“Sports are not merely the exercise of muscles, but it is the school of moral values and of training in courage, in perseverance, and in overcoming laziness and carelessness. There is no doubt that these values are of greatest interest for the formation of a personality, which considers sports not an end in itself but as a means to total physical, moral and social development.”

John Paul II
(1984 Address to European Olympians in L.A.)

Mission Statement

            As part of the broader Division of Student Affairs, the Ave Maria University Athletics Department strives to enable students to live out Pope John Paul II's vision of sports and the overall idea of physical, moral and social development through her athletic programs.  The program provides students with a constructive learning experience that enables significant growth and enhances the development of values that will be critical for personal and professional success in the future.  The ultimate objective of Ave Maria University Athletics is to integrate academic and athletic experiences successfully.  In order to uphold this primary objective, the athletic program ensures that every student participating in any intercollegiate, intramural, or club sport, is a student first.  Therefore, our athletic programs are developed and maintained in an environment where academic pursuits have priority and all students are expected to maintain the proper balance between athletics and academics. To this end, the Athletics Department seeks to:

• Be a community of scholar athletes, coaches and staff whose primary focus is to achieve academic excellence while also striving to produce teams and individuals who are committed to athletic competition and outstanding performance.   
• Support of the broader Division of Student Affairs Mission Statement in terms of enhancing the development of the total person.
• Field disciplined and competitive student-athletes and teams committed to the highest level of sportsmanship.
• Create an atmosphere of respect, fairness and graciousness among all of our constituencies including our own student-athletes, coaches, opponents, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters, fans and neighbors.
• Focus on student athletes and the University's academic mission, and provide them the support that they need to be successful.

Ave Maria University is committed to the philosophy that academic excellence and athletic excellence are mutually compatible.