Valpo Culture of Values

Athletic Director Mark LaBarbera

(St. Louis, MO) – Valparaiso fans have high hopes for the Crusaders’ fourth season in Missouri Valley play. The Missouri Valley Conference team had great success at Arch Madness and coach Matt Lottich’s team continues to look more and more like a Valley squad.

Athletic Director Mark Labarbera says they’re achieving that success by building according the Valpo culture of values. LaBarbera has steered the Crusader athletic department for 16 years and helped guide the Lutheran school into the MVC. After early struggles fitting in, Valpo seems fully entrenched.

While the Crusaders had great success in previous leagues, there were growing pains associated with joining the Valley. They won six conference games in 2017-18 and seven in 2018-19. Last year was different. While finishing 9-9, the Crusaders were 7-2 at home and one of their seven road losses was in overtime at Drake.

They caught fire in St. Louis. After being relegated to the ‘play-in’ round at Arch Madness, Lottich’s squad edged Evansville by three, upset Loyola in an overtime thriller and beat a talented Missouri State team to reach the tournament final. Their run from ‘play-in’ round to the title game was the first during Arch Madness’ 30-year history.

Valpo Culture Matters to Success

Athletic programs typically reflect the university culture and Valpo athletics is no different. LaBarbera says Valpo’s culture or ‘feel’ is uniquely theirs. True to the university’s Lutheran roots, values like fairness, inclusion, community and hard work are emphasized. The AD says Lottich recruits need to be good at basketball, and a ‘good fit’ for their culture.

 

 

Valpo culture can be seen in the university’s commitment to diversity and fairness. The ‘One Valpo Promise‘ is six years old and originated with the soccer team, but has become a program wide commitment. While the ‘promise’ needs updating, LaBarbera says the university family needs an increased action plan where racial injustice is concerned.

 

 

It states that individuals will promise to show respect for all others regardless of beliefs, backgrounds, etc. It also calls for the elimination of disrespectful and derogatory remarks, the education of other cultures, and to celebrate the differences of others. After all, the promise reads, together we are more than we are alone. (valpoathletics.com)

 

Covid and Scheduling

Facing covid-19 hasn’t been easy, but Valpo has been fairly successful fighting the virus. University classes are in tact. While they’ve had some interruptions due to coronavirus, community and campus unity in dealing with it has produced good results.

LaBarbera says they are following the 29-page NCAA guide and they are listening to local officials. He stresses the need of cooperation from the student body as a key to success.

 

 

The Crusaders are making good progress on the ever adjusting non-conference schedule. Valpo’s MTE, the ‘Music City Shootout’ (November 27-29) is in tact and several individual game contracts are to be signed soon. LaBarbera is confident about the legitimacy of their schedule.

 

 

The MTE reportedly includes Towson, Wright State and Georgia State.

Potential Rule Changes

Dealing with NCAA rule changes is part of Mr. LaBarbera’s daily job. Since college basketball seems to be opening the door to paying players for their name, image and likeness and changing transfer rules, LaBarbera is preparing to adjust.

While he is concerned about the changes concerning transfers, he applauds the NIL adjustments. He says fairness indicates players should be able to benefit from their NIL. However, the immediate eligibility for all transfers concerns him. Those two rule changes have a chance to dramatically change college basketball’s landscape.

LaBarbera doesn’t want mid-major programs to become ‘farm clubs’ for the power seven schools.

 

 

All-conference guard Javon Freeman-Liberty transferred to DePaul during the offseason, but the Crusaders return outstanding sophomores Donovan Clay and Ben Krikke and veterans Daniel Sackey, Mileek McMillan, Eron Gordon and Nick Robinson. Lottich’s incoming recruiting class has turned heads and excitement is high in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Go to Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts for our complete interview with Mark LaBarbera.

Do Good