James Haupt

Classroom

James Haupt was the recipient of Dayton’s most prestigious academic award for student-athletes, the Presidential Scholar Athlete Award. While posting a 3.53 GPA as a marketing major with a minor in international business, Haupt has been named to multiple dean’s lists and Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s honor rolls, and was named first-team Academic All-Ohio (2014) and Academic All-Conference team (2015). His leadership in the classroom is just as noticeable as his leadership on the field, and he has been a consistent performer in both settings. With the hectic schedule that comes with being a student-athlete, Haupt is able to manage his time and be successful in competition, academics and giving back to the community. He is the epitome of a student-athlete and sets a great example for young men and women hoping to compete collegiately.

Character

Haupt was going into his senior season with his friends and teammates he had played with the last four years. They were coming off an Atlantic 10 Championship, a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and had led the nation in scoring. Hopes were high for Haupt and the Flyers until a back injury sidelined Haupt for the entire 2016 season.

Not being able to play and watching from the bench, Haupt was left to try and contribute in other ways. He still attended team activities and served as the vocal leader for the program. Haupt wasn’t able to score goals or assist his teammates, but he was able to continue the development of the younger players and instill the culture of Dayton men’s soccer in the next generation of Flyers. After surgery, treatment and recuperation, Haupt is now back on the field this season, starting in every game so far. He has even adapted his game, moving from forward to midfielder, where his team needs him most. Only someone with a strong will and character would be able to overcome the obstacles he has faced and still enjoy every second of being a Dayton men’s soccer player.

Community

Haupt is a very active member of the community, working with a number of different organizations connected to Dayton men’s soccer. He participates in the annual Christmas on Campus event, hosting under-privileged kids from Dayton for a night of games, presents and mentoring. He also participates in the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome, working with young boys and girls with down syndrome in a day of activities. He helps mentor and teach kids at both the Trotwood Soccer Clinics and Dayton Stingrays, working with under-privileged children with disabilities. Haupt is also involved in the Gospel Mission on campus and the Team IMPACT program, which helped the soccer team adopt a local boy with cystic fibrosis. Haupt helped honor the young boy at the last home game with a jersey and card on his birthday. Giving back is an important part of Dayton men’s soccer and the University of Dayton, and Haupt embraces that in as many ways possible while still having time for practice and studies.

Competition

Haupt has been a vital part of the success of Dayton men’s soccer in his time with the Flyers. Through nomination time, he had played in 62 career games, scoring 15 goals, recording 12 assists, and had eight game-winning goals on his resume. He has totaled 42 points, including 21 in his last full season, which ranked fifth in the A-10. Haupt has been named first-team all-conference, Dayton’s Offensive Player of the Year, third-team All-Midwest Region, second-team All-Ohio, and to the A-10 All-Rookie Team. He played a key role in Dayton’s 2015 A-10 Championship and helped the Flyers lead the nation in scoring with seven goals and seven assists that season. Haupt has logged over 4,100 minutes in the Dayton uniform and has impacted the Flyers in numerous ways on and off the field. He has continued the great legacy that is Dayton soccer, even despite the setback of his injury that held him out an entire season.