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Posted: Jul 21, 2025

2024-25 RRAC Sportsmanship Award
Texas A&M University-San Antonio

WACO, Texas – Maintaining the standard that helped the school win last year's award, Texas A&M-San Antonio has been recognized again with the 2024-25 RRAC Sportsmanship Award. TAMUSA is the youngest program in the RRAC, but it has been built the right way from the start. The school's first official athletic season came in the 2020-21 academic year.

The RRAC Sportsmanship Award is given annually to the member institution that exemplifies the highest level of sportsmanship throughout their athletic program during the most recent academic year. This includes teamwork, fair play, respect for the game and conduct in competition. The school's sportsmanship must be apparent across multiple sports, on and off the field, and in interaction with other RRAC member schools. The award is determined in voting by the RRAC athletic directors.

TAMUSA was selected by its peers again because of its leadership, student-athletes and commitment to sportsmanship.  

"At Texas A&M-San Antonio, we believe that how we show up matters just as much as the final score," says Athletic Director Darnell Smith. "We strive to always pursue the right way to play—with integrity, respect, and a servant heart. That commitment lives in every program, every coach, every player, and every handshake we share with our fellow RRAC schools. We're proud to compete with purpose and to uphold a standard that elevates not only our teams, but the spirit of the entire conference."

Many college athletic programs aspire to those values, but few are as respected as TAMUSA. The secret sauce in their case is the culture that Smith and his administrators sought to build from day one. He says that they have always focused on purpose and the tenets of the NAIA Champions of Character program.

"It's not just about how our student-athletes and coaches show up on the field—it's about the entire experience we strive to create," says Smith. "My team and I are committed to delivering a game day atmosphere where every person—our teams, fans, officials, visiting programs, and community members—feels respected, valued, and genuinely welcomed. Our goal is simple: to make every visit to TAMUSA memorable, meaningful, and worth coming back for."

That commitment is apparent to RRAC competitors and the conference office.

"We're proud of each of our member institutions for their commitment to sportsmanship, and Texas A&M-San Antonio deserves the recognition they have received in the conference," says RRAC Commissioner Tony Stigliano. "We're thankful for the work of (TAMUSA President) Dr. Salvador Hector Ochoa, Darnell Smith and all of their administrators to represent their school and the RRAC."

Smith's athletic department staff this season included deputy athletic director Stephen Sherman, head athletic trainer Bobby Ramirez, assistant athletic trainer Jacqueline Gonazlez, athletics & annual giving officer, Jordan Burbank, Faculty Athletics Representative, Dr. Ray Wooten, Assistant Athletics Director/SWL/Head Men's Golf Coach Christi Cano and additional head coaches Chris Dial (men's basketball), Nicole Dame (softball), Robert Jaramillo (men's soccer), Chris Minner (women's basketball) and Tim Moody (women's soccer).