College Sports
MacPherson headed to MASCAC Hall of Fame – Sentinel and Enterprise
Among the 10 members 2025 Hall of Fame Class for the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) 2025 Hall of Fame Class is a face very familiar to those at Fitchburg State University. Malcolm MacPherson, who guided the Falcons’ men’s soccer team on the pitch for many years and served as an assistant coach on […]

Among the 10 members 2025 Hall of Fame Class for the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) 2025 Hall of Fame Class is a face very familiar to those at Fitchburg State University.
Malcolm MacPherson, who guided the Falcons’ men’s soccer team on the pitch for many years and served as an assistant coach on the ice hockey team, will be inducted into his third collegiate Hall of Fame as part of the MASCAC’s newest class.
This year’s inductees will be recognized at a formal MASCAC Hall of Fame induction which will be coupled with a MASCAC athletic championship or event at the site in which the individual competed or was housed during the 2025-26 year.
Already a member of the Fitchburg State Hall of Fame and the Athletic Hall of Fame at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) for his coaching prowess, MacPherson will be enshrined by the MASCAC in the “Coach from a Male Team” category.
MacPherson led the Fitchburg State men’s soccer team to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament in 1988 and 1989, and added three ECAC tournament appearances,. He holds the all-time Fitchburg State record for coaching wins (108) and winning percentage (.717) was named MASCAC Coach of the Year in 1987.
In addition, MacPherson joined the Fitchburg State ice hockey coaching staff during the 1989-90 season as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach prior to the 1997-98 season, where he remained on the bench until retiring following the 2016-17 season.
He assisted in 383 of the program’s wins, including 27 postseason appearances and six tournament championships.
MacPherson was the men’s head soccer coach at WPI from 1992-2013, earning a record of 198-146-19.
He taught health and physical education for the city of Leominster for 33 years. He has been married to his wife, Sandi, for 47 years and has two children, Christopher and Jennifer as well as six grandchildren. MacPherson is now retired and enjoys living in Easthampton.
The MASCAC created the Hall of Fame to provide the recognition of those individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conference and to help preserve the storied history of the MASCAC and its member institutions.
There are seven categories for nomination: student-athlete from a men’s team, student-athlete from a women’s team, overall team, coach of a male team, coach of a female team, administrator and legends.
College Sports
Teague takes NIU gymnastics head coach title – Northern Star
Dawnita “Nita” Teague was named head coach of the NIU gymnastics team Tuesday after serving as interim head coach through the 2025 season. After 5-13, 2-4 MAC records in the first year in the era of Teague, NIU began the search for a gymnastics coach with Teague coming out on top. “As we went through […]

Dawnita “Nita” Teague was named head coach of the NIU gymnastics team Tuesday after serving as interim head coach through the 2025 season.
After 5-13, 2-4 MAC records in the first year in the era of Teague, NIU began the search for a gymnastics coach with Teague coming out on top.
“As we went through the search process, Nita’s extensive experience in college gymnastics, her ability to connect with and develop student-athletes, as well as her familiarity with NIU quickly established her as the best choice to lead the program going forward,” said NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier in the NIU press release. “We’re very excited to remove the interim label and look forward to continuing the legacy of success both in the gym and in the classroom, that have been hallmarks of Huskie gymnastics.”
With a gymnastics career at NIU that landed Teague in the Huskie Hall of Fame, she’s been a long-standing part of the team’s evolution. She’s worked with the NIU gymnastics coaching staff since 2007, and worked her way up to associate head coach in 2019. In her time with the coaching staff, she’s helped send 37 gymnasts to NCAA regionals.
“I’m super happy to be leading these ladies officially as the head coach at NIU,” Teague said in NIU’s press release. “It’s a great honor and I want to thank Sean (Frazier) and Courtney (Vinson, Executive Associate Athletic Director) for entrusting me with the future of the program. I’m excited for the opportunity to continue to build on the great reputation of NIU gymnastics, to raise the expectations in the gym and to take the program to the next level.”
Teague brings winning experience to the position, as she played a vital role in the Huskies winning the 2019 MAC Championship. As a former beam coach, her background helped NIU clinch the title in the balance beam event. She also led four Huskie gymnasts to a MAC Championship win on balance beam, including Holly Reichard and Jennifer Naughton in 2009, Mia Lord in 2019 and Alyssa Al-Ashari in 2024.
Teague assumed the interim head coach job in September 2024, following the retirement of head coach Sam Morreale after 13 years leading the program. With the removal of the interim marker, Teague continues her work as the fourth head coach in NIU gymnastics history.
College Sports
AD Pat Kraft, hockey coach Guy Gadowsky on mega-prospect’s decision
Gavin McKenna sent a shockwave through the hockey world Tuesday when he committed to Penn State live during “SportsCenter” on ESPN. And Thursday afternoon, some key Nittany Lions stakeholders gave their first public reactions to the decision. “Gavin is a special player and a terrific young man. Our staff could not have been more impressed […]

Gavin McKenna sent a shockwave through the hockey world Tuesday when he committed to Penn State live during “SportsCenter” on ESPN. And Thursday afternoon, some key Nittany Lions stakeholders gave their first public reactions to the decision.
“Gavin is a special player and a terrific young man. Our staff could not have been more impressed with how he presented himself on his visit,” Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said in a news release. “His arrival to Hockey Valley is extremely significant not only to our hockey program, but to Penn State athletics and to college hockey as a whole.
“We are absolutely thrilled and excited to witness his contributions on the ice, to our locker room, and to the Penn State community. This is a great day to be a Nittany Lion!”
McKenna has been called a “generational” prospect by hockey observers, and the 17-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
In 2024-25, McKenna became the third-youngest player ever — behind only NHL superstar Sidney Crosby and six-time All-Star John Tavares — to be named the Canadian Hockey League David Branch Player of the Year while playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League.
McKenna ranked second in the WHL in points (129), fifth in goals (41) and first in assists (88) in 56 games. He also ranked fifth in power play assists (28), tied for third in shorthanded goals (4) and insurance goals (8) and first in plus/minus (plus-60). He had a 54-game point streak that began in the regular season and lasted through the playoffs.
Read more: Gavin McKenna picks Penn State hockey: Nittany Lions earn commitment from generational prospect
McKenna’s addition makes Penn State, which advanced to its first Frozen Four in program history earlier this year, a frontrunner to win the national championship in 2025-26. And McKenna’s commitment is significant enough that even Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft chimed in on the move.
“We are so thrilled to have Gavin join our Hockey Valley family and become part of a special group of young men who represent everything great about Penn State,” Kraft said in the news release. “This team is built on character, work ethic and pride in wearing the Blue & White, and Gavin is a perfect fit. He’s one of the most exciting young talents in the game and reflects the level of student-athletes we’re bringing to Penn State across all sports.
“His commitment is a testament to the national reputation Guy Gadowsky and his staff have built, and we know he’ll thrive in the culture of excellence that surrounds our program. We can’t wait to see him compete alongside this incredible group and help push our program to even greater heights.”
Penn State is also bringing in some other top talent, including 2025 NHL first-round pick Jackson Smith, this offseason while retaining key contributors, such as Aiden Fink and Charlie Cerrato, from last year’s team. McKenna figures to elevate the ceiling of the program even more.
McKenna played his first full season in the WHL in 2023-24, and he earned Rookie of the Year for both the WHL and CHL. He had 97 points (34 goals, 63 assists) in 61 games for Medicine Hat.
McKenna also has national team experience representing Canada. During the 2024 U18 World Championships, McKenna set a Canadian U18 record with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in seven games. He also had a hat trick against the United States in the gold medal game.
Now, McKenna will turn his sights toward college hockey where he’l have the chance to lift a Penn State program that has been building towards a championship since it became a varsity sport in 2011.
“[Going the NCAA route] will make the jump [to the NHL] easier,” McKenna said during his appearance on ESPN. “Going against older, heavier, stronger guys, it really prepares you and even in the locker room being around more mature guys I think that will benefit me a lot…I think going to college and being in such a great conference will really challenge me and prepare me [for the next step].”
Penn State opens the season with a two-game series at Arizona State at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct. 3-4.
Daniel Gallen covers Penn State for Lions247 and 247Sports. He can be reached at daniel.gallen@cbsinteractive.com. Follow Daniel on X at @danieljtgallen, Instagram at @bydanieljtgallen and Bluesky at @danieljtgallen.bsky.social.
College Sports
Minnesota Wild Hire Former Charlotte Rush Video Coach Ray Sylvester • USPHL
By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com Ray Sylvester knows that his new coaching position in the NHL will be a Wild ride, and he can’t wait to get started. Sylvester, a former Charlotte Rush video coach, was recently hired by the Minnesota Wild as a video coach. Players in the USPHL receive top-notch coaching, as shown […]

By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com
Ray Sylvester knows that his new coaching position in the NHL will be a Wild ride, and he can’t wait to get started.
Sylvester, a former Charlotte Rush video coach, was recently hired by the Minnesota Wild as a video coach. Players in the USPHL receive top-notch coaching, as shown by Sylvester’s career path.
This is the pinnacle of a video coach career path that started in the NCAA, moved into the USPHL Premier and Elite, then on to the United States Hockey League and American Hockey League, and now sees Sylvester as a member of an NHL hockey operations staff.
“I had a couple interviews with [Wild head coach] John Hynes, who already knew about me as I was with their farm team, the Iowa Wild,” said Sylvester.
“From talking to different people, two of the biggest changes will be working with a video coach who has already spent 15+ years in the NHL to learn from, and the challenge system,” Sylvester added.
Sylvester, who worked as video coach for the Rush between 2020 and 2022, also talked about other details about his new position, including some of the similarities with what he did with the Iowa Wild from 2023 to 2025.
“I would watch prescout games and create prescout packages. You break the game down into categories – time on ice, scoring chances, special teams. You also have other jobs like building practice plans, making sure Excel sheets are in line, creating a power point for the coaches,” he added. “During intermissions, you’d present to the coaches what happened the prior period, using hot buttons to mark certain events that they want to focus on before the next period.”
Building A Career
After playing high school hockey with Canon-MacMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pa., he moved on to study at Robert Morris University in nearby Pittsburgh. There, he met current Rush co-owner Ryan Cruthers, who was an assistant coach for the NCAA Division I Colonials team. Cruthers, a former Colonials captain, became close friends with Sylvester at RMU when Sylvester was the RMU video coach as a college junior.
That same season, 2019-20, was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty on whether or not there would be collegiate hockey left Sylvester wondering where he could next take his career.
“Not knowing what was going on, Ryan reached out to me and told me the USPHL was definitely going to play, so he brought me on board as their video coach for the next two seasons. This included 2020-21, when the Rush won both the USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite National Championships.
“I keep those championship rings in a safe space,” he said. “They’re pretty big, so I don’t wear them around.”
“Working for the Rush was well-needed. I was allowed to make mistakes, and I learned how a business and a hockey team is run. Similar to my time in the AHL, I was wearing 8-10 hats, whether it was making a practice plan, selling merchandise, making sure there was food on the bus, etc.,” said Sylvester. “You could not fit in a single article how much I learned from the Rush and Ryan Cruthers. For my two years there, we treated it like it was the NHL. Certainly, not many USPHL teams had a video coach position.
“Ryan and Julie Cruthers really are No. 1 in terms of how they treat their players, their staff, and their billet families. They and [co-owner] Jocelyn Langlois really have it down to a science there in Charlotte. I lived two years with the Cruthers family in their home. Their children became like brothers to me, as well. I’m very close with that family, and I also keep in touch with Trevor Jewell, and Troy Schwab, who was a coach there at the time.”
When Cruthers was hired by the Sioux Falls Stampede as an assistant coach in 2022-23, he was able to help Sylvester get a job as the Stampede’s video coach that year.
“After that season, I reached out to Keith Paulsen, who was Iowa’s former video coach. He was someone I made a connection with, seeking advice while I was still at RMU. I messaged him after I saw he was moving on from Iowa to Minnesota State-Mankato as an assistant coach, and he put my resume for Iowa at the top of the list, for which I am very grateful. I had two interviews with Brett McLean [Iowa’s former Head Coach, recently hired as an Assistant Coach with the Vancouver Canucks], and I was hired by Iowa.”
Preparing For The NHL Life
He goes back to praising the Charlotte Rush culture when talking about when the news was posted by the Wild that he had been hired as their new video coach.
“I got a ton of different texts of congratulations from Rush players, and this includes alumni who were on the team even before I got there,” said Sylvester. “That just shows you how much of a family it is. The amount of players who reached out and said ‘congrats’ was pretty cool.”
With his time in Iowa, he got to know most of the Minnesota Wild coaching staff and hockey operations personnel. The Iowa staff would help with prospects and training camps, so Sylvester was alongside many of those he’ll be working with more regularly now in St. Paul.
“We’ve known each other, including Patrick Dwyer, an assistant coach in Iowa who was promoted during the 2023-24 season to the Minnesota Wild,” said Sylvester.
Expecting the almost 24-7 grind of the NHL season, Sylvester said that the organization has given him a chance to spend family and vacation time.
“There are some different things with video from last year, and some power point materials to prepare for when we meet for the first time as a full staff,” said Sylvester. “During the off-season, many coaches spend time with their families.”
What is ahead is a great new opportunity for a young coach to put his positive stamp on an NHL franchise for the first time.
The USPHL congratulates Ray Sylvester for his new position with the Minnesota Wild.
College Sports
Barion Brown is receiving preseason All-SEC recognition again
LSU wide receiver Barion Brown is entering his final season of eligibility in 2025. The former top-100 recruit is looking to have a big season playing with star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in Death Valley. However, the former Kentucky wide receiver still remains one of the best special teams players in college football. The Nashville (Tenn.) […]

LSU wide receiver Barion Brown is entering his final season of eligibility in 2025. The former top-100 recruit is looking to have a big season playing with star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in Death Valley. However, the former Kentucky wide receiver still remains one of the best special teams players in college football.
The Nashville (Tenn.) Pearl-Cohn product is once again receiving some preseason recognition as a return specialist. Brown was named a first-team All-SEC member in Phil Steele’s College Football Preview.
Barion Brown started his career at Kentucky and spent three seasons playing for head coach Mark Stoops. During his time in the Bluegrass, Brown recorded 122 receptions for 1,528 yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with 195 rushing yards and two more touchdowns. There were inconsistencies during each of his three seasons but this has always been a player with explosive play potential. Brown’s most consistent act has always been as a kick returner with five career return touchdowns and a return average of 29.3 yards. The SEC transfer should make a big impact immediately for LSU’s special teams.
The former Kentucky wideout is expected to have a big role for a true College Football Playoff contender in Baton Rouge.
This is where every outgoing Kentucky player landed this offseason.
- DL Keeshawn Silver (Committed to USC on Dec. 19)
- DB Avery Stuart (Committed to Ball State on Jan. 5)
- LB Jayvant Brown (Committed to Temple on Jan. 9)
- TE Tanner Lemaster (Committed to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 22)
- TE Khamari Anderson (Committed to Arizona State on Dec. 22)
- TE Jordan Dingle (Committed to South Carolina on Dec. 18)
- OL Courtland Ford (Committed to UCLA on Dec. 17)
- OL Ben Christman (Committed to UNLV on Dec. 27)
- OL Dylan Ray (Committed to Minnesota on Dec. 21)
- OL Koby Keenum (Committed to Mississippi State on Dec. 22)
- DL Tommy Ziesmer (Committed to EKU on Dec. 15)
- WR Dane Key (Committed to Nebraska on Dec. 24)
- WR Barion Brown (Committed to LSU on Dec. 14)
- WR Anthony Brown-Stephens (Committed to Tulane on Jan. 7)
- WR Brandon White (Committed to Hawaii on Dec. 28)
- EDGE Tyreese Fearbry (Committed to Wisconsin on Dec. 22)
- EDGE Noah Matthews (Committed to Delaware on Jan. 7)
- EDGE Caleb Redd (Committed to Kansas on Dec. 20)
- RB Chip Trayanum (Committed to Toledo on Dec. 24)
- QB Gavin Wimsatt (Committed to Jacksonville State on Jan. 5)
- DL Kendrick Gilbert (Committed to Louisville on April 29)
- OL Daniel Mincey (Committed to UAB on May 16)
- OL Anfernee Crease (Committed to Texas State on April 29)
- CB Jiquavious “Quavo” Marshall (Committed to Liberty on April 27)
- OL Marc Nave Jr. (Committed to Purdue on April 22)
- OL Wallace Unamba (Committed to Virginia on April 20)
- DL Dennious Jackson (Committed to Colorado State on May 8)
- DL Darrion Henry-Young (Committed to Coastal Carolina on May 2)
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. Keep closer tabs on the Cats with at KSBoard. Not a KSR+ member? Try it out today.
College Sports
Tulsa Football HC Tre Lamb Shows He Isn’t a ‘One-Trick Pony’ With Impressive Results at Oklahoma State Amateur Qualifier
Most college football coaches spend their offseason relaxing with family, hitting fishing spots, or working on their short game. But Tulsa’s new head coach Tre Lamb just proved he’s not your average weekend golfer. The 35-year-old coach fired a three-over 75 at the Oklahoma State Amateur Qualifier, putting him in serious contention for the state […]

Most college football coaches spend their offseason relaxing with family, hitting fishing spots, or working on their short game. But Tulsa’s new head coach Tre Lamb just proved he’s not your average weekend golfer.
The 35-year-old coach fired a three-over 75 at the Oklahoma State Amateur Qualifier, putting him in serious contention for the state championship. While Tulsa fans are still waiting to see what he can do on the gridiron, Lamb’s already making waves on the fairways.

How Did Tre Lamb Perform at the Oklahoma State Amateur Qualifier?
Say what you want about the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes football program, which has won just 12 games in the past three seasons, but one thing you can’t criticize is new head coach Tre Lamb’s golf game.
Lamb hasn’t coached a game at Tulsa yet, but was hired as the program’s head coach this offseason after a successful year at East Tennessee State. The 35-year-old coach is already making waves in Oklahoma, but not on the football field. Instead, he’s impressing everyone on the golf course.
During the State Amateur Qualifier at Forest Ridge in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the head coach shot a solid 75, going just three over during his round.
Tulsa head football coach Tre Lamb fires a 75 (+3) in the State Amateur qualifier at Forest Ridge.
That SHOULD safely qualify him for the Oklahoma State Am, starting July 21st at Cedar Ridge. Top 33 and ties get in.
Pretty impressive stuff. pic.twitter.com/PMgd8vFlVC
— TJ Eckert (@TJEckertKJRH) July 10, 2025
Lamb finished the round with two birdies, 12 pars, three bogeys, and one double bogey, which put him in a tie for 32nd place.
That performance will likely be enough to qualify him for the Oklahoma State Amateur Championship, which will take place from July 21 to July 24.
What Does This Mean for Lamb’s Transition to Tulsa?
Following the championship, Lamb will return to the Tulsa campus to begin his first season as head coach of the Golden Hurricane. The timing works out perfectly, allowing him to compete at the state level before diving into his coaching duties.
Tulsa fans are hoping that Lamb is as good a coach as he is a golfer, as the program desperately needs to improve. The team hasn’t had a winning season since 2021 and has not won a conference title since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2014.
RELATED: ‘Shout Out’ — Devin Robinson Credits Tulsa Football Teammate for EA Sports College Football 26 Win Over Mason Fleming
Lamb is a young head coach who has been coaching at the FCS level since 2013. He’s had success in his time, winning two Big South conference championships with Gardner-Webb in 2022 and 2023.
This marks Lamb’s first FBS stint, and while he’s unproven at this level, the Golden Hurricane decided to give him a chance. If he can turn the program around, he’ll be beloved by the University and the city.
It’s clear that his golf prowess is already making an impact in the state, but he’ll need to match that performance on the football field to win over Tulsa fans.
College Sports
Livvy Dunne Denied Purchase of Babe Ruth’s Former NYC Apartment Despite All-Cash Offer
Livvy Dunne was ready to buy her dream apartment — one that once belonged to Babe Ruth — with cash in hand. But not even a full-price, all-cash offer was enough to sway the co-op board. Screenshot from YouTube The 22-year-old influencer and former LSU gymnast revealed this week that her bid to purchase the […]

Livvy Dunne was ready to buy her dream apartment — one that once belonged to Babe Ruth — with cash in hand. But not even a full-price, all-cash offer was enough to sway the co-op board.

Screenshot from YouTube
The 22-year-old influencer and former LSU gymnast revealed this week that her bid to purchase the Upper West Side apartment once home to baseball legend Babe Ruth was denied, despite her efforts to seal the deal in grand fashion.
In a TikTok video shared with her nearly 8 million followers, Dunne detailed the experience, calling the historic New York City unit her “dream apartment” and explaining how close she came to making it her own. She said she was ready to pay the $1.595 million listing price in full and had already brought her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, to visit. An interior designer had even started planning the space.
But just days before she expected to receive the keys, Dunne said she got a call: the co-op board had voted against her application.
“That week I was supposed to move in,” Dunne said in the video. “I got a call that I was denied.”
The three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom apartment is the stuff of Yankees lore. According to NBC News, Ruth lived there from 1920 to 1940, during the height of his playing career. The apartment’s legacy clearly added to its appeal for Dunne, whose growing presence in baseball circles has included a high-profile relationship with Skenes, one of MLB’s rising stars.
The board didn’t offer a clear reason for the rejection, but Dunne speculated that her celebrity status — and the attention that often follows — may have been a factor.
“Maybe they just didn’t want someone with a public profile,” she noted, hinting at concerns over privacy, media, or potential disruptions.
The rejection marks another bump in what’s already been a challenging stretch for Dunne, who has been juggling life in the spotlight with personal and professional transitions. In addition to her social media empire and NIL deals, she’s also a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and former member of the U.S. Junior Women’s National Gymnastics Team.
Now, she’ll have to search elsewhere for her first piece of real estate, though it likely won’t come with quite the same legend-in-the-walls appeal.
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