Athletes.

Coaches.

Facilities.

Academics.

Funds.

All are key components in determining the success of Morehead State Athletics.

However, the hidden gem in MSU's big picture is known simply as the EAGLE Center.

EAGLE stands for Eagle Athletics Guided Learning and Enhancement.

It is where MSU student-athletes go for help with academics, eligibility and a place to relax.

Adjacent to Jayne Stadium, the EAGLE Center is open 49 hours a week over six days (closed Saturdays).

A 7,000-square-foot building includes space for computer labs, learning labs and study area, and features "enhanced staff" for academic assistance. There is wireless internet, 30 computers and seating for 110 people.

Study and life skills workshops are offered throughout each semester.

Drew Barnette, in his first year as director of student-athlete services, says the EAGLE Center is "part of the culture here."

The proof is in the results.

Morehead State has claimed an Ohio Valley Conference-record 12 Academic Achievement banners. The award is given to the league member with the highest percentage of student-athletes named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll.

MSU student-athletes recorded a 3.13 cumulative grade point average during the fall semester. 10 programs posted better than a 3.00 grade-point average and 39 individuals registered a 4.00 GPA. Additionally, 66 student-athletes registered between a 3.50-3.99 GPA. The figures encompass more than 250 athletes who competed in NCAA-sponsored sports during the fall semester.

Just as any other student would, each Eagle has a regular academic advisor to ensure staying on pace for graduation and making certain that they are registering for the proper classes.

The EAGLE Center supplements that support.

The main focus is academics. But advisors there also help answer eligibility questions, and advise how to structure class schedules in a way that doesn't interfere with athletic practices and contests.

"There's regular weekly meetings with all of the first-time (college) students or anybody who might be struggling, either academically or just getting assimilated with college life," Barnette said. "'How are you doing in this class? What do you have coming up? Are your teams going on the road? Have you made arrangements for this?' So, whereas the academic advisors meet with them about once or twice a year, they see us about once or twice a week. They're probably sick of us by the time the year is over."

Demands are great on fresh enrollees. They are in a new school, tasting different foods and mingling with people they have never met. Workouts are different, almost always tougher than what they have ever experienced. There is transition from a structured, day-long high school schedule to an independent college routine.

Dana Hutchins, a former MSU softball player, used the the EAGLE Center from 2012 through 2016. Now working on a master's degree in wellness promotions, she serves as a graduate assistant.

"I was required to come (to the EAGLE Center) by my coach to get study hall hours and I really enjoyed it," Hutchins said. "I got the help that I needed and I got the opportunity to be here as a graduate assistant."

Hutchins works primarily with women's basketball, women's golf and soccer athletes, but stands ready for any student-athlete seeking help.

When it comes to eligibility questions – the NCAA manual is nearly as thick as a bible – Hutchins usually has the answers. If she doesn't, she double-checks with Barnette, learning coordinator Angela Meyer or academic tutor coordinator Dallas Sammons.

"I also do tutoring if it's up my alley, so a lot of science," Hutchins said. "… If it's not up my alley, then I'll help them sign up for a tutor."

Student-athletes come from a wide range of backgrounds – rural, inner city, in state, out of state and even out of country.

Barnette says there are many successful student-athletes. He is careful to reward those students for doing a good job and not merely pay attention to students who may be struggling.

But the latter category is where some of the best "feel good" stories arise.

"One of the biggest success stories is when someone is struggling and they suddenly 'get it'," Barnette said. "In a lot of cases, you're dealing with students who maybe they're coming from low socio-economic backgrounds, their high schools may not have been the most college-preparatory in the world, and they've never liked school. A lot of people don't like school.

"And when you don't like something and you're not good at it, and then you get to a place that's totally different and you're unfamiliar with it, it can be overwhelming. I think that there's a natural tendency for them to just do what they need to do so no one's on their back about it. When you have a student like that that suddenly gets it and you can work with them, just give them some different study approaches – we deal with that on a case-by-case basis."

Hutchins had success with a student-athlete whose poor study habits made it questionable that three assignments due at the end of the week would be completed. Hutchins encouraged the person to put in some work, then take a timeout and relax with some ice cream. Then, with the mind on "reset," resume work on the assignments.

On occasion, the EAGLE Center staff has to deal with a student that doesn't make the grade.

"Students that come here particularly for athletics, the coaches recruit them and you're selling something that we really strongly believe in," Barnette said. "And when it doesn't connect with someone, you always feel a little disappointed. And it could be for any number of reasons. It could be they just weren't applying themselves. It could be due to some bad choices that they made. It could be something where we kind of came up short."

Barnette says he is careful to listen, trying to learn what went wrong and what the staff can alter to avoid such a result in the future.

Mostly, though, the EAGLE Center develops very successful student-athletes, as the numbers indicate.

Asked what the biggest misconception of the EAGLE Center is, Barnette said, "I think that it is being viewed as this huge extra benefit, this thing that athletes have that no one else really gets. And I understand how and why people would think that but, at the same time, I also don't think they understand all of the extra components that go into being a student-athlete. It really is more of an accommodation than it is like an extra benefit."

Aside from academics, questions about eligibility and staying on track to earn a degree, the EAGLE Center staff is there to listen.

"We're sort of an extension," Barnette said. "They have their circle of friends and their teammates, and they have their coaches. We're sort of outside of that. It can almost serve as a retreat. … One of the analogies that I always made was that you have to be both sides of the baseball card.

"You can be an academic machine and get the numbers and get the eligibility right, but you need to understand that these are people that we're dealing with as well. I think that gets missed a lot. Because, honestly, anybody can learn to (answer eligibility questions). But not everybody can learn how to come across with such a diverse group of people, so many different individuals, in so many different ways."