruth. “I want to thank [SVSU President Eric R. Gilbertson], Jim Muladore and most of all Mike Watson and the search committee for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of the SVSU Family.”

Mr. Baruth has spent the last season at the University of Utah as the Director of Player Development under head coach, and former NBA player and coach, Larry Krystkowiak. Before his stint with the Utes, he was the Director of Basketball Operations at Colorado State University under then head coach Tim Miles. The university said that Mr. Baruth is very familiar with NCAA Division II basketball, having spent seven years as an assistant at Northern State University and North Dakota State University.

“Coach Baruth is a relentless worker with a good basketball mind. He is very organized and detail oriented. We wish him well as he takes on this new challenge,” said Mr. Krystkowiak.

While at Northern State University (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference), he was the top assistant to then head coach Don Meyer. Meyer is ranked 2nd all-time in victories in men’s college basketball history with 923 career wins. While at Northern State University, the Wolves had 4 NCAA Division II tournament appearances in 5 years. Two of the 4 appearances resulted in Sweet Sixteen losses to the ultimate National Champion, Winona State University. The 2007-08 team earned a No. 4 national ranking while the 2008-09 team earned a No. 10 national ranking.

“Coach Baruth will bring the total package to Saginaw Valley State University. He is one of the best teachers I have worked with and has a tireless work ethic,” said former Northern State University Head Coach Don Meyer. “His ability to recruit players that can play and fit the mold of SVSU and the community along with the ability to mold them into a team will ensure success. I wish him the best and know that he will give his best to the building of a championship program.”

During his tenure at North Dakota State University, Mr. Baruth was the recruiting coordinator for the Men’s Basketball program. The 2006 recruiting class went on to make the Bison’s first NCAA Division I tournament appearance in school history. Members of the 2006 class that Mr. Baruth recruited included: Wisconsin Mr. Basketball and North Dakota State University 7th all-time leading scorer, Michael Nelson; Minnesota Class 3A Player of the Year and North Dakota State University’s all-time leading scorer, Ben Woodside; Minnesota 1st Team All-State, Brett Winkleman; and North Dakota Mr. Basketball, Lucas Moorman.

“Randy is an excellent coach and a tireless worker. He was great for us at North Dakota State, helping to recruit players that made the schools first NCAA Tournament in 2009. He was great for us at Colorado State, helping to build a program that made the NCAA Tournament in 2012. He will work to make sure SVSU is built to last and built for success in all areas,” said Tim Miles, newly hired head coach at Nebraska.

A native of Alpena, South Dakota, Mr. Baruth was a 1996 South Dakota Mr. Basketball Finalist. He went on to play at Mount Marty College (1996-1997) and Dakota Wesleyan University (1997-2000) while earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Mr. Baruth earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at North Dakota State University. Randy and his wife Meghan have been married for six years.

SVSU and Michigan State University have reached a new agreement to provide students with more opportunities in the growing fields of agriculture and natural resources.

The Memorandum of Understanding between MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and SVSU’s colleges of Science, Engineering and Technology, Education, and Business and Management will increase access for students to these educational programs. It will be signed Wednesday, April 25 by officials from both universities.

“Not only is this a win-win for both institutions, but more importantly, this is a win for Michigan residents who want a college degree in agriculture or natural resources,” said Deborah R. Huntley, dean of SVSU’s College of Science Engineering and Technology.

The agreement allows students at SVSU to choose agriculture and natural resources majors and specializations available at MSU and transfer there to earn a bachelor’s degree, after completing their initial two years at SVSU. Students will have to meet MSU’s transfer admission requirements. Additionally, both MSU and SVSU will work together on financial aid.

“As one of the state’s top revenue and job generators, agriculture and natural resources are bound to attract more and more students,” said MSU Provost Kim Wilcox. “With an agreement like this, we are able to open the doors to careers that are not only in demand but very rewarding.”

In addition to the transfer agreement, SVSU also is developing an academic minor in agricultural studies for its students who choose to complete a bachelor’s degree.

“The intent is really to create a seamless pathway for students to start at SVSU and finish at MSU, using the best resources at both institutions without duplicating programs,” said Randy Showerman, associate professor in the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies and director of the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology.

Two SVSU students have been awarded for their dedication and commitment to community with the highest award for community service given by Michigan Campus Compact.

Gina Papandrea, a social work major from Troy, and Kristian Patterson, a social work major from Ecorse, received the Commitment to Service Award. This award recognizes up to two students per member campus in the state of Michigan for either their breadth or the depth of community involvement or service experiences. Only 31 students received the award this year.

An additional 15 SVSU students were honored with the Heart and Soul Award to recognize their time, effort and personal commitment to their communities through service.

All awards were announced at the 16th annual Outstanding Student Service Awards Celebration, held Saturday, April 14 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing, Mich.

Michigan Campus Compact is a coalition of college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the public purpose of higher education. MiCC promotes the education and commitment of Michigan college students to be civically engaged citizens, through creating and expanding academic, co-curricular and campus-wide opportunities for community service, service-learning and civic engagement.

An SVSU professor has been honored as a Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year. Paul Teed, professor of history, received the award presented by the Presidents Council State Universities of Michigan.

A resident of Midland, Mr. Teed joined the SVSU faculty in 1997. In addition to his teaching and scholarship, he has served as chair of the SVSU Honors Program since 2009. Committed to fostering a more vibrant honors student culture, he has pursued a variety of successful initiatives. Examples include the creation of HonorCorps, a registered student organization, and a living-learning community, a dedicated residential space for honors students to form relationships with one another. Both groups provide opportunities for students to attend workshops and social events, engage in service projects, and participate in innovative and ambitious research projects.

“This is a highly coveted honor; all of the finalists were of the highest caliber,” said Donald Bachand, SVSU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Paul’s invested teaching, highly respected scholarship, and most of all, his deep abiding concern for helping his students develop as scholars in their own right, are what set him apart. He is most deserving.”

Already the author of two books, one published and the other scheduled for release this September, Mr. Teed received the Braun Fellowship in 2010, which recognizes outstanding SVSU faculty. With support from the fellowship, he is writing another book on the partnership of Joseph and Harriet Hawley, a married couple during the Civil War. Joseph Hawley served as a Union general and relied heavily upon his wife, who traveled to the front lines of the battle field, uncommon for women of that time.

Mr. Teed’s honors also include receiving SVSU’s Landee Award for Teaching Excellence in 2000, and being the co-recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to conduct an institute at SVSU for K-12 teachers on re-examining the Civil War.

“The Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year recognition marks a highlight in the professional lives of our faculty among the 15 Michigan public universities,” said Michael Boulus, executive director of the Presidents Council State Universities of Michigan. “Those who teach and work in academia have dedicated their talents and energies to student learning and success, and to be recognized by one’s peers as having excelled in this endeavor is indeed a laudable achievement.”

Each of the 15 public universities in Michigan may nominate one faculty member for the distinguished professor award each year. The award is intended for tenured faculty members who demonstrate sustained commitment to undergraduate instruction and are nominated by their institutions for excellence in fulfillment of the selection criteria.

Nominees are evaluated by the following categories: student learning, interactions with undergraduates, experiential learning, academic advising, undergraduate research opportunities and scholarship on teaching and learning.

Mr. Teed will be joined by three other faculty from public universities in Michigan during the Presidents Council awards ceremony Thursday, May 10. The award includes a cash prize of $3,000 and a commemorative plaque.

SVSU men’s basketball coach Frankie Smith announced his resignation Monday after five seasons.

“I have decided that it is best for me and my family to move closer to our families in West Virginia,” Smith said. “I want to thank Saginaw Valley State University for the opportunity and wish them continued success.”

Smith’s Cardinal teams posted a 60-73 overall record and a 44-56 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference during his tenure. He informed the team of his decision last night.

“I would like to thank Coach Smith for his five seasons of dedicated work here at SVSU and wish him and his family the best in the future,” said Mike Watson, SVSU Director of Athletics.

A national search for a new men’s basketball coach at SVSU will begin immediately.